Page 5 of Rite of Blood and Secrets

I wish it gave me the same kind of confidence. I hate not knowing.

Pip lets out a small whine, as if she can sense the direction of my thoughts. I reach down and pat her, which seems to help. I don't know what has her so on edge, but I don't like it. Maybe it's the magic of the moon.

The carriage starts to bounce up and down as we approach the drive of the castle and the smooth road makes way for pebbles. I reach out to steady myself against the side of it, already wishing for this part of the journey to be over.

It isn't until the carriage pulls to a stop that I realise we're actually here, at the castle Mrs Potsworth told me to avoid, and the one that always makes me feel as if there's something ominous about it. I can't explain where any of the feelings come from, but now we're here, they're out in force.

The footman opens the door and Bastian descends first.

"Come on, Pip," I say, picking up the rope and heading towards the door.

I'm careful not to catch my dress again on the way out of the carriage and then lift Pip down. She pushes against my legs, probably uncomfortable with being in a strange place. I don't blame her. I'm nervous myself.

The castle is even more imposing up close than it is from the town. A warm glow comes out of the front doors and I feel like it should be inviting, but something about it isn't, even if I can't put my finger on what that is.

I step backwards, everything within me screaming that we should turn around and never come back.

Bastian has other ideas and propels me forward with a firm hand on my back. "Remember to smile, Beatrice."

"For who?"

"Everyone," he responds.

My eyes widen. Something about this isn't right, and I dread to think what it could be.

Chapter 4

There are servants everywhere, more than I would have ever imagined considering the fact we never see anyone from the castle in town. How they're getting their food and other goods is beyond me, but I'd remember people like this. All of them are beautiful, and all move with grace that I don't think I've seen from any of the people I grew up around.

The serving girl in front of us leads us to a pair of double doors. "This is the ball, My Lord, My Lady," she says, dipping her head to each of us in turn.

"We just go in?" I ask, grasping Pip's lead tighter as I wait for her reply. The dog is doing her best to stand in my shadow, making me a little worried about whatever it is making her feel like this is a necessary way to act. Something isn't right about this place, I just don't know what it is.

"Of course. Help yourselves to any of the food and drink," she replies.

"Would you tell Lord Fallmartin that Bastian and Beatrice have arrived," my brother says.

The girl's eyes widen. "Of course. I didn't realise who you were, My Lord. You should actually be entering through the second door. Let me show you and please accept my forgiveness."

I frown, the confusion setting in even more with her reaction.

I don't dare voice my thoughts, already able to picture the look Bastian will give me if I do.

"You're forgiven," my brother responds as if he's been doing this his entire life.

The girl hurries down the corridor and comes to a stop outside a second set of doors. I'm not sure why it matters that we enter through these ones and not the others, especially when they're so close together, but I don't ask. It seems rude to potentially insult our hosts.

"Please, enjoy the ball. I will inform Lord Fallmartin that you're here." She dips her head and disappears, leaving us in front of the doors.

"What's going on?" I ask my brother.

"We're being treated as the honoured guests we should be," he responds, holding his head up high and seeming as if he was born for all of this. To hear him speak, he thinks he has been.

"But why? We're nobodies from town."

Bastian grabs hold of my arm and pinches it a little too tight. "Never say that again."

"You're hurting me," I say through gritted teeth.

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