Page 50 of Secrets & Curses of Cerithia

I glanced around, but Wisp was gone. Taking that as a bad sign, I headed to my room. The castle’s normally fresh flowerscent was gone, replaced by night and rain as a storm raged outside. Lightning ruptured through the night sky, mirroring the war I was feeling on the inside. I now knew for certain that Cerithia only wanted me as a pawn, but learning about all the scheming that Lavtan had done over the course of the trials was appalling.

Cassius and the rest of Crimson had no idea Lavtan was betraying them. Part of me wanted to race to Crimson to tell them, but my senses took over. If Lavtan had worked so hard to serve me on a silver platter for Riven and Nev to kill, then that must mean that my father and Jesper both really wanted me dead. Why else go through such trouble to kill me?

At least Cassius and Crimson had tried to keep me alive. My mother was right. I should’ve never trusted my father. Out of nowhere, an onslaught of memories hit me, and this time I fell to the floor, groaning at the pain that came with them.

I saw Cassius smiling at me. Then the Crimson King hugged me tightly as I wore a dark red dress. After that, Cassius again, but now he was laughing in the place he called our home. Then it switched, and Cassius was holding a dagger to my throat, still smiling.

I gasped for breath as the visions slammed into me, but I felt like the room had been stripped of all air.

When the final memory invaded my thoughts, it hit me with such force that I almost blacked out. I saw Cassius again, but this time he was cradling me in his lap as he whispered that he loved me with tears streaming down his face. Then he raised his hand with a dagger in it and stabbed me through my heart.

My lungs finally sucked in the air they were desperate for as hot tears streamed down my face, but I wasn’t sure which memory was making me cry. An overwhelming feeling of uneasiness now filled me.

Wisp appeared in the corner of my room in her normal blue shade.

“I still can’t believe you never let me know that you were tied to Cassius’ soul and that he could see you.”

Her flames turned white, and that anguish from earlier came rushing back. She didn’t respond verbally, but I knew she couldn’t talk.Gods, I was starting a fight with my only friend. I glanced at Wisp and frowned.

“I made a mistake in the clearing that day, didn’t I?”

She flashed bright orange.

“Stay orange if I should have chosen Cassius.”

Her color stayed orange, making me feel stupid for falling for my father’s words.

“Did Cassius actually stab me? Did he curse me?”

Wisp’s color burned bright orange, still making me more confused. Why did Wisp think I should have chosen Cassius even though he killed me? I opened my mouth to ask another question, but she disappeared. Wisp was gone. The newfound knowledge had my darkness raging inside of me. I knew I couldn’t kill my father yet, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t take revenge on someone. Quickly, I slipped on my cloak and grabbed my daggers.

?????

My footsteps were silent as I entered a quaint home close to the castle. Jeb wasn’t here yet, which gave me time to snoop through his things. His home was a mess. Dishes were piled in the sink, and dirty clothes were strewn in a corner of the bedroom. It was clear a woman didn’t live here. It looked exactly as I had imagined—a pigsty.

I rifled through his belongings, searching for anything useful. He had nothing. A small noise outside caught my attention. My darkness stirred with excitement, signaling Jeb’s arrival. My eyes were still pulsing red, but my dark green cloak concealedthe glow of my skin. I pulled up a chair and placed it in the middle of the dark living area. Jeb walked in a moment later, unaware of the danger awaiting him. He turned and locked the door, which made me smile to myself.

Too late for that.

Jeb set his things down and flicked on the light, freezing when he saw me sitting nonchalantly with my dagger.

“You might be the most unaware man I’ve ever met,” I sighed as I stared him down.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he snapped. My smile widened as his fear washed over me. He was terrified.

“I think you know why I’m here, Jeb.”

“You can leave now, and I won’t tell your father what you’ve done.” His eyes darted to the drawers scattered across his already filthy home.

“You’re going to tell me why Lavtan is helping my father and Jesper try to kill me.”

“Fuck you.”

“I hoped you’d be difficult.” I stood and kicked the chair away. “It just makes this more fun for me.”

Jeb backed up to the door, his shaky hand fumbling to unlock it without my noticing. My darkness slammed the door shut as he managed to open it.

“I won’t tell you anything,” he said, squaring his shoulders, as if that would make me back down.

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