Page 24 of A Kingdom of Monsters

It was close to noon, but I lay alone in bed. Bael and Scion had both slept beside me the previous night, but they’d left early in the morning without explaining where they were going. I was fairly certain Bael was spending the majority of his time helping Ambrose search for information about the curse, while Scion seemed to have resumed his former role as master of the castle. Admittedly, however, I hadn’t asked for details.

Outside my window, thunder rumbled, the sudden sound making me jump. I glanced across the room at the open window, and was equally startled to find the sky an ominous shade of gray. I hadn’t even noticed the light changing in the room as the storm rolled in, and now I jumped to my feet dashing across the room to close the window before the rain soaked the curtains.

I reached up, struggling to close the heavy window when an enormous blue-black shape landed on the stone sill in front of me. I jumped back in alarm, letting out a small shriek. “Quill!”

The raven ruffled his large wings, his feathers glinting with rain. He cocked his head at me, and let out his usual squawk of greeting.“You look terrible,”he seemed to say.

I scowled. “Well at least I’m dry.”

The bird chittered, seeming to laugh at me. I humphed and waved him into the room so I could finish closing the window just as a flash of lightning lit up the dull gray sky.

Quill hopped off the window ledge and swooped across the room, landing on the foot of the bed instead. He looked at me again, narrowing his beady coal-black eyes.“When was the last time you left this room?”

I rolled my eyes, and didn’t reply. It seemed stupid to argue with the bird–or rather with my own subconscious. I could take a hint.

Thinking I might at least walk down to the kitchens for a spot of lunch, I strode across the room and yanked open the doors of the mahogany wardrobe. My fingers ran over the rows of neatly hung dresses until I found a midnight blue one that caught my eye. After quickly slipping into it, I braided my long hair into a hasty crown.

Quill leapt off the bed, and I braced myself as he fluttered down on my shoulder. I glanced up at him. “I hope you’re not expecting an adventure. I’m not sure I can manage more than a trip to the kitchens today.”

He blinked his glassy eyes at me, and for once I have no notion of what he might have been trying to say.

I made my way to the door and threw it open, stepping out into the hallway. Unfortunately, that was where my motivation died.

I wasn’t hungry, and otherwise I had nothing to do. I couldn’t very well go back to practicing magic when the courtyard was soon to be flooded, and undoubtedly if Bael or Scion were available to keep me company they already would have been here.

My thoughts drifted to Ambrose for a moment, but I quickly dismissed the idea. He was likely busy as well, and moreimportantly, I didn’t think my fragile mood could handle it if he dismissed me.

Frowning, I wandered aimlessly down the hall in the same direction Bael and I had run on the night–wait.

I stopped in the middle of the hall, shocked by my realization.

I’d completely forgotten about Idris, and about the theory that Bael and I had begun to craft before everything came crashing down around me, but there was still ample time to speak with him. I assumed Bael had not already done so, or he would have told me. And was this not the perfect opportunity? If Idris was hiding anything about his identity, surely he’d be more willing to talk to me alone.

A renewed sense of purpose coursing through me, I sped up, marching down the hall.

It didn’t takeme long to find the mysterious former prisoner.

I descended the stairs into the enormous entrance hall and immediately spotted him, standing just under the stone overhang that sheltered the open doorway, looking outside at the rain. I smiled with genuine excitement. It was a lucky thing to find him here so easily, when this castle was large enough to spend hours getting lost in.

As if he sensed my presence–or perhaps he just heard the tap of my shoes against the stone stairs–Idris turned to look at me.

He offered me a pleasant smile, and I was once again startled by how healthy he looked for someone who had allegedly been imprisoned for thousands of years. Immortal or not, it seemed impossible that he should look so…alive.

Idris’s chin-length hair was pushed back from his face, and he was wearing a red embroidered silk jacket and a pair of matching trousers. I guessed he might have borrowed them from Bael, who was both the most likely to lend anyone his clothing, and the closest match to Idris in both height and weight–Scion being several inches taller, and Ambrose far too muscular across the chest and shoulders. As I approached, he raised a hand to wave at me. “Lonnie,” he greeted me jovially. “It’s good to see you up.”

“Thank you,” I muttered, flushing slightly.

“If you’re looking for your mates, I’m afraid I can’t help. I haven’t seen any of them all morning.”

I waved him off. “I wasn’t. I was actually hoping to ask you something.”

“Of course, would you like to join me?” He smiled pleasantly and gestured for me to come stand beside him.

I faltered, distracted for a moment. “Join you in what exactly? What are you doing?”

His smile widened. “I enjoy watching the rain. It’s been many years since I’ve seen it.”

“Oh, of course. I should have realized.” I moved to stand beside him on the threshold and also turned to look at the rain now firmly pelting the front lawn and cobblestone road that led from the castle down to the city. “How are you enjoying the capital?”

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