Page 47 of Gothikana

Two strange, foreign voices resonated inside her head, bringing the metallic scent of blood with them. Phantom ants crawled over her skin and Corvina shuddered.

What the hell?

The voices had been quiet. The shadows had disappeared for weeks. Why come back now?

‘Are you alright, Miss Clemm?’ Dr Kari’s voice jolted her out of her head, making her aware of other students who had turned to stare at her. ‘You’re muttering something.’

She was?

God, no, no, no. Not here.

Swallowing, Corvina shoved her notebook in her bag with haste and headed toward the door. ‘Please excuse me, Dr Kari. I’m feeling unwell.’

Without waiting to hear his response, she broke into a run as soon as she was in the corridor, needing to get outside. It was a long way down from the fourth level of the tower, but Corvina flew down the stairs, her braid whipping behind her, her skirt trailing, her nerves shot as the shadow moved a few paces ahead on the wall.

Tears tightened in her throat, her eyes burning as she descended.

No.

It couldn’t be happening.

She’d been okay for weeks. She’d thought it was done and everything was fine.

It couldn’t be happening.

Just as she turned on the third-level staircase, she smacked into a hard wall.

‘Fuck.’ The expletive in that deep voice she recognised in her marrow reached her muddled mind a second later, making her blink down at him as he stood two steps below her, balancing her body from falling with the tight grip on her arms.

Corvina steadied herself on him before taking hold of the railing, her eyes moving to the shadow that hovered behind him, her heart pounding.

‘Miss Clemm?’ She felt him shake her. ‘Corvina! Look at me.’

The harsh authority in his voice had her eyes going to his silver, and she took a deep breath to centre herself.

‘What’s got you so spooked?’ He stepped up, bringing their faces to the same level, his gaze searing her.

‘I just need to get to the tower,’ she whispered, her eyes going back to the lingering shadow.

He turned to look behind himself, seeing nothing but the castle walls, lights already turned on in their rusty holders and the stairs that descended. He probably couldn’t see that shadow flickering under one of the old lamps, waiting, beckoning.

‘What do you see behind me?’

The way he phrased the question made her pause. He asked what she saw, his tone implying he knew she was seeing something.

The shadow began to move, and an urgent need to follow filled Corvina.

She shook off the hands holding her, and ran down the stairs again, aware of hispursuit.

His longer legs had him catching her before she could exit the wing, tugging her into one of the alcoves and imprisoning her between his arms. His eyes, those mercurial eyes, were dead serious as he considered her.

‘What do you see, Corvina?’ he asked her again, enunciating each word with patience she didn’t have at the moment. God, she couldn’t tell him. Best case scenario, he’d think she was crazy. Worst case, he’d tell her she was crazy. She wasn’t. No, she wasn’t. Or maybe she was. She didn’t know. Her own mind was unreliable.

His scent engulfed her as her stomach twisted with both dread and desire watching him. He wanted an answer.

‘A shadow,’ she told him, her voice barely a whisper, her eyes on his neck. He had a nice Adam’s apple. ‘I need to get to the tower right now.’ She locked gazes with him, beseeching. ‘Please.’

He considered her for a long minute, before removing one arm, giving her the space to leave. She ran out again, realising the gardens were completely empty. Why were they empty? There was always someone or other loitering around in them, especially at this time of day.

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