Page 42 of Turret

My breath hooked. “The…tower?”

She nodded. “I’ve been gradually syphoning its magic bit by bit.”

Sothatwas why the tower’s magic was fading? For a long moment I couldn’t speak, my shock having rendered me silent. Only at her raised eyebrows, her silent expectation for me to respond, did I find my voice.

“You’vebeen robbing the tower of its power?”

Her triumphant look was answer enough. “Naturally. I’m the one who enchanted it, which means I can use it how I see fit.”

A range of emotions whirled within me—shock, anger, hurt, and understanding to finally have the answer to the riddle that had been plaguing us for weeks, one I now realized I should have suspected sooner.

“But…our food supply is getting low, and the draining magic from the tower is causing all sorts of problems and dangers—what will happen when the magic is completely drained?”

Mother shrugged. “I’m not sure. The effects from the tower’s magic are a rather unfortunate consequence, but not to worry, I won’t needallthe tower’s powers, which means enough will remain that you should remain perfectly safe.”

I was too stunned by her unfeeling dismissal to even speak. Seeming unbothered by my lack of response, Mother continued.

“It’s been very tedious and draining work taking my magic back from the tower in order to slowly gather enough strength to move to another looking glass, especially one a vast distance away. I believe in the end I only managed it because my magic is still connected to this tower as well as everything in it…including the mirrors.”

It took a moment for the implications of Mother’s words to settle over me. “Are you trying to gather enough to break free?”

“Naturally. I don’t quite have enough…but I will soon. However, when that moment comes, I’ll need a bit of…assistance.”

I immediately understood her unspoken expectation: she needed my help. Though I had no reason to deny her, a wave of apprehension trickled over me at the thought, a foreboding I had no explanation for. Yet it was nothing to my urgent desires to heed her wishes, for she was the only one who could give me what I desperately needed. No one else possessed such a vast array of knowledge concerning magic and curses.

I swallowed the lump lodging my throat. “You’re my mother, so of course I’ll help you.” I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. “And because I’m your daughter, I’m also hoping…you can help me in return.”

She smiled tightly. “Why Gemma, you know Mother would do anything for you. Didn’t I put you in this enchanted tower in order to heal you? I’ve always wanted what’s best for you. We can help each other.” Her tone was sweet…almost overly so.

I wrung my hands as my mind frantically attempted to sort through each potential outcome of every sentence in this chess-like conversation of ours. I’d never asked Mother for anything before, and the last thing I wanted to do was risk losing what only she could offer me.

I took a wavering breath. “I need…magical assistance. You see, Quinn…is going blind—” I swallowed the lump in my throat, unable to finish.

Mother’s eyes widened. “He is? How?”

“A curse.” It was all I could manage, the explanation too painful to give.

Mother’s shock faded and her look became calculated. Too late I realized she couldn’t know of my attachment, for surely she’d forbid me from it and then I’d never receive her help. My mind scrambled for a possible alternative explanation for my concern.

“He’s protected me for years and has been such a faithful guard. If the curse claims him, I’ll need to get another, and you know how difficult it is for me to be around strangers. I feel safe with him.”

I held my breath and awaited her reaction. Her eyes narrowed before her expression cleared into concern almost too exaggerated to be sincere. “You poor dear. Of course I understand. Very well, because you’re my dear daughter I’ll give you want you want. Healing his sight will be an easy task with my powers. All you need to do is free me from the mirror when the time is right. Do we have an understanding?”

My heart lifted at her agreement…yet still I hesitated, almost afraid to make such a rash promise. But my desperation for Quinn’s well-being was stronger than my need for caution—even more powerful than the desires I’d felt my entire life to break free from my own condition. I’d gladly sacrifice my own health just to save him.

“I promise.”

My chest tightened the moment I spoke the words, especially when I saw the almost triumphant way Mother smirked. But I didn’t take them back. I couldn’t, for I needed to do this. I might never break free from my own prison, but if there was a way to help Quinn escape his then I’d do it, no matter the cost.

Chapter 16

Worry cinched my chest as I rested my hands on the stones, cold but silent, as if the last of the tower’s magic had drained away, causing it to fall asleep. The tower was growing worse with each passing day…and it was allMother’s doing.

I hadn’t seen or spoken with her since our conversation three days prior, but I sensed her in every mirror I passed, which led me to be more distant with Quinn for fear she’d see the true nature of our relationship. I was haunted by the deal she and I had struck…as well as the knowledge that because she was gradually robbing the tower of its powers, it was slowly dying.

I constantly discovered additional signs of the tower’s fading magic—rooms vanishing, as if the power that had created them had disappeared, our food supplies dwindling further, and rooms that I’d previously been able to access now being locked, as if the tower now considered it too much effort to keep them open. I wasn’t entirely sure what would happen once the tower’s powers were completely stolen—whether I’d be permanently trapped or be set free—but I didn’t want to find out.

But even with all this evidence, I couldn’t accept my tower’s fate. I continued to search the walls for any sign of life, and when I didn’t find any I pressed my palm against the stone floor, searching with my touch for even a glimpse the flickering magic that would assure me it was well.

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