Page 54 of Turret

My heart broke imagining Quinn without any memory of the time before his blindness. I hoped that no matter what else transpired, that never happened. “I hope you never forget.”

He managed a weak smile. “My most precious memories are with you, and I can’t imagine forgetting those. I will cherish both the old memories and any new ones we’ll make together…for you’ll stay with me?”

He asked the question hesitantly, as if afraid I’d change my mind now that the moment of truth had finally arrived. But how could I? His inability to see didn’t change how I felt towards him, just as I knew my illness didn’t influence his own feelings for me.

“I’ll always be here, Quinn. I promise.”

He relaxed and his arms looped back around me, holding me tightly, as if afraid I’d slip away if he let me go. “Your presence will be one light in this new darkness. Thank you, Gemma.” He turned his gaze towards the view stretching beyond the balcony, his eyes unseeing, with a look that was rather lost.

He deserved so much more than to remain trapped not only in his darkness but within these tower walls. If I couldn’t restore his sight, then I’d do all I could to be brave enough to show him the world that lay beyond, allowing him to experience it with his remaining senses…even if it meant leaving my tower forever, for overcoming my fears was well worth it if I could but bring him that joy.

Chapter 21

Imonitored Quinn closely, and even though his condition made it impossible for him to see the careful way I watched him, I kept my gaze covert. I wasn’t certain why I was being so subtle; perhaps it was the part of me that still couldn’t accept what had befallen the man I loved.

It had been nearly a week since the curse had claimed his sight. A day hadn’t gone by when I hadn’t studied him, searching for any sign of his struggle or distress, but if he felt either he hid the emotions well. I feared his apparent contentment was merely a charade for my benefit so that I wouldn’t worry. I knew it was done solely because he cared, but it made me feel weak all the same. I wanted to help him bear his burdens.

But he showed no hint of discontent now. He stood in his usual guarding post whittling a piece of wood. Looking at him, one would never suspect the change that had occurred behind his eyes—he stared rigidly ahead in my direction, his hands working the wood familiarly. I’d always loved watching him work—the way he explored each groove in the wood with his touch and the expert way he handled the knife, pausing only occasionally to see it through his fingers. I was grateful that his condition hadn’t also stolen this from him.

He paused, and at first I thought it was so he could check his work—something he did more frequently ever since the curses’s victory—but instead he turned himself more fully in my direction.

“Are you watching me, Gemma?”

My eyebrows lifted in surprise. “How did you know?”

His lips twitched. “I can somehow sense it. Perhaps it’s a second sight.” His flicker of humor vanished. “Are you worried?”

There was no use lying; even without his sight, I was certain Quinn would detect it. He knew me far too well for me to hide anything from him, even now.

I sighed. “I’m afraid you’re pretending for my sake.”

He was quiet a moment. “It’s the best way to endure this, to make it at least somewhat bearable.”

He fell silent, and with a struggle I forced myself to return to my herbal studies and the search I hadn’t yet given up—a way to cure blindness. I just couldn’t accept that there was no way to help Quinn, especially after I’d found a remedy for my own illness. But it was impossible to concentrate—the words blurred together, and even when I managed to focus enough in order to decipher them, they offered no solutions.

My gaze was drawn back to Quinn when he ventured from his guarding post to the hearth to stoke the fire to ward off the growing chill and the shadows from the settling night…only to kneel near the supply of logs and discover that only a few remained.

He muttered a curse. “The tower has diminished our supply, yet I couldn’t see—” He cut off the frustrated thought in one breath and his expression cleared in a manner that I suspected was forced…and entirely for my benefit. “I will check the supply in the kitchen.”

He strode towards the door but paused in the doorway. I knew the reason for his hesitation—he didn’t want to leave me alone.

“I’ll be fine for a few minutes.” Now that I better understood the tower’s battle between its magic and the curse, I had less reason to fear; it would do its best to protect me.

“Perhaps I should wait until Melina finishes the preparations for lunch.” But he frowned at his own suggestion, clearly not liking the idea of me waiting in a drafty room. Though my elixir helped my condition considerably, I was still susceptible to the growing chill as autumn fully descended and winter approached.

“The kitchen isn’t far; you’ll only be gone a few minutes.”

“Unless the tower rid itself of those logs, too.” He muttered this darkly beneath his breath, as if he didn’t mean for me to hear his disparaging words against the tower. But I had, and my heart ached that he still didn’t trust it.

“The tower cares about our comfort, so I’m quite certain it didn’t diminish our entire supply of firewood. If it had, Melina would have noticed as she’s preparing lunch and informed us.”

Quinn considered this before giving a curt nod. “I’ll return in a moment.” And without another word, he disappeared into the dark corridor.

I missed him the moment he left but tried to take advantage of his absence by returning to my reading now that he wasn’t here to distract me. I hadn’t even read a single page when a loud crash suddenly echoed from the corridor, followed by an agonized cry, one that sounded like Quinn.

I sprang to my feet and staggered to the door, clinging to the frame to steady myself. “Quinn?” I cried into the thick, ominous darkness.

There was no answer, no sound…except for my rapidly beating heart. But then I heard a low, agonized groan coming from the direction of the stairwell.

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