Yvaine stepped outside.
Only the moonlight and the weak school lamps were on.
"Nymera, what's the meaning of this?" she whispered.
No answer. Just the pull.
It dragged her past empty paths and buildings until she stopped in front of a hall.
It stood like a small castle. The gargoyles on the walls looked alive.
The Damned hall... Or whatever it was called.
Yvaine froze. "Uh… nope. I am not going in there, Nymera.What the heck is this?"
Nymera growled inside her. The push got stronger.
Yvaine held her heels firmly into the ground. "There's no way in the heavens or seven hells I'm going in there. The hall is banned. Are you trying to get me expelled?"
Nymera growled harder. Go in.
Yvaine stared up at the full moon. "I asked for a wolf, not a ticket to be expelled and shamed. What is this?"
No answer. Just the pull. An answer would be great now..
"Right. Why do I bother asking you anything, goddess... You're always silent."
"Careful now," Nymera warned..
"Or what? She'll take you away and make me wolfless again? Please... At this point, I'd not mind. I don't like this... whatever this is."
"There's something in. Go in," Nymera urged.
"So what if there's something in. It's too dangerous. I can't."
Nymera whimpered. Please.
"What if something or someone attacks me?"
I won't let them, Nymera growled.
Yvaine sighed. Her hand slipped from her sweatshirt pocket. Her fingers lengthened. Silvery claws.
"Sweet," she muttered.
She walked to the entrance. The gargoyles looked like they were staring at her. She shivered.
The doors were locked but there was no lock.
"Great. How do I get in?"
That's because it's not really a door. It's an illusion, Nymera said.
Yvaine pushed. Nothing moved.
Nymera laughed.
"You brought me here and now you're laughing? It's almost one and I've got combat class at seven. I need my sleep."
Fine. Check the wall.
Yvaine ran her fingers over the dusty wall. There was an inscription. A spell.
"Go on, say the spell," Nymera urged.
"I'm not great with spells…"
Just do it.
Yvaine exhaled. "Intra ad arcanum, patefacio mihi viam."
Nothing happened.
"You've got to be kidding me."
Check the door now.
Yvaine pushed again. Her hand slid through the door.
"Hm."
She pushed herself forward. Her whole body slipped through.
The door went solid behind her.
It was dark.
"Luxa ignis," she whispered.
A ball of light bloomed on her palm.
"Now where to?"
Right. Down the hallway.
"This place is so creepy."
Symbols covered the walls. On the ceiling, a huge dragon painted in silver. Its eyes looked alive. Her skin crawled.
"Nymera, I want to go back. This place doesn't seem right."
No. Something is off. Something is here.
"And I'm the one to find it? Look, I'm exhausted. I need my fucking sleep."
"Language, Yvaine"Nymera growled when she swore.
"Sorry. But seriously, what even is this place?"
A loud, piercing scream.
Yvaine jumped. The light blinked out.
"What was that?" she whispered.
"Luxa ignis." The light flickered back on.
She moved slowly toward the sound.
Then footsteps. Two sets.
Thank Moon Goddess for her new hearing.
She ducked behind a shelf. The ball of light vanished.
Two people passed, whispering in a language she didn't know.
"I need to see," she whispered.
I've got you.
A tingle in her eyes. Now she could see everything in the dark.
"Why didn't you do this before?"
Sorry.
She followed them quietly. They were heading to the scream.
She crept closer for a look—
And gasped.
Lord Tywin. And Lady Einish from the council.
What were they doing here?
Yvaine heard them drag something on the floor.
Her chest tightened. Were they dragging the person who screamed?
She moved further. The floor creaked.
"Stupid floors," she whispered.
Their voices were clearer now.
"We've got to be fast about this." Lady Einish said.
"Calm down, Einish. It's not like anyone would come here." Lord Tywin replied.
"What if someone does come here?"
"Only people with strong energies can access the door. You worry too much."
Yvaine froze. Strong energy? Me?
Lady Einish sounded panicked. Lord Tywin seemed a bit confident in whatever it was they were doing.
Yvaine wanted to see more. She moved closer.
Lord Tywin: "Come on, bring your hands… let's seal this off."
Lady Einish placed her hand in his.
They began to chant a spell.
A dark shadow-light wrapped around them and then vanished.
Was that… was that a ritual?
Blood magic? That's banned.
Panic rose in her throat.
Nymera: Calm down.
"Calm down?" Yvaine hissed under her breath. "I think they just killed someone… hold on a second… it's them… they're the ones behind the deaths."
Nymera: Don't be too quick.
"It makes sense now. But I've got to see some more."
She edged forward, then her foot hit something. A chalice rolled, clanging loud.
"Fuck," she mouthed. "What's this doing on the floor?"
Lord Tywin unsheathed his sword. "Someone is here."
Lady Einish: "I thought you said this place can't be easily accessed. Now someone's seen us. We're all in danger."
Yvaine's heart raced. She didn't know what to do.
"Nymera? Nymera?" she called inside.
No response.
Then a hand grabbed her and yanked her back against the wall.
"What the—"
A voice whispered near her ear. "Hello, Theolux."
She blinked. "L—Lucien… what are you doing here?"
Lucien whispered, "I should be asking you that. And from the looks of things you're about to get caught."
Lady Einish and Lord Tywin's footsteps came closer pretty fast.
"I can feel the energy. It's not just one person." Lord Tywin said as he moved closer to the wall Yvaine and Lucien were currently hiding behind.
Oh no... This was it. Getting her wolf had been the worse thing ever... Now, she'd be caught here... With Lucien of all people. She'd be expelled...
Way to go, Yvaine.. from being wolfless to being the silverwolf who couldn't mind her damned business and got expelled.
Lucien watched Yvaine's panic state.
Without thinking, he grabbed Yvaine's face with one hand and kissed her, lighting the area with the other.