A Drop Of Haunted Blood [REMOVING FOR PUBLICATION DEC 1] [WATTYS WINNTER 2023]

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Hunger

"I didn't technically lie to him," Mason said as he handed Felix his list of supplies. "You will be getting supplies that will allow me to undo a masking spell. But I'll also be able to cast my own masking spell on us." His eyes glinted. "Which will allow us to enter Ernest's house undetected."

Arisa peered over Felix's shoulder to look at the list. "Right. All we need is an address, transportation, and a way to get you through protection wards."

"One thing at a time." Mason lifted his gaze to the sign hanging above the store. "I came here a couple of times on trips with my parents." He sighed. "I wish I could go in again."

"There's really no way they'd let you in?" Felix asked.

Mason shook his head. "It's fine. Just go get the supplies so we can get back to the castle." He threw a quick glance back at where Archer waited across the street, glowering at every passerby who gave him a second glance. "Thankfully, I don't think any of the Guardians know enough about spellcasting to question us."

Felix and Arisa had to pester some of the store employees for help, but they were able to find everything and check out in about ten minutes. When they handed the bag to Mason outside the store, he dug through it with a concerned expression on his face.

"Did we get it all right?" Felix asked.

Relief crossed Mason's face as he lowered the bag. He looked up. "Perfect. Thank you."

They returned to Bright Castle in a considerably better mood than when they'd left. They were one step closer to breaking into Ernest's house, they'd beaten the wraith without too much injury, and Jack Caldwell had been humbled. Jack's weird behavior still nagged at Felix, but he decided to chalk it up to the guy's obsession with winning fights.

The good day ended with Felix waking up in the middle of that night in a cold sweat.

He sat up, a hand pressed to his forehead. He couldn't remember what his dream had been. He could only remember being paralyzed while something drew closer and closer.

His stomach growled. No way was he going to make it to morning without a snack. He climbed out of bed and grabbed his shoes. Kendra had mentioned a nearby kitchen on his first day, but he couldn't remember which floor it was on. The only kitchen he knew how to reach off the top of his head was one that Arisa had shown him, through one of the secret passages.

Felix entered the passages through a door hidden near his room and made his way to the kitchen, where he snagged a couple rolls and a yogurt. On his way back, as he passed an exit into one of the main hallways, the sound of a door slamming made him freeze.

He frowned. Wasn't this part of the castle residential? Who was awake at this hour? Felix crept toward the door that he was pretty sure opened behind a tapestry. He dared to turn the handle and push it open an inch.

The tapestry in front of the door was hung from the ceiling rather than attached to the wall, leaving a small gap between it and the door. Felix peered down the hall toward the source of the sound.

Jack Caldwell stood in front of the door that must have been the one slammed shut. He glared at it for nearly a minute before turning and storming off.

Felix waited for Jack to disappear around the corner at the end of the hall. Once he was sure Jack was gone, he slipped through the door and out from under the tapestry. He tiptoed up to the door and rested a hand on it.

Everything but the door faded away. Jack reappeared next to Felix, materializing from nothing. As Felix took a step back, Jack moved forward to knock on the door. When a minute passed without a response, he knocked again, harder.