Behind My Shadow - Book Three

61. Trying to Solve the Puzzles in His Head

I startle awake to the sound of thunder rumbling in the distance. 

I groggily sit up, my skull is still pounding but despite the killer headache, I honestly feel so much better. I can't help but notice that I do have hives on my arms though and my mind wildly races as I wonder were those flowers poisoned? 

I don't blame Speira but I feel positive that her old man had something to do with my sudden sickness.

Urgh, creepy bastard tried to bring me down at my own party! I haven't even been back for a whole day yet and these psychos are already trying to kill me again! I roll my eyes as I jump out of bed.

The sun is setting now, washing the entire island in a cramoisy glow. In the distance, I see an enormous storm brewing on the horizon over the ocean. It's steadily crawling towards our island. The wind has rapidly picked up and fills my entire room with a humid, howling current. The curtains hanging from my bedposts crackle loudly like sails, and loose papers from my desk covered in lyrics flutter through the air against the domed ceiling.

I can still hear the music from the garden below, but I can sense everyone is bustling to get in doors before the storm unfurls. Everyone is still laughing and talking, I instantly feel relieved. Good, no one must've noticed me leaving the party. Speaking of the party, I guess I better change and head back down to the Great Hall, I'll definitely be noticed if I'm not at dinner and I'd rather Kolfer not think he managed to throw me out of commission.

Creepy bastard.

I stand in front of my mirrors and fashion a dress for myself in a burst of glowing white sparks. This dress is torch red and is entirely studded in crushed fiery jewels, the short skirt flairs out in pleats over my thighs and silky red opera gloves cover my otherwise bare arms. The sweetheart neckline is held up by a pair of silky straps tied in a loose bow behind my neck. This dress is completely backless to proudly display my impressive Bloodmark and for the first time, I finally get to look at my long-suffered-for tattoo.

Much to my surprise, it looks completely different than all of the other Alices' Bloodmarks. Mine is of a three-headed Jabberwocky that looks like its crawling up my spine, its wings flair out over my sides and even partly wraps around my chest. A web of lightning covers my neck and weaves around the side of my throat that doesn't display my Birthmark.

"Whoa," I breathe, tears sparkle in my eyes with amazement.

I'm really an Alice. I really have my own Bloodmark now.

Shadows unexpectedly bleed into my room. I look around quickly as the darkness fills the top of the Alice Tower, everything looks shadowy as if it's behind a veil. I swallow hard.

Does this mean what I think it does? This is all happening so soon -so suddenly- my head feels like it's spinning and my heart is lurching wildly against my chest as I anxiously turn around to search my room.

But I don't see anyone. The only thing that catches my attention is the nearing storm over the ocean beyond my balcony. Lightning covers the sky in a web of light moments before thunder softly rumbles; rose pedals from the Maze outside are whisked through my room on the temperate breeze.

Maybe I'm just paranoid, I force myself to breathe and close my eyes in attempts to soothe my fraying nerves. Maybe shadows just have a mind of their own and randomly block out the sunset in certain rooms from time to time -

I suddenly sense someone's presence I haven't felt in ages. It's Vyndren. He is here. My eyes fly open as I search the room again. "Hello?" I call, straining to see through the darkness.