Sticks and Stones

Chapter Twenty-Four

Above them, the sky was blue. Sofia tried not to look at it. The sight only hurt her eyes. Completely void of clouds. It was beautiful if not painful to look at. The air around her was humid. It felt like a storm was coming, though she'd heard plenty saying the only storm to ever grace Veneficus was Annaliese herself.

Sofia fanned herself with her hand, feeling as though she might combust at any coming moment. Frustratingly, Caspian was completely fine with it all.

"Can your body do the opposite of what it's doing now and cool things down?"

He smirked, enjoying her pain here far too much. "Oddly enough, it's in the name. Fire demon. Hit up Runealm if you're after something cold."

"Great. Let's go there instead."

"You'll have a job, Marina doesn't like letting people in." The way he said her name was knowing. Sofia assumed he'd had problems with whoever Marina was before. "We'll be fine here."

"Said the fire demon who kind of thrives on it. How do the witches deal with this?"

"They wear fewer clothes. You're welcome to join them."

Her skin prickled each time he made comments like that.

"I bet you'd like that, wouldn't you?"

"Can't say I'd complain. Doesn't help that you're wearing black. You'll attract the sun."

"Whatever. I'd rather look good if I'm going to fry here." This place was going to burn right through her sun cream. "It's just my luck. I'm going to stink of sweat and you'll be as cool as a cucumber."

He nudged her side playfully. "I can share my cool cucumber."

"And you're completely shameless."

She looked around the town. It was pleasant enough. People milled about with Parasols. Those who looked like they enjoyed this place were completely and utterly mad.

"Is this your first time in Veneficus?" Cas asked.

"First and last time."

Caspian smirked, dropping an arm over her shoulder. Usually she'd be glad for it—but God. Him and his body heat were only making matters worse.

"Over there you've got Castle Solum, one of the oldest monuments in all of the Other World history." He pointed to the towering castle in the distance. "That's where Annaliese lives. Beyond that are endless fields of poppies. Prettiest thing you'll ever see. They go on for miles and miles."

"I thought vampires live here."

Surely this land was too sunny for those creatures of the night.

"They do. Castle Solum's crawling with them right now. They've been under Annaliese's rule since the vampire King died. The next heir to the throne isn't quite.... ready to take it yet. So this place is free of them in the day but when night falls Veneficus is vampire city."

"Does anyone bother coming?"

Vampires were dangerous. They didn't care who you were so long as your veins were accessible.

"So long as Annaliese is in charge of them, the vampires behave. She's a bigger threat than they're ready for. It's said she can fry a man's blood from a mile away."

"Sounds pleasant."

Cas hummed, pointing in the opposite direction. She followed his finger to an enormous house sitting at the top of a steep hill.

"Got a feeling that's where we're going. Chateau on the hill. That's where Cadmus said we'll find him." But it was a long walk up then back down if they were wrong. "Better to be safe than sorry." Cas reached out to the next local to pass them. "Excuse me?"