DARKHAVEN | "Three Sisters" Book One

Chapter Eighteen

Gia

Gia rose before sunrise the next morning, and her eyes had not fully opened before she was reaching for her tarot deck. There were those who would say such tools were beneath a witch of her abilities, but these cards had belonged to her mother.

Though the deck was tattered and yellowed, she still felt her mother's energy within them. Diminished, but still present. Her heart ached for the sound of her mother's voice, for her counsel.

In the morning silence of her room, Gia focused her energy and asked the cards the questions that had hung heavy on her mind, and, as usual, they gave her the answers she needed. She blinked. She'd asked for answers, and though she'd received them, they filled her with a great trepidation. So she sat there staring down at the cards that stared back up at her, wishing she had the answers to questions she didn't even know how to ask.

A quiet knock on the door ended her contemplation.

After dressing and pinning up her hair, Ms. Magda pushed open the door with a tea tray.

"Miss Amethyst, you're awake?"

"Yes, Ms. Magda, come in." Gia stood and found that the stone floor of her bedroom was exceptionally cold beneath her feet.

Ms. Magda entered, balancing a tray that she placed by the fireplace. "Are you feeling well?"

Gia turned from her place at the vanity. "I'm fine, Ms. Magda. Could you ask Lord Aleksander to meet me in the library before breakfast? If he's awake and agreeable, of course."

Ms. Magda nodded. "Lord Aleksander always rises early. I'll pass on your message and return shortly." She smiled softly and started for the door, but then paused and turned back. "Lady Amethyst, I do hope I'm not out of line in saying this, but you looked quite exquisite last night. It's been many a year since we've had such a lady grace our castle."

"Thank you," said Gia, lowering her eyes. "I felt the part, but please, just Gia is alright. Despite the honorary title, I'm no lady."

Ms. Magda smiled, bobbed her head, and disappeared with a quiet click of the door.

x

The skin on Gia's neck prickled when the door behind her opened and closed. Calm yourself. Don't let your mind wander, she urged, though she could already feel that familiar pull and the warmth spreading across her skin.

"Ms. Magda said you wanted to speak with me," said Aleksander with a voice cool and a face unreadable.

But Gia noticed the way his eyes lingered on her neck and shoulders before snapping back to meet her gaze. "Yes, thank you for coming. I apologise if I've disrupted your morning routine." She took a breath to steady herself, forcing herself not to look away from his face—ethereally beautiful, like a statue carved from marble. 

Swallowing her nerves, she continued. "If you're willing, I'd like to resume training with you. I realise my recent actions were... foolish. Perhaps I found your methods cold, but I understand now you're only trying to prepare me for the day we face the First Evil."

Aleksander remained still, his expression impassive, and Gia felt a flicker of frustration at his stoicism.

"And... I want to apologise."

There—a reaction. The faintest curve of his brow, a flash of surprise in his red eyes. 

She bit her tongue, resisting the urge to make a petty remark. Smoothing the skirts of her dress, she lowered her eyes, unwilling to see the smug look she was sure would cross his face. Her words tumbled out awkwardly, and she felt her cheeks redden. "I apologise for my words the other day. I spoke in anger and frustration. I understand now that your late-night visit and...the kiss...were but a test. One I failed. But I don't want to fail. I don't want to be unprepared. So I'm sorry for misunderstanding your intent."