Ever After

☾Chapter Eight☽

"Who's there?" Ever called out into the darkness as she switched on the lamp next to her. There was no sign of anyone, or anything. So, Ever relaxed a little.

"Oh, I beg my pardon. I haven't introduced myself yet." The voice echoed in the back of her head. Ever sighed. Hearing things wasn't new to her, but it had been a while since she had.

"Who are you?" Ever let out another hefty sigh.

"Don't seem so bored of me already." The voice chuckled. "My name is Hex."

"Hex?" Ever scoffed. "What an interesting name."

"The same goes to you, Ever." The voice retorted.

"What do you want Hex? And where did you come from?" Ever whispered.

"To chat. It can be quite boring between realms. Besides, I heard you were looking for the artifacts." Hex purred.

"You're the voice Queen Coralia was talking to, aren't you?"

"Ah. Queen Coralia, so kind. She was such a kindred spirit to the likes of an old soul like me. But you, Ever, have grabbed my attention."

"And why is that?" Ever wondered how long Hex could keep talking. She was exhausted and was about a minute away from going back to sleep and ignoring him.

"You don't appreciate my friendship?" Hex mused, and Ever rolled her eyes. She forgot that he could hear her thoughts.

"No. I don't. Goodnight Hex." Ever retorted, turning off the lamp and settling back under the covers. She heard a "hmph" before it was quiet again and she could go back to sleep.

Ever learned her lesson after last nights dinner. At breakfast she ate only what she knew she could, and when lunch rolled around she did the same.

Between the two meals June showed her the gardens, town square, and everywhere he could think of showing her in Rosenfelle. So much so, that Aubergine complained about how much her feet hurt, and then argued that if she changed to floating it would make her wings sore. In all the places Ever went though, she could not find where the artifact was. She even tried to ask the prince if there were any interesting magical items or places in Rosenfelle. To which the only thing he showed her was a large 'magic' well that was embedded into the side of the grand oak.

She was grateful for lunch, and the fact that afterward she had a break before dinner.

She decided the first place to search inside the castle was the library.

The library was about two stories, with stairs leading up to the second floor. Floor to ceiling bookcases offered every book you could think of. Minus, of course, the ones that Ever would actually be interested in reading.

With the ban of dark magic, all books depicting anything related were tossed and burned. Which also made it hard to find anything on the Elleden.

Ever gathered the skirt of her dark green dress and headed up the staircase to the second floor. She searched through the categories hoping that there might be something.

She stopped in front of three rows of top to bottom history.

Everything was in alphabetical order, starting with the oldest at the bottom.

Which meant that what she was looking for was at the very top. Ever sighed as she looked up toward the ceiling row. She then glanced around for a ladder.

"I didn't think you would be into history?" Ever jumped out of her skin as she turned to face Prince June.

"Yes, I was actually trying to find a certain book, if you don't mind helping me?" Ever batted her eyelashes.

"What are you looking for?" June asked putting the stack of books he was carrying on the table behind him.

"I'm trying to find a book on modern history to something about say... 30 years ago. If such a thing exists." Ever laughed. Prince June faced the wall of books and looked up.

"You have to choose a book in the most impossible place, don't you?" June chuckled. He traversed around the balcony to grab the ladder and push it all the way to where Ever was. He then climbed to the top and scanned over the books.

"Aha!" He grabbed a dusty, leather bound book from the shelf and climbed down again. He held it out to Ever.

"The History of Ethelia." She read the cover out loud.

"The latest volume." June added, picking up his stack of books from the table.

"Thank you." Ever replied, bowing slightly, before finding a seat to sit down.

"If I may ask? Why so specific?" June stopped at the beginning of the stairs and asked.

"I... enjoy history?" Ever said it like a question. She couldn't have been more obvious.

"Alright then." June decided to not press any further, and Ever was grateful.

Ever watched him disappear downstairs before opening the book.

"What's so important about history?" She could hear Hex yawn.

"Books tell a lot more than any person can."

"True, but you do have to account for the fact that history is written by the victors." Ever ignored the comment and scanned through the pages. She found a few things about the Elledens, but it seemed that all the important information was gone.

"They got rid of all the evidence of a genocide, didn't they?" Ever thought out loud.

"I told you, written by the victors." Hex mused.

Ever sighed. She closed the book and got up, feeling hopeless and stuck. With the last artifact she got lucky, but with this one... she didn't even know where to start. She had already tried asking June about anything that could lead her to an answer, in a not suspicious way. But the trail ends there. She can't sneak around into different rooms, it just felt wrong.

Ever paused at the library door. This wasn't her, reading books for answers, being a goody two-shoes. She was a Lockewood, raised by some of the most powerful witches who never backed down from a challenge. Starting tomorrow, she would do whatever it takes to find the artifact, even if it involved a few... harmless spells.

Ever survived dinner by thinking of a plan. She narrowed down a few rooms that the artifact could be in. One of them, June's chambers, which of course would have consequences if she was seen rummaging through.

"Everything okay Ever?" Prince June asked as she was about to head upstairs after Aubergine. Ever stopped on the first step and turned to face the Prince.

"Yes, I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"You just seemed quite distant, I'm sure you are just tired, but I do want to ask."

"What is it?"

"Would you care to go on a walk with me?"

"Right now?" Ever glanced past him at the encroaching darkness outside.

"Yes, the sunsets in Rosenfelle are particularly beautiful from these heights." Ever thought for a second and rubbed the back of her neck. It was a chance to try and get one last bit of information before acting on her plan tomorrow.

"Sounds lovely." Ever smiled. Prince June held out his hand for her and guided her towards the balcony doors.