SOMEONE TO STAY

[10]

chapter ten

~

         "Ugh!" I whined. I've been trying to figure out this spell for two hours, but every single time, I screw up. I practiced with a chest I found in Jamison's room—one he locked with magic. "What's the point?"

"What point?"

I jumped at the sound of Rosita's voice in my bedroom doorway. I shut the spell book and turn it over, pushing the small chest underneath of my pillow. As she stepped inside, I shrug my shoulders. "In all of this," I lie. "We don't even have a king and queen anymore. What's the point in doing all of this for Naomi, if we're not going to have anyone to rule the new kingdom."

"Derrik is going to rule the new Kingdom..."

"Look where he got us—"

"You're the one who screwed everything up, Evangeline. If you really think about it.." She cut me off. "But you're playing a huge part in repairing what's broken, so..." She trailed off. I furrowed my eyebrows at her. "Dinner will be ready soon. I'll send someone up to let you know when the chefs are finished cooking."

         I pursed my lips and nodded, turning away from her as she left my room. I sat back up and opened the book, taking the chest out again. I went to speak the spell, but I was interrupted by a high pitched squeal. I looked on the floor to see a small rat, chewing on a piece of food. It continued squealing, making unnecessary noises.

Kill!

Et tormentis!

Die!

         The sudden voices in my head continued, repeating the same thing over and over again, as I grew more impatient.

          If you can't kill a stupid rat how do you expect to kill Prince Jamison?!

          "Et...tormentis." I whispered, watching as the rat became stiff, dropping the food that was in its mouth. I raised my head and repeated my words, watching as the rat twisted and moved in abnormal ways, squealing loudly. "Mori." The rat then dropped dead, no noise or further movement made.

          "Um...Miss Hastings.." I looked up to see a terrified servant standing in the doorway. "Dinner is ready." I nodded, and stood there, her eyes staying on the rat on my rug.

         "Are you just going to stare at it?" I asked her. She jumped and looked up to meet my gaze. "Well?"

        "I apologize, it just..." She looked back at it, her mouth dropping open. "We're not allowed to..feed on anything, and..."

           I sighed, and walked over to her. My eyes moved to another servant, walking behind her. "Ego-Imperium." I said to her. The servants step came to a stop and she turned to face me. I used the spell to make her roll her sleeve up and hold it out in front of the other girl. "Well, drink up. And hurry so you don't get caught."

        As I walked past her, I heard her sink her teeth into the girls skin. I smiled, feeling more confident in my magic after successfully using it on a living thing and then an actual vampire.

-

          "Ut dismit..ad quæ revelanda erat...ut molliebat." I watched as the chest unlocked itself in front of me. After dinner, I continued my previous practice, and it finally worked. I opened the chest, and frowned. There was nothing but a ring inside. I took the ring out and slid it on my finger, waiting for something to happen. When nothing did, I shut the box and placed it on my nightstand.

          I stood up from my bed, and listened out for anyone in the castle. I could hear small conversations, but not from anyone who would care if I wandered around. Which meant I could go to the catacomb without getting caught.

-

"Who would've thought..." I said upon seeing the door the servant was talking about. It was covered in carvings of snakes and vines, and other various objects and shapes.

         The catacombs were dark, but there were torches on the walls that lit up a pathway. I let out a breath, and closed my eyes, preparing myself to do the spell. "Ut dismit...a—Ah!" I screamed out in pain, feeling as though something was stabbing the inside of my skull.

It felt like there were thousands of tiny knives stabbing me. I fell to my knees, hearing someone approach me. "Ut senties dolorem..." I winced at the familiar voice, feeling the pain intensify. I struggled to look up, meeting the girls eyes.

"Naomi..."

          "I knew something was up. I couldn't use my damn magic and then I hear my spell being chanted in the catacombs of all places." She stopped using her magic. "I should kill you."

          I quickly regenerated, and rose to my feet.                        "And why is that, huh?"

          "That ring. Where'd you get it?" She asked, looking at my hand.

"None of your business. Where the hell did you come from anyways?"

         "See, I thought we could get along, Evangeline. But you've stolen from me, and you've gone behind Rosie's back." She sneered.

        "I don't care about you or if you want to be my friend, Naomi. I got the ring from Jamison's room. And Rosita—she has nothing to do with this." I snapped.

"Don't you dare speak his name from those lips, Evangeline."

          "—You mean the lips your mate so happily kissed?" I asked. "He would do anything for me to love him the way he wanted. You're his mate but he wanted me. Don't feel so special, love." I watched her face drop. It looked at though her entire heart had been crushed to pieces. "Now, who's going to kill who?"

         She squeezed her eyes shut and looked down at her feet. "Evangeline, you're nothing like your mother." She uttered. A smirk played at my lips as she looked up at me. "You're everything she'd hate to be."

         "Trust me, I know."