Chapter Forty-Two

Lucianne bolted back to the steps as the feral child chased after her on her hands and feet, a dreadful hissing noise coming from her black mouth. She climbed the stairs three steps at a time, desperate to get away from the creature which was fast on her tail. Her body screamed at her to slow down, but she ignored it. As she scrambled to get back to the top of the tower, the child's sharp nails clawed once at her ankles, drawing blood. In about fifteen minutes, she reached the top of her tower, collapsing there as the world around her spun until she drifted from consciousness.

The next time she opened her eyes, the world was blurry. Everything was out of focus, but she could still hear and see. Figures moved beside her, stopping to look down at her but she could not tell who it was. Fingers brushed her forehead lightly, and she felt the heat on her own skin touch theirs. Then she drifted from consciousness again.

When she awoke again, the world was much clearer, but still blurry. Her breath was hot and hard to catch. She saw the familiar shape of Gabriel hovering over her, hand placed on hers. She looked down at herself and saw one of her feet in a brace. Blinking, she looked at Gabriel again. He was… blurred.

She closed her eyes, then opened them again. He was still there, but she couldn't make the features of his face out. She blinked repeatedly, trying to get the haze out of her vision, but nothing happened. Gabriel muttered something and she heard it, but didn't know what it was.

She came to again, and this time she could tell that considerable time had passed. Gabriel was beside her bed, looking at her intently. But instead of her vision clearing, he was more blurred again. He spoke, a mumble of nonsense. She stared at the ceiling, which was red. Blood red.

Genevieve.

Gabriel spoke to her. "Genevieve…"

But her mind turned black again. When she reopened her eyes, everything was bright and clear. Her eyes were in full focus and she turned to her side. Gabriel was sharp and he smiled warmly at her.

"How long was I out for?" Lucianne asked.

"Hey, Lucianne," he said.

"What day is it?"

"It's been three months since I found you outside your room, on the ground."

"What - What happened?" she asked. Images of the feral child came crashing back to her.

"You cut your ankle against something unclean and it got infected. You've been recovering since then."

"What about the child from the pathway?"

"What child? The pathway?"

"There was a secret pathway inside the tower - it had stairs that pointed downwards and I had to descend for ten hours before I finally got to the bottom. I found some animalistic child there shovelling dirt into her mouth. She came after me and scratched my ankle. Then I blacked out."

"You cut your ankle against the hinges on your room door, Lucianne."

"No, no, I didn't! There was a secret pathway - "

"Stop. You're not making any sense."

"Fuck you, Gabriel! Stop gaslighting me!"

He stayed silent for a long while. "If you're going to continue speaking like that, I'll leave."

"I - I'm sorry," she said.

"I forgive you."

"You own Ravenspire."

"And?"

"Were there really no other dormitories for me?"

"There were. I wanted you here, in this tower."

"Why?"

"I needed you isolated from other people."

"What? Why?"

"You know why."

"What are you, Gabriel?"

"Lucianne, rest."

"Are you - "

"Stop."

"Are you the Hex Beast?"

He kept quiet.

"Gabriel, are you the Hex Beast?"

"No, I'm not."

"Then what are you?"

"I am one thing only," he said. "I am the servant to your existence. I breathe for you, exist for you, live for you, love for you. There is nothing I would not sacrifice for your sake, Lucianne. I am yours."

She blinked. "What is going on?"

"Close your eyes and rest."

"I - "

"I'll tell you everything soon," he said. "I promise you that."