Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 108376 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 434(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108376 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 434(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
I sensed Belinda studying me before she asked, “How do you feel?”
“Like someone tore my heart out then put it back in all wrong.”
“I never had my heart broken. Never got the chance,” she said wistfully.
“Count yourself lucky,” I told her miserably then felt a twinge of guilt when a glum look crossed her features. “Hey, don’t listen to me. Maybe you’ll meet someone when you finally go wherever it is ghosts go when they ascend.”
“If that even happens. Your mother has already tried several spells and none of them worked.” She sighed, looking dejected. “I think I might be stuck here indefinitely. Anyway, distract me from my boredom. Why did Peter break up with you?”
Her question caused a sharp stab in my chest. “Let’s not talk about that.”
“Was it because of Vasilios? Did something happen between you two in the prison?”
I was about to respond that no, nothing had happened when my phone buzzed on my nightstand with a text. It was from Ren.
Where are you? People are saying the Guard found new evidence and arrested you again for Belinda’s murder.
I rolled my eyes, too heartsick to even care about their stupid gossip. I typed a quick response.
Haven’t been arrested. Just feeling under the weather. I’ll be back tomorrow.
As soon as I sent it I powered the phone off, not wanting to talk to anyone today. I was going to stay under the covers and perhaps request that Mum cast another of her spells to make me sleep. I was about to ask Belinda to fetch her when an odd buzzing sounded in my ears. Belinda must’ve felt it too because she asked, “What’s that weird noise?”
It took me a second to realise what was happening when suddenly my great-grandfather appeared. Roman Patel always knew how to make a surprise entrance and this was no exception. His presence cast some much needed light over my shadowy mood. I was so glad to see him that I dove from the bed and threw my arms around his neck.
“Hello, my starling. It’s been too long,” he said. His affectionate nickname for me felt even more comforting than his hug, and I needed all the comfort I could get in my current state.
“You have no idea how happy I am to see you,” I breathed. With all my heartbreak over Peter, I’d almost forgotten that Vas and Sven were still in the clutches of Red Armand and needed to be rescued.
“I gather you require my assistance,” he said, before his attention fell on Belinda. Of course, Roman would be able to see her. Sorcerers had many crazy talents so seeing ghosts was run of the mill for him.
“And who is this?” he asked, stepping forward. My companion looked starstruck. Roman was a bit of a legend in our community.
“Belinda Williams, a pleasure to meet you. Um, are you…”
“The one and only. Darya, I didn’t know you had an affinity for spirits. How thoroughly intriguing. I always thought you took after your father but perhaps you inherited some of your mother’s talents after all.”
“Well, I’m still terrible at spells so I haven’t inherited much,” I said self-deprecatingly.
“There’s time yet. Now come, tell me why you called on me, my starling.”
“I’ll leave you two to talk,” Belinda said then vanished from the room. Roman smiled at the empty spot she left behind. “Poor girl. Dying young is a terrible fate. Is that why you asked me here? Because if so I’m afraid I can’t bring back the dead.”
“No, that’s not it. I need you to help some friends of mine.”
Roman went and sat on my rumpled bed. With his glossy jet black hair, flawless caramel skin and pristine suit he couldn’t have looked more out of place. “Tell me about these friends then.”
I took a deep breath and started talking. By the time I’d finished recounting everything Roman had fallen silent. I couldn’t tell if it was a good silence or a bad silence until he said, “I’m sorry, my starling, but I cannot save your friends.”
“Why not? I thought you could travel between dimensions?”
“I can. I’ve visited many alternate realms, including the one where your friends have been taken. During my time there I garnered a very powerful enemy and in order to bargain for my safe departure I made an agreement never to return.”
“Oh,” I breathed. “What happened?”
“There’s a ruler in Treyu known as the Dicteps,” Roman explained. “When I arrived in his city he tried to have me captured, as is their custom with any non-demons. I evaded his attempts many times, making him look quite the bumbling fool. In the end he finally got the better of me and I was captured. That was when he gave me an ultimatum: leave his city forever or be sent to labour in their mines for a thousand years. I chose the former, which is why I can’t rescue your friends. I made an agreement and I always honour my agreements. I can, however, give you a weapon that will be invaluable should you decide to journey to Oreylia yourself.”