Page 109 of Nocte

Then, she continues to speak. The pain gets sharper. The hungry creature in my skull dies down. Although her pain is beautiful, it does not belong. Not here. Not now.

“Hybrids are rare creatures known for the unique properties of their blood, for it transcends the power imbued in any other race. A single drop of hybrid blood can transform the mind of even vamryre. The affected creature is then bound to the will of the monster who tempted it…”

She trails off and another part of me rails. Rages.

I want that voice. I need it.

To find my way out of this empty, useless skull, I need to hear it.

Hear her.

CHAPTER42

Niamh

Iwake up slumped against Caspian’s shoulder, the infernal book still open on my lap. After Poppy cheerfully knocks on my door, I wash up, put on that pink, flowy dress, and head down to the shop.

The day proceeds normally, with the usual amount of customers. When Poppy returns at the end of lunchtime, she happily dances past. “I am going to a concert. A boy asked me to one. A pretty boy. But I am taking Daisy! Oh, you can come too if you want?” She beams at me, dreamily sighing at the thought of her concert.

“I can’t,” I say.

Because something is happening tonight. Something big is happening tonight. Something wrong.

The air in this place is all wrong. Stilted. Stifling.

Caspian. I don’t like this air. I should take Caspian away. But where?

“Okay!” Poppy skips by into the main house. I hear a door open and slam with mindless, innocent noise. A chorus of shushes rises up.

“Poppy! Damn it, Poppy! Hush, Poppy.”

I wish the noise would wake Caspian. Bring him back.

But it doesn’t.

I am left in the storefront alone. I have to tend to the next customer alone.

A woman with sad gray eyes shuffles to the counter and whispers to me, “Order for A. Geem.” A. Geem. I find a parcel with her name written on it under the counter. I hand it to her. Extend my palm.

“Payment please,” I request politely.

She nods and drops a hairpin onto my hand. “Payment given. Good day.”

Good day.

Bad day.

Long, boring day.

More customers arrive, but none wake up Caspian. None of them alone seem to have an answer to who or what I am. They barely look at me, fixated on their mysterious orders.

Payment.

Order.

Payment.

It goes like that until darkness descends, and the customers, one by one, trickle away. An hour passes without a new one coming. Another hour.