No, it was Rosabel's statement that didn't make sense. She had seen it with her own eyes, the Silver Hunter had been in that mansion. His cold hand had held her cheek and his claws had dug into her locs. She had seen his green eyes.
She had seen him.
"And I am saying, again, Julie, it makes no sense—"
"What if he is already back and nobody knows about it. Does he not go to the mansion every once in a while?"
"Never," She said flatly.
That word hit her.
It had been said so confidently that it shook her thoughts.
"Why are you so certain of that?"
"The royal family didn't move out of the Former Royal Delweyn's mansion for nothing. Something had happened, I don't know what it was but it had affected them all greatly. They couldn't demolish the house but they couldn't stay there either. Some people say that the mansion was where he got his madness from. He avoids it like the plague. You will never see him around it. Other royal families? Maybe. But him? Never. You see, Julie." Rosabel took her hand gently. "What you saw is just impossible. The darkness must have been playing tricks on you. Fear does that sometimes, it creates illusions that feel too much like reality."
Idalia pulled her hand away from Rosabel's gently. "Madness?"
The rain was still beating against the roof and though everything Rosabel had said unsettled her, it was the madness part that had unsettled her the most.
Rosabel nodded. "Oh, he is insane."
"Like he does crazy things?"
Rosabel sat up straight. "He is mad. Plain and simple. They had him locked up one time because of it, so I heard. But words are not enough. Do you not notice how people stay away from him? How the vampires that must approach him do so very carefully? No one knows what you'll do that would get him riled up, hit his madness stage and kill you."
"No. I did not notice any of that." It felt like a lie on her lips, as she thought back to how he had killed every vampire at the auction. There had been a glimmer in his eyes when he leaned down and handed Arik to her. She had not noticed it then, but now she did.
Now, it was starting to fall into place.
"Then you haven't gotten the opportunity to see enough of him. Just be attentive at the next royal event you'll have to serve at, see how many ladies admire him from afar bjt never move close enough to him. He is royal, he is handsome, he should be a good enough catch and elevate the status of any lady. But no. He is mad. Only eye candy worthy. Simply untouchable."
Well, that was unnecessary information. Idalia did not care about the worth of the Silver Hunter in the marriage market. But Rosabel seemed to be itching to tell someone about it, so she simply listened. She wondered how long it took Rosabel to gather all this information.
The one about his madness though, she found very intriguing.
"Why is he not in a hospital or something?"
"I heard he keeps it under control. Besides, his position does require a little bit of insanity. Grand General." She clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth and nodded. "You see. He couldn't have been in the mansion. You were just afraid."
Idalia attempted to move but she remembered the existence of the herbs on her back and she lay still.
"How about you come with me and we check out the mansion together?"
Rosabel laughed.
Honestly, her laughter was starting to get really annoying.
"And what? Annoy Madam Fion when she finds out I am probing around what she is using to keep many in line? Please be realistic. Do you know how much control she has? She is the reason no one allowed you into the mansion or the guard's unit tonight. I have stayed here for five years and I have kept my head down and survived. I am not about to ruin that."
She stood up.
"Just sleep. All will be better in the morning."
"If she is so powerful, wouldn't she punish you for helping me? Why are you not afraid?"
"I have my way around these things."
"Where even is this place?"
"Somewhere. It's a gift." She was starting to walk away now. "Just sleep. You need it."
The room fell into silence as she closed the door and left.
Idalia was left with her thoughts, with everything Rosabel had said and even more thoughts.
All Questions.
No answer.
Then sleep.
But even in her dreams - nightmare- she could still see those eyes, the black ink spilled beneath his skin and crawling up to his face like cobwebs, she could still feel his cold hand against her cheek, she could still feel the dread of that moment.
Even when she had suddenly awoken in the dead of the night, and checked her emergency bag to realise it hadn't been tampered with in any way, she could still feel that dread and grief.
Now that she had been forced to relive all her traumatic experiences, the wound felt raw, like the moments it had all happened.
So what? Had it been her fear that yanked her to different realities? Had it just been the mansion being lonely? Had she not felt that pull? Had she not heard that raven? Had she not seen it?
If Rosabel, then she was certainly losing her mind. But somehow Idalia did not feel like her mind was that creative enough to blend realities like that. If it were, she felt like she would have known. She had gone through many traumatic events lately, her mind had enough material to use.
But why tonight?
Something about this didn't feel right.
She had certainly seen what she had seen in that mansion. It wasn't fear. It wasn't an illusion. It was real.
Also she had seen the Silver Hunter attack someone without touching them, like the rogue on that train.
It had been real.
Any explanation as to why and how the Silver Hunter was there, was something she would figure out another day.
Besides, she was the only person she could trust right now. What if Rosabel was lying? Had she not betrayed her only hours ago?
She had to be careful. She was alone, with her son relying on her.
She refused to be stupid.