Black Moon Draw(86)

“You think people really go mad here?” I ask.

“Oh, aye. The stories have been around for years.”

Not good. “That takes us deeper into the castle,” I say, nodding towards the stairwell. “Kinda the opposite of the direction we want to go.”

“You know this man better than any other. What is he doing?”

I swallow hard. “I don’t know.”

“He would not kill his battle-witch.” There’s uncertainty in Westley’s statement.

“Let’s hope not. I’m supposed to use my magic to stop the curse somewhere in the castle.”

“Do you know where?”

I shake my head.

“Then further into the castle of madness we must go.”

Neither of us moves.

We’re both quiet a moment longer. My adrenaline is humming and the hair on my arms stands on end. The electricity I feel when the medallion worked is in the air here, thick and heavy, like three thunderstorms about to crack open the skies. This is the source of the fog creeping across the world – the castle of Black Moon Draw. I’m going to ignore the fact that everyone who ever enters this place goes crazy or disappears mysteriously.

“You’re right. One way to go,” I say with forced cheerfulness. “Be nice to your battle-witch!” I shout into the castle.

No response.

“Don’t let go,” I warn Westley.

“I won’t.”

Together we step towards the stairs and ascend them. They’re solid for having materialized out of thin air as is the stone landing at the top.

There are three hallways to choose from, one lighted with torches while the other two are dark, cold, and silent. As creepy as this place is, I’m going to assume there’s a good possibility the unlit corridors lead to sudden drops. “This way,” I say and head down the lighted hallway.

“How can you know?” the teen asks.

“Because it’s the only hallway with light.”

“I see no light.”

I stop and face him. “You seriously can’t see the torches?” I point.

“Nay, witch. I see naught but darkness every way.”

Hope bubbles inside me. Maybe the Shadow Knight hasn’t gone mad yet and is trying to help me. “Either I have magic or he left the light on for me.”

“So long as you are in his favor and he is not leading you into a trap.”

If you use the magic of Black Moon Draw in support of my enemies, I will come for your head. The parting words of the possibly now-crazy Shadow Knight drift through my mind. “I’m uh . . . fairly confident he won’t kill me,” I mumble. “We don’t have much of a choice anyway, right?”

The teen is scared, but doesn’t resist when I tug him down the hallway. We reach a dead end with two more options of where to go. Once more, one hall is lighted.

“Do they both look dark to you?” I ask.

“Aye.” Westley is uneasy.

“This way.” I tug him after me.

I can’t help but think the lighted hallways are leading us somewhere we may not want to be instead of guiding us out. Is it the work of the Shadow Knight I know I can trust or the battle queen’s spell that’s grown out of control since it was first cast? Salvation or trap?

“Do you hear that?” Westley whispers.

“What?”

“Someone following us.”

I turn around and see nothing in the brightly lit hallway. “There’s no one there.”

“But I can hear him.”

We stop walking and I listen hard without hearing anything. “C’mon. Maybe we can find a window or exit sign or something.”

“Nay, witch. He is almost upon us!” Westley pulls free of my hand and whirls, brandishing his sword.

“No! Don’t let go!” I cry too late.

He vanishes.

I stare into the vacant hallway, unable to see or hear him or the man he thought was following.

“Shit!” I start back the way we came.

A loud creak makes me stop, and seconds later, the stone at the tip of my toes collapses. Blackness yawns open, the hole too wide for me to jump.

“Okay. Someone clearly wants me to go the other way.” There are no cameras in this world, but I look for them anyway in the corners of the rafters far above. Focused on breathing steadily, I face the direction the castle is herding me and start forward once more. “If you can hear me, please don’t hurt Westley. He helped me. He’s not your enemy.” Except for the whole conspiracy issue. It seems rather minor right now, given my current situation.

It’s quiet and bright yet still creepy, the fog hanging in the shadows of the ceiling as if waiting for the chance to pounce.

I don’t move for a long moment, thoughts in turmoil. I don’t want Westley to die here, but how do I help him if he’s invisible, trapped somewhere in this creepy castle? I’m supposed to face the curse and help the Shadow Knight defeat it.

“Maybe I am supposed to be here now,” I say, the sound of my voice helping me focus. “Find Atreyu, stop the curse, save the world.” With what magic? asks my self-doubt. “One thing at a time,” I reply.

I start forward again, scared of what I’ll find and terrified of screwing up. My shallow breathing is the only sound in the hall.