The Keep (The Secret of Spellshadow Manor #4)(57)

Alex raised an eyebrow, still wary of this stranger. “Why should I trust you?” he muttered, musing upon those very words. Why was he still standing here? Why hadn’t he lifted his hands and made the first move? Why had Caius let him approach? There were so many questions, and only one who could answer them.

“Come now, let’s not get off on the wrong foot,” said Caius softly, gesturing toward the armchair opposite him. “Join me by the fire—we’ll talk, we’ll drink tea, and then we’ll see if you still want to blow my head off.”

Alex hesitated.

“Please, if you’re thinking of trying to fight me, I would strongly advise you not to. It would be futile, for you and for me,” he said calmly. “You see, your anger is misplaced… I am not the kidnapper you are looking for.”





Chapter 18





The old man was a mystery, a million miles away from the villainous monster Alex had been expecting, the polar opposite of his cruel brother. Although Caius greatly resembled King Julius, there was a welcoming quality to him that reminded Alex of his grandfather, and as much as he tried to stir up thoughts of combat and gaining the upper hand, the warden was one step ahead, warning him against it with his gentle gaze.

“What do you mean, you’re not the kidnapper I’m after?” Alex asked, still not taking the seat opposite the old man.

“Exactly as I say—I am not the kidnapper you are looking for,” he replied, matter-of-factly. From an elegant crystal decanter, he poured two glasses of blood-red liquid. Alex eyed them cautiously. “It’s not poison, I promise. I thought you could use something to warm you up.” Caius smiled, a natural expression of warmth washing over his wrinkled face.

Alex frowned. “I thought you said we’d drink tea.”

“And indeed we shall—this is more medicinal than flavorsome, sadly,” he explained, pushing the glinting crystal glass across the small table between the two armchairs. “Come, sit. It’ll do you no good hovering over there like a baffled hornet. You have questions. I am happy to answer them, but only if there is civility between the two of us. I can understand your hesitation, and even your wrath, but I assure you, you have nothing to fear from me—undoubtedly you believe otherwise, but I swear it upon whatever you’d like me to swear upon. I am the architect of my own reputation. I know how I appear on paper; I have written the pages myself, tearing a few from my brother’s book, but you will find me quite surprising if you take the time to sit and talk, like two ordinary beings.” He gestured once more to the chair opposite him.

This time, Alex obliged, though he felt a little strange, sitting across from a known sadist with Ellabell a short distance away, breathing softly beneath the blankets, the glow of orange flames dancing upon her peaceful face. It was a deep sleep she was under, that much was clear.

“What have you done to her?” he asked, flashing an accusatory look at Caius.

“A small spell to make her sleep, no more.”

The admission made Alex bristle. He wanted to snatch her up and take her back to the keep as quickly as he could, and yet something kept him in his place, his curiosity piqued.

“Before you jump to conclusions, let me explain that it was for her own benefit. I am not the heartless fiend you have no doubt been informed I am,” he sighed. “I found her barely conscious at the foot of the mountain, frozen to the bone, shivering so much she almost cracked her teeth, they were chattering that hard. I did what I had to and brought her back here as quickly as possible, to get her temperature back up. I fed her, warmed her, and wove a little spell to help her sleep, to let her forget the nightmares that kept her from drifting off.”

Alex frowned. “Nightmares?”

“She kept murmuring something about being too afraid to sleep, but she had clearly been through a traumatic time and needed to rest. I simply helped calm her mind so she could do so,” he explained with a cursory nod.

We have all been through a traumatic time, Alex thought bitterly, though he didn’t speak the words as Caius continued.

“I have no idea how she came to be there, at the bottom of the mountain path, but I made sure she was safe. You have my word on that.”

“Why should I believe a single thing you say? I’ve heard about you—I know the stories. I can’t trust anything that comes out of your mouth,” Alex remarked coldly, glancing down at the sleeping figure in the blankets, wondering what had happened to her. It had seemed unlikely it was anyone other than Caius who had snatched her, considering what they had tried to do to his prison, but now he wasn’t so sure. Caius was convincing, Alex had to give him that.

Caius smiled sadly. “As I say, I am the architect of my own reputation—I have been forced to make it so. I am not the character I have created, but I have to make everyone believe I am. As I say, most of it is stolen from my brother’s playbook, though I could never be as utterly heartless as he. That man is a true monster, whereas I am simply the illusion of one,” he said. “Do you truly believe I could keep that place in order if they did not fear me?”

Alex shrugged. “I suppose not… but they aren’t all criminals. Why keep them there if they haven’t done anything wrong?”

“No, you are right—they aren’t all criminals, but many of them are, and the ones who are, are not the kinds of people you want out in the world. In order to control the worst of them, I have to control them all. I am made to abide by the rules of those above me as much as anyone else is. And no, it isn’t right and it isn’t fair, but I have to oversee it consistently, or the true crooks would crucify me. You aren’t stupid, my boy; I can see a sharp mind in that head of yours. Those with evil in their hearts would seek to overthrow me if they saw the man you see before you now,” he explained. “My reputation is fierce, and it keeps everyone safe. I rule from afar to keep the balance from tipping.”