Page 132 of Castle of the Cursed
Despite everything Sebastián has said to me, despite his being my blood-bound, in this moment, I am on the outside. I have no idea what has happened between them. Or how he feels about my sister.
Sebastián turns to me, and I know this is it. He will have to make a choice between Antonela and me, and the one he selects will be the one who survives.
He’s already told me three times that he chooses me over everything. And yet Antonela just seemed to make a strong point. Will it be enough to change his mind?
He takes my face in his hands. Then he kisses me.
His lips move all over, down my chin, along my throat, and it feels so good that I barely feel it when his fangs puncture my skin.
I inhale sharply as there’s a pull on my insides, like I’m being sucked out of my body.
Sebastián moans, unable to tamp down his enjoyment, and I feel that familiar mix of pleasure and pain, until I begin to grow lightheaded. I try to keep my eyes open a slit to see if my sister has moved yet, but she hasn’t.
I’m beginning to feel weak all over, but Sebastián isn’t slowing down. Soon I’m going to pass out, and I won’t stand a chance against Antonela.
Black smoke flickers in my sister’s eyes.
I tap Sebastián on the shoulder to let him know to stop, but his fangs are still hooked in. I can barely breathe. He’s taking too much. How will I fight her off if I’m unconscious?
Sebastián leaps back, his eyes wide with horror the likes of which I never thought I would see on his face. His mouth is smeared with my blood, and he opens it to tell me something—
But he bursts into smoke, taking all the room’s light with him. Once the air clears, he’s gone.
My sister approaches me. She bends down, and I try to move, but my eyes flicker, my body too heavy, heart pounding dangerously slow in my ears. I’m dying.
“Goodbye, sister,” she says, and it almost seems like emotion softens Bea’s eyes. “I am sorry it had to be this way.”
Her corneas are completely black with smoke as she grips my chin with Bea’s hand.
I stare at the spot where Sebastián disappeared, waiting for him to reappear. If he doesn’t come soon, she will possess me. What’s taking so long? He should move faster than this.
Antonela pries open my mouth, and the smoke funnels out of her body to enter mine.
What if Sebastián is gone? That means he has no way to come back.
I’m alone.
My sister dives for my throat—and I try reaching out with my hand to shove her away, not expecting it to work.
To my extreme shock, I make contact. But I have to squint to make sure I’m seeing right.
My arm no longer seems to be made of flesh and bone.
I have become purple smoke.
RAUL’S RULE #12YOU CAN ONLY SOLVE THE CASE, NOT THE PERSON.
CHAPTER 31
ANTONELA AND I ARE BOTH smoky shadows, our shapes identical silhouettes. I look down at my purple form in awe, my gaze jumping back and forth between it and my body lying unconscious on the floor.
This doesn’t feel real. Am I dead? How do I get back to myself?
“How is this happening?” Antonela asks me, and I know she’s not the one doing this. As she follows my gaze, my body looks vulnerable and unprotected.
The lights flicker, and we look around us.
This is the castle’s doing.
