Page 56 of Castle of the Cursed
“I’m already here, and I have the food,” he says, frowning and holding up the basket like an exhibit at a trial.
“Fine,” I say, but my gut still refuses to let me open the door. As much as I want to break Beatríz’s rules as punishment for her abandoning me, something is telling me this is a bad idea. My aunt seemed dead set against letting anyone visit la Sombra, and remembering the full moon parties, I say, “Let’s picnic in the front garden.”
Felipe’s smile wilts into a pucker. “You mean this plant cemetery? No way. I want to go inside.”
“I’m—I’m not sure it’s a good idea. Beatríz told me I’m not allowed visitors.”
“We made this plan days ago,” he argues. “Why are you changing your mind?”
“It’s just that—after everything we’ve been reading, I can’t help thinking—what if there’s a real reason Beatríz doesn’t get any visitors? Aside from her charming personality?”
Felipe’s expression turns into a full-faced frown. “You said I could come. Now you’re going back on your word?”
“I’m just not sure—”
“Are you seriously doing this to me?” he says, for the first time sounding truly angry. “I opened up to you more than anyone else in my life—you know how much it means to me to finally see inside la Sombra! You don’t even care about this town or this castle, but I thought you at least cared about me.”
“I do—!”
“Then why would you screw with me like this?”
“I’m not—!”
He drops the basket on the cobblestones. “Here. Have your picnic alone. I’ll see you at the bookstore when you need something. I guess that’s how this friendship works.”
He turns and marches down the dead garden toward the gate.
“Felipe, wait—you can come in!” I blurt.
He spins around and hurries back, like he’s afraid the offer could expire. The bad mood has already melted off his features as he stares at me in anticipation, basket back in hand.
“So, how does this work—do you move, or do I swing you open?”
I force myself to take one step back, then another, and he rushes inside eagerly, as if la Sombra were a chocolate factory and not a cursed castle.
Felipe’s neck swivels as he takes in the entrance hall from every angle, and his silent awe is so thick that it almost feels holy, and I have to break it. “Any books in there?” I ask, pointing to the basket he’s carrying.
“Maybe,” he says, his gaze soaring up the walls to the red glow of the candle-like lamps. He’s never seemed less interested in reading. His eyes glow brighter here than even at Libroscuro, despite the fact that this castle has only a sliver of the attic’s light.
“Most areas are off-limits. A lot of repair work needs to be done.” I cringe at hearing myself. I sound like my aunt.
“I want to see the tower,” says Felipe.
“Um…”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t been there yet?” he asks, reading my expression as easily as I read his.
“I… haven’t.” I can’t believe I’ve spent a week here and haven’t even thought of searching for the tower.
“Let’s find it together!” He looks like he’s approaching enlightenment.
I really hope I didn’t make the wrong decision letting him in, but it felt cruel to refuse him when he’s spent his whole life longing to see this place.
“Okay, fine,” I say, since now that he’s brought up the tower, all I want to do is find it.
“From its outer geography,” he says, a wrinkle forming between his eyebrows, “we know it’s on the west side of the castle.”
I visualize the long corridor that leads to the mirror room with the chandelier. Now that I think of it, the ground even felt like it was ascending when I took that path.
