Page 69 of Castle of the Cursed
“Y-you killed my parents for this?” I ask, my mouth dry.
“I’m not a murderer.”
The defensive way he says it tells me he’s insisted on that before.
“Then let Felipe go. You don’t need him.”
“You’ve grown up so much.” Teo’s face softens, and for an instant he actually looks the part of a proud uncle. “You remind me of both of them, Oli and Bea. You’re everything they could have hoped you’d become.”
Under different circumstances, these words, his smile, the warmth in his voice would have delighted me. His hand reaches for my face, and I turn my head away. Still, I feel his finger stroke my cheek, wiping my tears.
“What do you need my blood for?” I ask without looking at him.
“You’ll know soon enough,” he says, almost gently.
It feels like my body is deflating, and soon I’ll disappear. Even my brain is crumpling into itself, everything shutting down as the blood drips drips drips away…
“I take it you haven’t found the journals yet,” he says by my ear.
I turn my head to face him, but my vision is fading. “What journals?”
“I bet she likes you,” he murmurs. “You have the same chispa. Spark.”
“What journals?” I whisper, my eyelids flickering.
“Shh,” he says, shutting my eyes for me with his fingers. “Buenas noches, Tela.”
As blackness overtakes me, I hear him resume his humming. Only that’s not what it is—he’s chanting. It’s the same phrase, over and over and over again…
That’s the spell, I realize, visualizing the ancient parchment Felipe shared with me. Blood drawn under a full moon in the shadow of the castle—only the last line wasn’t referring to nighttime. It was a chant.
No hay luz en Oscuro.
No hay luz en Oscuro.
No hay luz en Oscuro.
I open my eyes to the sun.
There’s an earthy sweetness in the air. My back and neck are stiff, and I’m on the ground, my coat draped over me like a blanket.
I’m shivering and can barely move from weakness. Did Teo leave me in the forest overnight? What about Felipe?
At the thought of him, I force my knees to bend. My arm hurts as I lean on my elbow to sit up and survey my surroundings. The town of Oscuro sprawls below, along with the forest… and twisting my neck, I look up to see la Sombra looming over me.
Teo must have carried me back to the castle. Strange that he didn’t cross the gate, even though his sister isn’t home. Is it possible he knows about Sebastián?
There are Band-Aids on both my arms, and twin bruises are already forming where he inserted the needles. I wince with pain as I stand up, head pulsing.
Miraculously, the key to the castle is still zipped inside my hoodie’s pocket. Once indoors, I go straight to the kitchen and tear into a loaf of bread with my teeth. I drink as much water as I can, finish the gazpacho, and stack crackers with jamón serrano, cheese, and olives until I’m fit to burst.
I don’t see any signs of Beatríz being back. I should call the cops and tell them about Felipe and my uncle and urge them to locate my aunt. Instead, I call Libroscuro.
I dig out the business-turned-library card, and I go into Beatríz’s room because it has the only phone I’ve seen in the castle. I dial the number and hope someone picks up.
“Buen día, se ha comunicado con Libroscuro, ¿con qué le puedo ayudar?”
It’s Felipe’s father. “Arturo? Soy Estela.”
