Page 20 of To Dance with Death

A shrug.I merely thought you’d want to fetch him back, is all. His presence is not to my liking.

That, I don’t believe. But what he’s implying…“You aren’t making sense. Even if I weren’t trapped here, I have no way to get to him.” Gustav had told me what Anton did during his one day—that he’d entered Morta’s Lair through a portal Moranya had madeonlyfor him.

What if I told you that you can? What if I told you,Illian says, that ethereal gaze holding mine, as deadly as an icicle at my throat,that thereisa way for you to enter Morta’s Lair, as he did? As a mortal?

The idea chills my very bones. Even my lungs seem to grow cold.

“I’d think you were trying to lure me to my death.”

For most, death is the only way,he says, fingers twisting a curl of mine in the mirror.Yet you are different.

Even as his words ring true, I say, “You’re a fool if you think I can’t sense the trap.”

Fine, then,he says with a shrug.I can see I’ve wasted your valuable time, being that you have so much of it these days. Stay here—which surely you know ends in your soul being delivered to Morta’s Lair just like mine. I will see you soon enough. Your death is coming, Vastianna, one way or another.

All at once, his image begins to fade from the mirror like the dissipation of breath.

Trap trap trap,my conscience repeats. But does it matter? If there’s even a smidgen of a chance to save Anton…“Wait!”

All at once, his reflection materializes in full.

“Tell me how. How do I get to Anton?”

You’ll need to get out of here first, don’t you think?

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed,” I say, my fingers curling tighter around the base of the candlestick holder, “but I am locked away in this tower.”

Are you, though?His smile returns.Eremis, Anton—both returned to the land of the living only after refusing her hand. But you are the only soul to come backaftertaking Morta’s hand. Do you not sense that something has changed? Can you not see it?

He jerks his head pointedly down. I follow his gaze to my feet, only to release a screech. I somehow manage to back up—not against the trunk butthroughit, as if my flesh is made of shadow.

My form flickers like a candle.

“I don’t understand,” I say, even as I think back to the strange happenings I’ve tried not to notice. The handle of the coach. The bedpost last night.

Have you never stopped to question what abilities your encounter with death might grant you? Is it not obvious, Vastianna, the way your body and soul fight against each other? The way you waver back and forth? When you died, the bond between soul and body was fractured. I’m willing to bet that you can control it. In fact,he says, licking his lips,I bet you could walk right through that door if you tried.

I glance down at my trembling hands. They are solid, and yet…as I stare, they begin to fade once more. Under my concentration—my panic. And I can feel it, I realize, as if I’m vibrating ever so slightly. Already it’s as if they are vanishing before my eyes.

As ifI’mvanishing.

I suck in a lungful of air, my control slipping. It’s like holding my breath, the effort of it, and yet…I can do it.

I can shift into something akin to a spirit.

Call my name once you’re free from this place,and I will show you the way.

In a blink, he’s gone.

Again I tip my gaze down to my palms. I hate him more than I can say. I know that I can’t trust him, that this is likely to be my end. Except—

Anton is worth everything, and more.

But even if I find him, how can I save him? I have no way of returning his memories to him.

Unless I confront Moranya myself, perhaps. Offer up the pendant, if I have to.Something.

Pacing to the secret door, I ease the tapestry back. I have to be sure I can do this, even as I sense the truth of it beneath my skin. Time and again, Isawmy flesh phase in and out. I need only control it.