A thick layer of frost covered the grass. There was a chill in the air, and Helena shivered as wandered barefoot around the grounds. Andrew was a few paces in front of her, but every couple of seconds he would turn his head to make sure she was still there.

She had promised Andrew more than once that she would stay. But he seemed about as convinced as Lucas was. Both were certain that the moment she saw her chance she would run back to Millbarrow. The only difference between the two was that Andrew wasn't going out of his way to avoid her.

Lucas had spent past two days in his study with the door locked. It didn't matter how many times Helena sat outside and whispered through the door that she wasn't afraid, that she wanted to help the door didn't open.

At night it was different. The pixies would lead her around the castle and the grounds, they claimed they knew the safest routes to avoid the more dangerous things at the castle, wherever they went he would find them.

His yellow eyes would bore into hers as if trying to decide whether to pounce or not. He would growl and snarl, his face neither fully wolf or man but something in-between. The pixies would run and hide behind Helena. Their bodies would tremble with fear as they begged her not to get too close, but she never listened.

Helena would tell him poetry and it seemed to soothe his werewolf form, but when the sun rose and his eyes were hazel again, the black fur gone, and he stood on two legs just towering over then he would run from her like a man possessed.

"If you are cold, we can inside," Andrew told her with his own teeth chattering. He was cold too, but wouldn't admit it in front of her.

"Yes. Let's go back inside and see if there are some apple tarts left," Helena suggested seeing Andrew's face light up. She turned towards the castle and began walking slowly towards it.

Helena heard Andrew's footsteps getting closer until he was right by her side. He slipped his hand hers, it was like a tiny block of ice.

"Helena, what's the village like? It's been so long since I saw it, I can't remember," His voice was full of sadness and longing.

"Well, there are lots of houses that all look the same. There's Jacob's bakery that sells the most delicious bread and cakes," Helena explained, the best she could. Just thinking of those mouth watering cakes made her stomach grumble. "There's the market place. It's always brimming with people and it's so loud, especially on Saturdays. And each step you take, you hit by a new smell. One second you can smell oranges and next horse manure".

"What else is there?" Andrew asked, he seemed so enthralled by it all and it amused Helena.

"There's the school. The building is old and the walls have so many cracks in them. Sometimes a big ginger tomcat waits outside for food. I think he belongs to Mr. William's."

~~~~~

Helena's stomach was full with apple tarts and milk. Andrew had fallen asleep on lap and Mrs. Marcus had carried him off to his room.

She sat in the library with a book in her hand, but this was one of the few times she couldn't focus on the book in front of her. Her mind kept replaying what Andrew had told her before he fell asleep.

"When you go I won't ever forget you even though you won't remember me".

It was such a strange thing to say. She could never forget him or anyone at the castle or the wondrous things she'd seen. But then so many others would have stumbled upon the secrets of the castle during their stay and the only explanation to them not telling the whole village was somehow they'd been made to forget it all.

The sound of someone clearing their throat made her look up and drew her out of her thoughts.

It was Lucas standing there, rigid and uncomfortable.

"I would like to apologize for my absence the last two days," Lucas tone was polite and controlled.

"It's okay. I just wish you had told me about it when I arrived," Helena replied trying to keep voice soft. The same way she did when she recited poetry to him at night.

"Would you have believed me?" Lucas asked, looking into her eyes, looking into her soul.

"No," Helena answered honestly. "I would have thought you had read too many books and gone mad up here in your isolation, but once I'd seen you change there would be no way I could deny it was the truth".

"So you only believe what you see with your eyes? But what happens when your eyes deceive you, and you can no longer trust them or your own thoughts?" It seemed to Helena that the question wasn't aimed at her that it was more a passing thought said out loud but still she answered.

"If I couldn't trust my eyes or my own thoughts then I'd listen to my heart"

"The heart is easily tricked by a warm smile or a kind gesture. In my experience listening to it will only cause pain and grief," Lucas told her bitterly. There was this look on his face, anger and pain. "It is something you will learn the older you get".

Helena scoffed inwardly at the last bit.
"You're not that much older than me!"

"I stopped aging at twenty-two, but technically I'm a hundred and four so that makes me a lot older than you," Lucas said, enjoying the puzzled look on her face.

"How is that possible?"

"One day if you stay around long enough I might tell you".

I hope you enjoyed the update. I wasn't going to update until tomorrow, but I couldn't help myself, I love writing this story.

I look forward to your amazing comments.

I was thinking of holding a competition for the final cover of The Kanefire Curse when hit either 10k or 15k. I'd like to hear your opinion on it. Is it a good idea? Is it something you'd be interested in participating in?

Author Note 2

I changed my mind and decided to post the contest early in my cover book.