Stella's POV

The first thing I was aware of was the sound of a fire crackling.

I opened my eyes and saw Graywick throwing a log into the fireplace in the large bedroom I was in. Franticly I looked around the room as I remembered the fight we had in the library.

The color vanished from the room. It was like I sucked it from the space, consuming it like fuel for a fire. And just when I got the upper hand, Graywick took control. I thought he was going to kill me. He stood over me like he loathed me, that he would finish me without a thought. But in the library, that was not me. I felt as if darkness consumed me, and I liked it. I wanted it. That power sucked me in and for a moment, I wanted to kill him and soak in that power for as long as I could. That thought alone scared me more than being here alone in this room with Graywick.

"How are you?" Graywick asked as he turned to me. His calm look appearance made me wonder if that fight in the library was just a dream. It felt so real that I thought it was real. But if it was, when why was I not chained up? Why did he look as calm as he had been since I arrived?

"ok," I mumbled as I sat upright in bed, feeling my head spin. It caused me to wince. My body felt achy, actually more than achy. I felt like I was hit by a bus.

That made me believe that what happened at the library actually happened. It would explain why I was so exhausted.

He smiled as he walked closer to the bed. "Good to hear. You have been sound asleep for a while. Looks like you needed it."

I nodded as I tried to wake myself up. "How long have I been asleep for?"

"A while. It's Monday."

The single fact alone caused me to jump out of my bed. Monday. I shouldn't be here any longer. Soon my parents would look for me once I didn't come home from school. And they would not find me.

I knew this was a bad idea. I should have known that the Umbra Mortine wouldn't be an easy fix. Who was I thinking this would be fixed by the weekend?

"I have been asleep for a whole day?" I gasped.

There was no time to waste. I needed to go back to Jackson. I had to go to school. My parents would be too worried.

"Yes, you slept a lot. More than I thought you would."

I slipped on my snow boots, which were by the bed. "I have to go back to Jackson."

"I don't think that is a smart idea."

His comment felt more like a threat than anything. It caused me to freeze and stare at him for a moment before voicing my concern. "And why not?"

"The Umbra Mortine is only growing stronger within you. You need to be here where we can monitor you. It is safer for your loved ones if you stay."

"So, am I a prisoner?" I demanded. Just like Else, I was stuck here against my will. I should have known this would happen. I couldn't trust Graywick.

"No, you can leave at any time."

"Good, then I want to leave," I stated as I tried to pass him, but he held out his hand to block me from leaving the room.

"But I would like to mention, I would not recommend you to leave so soon."

I glared at him as I felt my anger boil beneath my skin. "The longer I stay, the more my parents will worry. Staying here is not a smart idea. You don't even have the answers. So why don't I come back next weekend?"

He sighed as he chewed on my words. Slowly, he put down his arm, accepting my idea. "If that is what you want..."

"That is exactly what I want."

"Alright. When you come back over the weekend, I will have more answers for you."

"I expect that," I replied.

After this weekend, I felt like I wasted my time. He kept saying the monster within me was getting stronger, but yet it felt like he wasn't trying hard enough to stop it.

I told myself that next weekend more would happen. I would have a plan to help Else out of this castle and I would have the answers I needed to stop the Umbra Mortine. Next week would be better, I promised myself that. But for now, I needed to get back to Jackson and go to school.

I stepped out of the bedroom and started to walk down the hall as guards ran past me, dragging a Darkling with them.

They wore such worried faces. It made me wonder what was happening. Curiosity filled me, causing me to stop and watch them run to Graywick, dragging the Darkling behind. The Darkling fought against the chains, trying to free itself. As it passed me, I could feel the fear the beast had. It didn't want to face Graywick. It was trying all it could to free itself and run from this place.

As the guards and the Darkling approached Graywick, they spoke quickly and quietly, not allowing me to hear what they were saying. The more they spoke, the more Graywick scowled. Finally, Graywick pulled the Darkling into a room adjacent from mine and closed the door, leaving the guards out waiting with me.

Wanting to know what Graywick was doing, I stayed still, waiting. I heard the Darkling howl echo the hall, then slowly silence filled the halls. My eyes met the guards as I tried to figure out what was happening. They merely met mine, then looked at the ground in silence.

"What's going on?" I asked them.

They frowned at me as they shook their heads.

Anger bubbled within me. I just wanted one answer. Unable to stop myself, I stood up a little taller, then stalked to them. "What is Graywick doing with that Darkling?"

As I said that, Graywick walked out of the room and smiled at me as if nothing was wrong. But the Darkling did not follow him out of the room.

I tried to peek into the room to see if the Darkling was still there, but he closed the door before I had a chance.

"What happened in there?" I asked Graywick.

"Just had to take that Darkling to a different location. They shouldn't be in the castle. As a gatekeeper, I just opened a gate to take them back."

"You can do that?"

Graywick chuckled. "Of course I can. I can open a gate and go anywhere. And Grayson can too. He knows this."

Disappointment filled me. If Gray could open a gate to anywhere, why didn't he see me? Clearly, he didn't want to. That is what it came down to. He was in Churchwell; he was happy. Happier than he was with me in Jackson.

"But that's enough talking about gates and my son. I just got some pressing news, which means you can't leave just yet."

"And why not?" I demanded.

I should have run when I had the chance. Why was I stupid enough to watch the Darkling get dragged away? There was no point in seeing that when going back home was the most important thing I could do. Something told me that this simple ask would be more complicated than I thought.

"Because we are going under lockdown."

"For what?"

"Another war is coming to the castle and we do not need you in harm's way," he said as he opened the door to my bedroom, then moved aside for me to walk in.

I eyed the bedroom with a frown. If I walked back into that room, I wasn't sure when I would leave. What I just saw with the Darkling did not sit well with me. All of this in felt wrong. I didn't want to go. I wanted to go home.

But the memory of the day before popped into my head again. I let power, hate, rage consume me. And for a moment, I loved it. I didn't want that feeling to consume me again. The Umbra Mortine controlled more of me the longer it stayed with me. It felt strong. I felt it growing stronger every day. I couldn't let that happen any longer.

Graywick told me he would find the answers and though I didn't trust him, he was all I got. He seemed like he had more answers than anyone else. For that reason, I needed to keep good terms with him.

"Once the threat is eliminated, I will let you out and tell you everything that happened," he added as he held up his blackened hand as if he was promising.

"Promise?"

"Yes, I promise. But Stella, we do not have time for this."

"Ok. But I demand answers. I want you to give them to me," I said as I walked into the room.

He smirked. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

<>

With that, he closed the door to the room.

Minutes passed by in silence. Out of curiosity, I tried opening the handle to the door, but it wouldn't budge. I huffed. Figures he would lock me in here. He said I wasn't a prisoner, but this felt like a prison to me.

I felt incredibly stupid for listening to him. I shouldn't have gone back into this room. To be honest, I shouldn't have even got into his car by the woods. What was I thinking? Now I was here and who knew when I would get out of here?

There was something he wasn't telling me. He wanted me here, but for what reason? What was so special about me?

Angerly, I paced the floor, trying to work out my thoughts. I was sure if I thought about it long enough, I would get the answers I needed. There was so much I wasn't understanding. So many secrets that were being kept. But the thought of not leaving my bedroom added to my anxiousness, not letting me to think clearly.

There was a war outside of my room and for now I would just have to wait until Graywick returned. Then I would get the answers.

I hoped I would get answers.

And I hoped it would be soon.

I just prayed this wasn't a mistake.