“Sometimes. Once I had a dream where I thought I overslept and got up, rushed around, fumbled for my clothing and then realized that I was still sleeping.” She shakes her head. “I felt like I was in a fog of déjà vu all day.”
I nod, pretending to relate, but I can’t. My dreams with my lover are so intense. I can feel him. Not just on me or in me, but his muscles. His weight. Even his personality. He’s kind. Generous. Caring.
I drop my head back on the pillow. Like I need another man to contend with, even if he is a fantasy.
Elizabeth swings her legs over the side of her bed and stretches her arms toward the ceiling. “I know yesterday sucked. Want me to go to the kitchens and get some—”
A knock interrupts her.
I groan and pull my pillow over my head.
“I’ll get it.”
I hear her walk across the room and open the door. She doesn’t say much, just a quick, “Thank you,” and shuts the door. Her small weight presses down on my mattress when she sits down.
“It’s a message. For you.”
“Ugh. Read it for me. I just can’t.”
I’m still under the pillow but hear the crinkle of paper.
“I, uh, well, I can’t read it.”
I toss the pillow aside and sit up. Elizabeth hands me the note.
I pick it up and see that it’s blank. Or it looks blank. The ring on my finger warms and I hold up my hand, flexing my knuckles. A flicker of moment appears on the paper.
“What the—”
Elizabeth bends over and says. “Do that again. With your hand.”
I straighten then ball my fist, the ring hovering near the paper. Lettering ripples across the blank sheet.
Back hall. Green Banner.
“Looks like Victorine is either giving me the day off or sending me into some kind of trap.” I toss the paper on the bed and raise an eyebrow at my roommate. “Want to come?”
Elizabeth grins. “Definitely.”
The halls are fairly quiet. Most people are probably at breakfast hoping for another display of humiliation like the day before. Sucks to be them. I’ve got bigger, more mysterious plans than cleaning up garbage today.
“So you think this message is telling us to go into one of the off-shoot portals?” Elizabeth asks as we head down the long, dark hallway. The ring grows warmer with each step, a magical beacon that guides us. Damien knows his shit. That’s all.
“I’ve done it twice now.” Maybe four times, if I include the dreams with my winged lover. Which I’m not, because those were dreams.
We turn the corner and the pea green banner hangs over a blank spot of stone wall. There’s nothing on it other than a faint, faded embroidery. I stop in front of it, unsure what to do next.
“What next?” she asks, running her hands over the stone.
“I have no idea.”
I press my hand against the wall and the ring warms—no—heats. The stone glimmers and I glance at my friend. She noticed.
“Move your hands around. Maybe there’s a weak spot.”
We press and prod and pull. Nothing, except the metal of the ring is actually burning my skin.
“This has to be the right place.”