SOPHIA

I came to consciousness, but I was still so tired, I didn’t want to open my eyes. As I floated in the twilight between awake and sleep, I heard Tilda speaking with someone.

"Is it possible for me to return home?" she asked.

"I’ve never sent a person into a portal," said a man’s pleasant voice. "Even if you were to risk yourself doing so, there’s no guarantee you would end up in your own realm."

"Is that why your offerings are so random?" asked Tilda.

"Indeed. When a portal opens, sometimes there is someone like me on the other end of it and we can exchange items. Sometimes, random items appear. I assume that things from this book materialize in other books. There must be some like-to-like exchange."

"You’ve never gotten anything living before?"

"An occasional plant, but they never last long. The environment here is not what they need to survive. Perhaps that’s why animals or people don’t come through. It might be some kind of rule set in place for those who use the portals."

"How do you know when a portal is opening?" she asked.

"Now, now, dear lady. I can’t give away all of my secrets."

"Who am I going to tell?"

The man laughed. "Secrets are more valuable than anything else I can sell."

"Oh? Do you sell secrets, too?"

"Of course I do." There was a long pause. Then he said, "I have one or two about Amaranth Manor and the Willowmarches."

"What do you know?" This time the question was asked by Nathan. He must’ve just entered the room.

"I know you found bodies in the basement. And I know why they are there. Don’t you, Tilda? Isn’t this a book you’ve read before?"

"I didn’t finish it before I transmi---before I moved here. So everything after Chapter Ten has been a complete surprise."

"What the hell are you two talking about?" I felt the mattress dip as Nathan sat next to me. "Why aren’t the antibiotics working yet?"

"They take time, Your Grace. But the ibuprofen should kick in soon. Once her fever breaks, she’ll be on way to healing."

"She better," groused Nathan.

"Tilda, my dear, take me to breakfast in one of Velvetleaf’s delightful tea shops. Perhaps you and I can work out a deal for your Diet Coke."

I heard footsteps and then they stopped. "Remember what you’ve promised, Your Grace."

"One favor. No matter what is asked of me. I remember."

"Excellent."

***|***|***

NATHAN

The Scanderoon promised to stay in Velvetleaf for the next couple of days, though I think that was less a favor to me and more about his fascination with Tilda.

Sophia was coming in and out of consciousness.The doctor, such as he was, said her sleeping through the pain was probably for the best, and I agreed. I gave her the antibiotics twice a day, and the ibuprofen every six hours.

Her fever finally broke the next morning, and she managed to stay awake long enough to eat some of Tilda’s chicken soup. I wiped down her face, neck, hands and arms. Luckily, Tilda was a tailor who’d made herself plenty of extra sheets and blankets, so while I held Sophia, she stripped off the sweat-dampened covers and replaced them.

She also helped Sophia change into a soft cotton nightgown and brushed her to a pretty shine.

Sophia looked too frail to me. Too pale. I worried that if I let her out of my sight, she would somehow disappear.

I would lose her in this life just like I had in the last life. Granted, both Jace and Penelope were forever out of our lives. But danger lurked everywhere. I wanted to lock her up. Keep her safe and well fed and healthy and loved. Just me and her in our world of two.

But Sophia was a rose that needed sunlight and rain and admirers. I couldn’t put away in the dark just because I didn’t want to share her brightness with anyone else. However, I couldn’t help but keep that little fanstay as a back-up plan in case there was no other way to keep my wife safe.

On the third day, Sophia asked me to investigate the bodies in the basement. I didn’t want to leave her. After all, whatever was dead in the dungeon of Amaranth Manor would remain dead.

But she wouldn’t be deterred. "Tilda and I will be fine," she said. "Go check out the basement. If we find out who the bodies are and why they are there, maybe I’ll learn more about my own origins."

"I’ll assign more guards to you."

"Guards? Right. They came with us. Where have you been keeping them?" she asked. "Why don’t you let them go home?"

"Not on your life. I pay them well. And they’ve found places to sleep and get plenty to eat. They are loyal, Sophia. And I promise that they would prefer to watch over their lady than scamper home to Silverkeep."

"Take some with you to investigate the manor," she said.

"I will," I said. "You rest."

Tilda sat so hard on the mattress Sophia bounced upward. "Oops. Sorry. Don’t worry, Hunky. I’ll take care of Sophia while you go solve a mystery. I don’t want to go back there anyway. It’s scary and it smells bad."

"I think I’ll go with you," said Scanderoon from the doorway. "Velvetleaf isn’t exactly a mecca of entertainment. Besides, you never know what you’ll find in a decrepit mansion filled with ghosts and corpses."

"Well, you guys have fun with that. Sophia and I will be warm and safe and probably have hot chocolate later. And scones."

"Oh, I love a good scone."

"I’ll save you one, Roonie."

He flashed a grin and tipped his hat.

"Hune," I called. "Is the carriage ready?"

"Yes, Your Grace," called Hune from the sewing room. "We’re ready to leave."

"I’ll be back soon," I told a sleeping Sophia. I leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Rest well, butterfly. Sweet dreams."