Chapter 21

“There are things going on within these walls that you don’t know about. I didn’t, either, and I’m probably still not even supposed to. But I’ve seen things, Veille – things I’ve only witnessed by living as long as I have and wandering where I’m not supposed to. Perhaps Madam Dro and the other administrators see no harm in one old, foolish man, and I aim to keep it that way. With any luck I’ll be able to take those things I’ve seen to my grave without it being any sooner for it. But there are some things you’ll need to know if you’re going to survive, you and all your young friends.”

Severo’s hand began clenching my shoulder. It wasn’t a painful grip, not for me anyway, but still it surprised me with its strength. “Do you believe in sorcery, Veille? In magic? Well, you need to start believing it, because it’s real. I’ve seen it. I’ve beheld in the flesh, quite literally. And I’d wager my last gums that it’s the reason why nobody has ever escaped from the Estate.”

My stomach dropped even further. “Nobody… ever?”

He winced at my tone. “No. Not as far as I know of, anyway. Not since that wo– since Madam Dro took over the family business from her late father. Gods, I thought he was bad…”

“Are you sure you should be saying this, Severo?” I interrupted him, shocked. Enough of my sense had returned to raise alarm bells in regards to his safety. “I’ll admit that I… I don’t really know what I’m afraid will happen. But shouldn’t you be worried, talking about Madam Dro that way?”

Severo stared at me for a few moments as though considering something. “I see that you don’t question your fears about this, not even in light of the fact that it’s just the two of us in this hallway, and we’re both speaking quietly. Buying into irrational fears can often be a dangerous thing, Veille… but in this case, your instincts are well-served.”

I waited with baited breath for him to elaborate on this, but he did not. Severo ran a hand again through his hair and went on: “Listen, young one. There aren’t very many guards here at the Estate, as I’m sure you’ve noticed. Its reputation alone is enough to scare off most burglars, and the ones that do try to gain unapproved entry, well… there’s a reason why you never hear about them. But there’s just as much to be said about getting out of the Estate as there is getting in, and that’s the part I’m sure you’re more concerned about.

“The perimeter here isn’t only what it appears to be. The Estate is massive, far bigger than you or even that young Dornell must realize – he was always a clever chap, as I remember – so even finding your way through the halls and to one of the exits is a heist in and of itself. This place is built to confuse and disorient even the most careered of wanderers. There’s a reason you’ve lived in just one wing at a time your whole lives, and it’s both for your sanity and to keep you from getting a greater picture. But the layout is only half the struggle; the real challenge you’ll face is what happens when you make it to

the perimeter and actually try to leave.”

I could hear the noises now of the others pushing away their chairs and finishing up their lunch. Footsteps and other sounds were also coming from over my head and from other nearby corridors, signaling that it was nearly time for lunch to end.

Severo looked around. “Blast! I thought I’d have more time. Spend too much on feeling sorry for myself, and… Listen. Maiden Threwon can tell you even more than I can about the hallways and passages surrounding Mannerly Hall. I can tell you that it fills much of the Estate’s western hemisphere, though the area you sleep in is nestled closer to the heart than to the outer walls. That makes it tougher for you; but the good news is that if you are able to get out of the Hall and its adjoining passageways, the chances of being spotted should drop. There will be guards stationed in the hallways nearest to the perimeter and of course at all of the exits, but there’s not much you can do about that. With any luck, you won’t actually have to go through one of those exits at all; there are other methods you might use to slip outside without being noticed, but again, any traffic which passes across the perimeter will be subject to… pressure.”

“What kinds of pressure?” I begged him. “Tell me more! Severo, we need you, you have to give us more than– “

“Shhhh!!” he silenced me abruptly. Placing an arm almost casually around my shoulders he glanced back towards the Hall, clearly intent upon something. As his body now blocked the view from me I could not see what he was watching for; but whatever it was, Severo held onto me and didn’t move again for several seconds.

When he finally let go and turned to face me, a single tear was running down his wrinkled face. My guts churned; my heart leapt straight up into my throat, and suddenly, I didn’t even care about getting the hell out of this place. I only cared about the man who stood before me now, a kind and gentle man who had delighted me with bedtime stories once upon a time.

“Severo…” I began, but my voice broke. I wanted to be brave, to show him how much I had grown since he had last seen me, but as hard as I tried it seemed that was currently beyond me. I settled for nestling my face into the crook of his arm and sobbing while he gently stroked my hair.

“Veille” he said soothingly, “I hope you know that I love you. I have always loved you – you and every other child who has ever passed through my arms, but you were always something special. Something extraordinary. I knew that you wouldn’t become a maiden from the very moment I saw you, and while my heart broke for that, I also couldn’t help growing… proud. I’m proud of you, Veille. I always will be. You’ll get out of this hellish place, won’t you? For me? For everyone else here?”

I nodded vigorously into his arm and sniffled. When he finally drew away, wiping his own eyes with the sleeve of his shirt, I asked “did you really mean what you said? About magic being real? Because I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with that information.”

“Neither do I to be honest” he replied gravely, shaking his head. “Perhaps no one does; but I’ve heard tales of a group that lives far on the west side of this continent. I believe they call themselves witches, the Witches of… something or another. It’s been a long time since I’ve been there.”

“You’ve been outside?!” I exclaimed. “Outside of the Estate? And you’ve traveled??  What was it like!! How far does it the continent reach, and long ago did you– “

“A very long time” he interrupted. “I worked here when the Mistress’ father was in charge, so I wasn’t exactly raised here as you were. Yes, I’ve been to several places other than here – and no, we don’t have time for me to regale you about them. One day, I hope.”

He placed a hand on my shoulder and gave me a gentle nudge. “Go now. Go back to your friends. One day, alright? For now, they need you, and you need them.”

Severo began to back away down the hall, resolve strengthening his features, until he looked almost to be the same man I had known as a child. I wiped away the last of my tears as I stared after him; then without even thinking, I struck the pose which opened into the dance he had taught me, the Dance of the Faeries.

His eyes widened like saucers before he opened his mouth in the most gleeful grin I’d ever seen on a person before. And then he was gone, vanished around the corner into the Hall, like the ghost of a pleasant dream which once brought love into my life.

And in that moment, I knew: that it wasn’t Elodie who had been the first to steal my heart. It was Severo.