Chapter 18 Liora The castle doors groaned open with a final click, echoing through the quiet, gilded hall like a held breath released. I stared at Bianca from behind, puzzled. No, irritated. How had she opened it? Old magic coded into the stones of this place, so old I can't imagine tampering with it. Still, I didn't like not knowing. Especially when someone like Bianca was some how winning. I scratched my head, as everyone stared with smiles at the columns, curtains, the timeless ballroom. "You coming, or just going to stand there gawking?" Bianca threw over her shoulder, all sweet poison and smugness. I stepped inside, ignoring her, following the crowd. The ceilings arched like a ribcage above us, lined with chandeliers so tall they could've posed as an icey cavern. The air had that stale, royal weight to it, like no one had breathed honestly in here for centuries. They probably hadn't. The band began to set up the practice starting up in full swing. People were grabbing there patners, pulling excitedly to the floor as others ran around lighting the torches, the room beginning to glow. I was almost too busy taking in the almost nostalgic room when a poke to my shoulder pulled me back. "Liora," Mia whispered, catching up to me. "Jessica took him." I blinked. "Huh?" "My partner. Jessica said she needed him for something important and just-just took him. No warning." 1/3