"Thank you for having me, Cian,

" the Luna smiled.

"Is.. Pen-el-ope going to be okay?

" she asked, stumbling over the name as if she had just learned it.

"I believe she will be, yes,

" he smiled, his facade unperturbed.

"I think she just needed to clean herself up. Did something happen to her while you were alone together?

"

August's brow furrowed in apparent thought.

"I think I… I don't know… I may have done something? I don't understand how it is possible. All I know is that I was upset, and she startled me, and then… she flew against the glass. It doesn't make any sense. Maybe it has something to do with what happened to me in suicide forest,

" she mumbled.

"Do you remember anything about your time when you were lost?

" he asked, head tilting curiously.

"I just remember exploring with my friends. That's the last thing. Was my camera recovered maybe? I was taking some pictures of the forest. There were all of these things left behind by others who had been there before us… wrappers, water bottles, clothes, ropes hanging as if someone had, had… you know, but maybe there are some clues on my camera about what happened to me. Do you think I tried killing myself? Maybe the photos I took would help me remember what happened… but I don't see any marks,

" she turned her wrists over, appearing to examine them for any self-inflicted harm.

"There is no reason to believe that you were out to harm yourself while you were lost,

" Zagan replied, his words quick to console her of that possibility. Alyko who doubted or disliked their identities did not end well here. They never reached the pinnacle of their power, and they often just withered away. He certainly did not want that to be a possibility in this case. August Cady was a singularity.

"Then why…

" August trailed off… her gaze becoming distant.

"Well the important thing is that you are here now and in good care,

" Zagan interrupted her thoughts.

"We will get you home as soon as possible, okay?

"

August's eyes snapped to his, her inner being reacting to his assurance of this small but entirely essential fact. She wanted to be home as soon as possible.

"Promise?

" she breathed, her eyes successfully locking with his.

Suddenly Zagan felt as if he, himself, was compelled in some way. The golden stardust in her eye was mesmerizing. Had her eyes been gold when he took her from the forest? He couldn't remember, but now they were bright and penetrating—seeking something from him that he could not tug free from.

"Yes,

" he whispered back to her, meaning it. He did not make promises, but somehow these words to her were plucked from his empty core. He would get her back home. Would he? What was he saying? But he couldn't deny it, because the answer he gave her took root in the dark emptiness inside of him, and now it would grow until he killed it or plucked it out or… delivered her home safely as promised.

August's lips tilted with the hint of a smile, but then she looked down into the folded hands in her lap.

"Thank you, Cian,

" she replied, unaware of how she had cursed him to do her will.

A muscle feathered in his jaw. He needed to get this one into that enclosure Nedra was making before she did anything else that he would have trouble reversing. For the time being, he was definitely going to avoid those hypnotic eyes of hers.

"Allow me to show you to your room, will you?

" he asked, hand extended in an offer of chivalry as he bowed to her—a nonverbal acknowledgement of her preeminence that even he realized too late.

August watched him bowed before her, her eyes flaring in surprise, anxiety, anger, fear… but she swallowed it back and took the hand offered.

"Thank you,

" she said.

As they walked past the broken, glittering glass on the floor and down the hall, Zagan held her warm, trembling hand in his.

"Are you enjoying your studies at Eliade?

" he asked, demonstrating what he imagined was his mastery at passing conversation. Small talk was easy. It was all about establishing a common ground and mutual affability between the speakers.

"No,

" she said quickly, scrunching up her face in distaste.

"It is disappointing.

"

Zagan's eyes darted toward her. She was not one of those predictable, superficial conversationalists who would assent to polite questions and inquiries about her interests, choosing instead to draw the person with whom she was speaking in deeper.

"Oh? Why is that?

" he asked as they began passing into the darker part of the castle.

August gasped and turned around, looking behind her toward the bright infirmary.

"Why is it suddenly so dark?

" she asked, an innocent lilt in her voice that reminded Zagan of a child. Perhaps the youthful countenance was a common side effect of the memory enchantment. He would have to ask Penelope once she shook off her compelled state.

"The trees above the castle are very dense. They do not let light through,

" he told her.

"Why would you not clear them?

" she asked, turning back to continue walking alongside him.

"I like it dark,

" he said simply, a cold edge to his voice slipping through.

A shiver ran down her back at how he seemed to drop the guise with that answer. Her steps slowed. Should she just blindly follow him? Where was Penelope? It wasn't like she had much of a choice. Where would she run if she decided not to follow through with this act? But little alerts were going off in her mind, warning her not to go further into this dark castle, not to follow the scheming vampire, not to drop her defenses…

"Are you cold?

" Zagan asked as he led her up the grand stairway toward the bedrooms.

"Oh, a little. I will be fine,

" she chuckled nervously, rubbing her arms with her hands.. She had the comfortable oversized sweatshirt on that she had put on at the outpost, but it didn't help against the instinctual chill of fear that Zagan created.