"You know this man better than any other. What is he doing?"

I swallow hard. "I don't know."

"He would not kill his battle-witch." There's uncertainty in Westley's statement.

"Let's hope not. I'm supposed to use my magic to stop the curse somewhere in the castle."

"Do you know where?"

I shake my head.

"Then further into the castle of madness we must go."

Neither of us moves.

We're both quiet a moment longer. My adrenaline is humming and the hair on my arms stands on end. The electricity I feel when the medallion worked is in the air here, thick and heavy, like three thunderstorms about to crack open the skies. This is the source of the fog creeping across the world - the castle of Black Moon Draw. I'm going to ignore the fact that everyone who ever enters this place goes crazy or disappears mysteriously.

"You're right. One way to go," I say with forced cheerfulness. "Be nice to your battle-witch!" I shout into the castle.

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No response.

"Don't let go," I warn Westley.

"I won't."

Together we step towards the stairs and ascend them. They're solid for having materialized out of thin air as is the stone landing at the top.

There are three hallways to choose from, one lighted with torches while the other two are dark, cold, and silent. As creepy as this place is, I'm going to assume there's a good possibility the unlit corridors lead to sudden drops. "This way," I say and head down the lighted hallway.

"How can you know?" the teen asks.

"Because it's the only hallway with light."

"I see no light."

I stop and face him. "You seriously can't see the torches?" I point.

"Nay, witch. I see naught but darkness every way."

Hope bubbles inside me. Maybe the Shadow Knight hasn't gone mad yet and is trying to help me. "Either I have magic or he left the light on for me."

"So long as you are in his favor and he is not leading you into a trap."

If you use the magic of Black Moon Draw in support of my enemies, I will come for your head. The parting words of the possibly now-crazy Shadow Knight drift through my mind. "I'm uh . . . fairly confident he won't kill me," I mumble. "We don't have much of a choice anyway, right?"

The teen is scared, but doesn't resist when I tug him down the hallway. We reach a dead end with two more options of where to go. Once more, one hall is lighted.

"Do they both look dark to you?" I ask.

"Aye." Westley is uneasy.




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