Brightly Woven

And when that wasn’t enough, when I felt like I would be crushed by the weight of it all, I looked at the dripping ceiling and let out a silent scream.
    What else did this bracelet do? Why had he given it to me—why had I just accepted it, without another thought?
    “How…stupid,” I sobbed. I pressed my hands to my face. How incredibly stupid you are, Sydelle .

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

    I waited for the dark to settle in before moving again. My knees hurt from hugging them tightly to my chest, but I had been on the cold, wet floor for so long that every other part of me was numb. Even the ache in my heart had lessened from a stabbing pain to a dull, heavy throb.
    I stood unsteadily, looking around. The smoldering torches lit the water at my feet, showing me the path out. There was another stone archway at the opposite end of the chamber that looked as if it led into another room—perhaps even a passage to the outside. If I could escape the invisible chain holding me back, I would have a good chance of finding a way to leave the castle. It seemed a better idea than going through the same door by which I had come in. Less chance of running into someone.
    I went forward tentatively, bracing myself for a sharp yankback…but there was no resistance at all. I took a step, and then another, and another.
    I was free from whatever had been holding me back before. I moved quickly, so much more lightly than a moment earlier, splashing through the dirty water toward the other archway. I can do this , I thought. I’m going to be fine. I will be alone, but I will be fine .
    “Syd?”
    The voice that echoed through the chamber was laced with incredulity and relief. My body lurched to a halt. With that single word, my heart suddenly constricted, the blissful nothingness gone. All I could feel was hurt, and then, suddenly, a hot flash of anger that raced down my spine and curled my toes.
    “Did you get lost down here?” he asked, laughing. “I’ve been looking for you all day! Come on, we’ve missed dinner.”
    I couldn’t turn around—I wouldn’t. I was one of Mr. Monticelli’s little glass animals, teetering at the very edge of a shelf, waiting to fall and smash into a thousand pieces. I took a deep, calming breath and continued walking.
    “Where are you going?” North called.
    I walked faster, feeling the first burn of tears. Unfortunately, North was walking faster, too. His long strides overtook mine in a moment, and he blocked my path with a look of annoyance. When his hands reached out to touch me, to stop me, I shattered, like one of the glass animals.
    “Don’t touch me!” I yelled. “Don’t look at me, don’t talk to me—just leave me alone!” I pushed him away with all my strength. North stumbled back a few paces, but recovered quickly and seized my shoulders before I could fight back.
    “What’s wrong?” he asked. “Did something happen? Did someone hurt you?”
    I struggled to pull out of his grip, fighting the urge to scream. “I think you know exactly what you did.”
    “I left because of that other man!” North said. “I don’t know why you had to hang all over him like that.”
    I shook my head in disbelief. “I don’t believe you.”
    “If that’s not it, then what?” North cried.
    “Explain to me again,” I said, “why it was that you chose me.”
    Even in the faint light I could see the color drain from North’s face.
    “I told you,” he began weakly. “I needed an assistant.”
    “So it wasn’t because you wanted to study me?” I asked, unable to stop the tears from filling my eyes.
    “What are you—?”
    “It wasn’t because I was a jinx,” I repeated, “and you wanted to use my blood?”
    North’s hands released me. He opened and closed his mouth wordlessly.
    “You really had me, you know.” I took a step back. “I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t heard the words come out of your own mouth.”
    “What did you hear?” he demanded.
    “I heard everything!” I cried. “You want my blood? You want a fresh sample? Isn’t that what Pascal said? Then take it if you want it so badly!”
    He stared at me, horrified, but unable to deny any of it.
    As I turned to go, he grabbed my arm and spun me back around. I tried to pull free, but he held me in a crushing grip.
    “Don’t you dare walk away from me,” he shouted. “Not after everything!”
    “Everything? Everything was a lie!” I said. “You said you came to Cliffton to give us rain, but it