Chapter 0334

Hours passed.

Many items were brought to Veronica. Everything from necklaces to teacups to feathers and books. With only a passing glance from her, each item was quickly dismissed.

The latest item, a stone found in an odd place in the hallway, was handed to Veronica.

“There’s no magic in this,” she said and handed it back to the guard who had delivered it. He slumped his shoulders as he left the room to return to his search.

Night turned to day and then night again. None of us slept.

When every inch of the bedroom had been searched, everyone moved out into the hallway and beyond. Last I’d heard, Nicholas was turning the entire palace upside down.

The doctor had been in and out. She’d administered more medicine, but nothing was working. Elva was growing weaker.

Just then, Nicholas burst through the door. In his hands was the dagger that had nearly taken my head off, the one Jane had thrown at me in the hallway. He walked to Veronica and

presented it.

She didn’t even pick it up. “I’m sorry.”

He deflated instantly, and I saw the heavy bags under his eyes. He hadn’t slept either, and

looked all the worse for it.

In the next moment, Julian burst into the room in the same manner as Nicholas had. In his hand was a bag of flour from the kitchen.

When I looked at it curiously, he said, “Maybe it was the cookies. But since she ate those, we have to go to the basics.”

“I’m not sure Jane would have an emotional attachment to flour,” Nicholas said.

“We’ve tried everything else,” Julian said. “Maybe it’s a fond childhood memory or something.”

“Bring it here,” Veronica said.

Julian did as she asked. She held the bag of flour and closed her eyes. We all held our breath. A moment later, she shook her head.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“Da mn it,” Julian cursed.

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of

As I drew closer to them, I noticed that they looked even more tired than

I told both

“No way,” Julian said.

not giving up,”

Julian said. “It could be anything. We just need to find something that

nodded. “We’ll

eager to restart the hunt. Nicholas lingered a moment

arm. “You tell us to rest, but you are the one who needs sleep, Piper. You look ready to fall over

“So do you.”

forehead. “Just try to rest. For

couldn’t, but when he put it like that, I couldn’t exactly refuse. I would sit on my chair and watch Elva. I wouldn’t close my eyes,

“I’ll try,” I said.

my ear. “Good girl,” he whispered

I liked having his approval, even when all I

left me then, following

my word, I returned to my chair and sat to rest

diligently watching Elva. After

it?” I asked. I was learning that she only let

your twin, is she not? And you believe fully that she is the one

I said, answering

twin, you

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been estranged many years. I don’t know what she values anymore. And, seeing how she is now, it’s likely whoever she was

wouldn’t be so sure about that. The underground can be tempting… especially to a girl who feels lost. They make promises to lure you

I knew she spoke from experience. Her eyes glossed over a

she was trapped in a place

and make you see the world differently. But… they can never

as the

“No, even if Jane cared passionately about their cause, it’s unlikely she could attach the

that were true,

best when we were children. At least I thought

Veronica said. “That seems

I should know what she used

at least, where she

tried to think about our time as children. It was painful now, to remember how close I thought we were, when Jane was only feeling anger and resentment. If I had known then, I could have talked to her. We could have worked

was cursing my child and trying to kidnap the man I most

hard to remember,” I said. “I keep seeing her as she

wasn’t always this way,” Veronica said.

knees, and a gap between her two front

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