Book Eight: Chapter 161

“I see.” Mike kept an eye on that thin tendril of magic. Clearly Charlotte wasn’t being specific enough to capture Vincentius’ attention.

“After coming to this place, I took up painting. Each of these pictures is of someone who lived here.” She picked up the closest painting and smiled. “These images are all that remains of them.”

“They died?”

Charlotte nodded, then set the picture down. “I can’t remember them. The older ones, anyway. The human mind was never meant to persist for this long.”

“So you aren’t human anymore?”

Lady Charlotte shivered and bit her lip. “I’m not,” she admitted. “But I never became more, either.”

“What’s that supposed to--” Mike zipped his lips when he saw that tendril snake down and wrap around Charlotte once more. This time, she turned her head toward the wall as if listening to something.

“I will be ready,” she said, and then the tendril withdrew and sank through the stone. Charlotte looked back at Mike. “We must