The Ossuary: Soul and Bone

Chapter 7

Ingrid sat down in front of the long dining table. All of the seats were vacant beside her. A young girl entered the room from the far side, what Ingrid assumed must be the kitchen. The girl was beautiful with long blonde hair pulled back into a braid.

"Hello Miss, my name is Nessa," she said in a sing-song voice.

She placed a plate of bread, cheese, and fruits on the table before her, and poured water into an ornate glass cup.

"What would you like to eat, Miss?" Nessa asked.

Ingrid looked at the platter before her. This alone was more extravagant than anything she'd ever eaten in her life. Some of the fruits she had never seen before.

"This is all I need", she said, and Nessa bid her farewell heading back to the kitchens.

The shock of just how hungry she was hit Ingrid again. It was such a drastic difference to the lack of appetite she'd had when sick. She delighted in delving into the platter of cheese and fruits. She tried a bit of everything, feeling like it was the first time she had eaten in months. After eating she excused herself and went to wander the halls. Ian had said no leaving the grounds, but that hadn't meant she couldn't explore a bit. She explored up and down different halls. The castle was cool, and dark, but not in a wretched way. She found it enticing as she peered through open doors. As she neared the end of one hallway she heard voices coming from behind a closed door. Ingrid crept toward the door as silent as she could, placing her ear to the door to listen.

"You don't understand, I cannot be her mentor!" she heard someone shout. "I cannot be tied to her."

She recognized the voice as Ciaran. Was he talking about her?

"It is already done", she heard a chorus of voices boom so loud the door rattled.

Just then she heard something crash against the door. Ciaran screamed in his frustration. Ingrid felt herself getting heated suddenly.

"How rude was this man that he would reap her soul but not have the time of day to mentor her?" she thought.

Filled with fire, she burst into the room, fuming and was stopped in her tracks by what she saw. Ciaran stood at the center of a small podium, adjusting his waistcoat after his outburst, and before him projected into the sky were a panel of six figures. The figures floated in the air pale white and ghostly. Ingrid's stomach sank, and her body stiffened. She had never seen anything the likes of this. The hair stood on the back of her neck.

"This must be the council," she thought, and Ciaran gave her a slight nod.

He must be reading her thoughts again. She grimaced, but was begrudgingly thankful in the moment. If he is reading her thoughts then he must know how angry she is with him then. She took a deep breath and stepped forward. She focused her anger and addressed the council.

"I don't understand much of what has happened to me, but I plead not to pair me with this monster," she said, gesturing to Ciaran.

"It is already done," the council recounted, and then they were gone.