Chapter 43

• ALICIA POV
• "You'll be fine. You're doing the right thing," I whispered to myself, the words a thin comfort against the pounding in my chest. Even though my palms were slick with sweat, I gripped the armrest tighter. The car turned a corner and a massive, ancient mansion appeared in front of me, its dark stone looming against the gray sky.
• It was a Gothic-style manor that looked like it had been standing for a hundred years, maybe more. Thick, tangled ivy clung to the stone walls, making the whole place feel like it was being swallowed by nature. We drove along a curved driveway that circled a huge stone fountain. Two wolf statues, their wings spread wide as if frozen in mid-flight, came into view. The fountain sprayed a fine mist that hung in the air, creating a ghostly, foggy haze. Lily pads with bright green leaves floated on the dark water below.