Chapter 7 : Under the Spell-Lucy

Lucy's POV

I promised Gabriel I'd be back at the castle before dark, but with a journal full of interviews. Notes of my afternoon. I thought he'd be pleased to see all the secrets I've unearthed. I hoped his day was as fruitful.

The threads were starting to come together, forming an intricate knot. Connections in every form. Apparently, the families of the missing men have lived in this town for centuries. Helped build the foundation the town sat on. Originally Hungarian citizens fled with their daughters to escape Elizabeth Bathory's reign of terror in the late 1500s.

Oddly enough, the castle was here longer. Built by unknown hands nearly a thousand years ago. Perhaps Vivianna knew the origins of the castle, assuming her lineage stemmed from it. It sat on miles and miles of unexplored caves.

But even when I brought up Vivianna's name, the locals seemed clipped, almost afraid of saying anything in vain. Like there would be dire consequences if anyone spoke against her.

Think