There was fleeting moment, just before she opened her eyes again, when Celia didn't remember. A fleeting moment when she knew that her soul felt troubled but didn't quite remember why.
Then the image of Sabine lying cold and limp at the bottom of the staircase invaded her mind. Celia's eyes popped open and she sat up, heart pounding. She felt her blood instantly turn to ice in her veins.
She couldn't understand how something so terrible had happened.
Why had Sabine decided to confront Celia and pick a vicious argument?
Why had she thought she had the right to decide whether Celia lived or died?
And why hadn't she just stayed in her chamber afterwards instead of wandering around in the dark?
None of those questions would never be answered, of course.
It was nothing but a freak accident, Celia told herself. Sabine could've tumbled down those stairs the same way any other night.
But she hadn't.
