The Ballad of Never After

Luc claims that he really is a distant relation of Apollo’s, but Evangeline doesn’t believe it. Suddenly, Evangeline feels her mirror wound start to drip blood again, and she rushes from the room as Luc attacks. Jacks rescues her and sweeps her from the room, and they find Marisol, Evangeline’s stepsister, in the hall, there to have dinner with Apollo’s cousin. Evangeline hasn’t seen her since the day after Marisol framed Evangeline for Apollo’s murder in the previous book, and though Evangeline wants to forgive her, another part of her is fine with Marisol meeting Luc to “reap the pain that she had sown” (50).

Evangeline tries to warn Marisol about Luc, but Marisol doesn’t believe her and heads for the meeting room. Evangeline begs Jacks to stop her, and Marisol suddenly looks fearful and runs away. Confronting Luc and Marisol has left Evangeline feeling drained, and she runs outside to get away from everyone. Jacks follows her, and as they stand in one of the gardens, a figure on horseback approaches, making Evangeline feel like he’s “pulling her toward him with an invisible cord” (59).