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And yet, it feels like something is terribly wrong.
Chapter 5
Hanna
The Deadmaiden
“Raila?” I exclaim as the thin black figure hovers anxiously on the other side of the cell door.
God, I hope it’s Raila.
The figure nods, and while I’ve never seen my Deadmaiden’s face beneath the veil, I know it’s her.
I’m glad that you’re alright, my queen. Her head tilts to my husband.Master Tuoni, it’s a relief to know you’re alive. But we don’t have time to dawdle. I must get you both out of here at once.
“But how did you know we were even here?” he asks gruffly. He pushes at the door, which grinds on its hinges as it opens further. Raila steps back into the hall, out of the way of his towering frame. “How did you know what happened?”
Raila goes silent for a moment as I step out into the hall beside her. It curves in both directions, the walls dark and slick with who knows what goop, and the only light is from behind us in the room and from a lit torch on the wall.
“Wait,” I say, and I run back into the room. I snatch up the glowing sunmoonstone sphere and grasp it in my hand. “We might need this.”
I look around the empty cell one last time, wishing there was something else in here that might help us, but there’s nothing except his red mask. There doesn’t seem to be much use for it now, but I grab it anyway, handing it to Death in the tunnel.
“Thank you,” he murmurs, taking it from me before slipping it on so it’s pushed up on his forehead, the iron spikes and fangs looking extra menacing in the dark of Inmost.
Quickly, this way, Raila says, heading in the opposite direction I thought she’d take us.
“You’re leading us further down into Inmost,” Death remarks, following her quick movements.
It is the only way, she says.
Death reaches out and yanks at her arm, pulling her to a stop.
“No. There is never only one way,” he says. “Tell me what you know, or I won’t risk my wife’s life in your hands.”
But your wife is the reason I am here, Raila says.I am loyal to her until the end of time. She lets out a sound that sounds like a ragged sigh, almost like a gurgle, and I’m reminded of seeing the spider thing from earlier, the one I fought off, the one set to eat Death’s Shadow Self.
I can’t help but shudder. That’s not what Raila really is, is it? She can’t possibly be a baby-eating spider monster woman beneath that cloak, can she? Then again, she did say she murdered her whole family—is it murder if you eat them?
Tuoni lets out a gruff noise of disapproval. “I don’t doubt your loyalty to my wife, Raila. However, I will do whatever I can not to put her in harm’s way again. Tell me what you know, Deadmaiden.”
Raila’s head swivels toward me.Tuonen has left with the party back to the castle. Tuoni’s Shadow Self is playing the part of Death, operated by Louhi, and Salainen is pretending to be you, Hanna.
Death growls. “Surely, my own son can tell the difference between me and my Shadow Self. Or Hanna and her twin?”
Perhaps he can, I do not know. I don’t doubt he’ll figure it out sooner or later. The question is, will he be safe if he does?
“Louhi wouldn’t hurt them,” Tuoni says, frowning deeply. “But Salainen has no such loyalty. How do you know all of this?”
Connections, she says. There’s almost a hiss to her voice.This used to be my home, master, before you graciously rescued me. I know the ins and the outs, and I have eyes everywhere. Many eyes. Which is why I need you both to follow me. All the other ways out are being watched and guarded. Salainen and Louhi have taken no chances just in case you came back to life or Hanna escaped her cell. Everyone knows that if you are sighted here now, you are merely impostors to be dealt with.
Tuoni grumbles his displeasure again but gives me a conceding glance. “It’s up to Hanna. She’s the queen you’re protecting.”
Great. Give me the responsibility.
I shrug, as if shrugging your way out of Hell is a thing. “I trust you, Raila. If you have a way out of here, then we’re going with you.”
I swear, I hear her smile underneath that black veil.Very good. Follow me.
