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“Mmmrr.” A soft moaning emanated from dead center of the deeper shadows.
I froze, realizing it had to be a person. My heart caught in my throat and I took a step back in shock, landing on a creaking bit of floorboard.
I froze out of panic, forcing myself to stand still. I willed my eyes to try to figure out the shape now. I realized I was looking at someone sitting in one of the rolling chairs from the work table.
“Mrrrrr.” The moaning got louder, clearly defining that it was human, awake, and wanted to talk, but for some reason couldn’t.
The urge to run swept through me so hard. I wanted to cry out and go find Luke or Gabriel. I was sure it was Volto, only his voice gadget was broken. Or a security guard ready to shoot. Or maybe it was a zombie from one of Nathan’s movies. Every scenario tried to play through my head. It was just like one of my nightmares come to life.
Until the scent of spring soap caught my attention.
In that moment, everything seemed to stop around me. I smelled the air again, just to be sure, but it was still there, lingering over the top of Victor’s moss scent and the wood polish and other house smells.
I was sure. Spring soap.
“Mr. Blackbourne?” I whispered.
“Ms... Son...” The voice became more distinctive, still muffled.
My heart leapt. I dashed forward, crashing into legs and a chair that rolled heavily. I felt forward, finding a face, no glasses, and something wrapped around his mouth. I hooked my fingers against his cheek, tugging, and hoping he wasn’t going to yell at me for doing so, because this was some weird Academy thing.
I tugged the band from his mouth, stretching it down over his chin.
He swallowed, breathing heavily and I felt his breath against my skin. “Miss Sorenson,” he said clearly now.
A soft groan emanated from right behind Mr. Blackbourne.
“What’s going on?” I whispered. “Who is—”
“It’s North,” Mr. Blackbourne said. “Listen to me. Who’s with you?”
Did we mess up? “Luke and Gabriel. They’re downstairs scoping out the house.”
“Did you see Miss Addison?”
“Who?”
“The maid.”
“Muriel? She just went downstairs.”
He swallowed again. “Listen to me very carefully. Go to Victor’s desk. In the top left hand drawer, there should be a set of tools. Find a screwdriver. A thin one. Bring it to me.”
I knew what he was talking about, but what stressed me out more was that he couldn’t get it himself. I knew the reason why without having to turn the light on to see. Unease settled through me. Weeks ago I’d been bound in the shower, and here he was tied up in Victor’s office. How? Why?
I let the questions roll around in my head, now used to not getting answers right away. It wasn’t important. I needed to hurry.
I slipped across the floor, doing my best to stay quiet. When I reached the desk, I climbed on top of it, using the desk itself as my sound barrier. I sat on it, smoothing myself over the top and finding the correct drawer.
I eased the drawer open, checking inside for the tools. I found two that felt like screwdrivers. I held them in my mouth before I closed the drawer again. I slid across the top of the desk, landing softly on the floor and inching my way back over.
“Good,” Mr. Blackbourne whispered. “Feel down for my hands. Give it to me.”
I found his face again, my heart wanting to thunder more as I realized I was touching Mr. Blackbourne. I felt down his cheek, tracing to his shoulder ...
His bare shoulder. No wonder he didn’t mention a light.
“Mr. Blackbourne?”
“She stripped us. She knows we keep special tools and phones inside our clothing. She’s been in charge of Victor’s things, and knew better than to leave us anything to work with.”
I followed his arm that twisted around the back of the chair. I traced my hand along until I found his. I passed him the two screwdrivers. His wrists felt like they’d been bound by some silken cord.
“Now, Miss Sorenson,” he said. “Listen carefully.”
I stood up fully, giving him my attention. “Are you hurt?” I asked.
“We’re fine,” he said. “You need to hurry. I want you to go across the hallway, and find Victor. Find him, and check him out. If he’s unconscious—”
I hadn’t meant to interrupt, but the idea of Mr. Blackbourne and North being tied up in this room was already driving me into near hysterics. I swallowed back my fears to find my voice. “He could be?”
“We were given heavy sedatives,” Mr. Blackbourne said. “If he isn’t conscious, make sure he’s still breathing and check his body for any injuries. If he’s awake, help him get out if he’s bound. If he’s very hurt, come back here. I don’t care if you’re loud, just do it.”
“Why can’t ... ?”
“I’m going to try to catch her. If I’m quiet, I have a chance to sneak up on her without injuring her too severely.”
Muriel? The maid? She did all this? I wanted to put the pieces together, but I couldn’t find the questions to ask him and I didn’t have time.
“Hurry,” Mr. Blackbourne said. He shifted, as if already making use of the tools I’d given him. “Before she makes another round to look in on us. If Victor isn’t too bad, free him, and go find the others. Collect them and go. I’ll take care of North.”
I moved away from him quietly. I felt a little better having found them, knowing I’d given him possibly what he needed to escape. I needed to find Victor.
I found the door again, gripping the handle with both hands to twist and hold, easing myself into the hallway. This time I hurried, tiptoeing across the hallway, eager to find Victor.
I twisted the handle to Victor’s bedroom. I wanted to be extra cautious in case Muriel had returned.
At first I couldn’t find Victor. There was the clutter of clothing across the floor, as if someone had been through his closet and dragged out every article. His books were torn through. The piano had manuals and folders opened up on top of it. If it wasn’t for the piano, I may not have recognized the place.
Part of my twisted mind wondered if my mother had been through here.
On a second scan, I spotted a bundle larger than the rest in the middle of the bed.
A few steps in, and I spotted a drift of wavy hair from under the pile on the bed.
I rushed forward, nearly tripping over clothing in my hurry to get to him. I ripped away the blanket and clothing that had been thrown over him.
Victor’s eyes were closed. I pressed my fingers to his lips, feeling for breath. Air swept past my skin as he inhaled. Not fully relieved, I lowered my head to his bare chest, listening for his breathing and his heartbeat. My heart stopped and started up in the same split second I heard his heartbeat. He was alive. He was okay.
Victor’s arms were over his head, bound with silk cord. I tugged at the cords, testing, but the knots were complicated. Pulling at one made it feel like it was tightening around his wrists. I didn’t want to hurt him further. I needed a knife.
“Mmmh,” Victor started moaning. He twisted a little, his eyes flickering, but they were dull and heavy with sleep. It was a horrible sight; Victor without his fire.
“Hang on, Victor,” I said softly. I glanced around the room, not seeing anything useful. I wondered if I should go across the hall and find another tool from his desk. On second thought, I wanted to try the bathroom. Maybe there were scissors.
I glanced back down at Victor, at his closed eyes, his almost peaceful face. My heart was breaking looking at him bound and helpless. I wondered if this was how Silas and Nathan had felt when they had found me. Somehow in that moment, I understood more about why they made the decisions they did. Why Kota grounded me when he was only worried about me. Why North would have kept me in a bubble. I wanted to keep them safe, too.
I bent over, kissing Victor’s cheek quickly. “I’ll be right back. I promise.”
I slipped off the bed, picking a path through the mess toward the bathroom, hoping it wasn’t in ruins, too.
The bathroom looked oddly messy in a familiar way. It hit me when I realized the bathtub was filled up, and the phone was smashed up on the counter. It didn’t look like anyone had been inside since Victor and I left.
I was opening up drawers when I thought I heard something. I quieted, listening. Someone was coming down the hallway.
I went back to the bathroom door, hiding with my body against the wall.
There were shuffling sounds in the hallway, like the office door was being opened. A light was flicked on, the glow trailing from the other side of the hall. It was turned off again in a moment. The footsteps changed direction, coming to the bedroom. Did she not see Mr. Blackbourne trying to break free?
Muriel’s head poked in. I only caught the corner of her face from my angle, but she turned her head as if scanning the room.
I focused on her. She was a little taller than I was, thick in the hips and at the shoulders. Could I do something? Kick her? Strike her in the neck? I wasn’t sure how I’d get a surprise hit on her. She’d see me coming. How did she manage to tie up the guys?
Muriel stepped into the room, closing the door behind her. She locked the door.
When she turned again, I spotted a syringe in her hand, the plug pulled back and a small amount of liquid inside.
