Noelnina’s lip curled, her eyebrows lowered. “You set my ribbons free.”
“Thesnakesfree.”
As if responding to their discussion over them, more hissing sounded from the room, moving closer.
“You burned your contract? You’re free?”
“I am.”Mostly.
A hardness settled in Noelnina Dynasti’s amber eyes. “Do the same for me. Or I’ll string you up from the rafters and twirl around you instead.”
Alora wobbled, a bit dumbfounded over the vivid imagery for a moment. But eventually, she nodded.
“Good luck,” said the performer, and rushed through the door.
Alora stared into the bright room, at the mass of snakes now come upon her. She was alone, her back to the door.
“Please don’t bite. It was me who untied your ends. I’ll leave the door open. See that you find your way outside?”
Snakes were not usually simple creatures. These snakes weren’t either. At her remarks, their heads swayed in unison, to the door behind the ridiculously dressed woman talking to them. Two to three at a time, they slithered past. Not one attempted a bite of her. She mimicked Noelnina when the last slipped through.
“Good luck.”
***
The chaos of disrupted rooms leeched throughout all of Opulence.
By the time Alora gripped the doorknob belonging to Room of Happy Days, she knew chaos no longer fit the description. It was disaster. The staff were scrambling, taking their orders from a pale Madam Feebledire and a red-faced Merridon. None were posted at the doors any longer, making Alora’s work simpler, her demure smiles unnecessary. And the members—well, from what she could see there weren’t many left. Alora had released snakes upon them, dismantled nearly half the mansion’s enchantments, and whoever still remained inside were either clueless behind closed doors she’d yet to disrupt or desperate.
So far, she’d promised eight burned contracts. So far, every performer had accepted. Though none were as colorful in their acceptance as Noelnina had been.
She glanced over her shoulder to observe Bash’s enchantment roll over the floor. Beginning with Door Twenty-four, he’d waited until she’d gone from a room before breaking the light. Half of Opulence was now swallowed like some evil had come upon them, dragging them slowly down to the deepest pit of hell. It must have been a truly frightening sight for everyone who did not understand him.
But she did. Alora stared into the void a moment and thought only about him inside it. Her skin immediately flushed hot. “You are an obsessive type, too, aren’t you.” She’d wondered before, but here it was, confirmed.
She slipped into Door Eleven.
Chapter Forty-Six
The Room of Happy Days was empty. Of people, at least. Alora hurried to the edge.
“Mermaid,” she hissed. When nothing stirred, she said, louder, “Mermaid! I’ve come to set you free.”
She waited for what felt like many minutes—but was likely only seconds—before gritting her teeth and grumbling, working at the zipper of her gown. She’d only managed an inch before she remembered she needn’t bother fussing with it, and imagined the entire thing unzipped. It dropped to the floor with more noise than a gown had any business creating. Why Merridon thought to put her in such a heavy thing made no sense; she couldn’t have run beneath his entrancement anyway.
Her shift beneath was thin and ivory, covered only by a crimson corset that pulled her waist in and pushed her breasts to ungodly heights. But she’d not waste time imagining anything more. She shucked her shoes and promptly dove into the pool.
It wasn’t cold, but still the change in environment shocked her. She’d gone in so slowly last time. Alora opened her eyes beforethe bubbles managed to settle and felt struck by how lovely it really was beneath the surface. She’d not been swimming in ages. She paddled forward.
The mermaid waited for her. In a nearly identical position as before, it studied her approach, and Alora recognized the expression. Resignation, but haunted. Haunted by a bare flickering of hope.
Alora gestured when she neared, careful not to get lost within the mermaid’s gaze lest she be swept away into a memory.Up,she pointed.Free,she mimed, pulling at her face.
The mermaid angled its head, clawed fingers raising to the barred mask.
Yes,Alora nodded.
But the mermaid made no further movement. It remained in the corner, iridescent tail swaying in the pool’s depths, waiting. Alora, however, could not wait. She was unpracticed and decidedly out of air. She kicked to the surface.
