“In case Thorne goes on the warpath. Ok. What can I do.” Maddie asked. I smiled at her. Her fierce determination and loyalty made her a formidable friend.
“You aren’t going to push me?”
“Elle, if you say you need to go, I trust you. I’ll help you any way I can.”
I reached over and grabbed her hand. “Thank you.”
She pulled me to the bed and sat me down. “Ok, talk.”
“I need to know how you overrode the wards with your power.”
She bit her lip. “I’m not sure. Just, ever since I came here, they haven’t really worked on me. I think it’s my connection to the earth. I kind of go … under the wards, if that makes sense.”
I thought for a minute, taking this in. “Can you make a hole?”
Maddie stared at me. “Maybe. But it would only be very small.”
“Small is fine. I can work with small.” I said, nodding.
“The best place would be downstairs on the first floor. We can’t access the ground floor without the elevator. You need clearance for that.”
“I understand.”
“It means there will be a drop, Elira. You will have to drop down.”
“I told you that’s fine. If I can phase through the hole, I can get out.”
“Phase?”
“I can become full shadow. But I’ve only done it once before.”
Maddie grinned. “That is awesome.”
I smiled back.
“What are you going to do once you get out of the tower?”
I thought of that grate from so long ago. “I can figure something out.”
Beside me, something jumped up on the windowsill. I turned to see that same midnight black cat. “You again?” I asked.
Maddie gave me a knowing smile. “You’ve met Nyx I see.”
“Nyx?” I asked.
“Nyx. Our local night spirit.”
“You know her too?”
“She shows up from time to time. Often as a warning or guide.” Maddie smiled. “Her being here is a good sign.”
“The king seemed frightened of her.”
“Nyx isn’t a normal cat, Elle.” Maddie said, stroking the soft fur of the feline. “She’s a spirit. If you are seeing her, it means she has chosen to protect you. Of course that scares the king.”
“Nyx,” I said, reaching over to the cat. She nuzzled my hand and I felt a sense of peace and resolve.
“So tonight. When can we do this?” I asked her. Maddie thought hard for a moment.
