Maggie didn’t give him the satisfaction ofresponding in any way, and neither did the others as they left theprisoner behind. Maggie searched for Aiden, but he wasn’t in any ofthe remaining, empty cells. Turning a corner, Vicky stopped beforeanother solid, steel door.
“I was just down there talking with Aiden.Of course, I don’t look in the window when I’m down there,” Vickysaid.
What an odd thing to say.BeforeMaggie could question her on it though, Vicky continuedspeaking.
“He doesn’t…” Vicky’s voice hitched. “Hedoesn’t say much, but I think he listens.”
Those words caused the hair on Maggie’s napeto rise. Shethinkshe listens.
Vicky slid a key into the lock, and itclicked open. The hinges squeaked as she pushed the door inwardbefore turning to Maggie. “Don’t be afraid.”
“I’m not,” Maggie replied.
She had to force herself not to wipe herpalms on her jeans as she gazed down the long corridor ahead ofher. When she felt sweat spreading beneath her arm pits, sheshrugged out of her coat and held it out to Vicky.
“Will you hold this for me?” she asked.
“Of course,” Vicky said and took it fromher.
“Watch out, there might be stakes in it,”Ethan cautioned.
Vicky’s mouth pursed and she moved the coataway from her to hold it like it was a live grenade.
“Only one, and it’s in the inner pocket,”Maggie said before turning her attention back to the gloomycorridor. The only light illuminating the hall came from behindher, but it was enough to reveal that here, instead of concretewalls and bars, there were only what she could describe as steelcages.
What had happened to Aiden since she’d lastseen him? What would she find down there? What if Ethan was wrongand she couldn’t save him?
That was the most terrifying thought she’dever had.
Ethan reached inside and flipped a switch. Arow of dim, caged bulbs dangling over the middle of the corridorlit up the concrete floor and cages. Two of the bulbs flickeredannoyingly.
“He’s locked up and restrained. The cell isbuilt specifically for purebreds, so he won’t be able to hurt you,”Ethan said.
“He would never! Aiden wouldn’t…” Theexpressions on Ethan and Vicky’s faces caused the rest of Maggie’sprotests to fade away.
“Come,” Ethan prodded. “Vicky, I think you’dbetter stay here. He’s going to be enraged, and it’s better if heonly focuses that on one of us. You should probably get the otherstoo, in case something goes wrong.”
“Okay. Good luck,” she said to Maggie.
Unable to reply, Maggie gave a brisk nod andfollowed Ethan into the hall. Vicky didn’t close the door behindthem. When Maggie glanced back, she saw Vicky was gone. Focusingforward again, she tried not to dwell on the ominous, oppressiveair encompassing this hall as she put one foot in front of theother.
Their steps weren’t loud, and she knew itwasn’t true, but she felt like their feet were louder than gunshotson the concrete. The bulbs cast their shadows over the steel doorsin eerie patterns that danced and swayed and had her half expectingthe laughter of trolls to sound from the bowels of this place. Thepotent scent of mildew filled the corridor, and with the dampnessin the air, she guessed they were somewhere near water, most likelythe ocean.
She couldn’t help but feel as if this mightbe the path to hell. And Aiden was trapped within it.
The small, square windows in the doors theypassed revealed the empty cells beyond. Needing a moment to steadyherself, Maggie feigned curiosity as she stopped to peer into oneof those windows. A simple cot was set against the right wall. Asink, toilet, and a shower head were the only other things in thecell.
“Ronan had the cells updated with theshower,” Ethan said from behind her.
“How thoughtful,” she muttered and steppedaway from the door.
The further they walked down the hall, themore the scent of sweat and cloves mingled with the mildew.Aiden.The aroma of him and the prospect of seeing himstrengthened her.
The door opening drew Aiden’s attentiontoward the open window of his cell. His chains rattled as heemerged from the back corner. When the chains shackling his wristsand ankles pulled taut, he leaned forward until his face camewithin an inch of the window.
He didn’t know how much time he’d spenttrying to rip free of his manacles, but through the fog of insanitycoating his mind, he recalled breaking his wrists and ankles sooften that he’d lost count. Still, the bonds didn’t give and he’dbeen unable to slip free of them.
His lips skimmed back when he heardfootsteps approaching. His fangs snapped as his blood boiled.Kill. Destroy. Die! Die! Die!The mantra had looped throughhis head for days, weeks, months. He had no idea how long he’d beenhere, but he knewwhyhe was here.
