I nod, pinching my brows together.
“I promise.”
“Lox…” I whisper, at a loss for words. The front door to the manor swings open against the light breeze. Shards of glass spill into the foyer and onto the outside step. The small window beside the adjacent doors is shattered, looking as if someone has thrown a small boulder straight through it. A chill runs through me, unease prickling over my spine, and I run my hands over my arms, feeling like someone’s watching me. I turn my head slowly to my left, then to my right, straining my eyes through the darkness.
“Shh,” Loxen soothes, holding a finger to his lips as he steps inside the manor. His attempt to be quiet is futile as his boots crunch over the broken glass.
Loxen and I spot the muddy boot prints trailing across the foyer, leading up the stairs at the exact moment a loud bang crashes above us in the left wing. His eyes widen, and my heart stops dead in my chest. He peers over his shoulder at me. “Go to your room, and lock the door until I come for you,” he orders, sparing no time for an answer and takes hurried strides towards the stairs.
“Lox!” I whisper-shout, taking a confident step towards him. “I’m not letting you go alone!”
He looks back, already halfway up the stairs, and points at me. “You made a promise, now go.”
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath, ascending the right staircase two steps at a time.
Halfway to my room, I hear another bang, and my legs stop moving. My heart sinks.Fuck this.If something happens to him, I’ll never be able to forgive myself. Spinning on my heel, I sprint towards the left wing. When I reach the beginning of the hall, my steps falter, turning into slow, cautious steps. There’s a shift in the air, like a cool breeze, causing the hair on my arms to stand. My heart pounds behind my ribs, echoing into my ears, desperate to break free.
I advance down the long hallway, taking a sharp left. “Loxen?” I call out in a hushed tone, and I’m met with silence.Shit. Shit. Shit.My grandfather’s office looms in the distance; the sconces flicker next to it, and a glint from something metal on the doorknob catches my attention. I creep towards it and notice the door is slightly ajar.What the fuck?
A shiny butter knife is jammed in the keyhole, and I trail my finger over the deep gouges in the wood surrounding it. Swallowing nervously, I push the door open. The room is completely dark, papers on the top desk are scattered over the floor, and a vicious breeze whips through the room, blowing them across the hardwood. I scan the room, then pad across the room towards the window. The wind lashes at my cheeks, whipping my hair around as I stick my head through it, looking down onto the property for Loxen. A set of thick vines line the outer wall, and when I don’t spot him or the intruder, I slam it shut, securing the lock. Silence settles around me.
“Miss Ren!” a sudden voice calls out, and I nearly scream.
“Jesus, Archie!” I slap a hand to my chest, spinning on my heel. “You have got to stop doing that!”
“Are you alright?” he asks, sucking in quick breaths, his hands squeezed tight around a metal poker. I realize then that Archie isn’t in his usual attire, but in a set of deep purple silk pyjamas. I’m too stirred up to tease the old man tonight. “I-I’m fine,” I tell him, and he nods. “I think someone broke into the manor. I’m sorry, I?—”
Archie gasps, visibly shaken by my words. “L-let’s get you to bed, Miss Ren. The staff and I will deal with this. You’re safe now, I promise,” he interrupts, holding a hand out as if politely ordering me to leave the room.
Archie pulls the office door shut behind us, and I glance back over my shoulder, my eyes lingering on the door.Where the hell are you, Loxen?
TWENTY
VERENA GRAVENHURST
The tension between two lovers when something is amiss in a relationship can become unbearable to withstand. That is precisely where I’m finding myself at this moment with Reed. I find myself watching his movements. The way he smiles, the way he animates when he speaks to certain members in his circle, and how his expression and tone fall flat when he speaks to me. Ever since my introduction to his father, there’s been a shift between us.
Reed has become distant, no longer giving me the safe and secure comfort of his presence. Instead, I’m left with questions only he could answer, if only he would give me the time of day. He’s been sneaking about, missing lectures, cancelling plans that we’ve made or coming up with excuses as to why he didn’t show up. It’s completely out of character for the man I’ve come to know.
The dining hall is alive with students and faculty, socializing between classes. I sit alone on my lunch hour, dragging my fork through my vegetables, playing with my food more than consuming it. Mauve and I have alternating schedules today; when she’s in a lecture, I’m not and vice versa. Spending timealone doesn’t bother me, but sitting alone, plagued by my own thoughts, however, is a dangerous place to be.
I peer up from my tray to see Reed walk through the doors. Perking up in my seat, I wave my hand, beckoning him over to my table, but he doesn’t see me. His eyes travel across the room as if in search of something, or someone. He nods to Jenkins, motioning him to follow him out. Jenkins stands abruptly, abandons his tray at the table and leaves the room with Reed without hesitation.
My suspicion grabs hold of me, and I decide to follow them out. Reed has been acting strange lately. Hurrying after them, I try my best to keep out of sight.
Quickening my pace, I struggle to keep up without being seen. I skulk between doorways, behind other students walking about. As they head toward the exit, my curiosity spikes. Where could they be going in the middle of the day? I know Reed has another lecture this afternoon, so why take off with Jenkins?
By the time I reach the exit, they’re long gone. My stomach sinks when I see that Reed’s car is no longer in the parking lot. Defeated, I make my way back into the academy, alone.
My suspicions have me trailing my boyfriend like some mistrusting lunatic. For days, I’ve been hot on his tail, waiting for a moment where he’ll slip up and give me some insight as to what he is up to. He’s too clever, though, and it feels as if I’m chasing a ghost, for every corner I turn and every lead I follow, it ends up getting me nowhere, and it’s entirely frustrating. Today I’ve decided to take my sleuthing one step further.
Reed steps off the curb, waving a hand at a car that’s allowing him to pass. My body is hidden behind another vehicleparked on the side of the road, keeping a good distance from my target. I’m crouched low, using the car as a shield. Reed reaches the other side of the busy street and stops walking, his body frozen as if waiting for something, as if sensing he’s being followed. He peers over his shoulder in my direction, and I drop to the ground, making myself invisible from where he stands.Shit.Did he see me?
Taking a few deep breaths to tame my frantic heart, I carefully rise and peek over the hood. He’s gone. I stand up straight, whipping my head in every direction, praying to get a glimpse of him, when I see a head of blonde hair slip into the darkness of a nearby alley.Well, that’s not off-putting at all.
I haven’t come this far to walk away now. Plus, it’s Reed, I’m in no danger, this much I’m sure of. Crossing the road, I hurry to the alley, hoping to catch up to him before he once again disappears. Peering around the corner, I let out a muffled scream when a large body wraps around me, pulling me into the dark with them and pressing me back against a grimy brick wall. A hand covers my mouth, and I squeeze my eyes shut, fear sending shivers down my spine.
“You’re a sneaky little thing, aren’t you, Gravenhurst?”
