Page 70 of Hellbound

The front door opened, and his gaze darkened.

A woman in clean but shabby clothes picked her way through the bustling tavern and seated herself at the square table.

Her voice quavered. “I—need more time.”

The man finished his drink and set down the heavy pewter mug.

“I had the money—but someone stole it during my performance.”

Ksenia’s stomach churned as she stared at the mug before her and listened, the dark liquid swirling with iridescent oil droplets.

“After everything I’ve done for you, Rinna.” He rubbed the bridge of his bulbous nose with his thick fingers and sighed. “I can’t believe it’s come to this.”

Rinna.

The realization slammed into Ksenia like she had come up for air after nearly drowning.

Tomas’s wife. The Drazan sisters had become close with his family near Brannfels. She owed much of her skill to his lessons and patient temperament, still mentoring apprentices in secret even after it became dangerous.

And Rinna had sung to their infant daughter while they worked in the dead of night. The same lullaby that had drawn Ksenia across the street before she blacked out.

She needed help, and Ksenia had been useless.

“I said I could protect your girl, but now I’m not so sure you can afford my help.” The man patted his stomach and made to leave. His motion skidded the table forward, and the woman scrambled in front of him, grabbing onto his vest.

“Please—please, I can! I just need more time! I’ll pay you double tomorrow.”

“I’ve heard that before.” He loomed over her with a crooked smile.

The woman wilted, pleading as he strode out of the Crooked Lantern.

Ksenia’s palms slammed against the table and she launched herself upright, the back of her chair hitting the wall. Fingers splayed wide, braced against the wood like claws seeking purchase, every muscle coiled.

Do something about it then, Vornaya hissed.

The soles of her boots crunched in the dirt as she tailed the man who was now dragging Rinna along by her arm.

Rinna barely resisted as she shuffled forward through the alleyways, whimpering softly.

In the darkness, she spotted the slip of mismatched fabric disappearing around the corner of a decrepit building.

Ksenia was met with a dead end of crumbling brick walls and refuse. The pair had vanished.

Heat flooded her face, then drained just as quickly, leaving her hands clammy. She had to find Rinna now.

Her foot swiped through the rubbish, sending cans skittering. She shoved aside a crate, kicked at scraps of fabric.

Nothing.

She stepped closer to the brick wall, searching for a hidden entrance, a clue, anything. Her foot creaked upon something wooden and hollow.

Leaping back, she cleared more debris to reveal a cellar door set in the floor. She tugged on the iron handle, but the door held shut.

Latched from the inside. She jammed her hand into her pocket, unearthing a hooked awl she had nicked from Varka’s forge. It fit snugly in the edge of the door jamb and slotted around the latch.

She wriggled it until she heard the click of metal. A draft of damp air escaped the wooden door as she eased it open.

Beneath, a tunnel yawned into the darkness. Lanterns were hung haphazardly on the walls, and the flames flickered as Ksenia shut the door overhead.