Page 27

“Thank you,” I said, too sweetly, as he closed the door behind me.

My eyes struggled to adjust to the grandeur of the chamber around me.

I’d never stood in such a place before.

Tall arched ceilings swept through the space, making it feel even larger than it was, while small pools built into the gray stone floors held steaming water, the scent of lilac mixing with the steam as it rose like phantoms toward the ceiling.

A shiver crept across the nape of my neck as I knelt at one of the pools and dipped my hand into the still water. The temperature, mixed with the beauty of the space, heavenly. The serenity of it all compelling me to discard my worries and sink into the water’s depths, like a Siren waiting for me to enjoy her home before she dragged me to the bottom.

I snatched my hand back, the blissful moment tainted by my thoughts.

I didn’t deserve to enjoy the water’s touch.

Not after what I’d done.

I sighed, stood, and walked quietly back to the door.

I had one mission right now: find the portal so I could go home.

I rested my head on the door, breathing deeply to clear the lilac from my lungs, and began counting to sixty, hoping the guard would be well on his way to finding a staff member by the time I opened the door.

Fifty-six . . .

Fifty-seven . . .

Fifty-eight . . .

Fifty-nine . . .

Sixty.

When I twisted the handle, I half expected it to be locked, but it opened easily.

I poked my head out into the hallway.

Clear.

Moving quickly, I darted back down the corridor, passing the junction of hallways and beyond toward the stairwell at the end. But I wasn’t fast enough to escape the eyes of the guard still stationed outside my bedroom door.

“Hey! Wait!” the guard shouted.

I broke into a full sprint, looking out the windows as I passed them.

I was a few stories up, and could see the same fields of green I’d seen from my bedroom window.

When I reached the stairwell, I raced down it, following the tight spiral of steps, small windows in the curved stone of the stairwell measuring my descent.

“Hey!” the guard whisper-shouted from above. “Hey!” he shouted, more urgently this time.

The hysteria in his voice meant I was getting closer to civilization.

I kept my ears perked for any signs of life. I would need to avoid capture if this prison break was going to be worth it.

I was almost to the first-floor landing when an echo of voices came from below.

Dammit.

I turned, heading back up the stairs, passing the next landing only to hear the guard’s footsteps closing in on me from above.