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“And that would be a problem?” He quips. “I thought you stumbled in here by accident.”
“Your sarcasm isn’t lost on me, Law,” I say, glowering at the handsome second-born Bellamy. “You know damn well my being here is no accident.”
He wipes a tear from under his eye. “Ah, so now we’re being truthful?”
“Shut the door,” I command, and he frowns. “Just do it, Law, or I won’t tell you another word.”
He nods, doing as asked. “Why do I feel like I’m not going to like what you’re about to tell me?”
“It’s not all that bad. I’m not even sure what’s in the box. Maggie brought me here to find it.”
He stiffens at the mention of Maggie. “You saw her?”
“Not... exactly.” My words trail off, and his brows furrow. “I heard her in my head. Like I did before,” I explain. “Somehow, she was able to use magic to get me here.”
“Magic?” The word is laced in skepticism.
I shrug. “It’s the only way I can explain it. It was as if I didn’t have control over my own body. She led me here, Law.”
He lifts his hand to stop me from going on. “Say I believe you and Maggie brought you here. You think it’s for that box?”
“Yes,” I say, bobbing my head a tad too enthusiastically. “I found a secret room.” I head to the rock wall, Law close on my heels. I push in the brick and reveal the hidden room.
“Umm... okay. Wow,” he splutters. “I had no idea this was here.”
“I don’t think anyone but your father did,” I comment. “Whatever the magical hold was that Maggie had over me, it seemed to be centered on this box,” I say, holding it up to him.
“What’s in it?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I don’t know. It’s locked.”
“Did you find a key?” he presses on.
“No.” I exhale. “No key.”
“Let’s break it open,” he suggests, excitement making him appear boyish. It’s contagious.
“I thought the same,” I say, giddy at the prospect of knowing what’s inside. “But listen, there’s more. Today I actually did see Maggie.” His eyes widen, but I continue before he can interrupt me. “I was in the library and through the window she motioned for me to follow her. She led me back here.” I take a breath. “I know I was meant to come get this box and keep it safe. It can’t stay here,” I stress, and he nods. “We can’t let anyone know we have it.”
“It has to be important. The only time Maggie seems to communicate with you is when you’re in danger.” I nod. “We need to get out of here and get this somewhere safe.”
An urgent sensation overtakes me, and I know I’m not to let this box out of my sight. “It has to stay with me. I have no idea why, but it does.”
“Then let’s get it back to your room,” he says, moving toward the door and pulling it open.
I follow Law down the halls with the box tucked firmly underneath my arm. We’re close to my room when voices up ahead have us stopping in our tracks.
“What do we do?” I whisper over my shoulder, and his hand comes up to my mouth. His strong arms pull me backwards into a dark alcove. His large palm remains pressed against my lips, keeping me quiet, as Julian and a white-haired man come into view.
“I need to freshen up. I will meet you in your office in thirty minutes,” the older man says.
A buzzing begins in my ear, growing so loud I don’t hear what’s being said. The older man turns, facing us, and it’s then that I see a skeleton key dangling from a chain around his neck.
It could be any key to any lock, but I know it’s not. It’s the very key I need to unlock this box, and I have no idea how I know that, but I do.
Julian and the man disappear out of sight and Law and I creep out of the alcove.
“Did you see it?” I ask, turning toward Law.
