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That wing was off-limits toeveryone.I didn’t even go there.
I never bothered locking the front entrance. I had staff taking deliveries every day, so it was more convenient that way. The state-of-the-art steel gate that wrapped around the castle grounds should have been more than adequate for protection. Besides, crime in Zermatt was practically nonexistent.
I saw that the security system was picking up someone accessing the north wing. That hadn’t happened since I sealed it off four years ago. The thought of going there at all caused a knot of dread to form in the pit of my stomach, but I ignored it. Rising from my chair with a firm frown in place, I left my office.
Heading for the north wing of the castle, I hoped that the security system was malfunctioning. My staff knew better than to go there, so it had to be a mistake, right?
When I reached the French double doors at the entrance to the wing, I immediately saw that someone had opened them and they were still slightly ajar. Anger pulsed through me, but I still hesitated to enter.
I had no plans to come into this space ever again. It was too damn hard.
But what choice did I have?
The moment I walked inside, unwanted memories assaulted me. There were too many good times here, and they refused to stay buried in the back of my mind. This was why I had the wing closed off.
I had covered the furniture with white sheets, but other than that, it was the same as it always was. I tried not to look at the paintings on the walls, knowing that it would just remind me of how excited my wife was when she picked them out. She loved decorating our living space.
Swallowing down a lump in my throat, I focused on looking for signs of something amiss. At first, I didn’t spot anything in the living space.
Turning back to the door, eager to leave, I paused when my eye caught a flash of red on an end table. Was thatblood?
I moved closer, seeing that the red splotch was on the white covering over the table, which was made of metal with a sharp corner.
Someone was here, and they’d injured themselves. The blood was fresh, which meant that whoever it belonged to was still in my home.
Chapter3
Belle
As I entered the castle, I found myself alone in the foyer. Standing there, I couldn’t help but gaze in wonder at the grandeur of the place, its sheer size leaving me speechless.
Anddark.
The floor looked like some kind of black marble, and the walls were charcoal gray. Black stone columns rose from the floor and I followed the lines with my eyes for three stories until I saw a masterpiece painted on the ceiling above. It was hard to make out the finer details from so far away, but I could tell that the image depicted angels and demons locked in battle. It was colorful, making it stick out even more in the all the surrounding darkness.
I saw doors ahead that led to the back of the castle, surrounded by double spiral staircases leading to the open second and third floors. The walls were adorned with exquisite art, creating a beautiful atmosphere. However, despite its splendor, the place had a chill to it that made it hard to picture anyone calling it home.
I heard a man's voice speaking from beyond the door directly in front of me. A familiar sense of panic seized me, urging me to ascend the stairs in a hurry, hoping not to be caught. Upon reaching the second floor, I hesitated, scanning my surroundings. On the left, I noticed a hallway adorned with statues, while on the right, a pair of French doors stood in complete darkness. Even the hallway leading to the entrance was unilluminated, creating an unused and abandoned vibe.
Perhaps I could take refuge there temporarily while I planned my next move. If the place was abandoned, there’s a chance that no one would even notice my presence.
The doors led to an entire wing of the castle, and the inside was dimly lit, lacking even the natural light that should have filtered in through the curtains. This made me wonder if the shutters were closed on the exterior of the building. Strange.
It was as if this was some condemned area, but I could make out the shape of furniture and décor, as if someone once lived in this wing. I wanted to turn on a light, but I didn’t dare. As a result, I bumped into a table, scraping my knee. I bit back a curse and stepped away, but I felt a trickle of blood run down my leg.
I’d experienced much worse, so I ignored it and continued to explore the space a little more carefully. I discovered that most of the doors in the hallway were locked. I wondered if this was a dead end when I came to the last door in the hallway. It was unlocked.
Upon entering, I released a sigh of relief, and despite the dimness of the room, my eyes gradually adjusted, revealing that I had stumbled into a bedroom. The large, inviting four-poster bed caught my attention, and it dawned on me how utterly fatigued I was. Dozing on the train was a temporary respite, but it had failed to provide me with the rejuvenation I needed, and I knew instinctively that the bed in this castle would offer me the restful slumber I craved.
I heard movement in the other room and froze, holding my breath. Someone was here. Was I seen coming into this wing of the castle?
Shit.
Blood rushed in my ears, and I trembled as I considered if I should run or hide. Neither seemed like a viable option at the moment.
But then I heard the French doors open and close again. The person left quickly. I spotted a lock on the door of the bedroom and turned it. It made me feel better even though the owner of this place would undoubtedly have a key.
Kicking off my wet and dirty boots, I crossed to the bed and yanked off the heavy covering that was on all the furniture. I didn’t hesitate to crawl into the bed, resting my head on the pillow and trying not to think of what my dirty, knotted hair was probably doing to the white pillowcase.
