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I eyed the crimson banner that draped across the ceiling from wall to wall, the tails tumbling down to the floor on either side. The hooks in the ceiling held the fabric out just enough that I could hide behind it.
My heartbeat quickened as the sound grew closer, accompanied by the sounds of metal screeching upon metal, telling me it was most likely a guard. When they had passed, I tugged the fabric back and snuck a peek.
My eyes widened—I’d know that mountainous build just about anywhere.
“Ryker,” I whisper-shouted.
He came to an abrupt halt and turned to look my way.
I stepped out from behind the banner.
“Sage,” he exclaimed softly, as he quickly walked towards me, the length of his long legs chewing up the distance in little time. His lips pressed into a flat line as he took in my sad physical state. Wild eyes flicking up to mine, he asked, “I’ve been looking for you everywhere. Are you okay?”
“I’m alright,” I said, nodding softly. “I’m relieved to see you.”
“As I am you. I wasn’t at the trial, but when I heard what had happened, that you had been taken to the dungeon, I—” Ryker fumbled for words. “I’m so damn sorry I wasn’t there to try to help you.”
I shook my head. “There’s nothing you could have done for me without putting yourself in danger.”
“Putting myself in danger would have been the least of my concerns,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest.
I understood that because I had felt that same way when Kaleb was taken. And if roles were reversed, and it was Ryker in my place, yes, I would have fought for him too. Whether that made us stupid or courageous, I didn’t know. Perhaps it was a bit of both.
He unhooked a ring full of small brass keys from his belt. “Let’s get that thing off you, yes?” Ryker’s eyes dropped to the collar around my throat.
My mouth popped open as I looked at the ring of keys.
“Where did you find those?” I asked, sweeping my matted hair back and tilting my chin up so he had more room to work.
“I stole them from the dungeon,” he replied as he tried the first key. When it didn’t work, he tossed it to the side—the metal key clanging upon its kin—and tried the next in line. “I bribed my way in, hoping to find you. But when I checked the cells in the dungeon, you weren’t in any of them. Where were they keeping you?”
My brows shot towards my hairline. “Cells? There were no cells in the dungeon—it was just one cavernous circle.”
Dark lashes lifted, his gaze meeting mine. “There must be two sets of dungeons then. I’ve worked here for weeks, and I’ve never heard so much as a peep about the other one.” He looked back at the lock and tried another key. “I wonder why.”
“Perhaps it’s because they are doing something terrible to the people down there.” I swallowed.
“What do you mean?” Ryker asked.
An audible click sounded. The left side of his mouth twisted upward in victory as the lock sprung free. He helped me out of the collar and tossed it behind the banner—covering our tracks.
I swallowed harshly. “I don’t know exactly what they are doing to the prisoners. All I know is that the guards drag them from the Well, then shortly after, all you hear is . . . screaming.” My gaze fell, fixating on the deep-red rug. “And then in some places, blood starts to rain from the ceiling.”
Ryker said something, but whatever it was, I didn’t hear it.
Because at that moment, all I could hear in my head were those horrific screams.
“Hey.” Ryker stepped into me, his hand resting on my shoulder. “Look at me, Sage.”
I did.
“You are free from there now.”
I nodded, hanging on to his words.
There was something else he needed to know.
I took a breath. “There were hundreds of us down there. All Cursed or accused of being Cursed.”
