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As I stepped out of the enchanting cottage and back into the dappled sunlight of the forest, I carried with me a renewed sense of purpose. I knew that this wasn’t my husband. But maybe she was right. Maybe we had to be absolutely certain of this, and then, we would know how to act. At least, I was hoping that she would know.
Mounted on my faithful horse, I rode through the forest, the secrets of the woods surrounding me like whispered promises. The wind whispered through the ancient trees, carrying with it the aroma of moss and earth, as if nature itself was guiding me on my path. The cottage, with its mystical aura, soon faded into the depths of the forest, but the witch’s words and the knowledge I had gained remained etched in my heart. I knew that the journey was far from over, and that the challenges that lay ahead would test my determination and resolve.
Chapter Nineteen
Adrian
Despite all the exhaustion and turmoil, my inner clock had regained power. I was out with Constantine in the garden several hours ago, so now it had to be dark. I wondered what the stars looked like, checkered all across the sky. I missed everything about the outside world, now even more so when I had gotten a glimpse of it this afternoon.
I tossed and turned on the sofa. I was hungry, but no food was brought to me. I was thirsty as well, which was bothering me more than the hunger. Finally, I sat up, lowering my feet to the ground. I felt like my body was dying from the lack of movement. But instead, my mind was working twice as hard. I couldn’t stop thinking about Lilith and Cass, my two girls. I wondered what they were doing. I wondered if either of them was able to see through the doppelganger and realize that it wasn’t me.
At that moment, the door suddenly unlocked and opened. I didn’t know who I was expecting. But the guard with the bruised eye appeared, like a phantom from the shadows. I could immediately tell he was alone from the way he moved, swiftly, counting every second as if it could mean the difference between life and death. I already knew that his presence was a lifeline in the tangled web of mystery and the danger that had ensnared me.
I got up, ready for whatever it was he had to tell me. Our gazes locked, and I knew what time it was.
“Do you trust me?” he asked, almost breathless.
“I do,” I nodded, without thinking.
“It is time to escape, Adrian,” he told me. “If you trust me, follow me.”
This vampire had the key to my freedom, and I followed him without hesitation.
He gestured at me to stay close, and I did so. He peered out from the door, telling noiselessly that we could start. Cautiously, trying to make as little noise as possible, we navigated the intricate corridors of this endless castle. We moved with the grace of shadows, slipping past other guards and potential obstacles with silent precision. Each step was deliberate and well thought through. Each breath was premeditated. We couldn’t even breathe, unless we thought it was safe to do so.
We moved in unison, our movements synchronized as if we were two parts of the same intricate dance. The flickering torchlight cast elongated shadows on the stone walls, and we used the cover of darkness to our advantage, remaining unseen and unheard.
I could see now that I would never have been able to navigate these passageways by myself. I had no prior knowledge of them. I didn’t know where the other guards were situated. If it wasn’t for my newfound ally, I would have been condemned to stay here until Constantine saw it fit to release me, which would probably never happen.
My ally’s knowledge of the castle’s layout turned out to be our greatest asset. We skirted past sentinels and servants, their attention diverted by their own duties or my ally would distract them himself, keeping me in the shadows and sending them away on a new errand that would allow us both to slip by unnoticed.
Occasionally, there would be a creaking floorboard that threatened to give us away. Even the flickering of torches and candlelight had that power over us, but we pressed on. We knew that we couldn’t stop now. There was no going back, only ahead. The stakes were too high. There was too much to lose now.
Emerging from the grand castle into the expansive garden, the night air was a welcome embrace. The scent of blooming flowers and the soft rustle of leaves on the breeze filled the surroundings with a sense of tranquility that contrasted sharply with the chaos of our escape. I knew that we were far from out just yet, but I couldn’t help but feel joy to be out of that oppressive room and castle.
“There!” my ally whispered, pointing at the lush, verdant bushes that lined the castle’s exterior.
I understood what he was trying to say. We hid ourselves in these bushes, their thick foliage providing us with a shield of darkness. We crouched low, our breaths shallow, and watched as guards passed by, their lanterns casting fleeting glimmers of light that danced along the garden path. Each passing moment heightened the tension, but we remained hidden, patient and resolute.
“Do you see him?”
We suddenly heard a voice coming from nearby, and I knew that the lanterns were no longer just a usual patrolling of the premises. No. They were aware of the fact that I had escaped, and they were trying to find me. Fortunately, it seemed that they didn’t know I had help getting out.
I exchanged a meaningful glance with my ally, who pressed his finger to his lips, bidding me to stay quiet. I nodded. We waited for a few seconds longer, until the lanterns disappeared and we could no longer hear their voices.
“They know,” I whispered, once I was certain that they were no longer close.
“They were bound to find out soon,” he nodded. “You have to go on your own.”
My eyes widened in surprise. “I won’t leave you.”
“I won’t be in danger,” he assured me. “They don’t know I was helping you.”
“But they will figure out that someone must have unlocked the door,” I frowned. “They will torture the information out of someone else or you, yourself. Constantine will find out eventually that it was you, and then…” I didn’t want to finish my sentence, but we both knew well what Constantine did to traitors.
“Trust me,” he said. “You have better chances of escaping alone. I could distract them. I could lead them in the opposite direction, claiming that I saw some commotion there. That will give you enough time to escape.”
He huddled closer, then pointed his finger into the distance. I couldn’t see much in the darkness, but at least I had a general direction in which I was supposed to keep moving.
