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Frustrated, I climb out from under the covers, pulling a hoodie that was left on the bed over the tiny little shorts and cami set Knight must have picked up for me and head for the door. I’m not sure I would have come back right away if Knight hadn’t shown up and demanded me to. Like with the shops clustered in that dark alleyway, I have no idea how I found my way back to this maze of the castle, but maybe if I knew my way back, then I could figure out my way around it. Maybe it’s something that triggers here in Rathe, an internal compass of sorts.
Or maybe Knight put some sort of freaky spell on me that embedded a map inside my brain that’ll explode and blow me to pieces if I don’t follow it.
Okay, that’s dramatic, but seriously. Anything is possible at this point, right?
My lip twitches at the ridiculous thoughts, and I turn the handle, pushing the door open and step into the hall, where I come to a halt.
The bed that looks like it was created for Wednesday Addams as a child stares back at me, my shoes at the foot of it where I left them, the window at its side wide, curtains blowing with the midnight breeze. Is it always dark here? Because I can vibe with this.
I blink and blink again, spinning back for the door.
Gripping the handle, I turn it, easing it open as I tip my head to look out.
The hallway greets me with flickering lights and a red velvet carpet, just as before. Slowly, I step out, and the door slams at my back, making me jump. I take a step, my foot freezing mid-air when the fucking bed, yet again, sits in front of me.
I spin to the door, throwing it open this time so hard it rattles against the wall, and the image outside it shakes. “What the fu—”
“He’s locked you in.”
A small yelp escapes me because, well, I’m in another fucking world. No telling what’s lurking around the corner.
When I turn, I see a girl in a black and purple maid’s uniform, a skimpy kind you’d find in department stores in October.
“You can’t get out, no matter how many times you try.” She lifts a shoulder, blue eyes sparkling as she tips her head. A mischievous smile plays at her lips. “You’re the first Giftless they’ve ever brought home. I wonder why.”
“Any guess you want to share?” I ask, looking her over. Her ears are clipped around the lobe, and while her face is sort of angelic-like, I can’t guess what she is.
“No.” She smiles, stepping closer. She looks inside the room, her head shaking. “Shame this is empty. Didn’t used to be.”
A frown builds at my brows, and when I look back, the maid is gone.
Sighing, I slam the door and lean against it, closing my eyes for a long moment.
Well, at least he didn’t ‘erase’ the door, like Sinner said. I might panic then.
Maybe throw myself out the window and see if some sort of magical, invisible pillow catches me on the way down. Maybe some sort of Aladdin magic carpet shit will appear.
Maybe I’d just splat all over the cement, all Knight’s problems would be solved, and Ben would be all alone in the world.
I need to go home. He’s probably worried, and I miss him.
My eyes fall to the empty space on the wall. It’s purple and large with nothing in the center, black candle holders with screaming skulls on the ends and flickering fire floating in them.
I move closer, hovering my hand over the flame to see if it’s warm to the touch or some sort of trickery, but not only is it hot, but it bursts as if threatened by my nearness, the fire rolling across my palm and wrapping around it, exploding and engulfing, and all I can do is stare.
I yank away, looking from my hand to the candlestick. My eyes fly wide, and I squeal when I see the fire burning away the sleeve of the hoodie.
“Oh fuck!” I scream, pulling it over my head and stomping it out.
“Don’t freak out, don’t freak out…” I peek out of one eye, and instantly, my shoulders fall. Oh, thank fuck. My skin didn’t melt off.
In fact…
I look closer, running my fingers over the soft flesh.
“Not even a red spot.” I glance at the burned hoodie, the soot smell of smoke still so fresh in the air it burns my nose. “But how?”
I wave my hand in front of the candlestick, and this time, it only glows brighter, illuminating the room more and the empty space between the hanging candle burns. The perfect spot for a portrait, I can’t help but think.
But of whom?
Turning, my eyes travel the space for the first time since I arrived, picking up on more now that I’m a little less sure Knight brought me here as some sort of human sacrifice when I wouldn’t have sworn so not that long ago.
