AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That was the plan.” Orpheus’s voice takes on an eerily calm edge. “But now, all three of them will die.” His jaw ticks, his eyes menacing. “You and Rosario will be lucky to survive that night as well.”
47
CHASE
Iblink against the blinding light and the splitting pain in my skull. Nausea floods me as I regain consciousness, my muddled brain trying to make sense of what happened.
“Chase.” Mackenzie’s face appears over mine, her face lined with worry. “Thank God you’re awake.”
I squeeze my eyes closed, swallowing the bile rising in my throat and pushing it back down. My hands lift, gingerly rubbing my throbbing head. A pained hiss escapes me from that simple movement.
I open my eyes when I hear Rosario’s low voice, the shakiness warning me something big transpired before I lost consciousness and that I need to pull my shit together.
“I’ve temporarily locked us in here.”
Mackenzie nods. “Thank you.”
My gaze locks on Mackenzie’s worried face that is currently turned away from mine. I follow her to Rosario, who stands a short distance away. Her veil has been removed, exposing the scars on her face. It’s haggard and pale from worry, and she’s twisting a rosary that hangs around her neck.
That’s an odd thing for her to wear, considering the activities of the cult.
“Will you be okay?” Mackenzie’s voice is laced with concern. I don’t miss the soft glance that passes between the two women. They’ve formed some type of bond.
She nods. “I hope.” Her voice is soft. “Daemon and I are at fault. We didn’t think Orpheus noticed us questioning his methods. We were so careful. When I was delivering the Black’s baby, he was there. He’d been the one to call for me when Mrs. Black went into labor. That was the night Orpheus came to the attic and took Chase.”
Mackenzie nods. “What happened tonight… that wasn’t part of the ritual for his accession, right?”
Rosario’s eyes lock on mine as she shakes her head. “No.”
I suck in a deep breath, a groan coming from my lips on the exhale. “That was because of me.” I close my eyes, regret swirling with my anguish. I put Mackenzie through hell tonight. She was seconds away from passing out when I found that metal rod and busted the glass.
“It was a test. Orpheus wanted to prove that you were loyal to him. But when you attacked him with that rod for what he did to Mackenzie, you revealed your hand.” Her dark eyes are rimmed with sympathy.
I grip the side of the bed railing and try to pull myself into a seated position. Rosario pushes me back down and then hits a button that raises the head of the bed so I’m sitting up.
“What’s the next step?”
Rosario shrugs one shoulder. “I don’t know. I’ve never been in this position before. No one has ever gone against Orpheus. All I know is we are all his enemies right now. If he hasn’t killed Daemon…” she trails off, sadness blanketing her face. She blinks a few times before she says, “I’m sure he’ll be coming for us when he’s finished with him.”
“Any weapons in here?”
Time seems to pass so slowly when you are waiting for an attack. None of us could guess what Orpheus had planned for us, including Rosario, so we’d come up with several scenarios.
Rosario had a bunch of crackers, water bottles, and a couple of packs of Chips Ahoy cookies in her bag that she carried with her when she was called for nursing duty. We snacked on that to give us strength and some nourishment.
As the time droned on and the dark sky lightened to orange, signifying a new day, we did what we could to look out for one another. We’d take turns napping while one of us paced, standing guard in front of the heavy, locked door. When the three of us were awake, we engaged in feeble conversation, but the room was so cold as though Orpheus had shut the heat off. Plus, we must be careful, knowing Orpheus has cameras in the room and is likely watching and listening to us.
Mackenzie has a few stitches from the wounds she sustained when the glass cut her when I busted it to get her out of that makeshift wood and glass coffin. Her face, arms, and legs are still littered with cuts and scratches from the glass, as well as a few bites from the spiders. Rosario took care of her injuries and put her on an antibiotic, as she did for me.
It’s strange to form an alliance with her, but that’s what we are right now. An odd sort of alliance against a monster who seeks absolute power and control.
“What is today’s date?” Mackenzie finally says, breaking the silence.
Rosario grabs a small bag, pulling out a date planner. She looks at it, then raises her eyes to ours. “It’s October 29.”
God.Two days until Halloween and the date of Orpheus’s godforsaken ascension. Who knows how long since we’ve been holed up in here, day bleeding into night?
Mackenzie leans her head on my shoulder as we sit on the cold, tiled floor. Her leg bounces restlessly.
