Page 23 of Mourning Wings
“Areyou sure?Imean…this place,” she says.
Ireach up to brush a stray lock of hair from her face, my fingers grazing her cheek.Valeria’sbreath hitches. “Yes, princesa.”
Hergaze darts to the floor. “Okay,” she cedes.
IgrabValeria’shand, feeling her pulse quicken through her skin.She’snervous.
“Comeon,”Iwhisper.Hereyes are wide, filled with questions she hasn’t asked yet.Shenods, trusting me even though she has every reason not to.
Thecorridor is narrow, damp, the kind of place that makes your skin crawl if you think about it too much.ButI’vestudied the entire layout of the mansion, soIknow the way.
Ikeep moving, one foot in front of the other, leading her through the darkness.
It’sthenIhear voices—too close for comfort.IpullValeriasharply to the side, pressing us both against the cold stone wall.Thespace is too damn tight, barely enough room for the two of us.
“Shhh,”Isay.Thevoices get closer, andIcan tellValeria’sholding her breath, trying not to make a sound.
It’sjust a couple of drunk men who have no idea how close they are to us.Westay frozen untilI’msure they’re gone, and thenInod toValeria. “Let’sgo.”Weslip out of our hiding spot and continue down the passage, quicker this time.She’skeeping up, butIcan feel her fear, the way her hand shakes slightly in mine.Itighten my grip, hoping to steady her.
Finally, we reach the end, facing an old elevator.It’srusted, barely functional, and looks as if it hasn’t been used in ages, but it’s our only way up.
“Thisway,”Isay, pulling open the barrier.
Ican see the hesitation in her eyes. “Areyou sure about this?”
“Iknow it looks bad, but it’s the only way up without being seen.Trustme.”
Shetakes a deep breath and steps inside, the floor creaking under her weight.Ifollow, closing the gate behind us.Thespaceis tiny, claustrophobic, butIpush the feeling down and focus on the controls, trying to remember the sequence.
“Whyare you even looking into theWhitmores?”Valeriaasks, her voice cutting through the silence.
Ifreeze, my fingers hovering over the buttons.
“TheWhitmoreshave done things—terrible things—and they’ve been getting away with it for years because no one has the power to stop them.”Myvoice shakes with angerIcan barely contain.
“Yeah.Ithink they have something to do withCamila’sdisappearance,” she mutters.
Theelevator lurches into motion, the old gears groaning in protest.Valeriagrips the railing, her knuckles white.
“Wewere orphans,Isabel,Camila, and me.WhenCamilaturned seventeen, she was adopted by theWhitmores.Iwas younger…Ihad no way of keeping in touch with her, so whenIleft the orphanage two years later,Istarted looking for her.”Valerialeans back against the cold metal wall, staring down as if she’s watching memories play out on the floor. “Theytook her in like they were doing her some big favor, but she didn’t last long.Theyclaimed she tried to run away and committed suicide.”
Myhead snaps up to look at her.Valeria’sstill talking, soIdon’t interrupt.
“Theysaid there was no foul play, that she wasn’t happy and just couldn’t handle it anymore.ButCamilawas never suicidal,”Valeriacontinues, her voice growing firmer. “Shewas quiet, almost mute, and she kept to herself, but she wasn’t broken.Shejust needed time, and they never gave it to her.”
Valeria’shand goes to the butterfly necklace around her neck.Shetouches it gently like it’s some kind of lifeline. “Webonded over butterflies,” she says, and there’s something soft, almost tender, in her voice. “That’show we got close.That’showIfell for her.”
Herwords hit me like a punch to the gut.Ijust stare at her, trying to process everything she said.
“That’swhyI’vebeen wearing this necklace ever since you gave it to me,” she murmurs, her fingers still tracing the pendant. “It’slikeI’mcarrying a part of her with me.Butwhy did you give it to me?”
Ilook down, my thoughts swirling.WhydidIgive it to her?Ididn’t know the story then, didn’t know what it meant. “Ihave no idea,”Iadmit, feeling an odd vulnerability in the confession. “Ijust felt like you needed to have it.Andnow, hearing all this, maybeIunderstand why.”
Theelevator jolts, andIgrab onto the railing, steadying myself.Valeriadoes the same, but her eyes are far away, most likely lost in thought.Iwant to say something to comfort her, but the words just don’t come.
“Doyou still love her?”Ispit out, regretting the question as soon as it slips from my mouth.
Valerianods. “Ido.ButI’vemade peace with her absence.Ijust need to find out what really happened to her.Iowe her that much.”