Page 49 of Fate of the Fallen
With the structure of the door, there was only a small peephole up top meant for someone to see in, not for us to see out. Our only visual of the person who spoke was a small, waist-high slit where I guessed meals were meant to be exchanged. Through it, a black jacket could be seen, hands folded in front, a gaudy ring on one hand as the head of a cane pressed into his palm.
Still, even with so little to go on, I’d know that voice anywhere …Sebastian.
“I do hope my men weren’t too rough. They’re used to dealing with the more rugged variety of shifter, not the likes of a queen,” he expressed. There was an air of mockery in his tone. “And I see you’ve brought a friend with you this time.”
At his words, Beth inched closer to my side.
“No need to be afraid, little wolf,” he laughed. “My son seems to be intrigued by you, so I can almost guarantee your safety as much as Evangeline’s. Assuming you’re … accommodating.”
I felt my stomach turn, but held my composure because I was certain he watched us through that peephole, waiting to see us squirm.
My lips parted, and I’d just gotten my thoughts together to try reasoning with this man—a tyrant—but then there was a sound. A sound that silenced me after uttering only one syllable.
It was a roar, one that echoed from …everywhere.
Beth spoke up before I had the chance. “What was that?” As soon as the words left her mouth, she was on guard.
“Oh, what a pity he spoiled it. I was so looking forward to youseeingmy surprise as opposed to just hearing it, but I suppose the cat is out of the bag now,” he teased, the sound of amusement marking his tone. “We have another interesting guest and I believe the two of you are actually very well acquainted. And, judging by how excited he is all of a sudden, I’m guessing he knows you’re here.”
From the other side of the door, Sebastian bellowed a dark laugh. It was the laugh of a man who got off on toying with the lives of others, a man who enjoyed playing the role of puppeteer. It was the laugh of a man who thought nothing of bringing me here, under the same roof as the one who wanted nothing as much as he wanted me dead.
“She can’t be here with him,” Beth forced out, putting her own fears aside to speak up for me. “Your son mentioned that you want her kid, right? You have some sort of … plans for it, I’m guessing? Well, I can guarantee that if you don’t move him or moveus… she’ll never make it.”
Sebastian was still as a statue where we saw him through the slit in the door. “It’s being taken care of,” was his only response, so casual as our lives hung in the balance.
“I’ll return to check in later,” he promised.
One I hoped to God he didn’t keep.
“Oh … and I took the liberty of making certain those handy little flames of yours couldn’t do a number onthesedoors like they did on the last. You taught me quite the lesson after your nifty little parlor trick up north. Thanks to you, we were able to better prepare this time around,” he added, leaving us the next second.
Dim light filtered in through the slot his body once blocked. His footsteps, and those of a few soldiers, could be heard growing faint as the distance between them and us lengthened.
Beth slowly slid down the wall, sitting beside me again as we both soaked in the breadth of our circumstances.
In short, they were dire.
There was a fading hope in the back of my mind that someone would find us in time. With me only being able tofeelLiam—but not being able to communicate with him, or sense his location—I couldn’t say for certain he could get to us. Now we’d just discovered that Nick was here, too, and Sebastian was grossly underestimating what he was capable of.
“There has to be a way out,” Beth sighed. “I’m gonna shift and see if I can … I don’t know … tunnel through the walls. I’m guessing the witches put some kind of spell on this place if they’re smart, but … it’s worth a try, right? Not to mention, it’s the only shot we have.”
After the statement, she braced her hands against the walls as if to gage their strength. I watched, not wanting to tell her how pointless this would be. I mean, it wasn’t likemyabilities would work to free us either. Thanks to Sebastian taking special precautions this time around.
Beth removed her shoes, reaching for the button of her jeans next as she prepared to shift, but a sound outside the cell door froze us both in place.
“You hear that?” she whispered, creeping toward the back wall again, maybe hoping to put as much space between us and whoever might have been coming to enter. Considering Sebastian and his brood, we could be certain the visitor had ill intentions.
The steps that approached were quiet, as if this person hoped to catch us off guard. Or maybe they’d been sent to eavesdrop. Either way, Beth and I were silent.
Even when a small piece of paper was dropped in through the slot and those same footsteps made quick work of darting away.
Beth and I exchanged a glance, both confused by what had just taken place, but I was too curious to just sit there. She was on my heels, watching over my shoulder as I grabbed the paper and unfolded it, reading the words in a whisper.
‘I CAN HELP YOU.’
Neither of us had any idea who our wanna-be-savior was, or even if they were legit, but … for now, they were the only hope we had.
Chapter Sixteen