Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
I nod and follow her lead. She takes rapid steps through the hallway before turning a corner and approaching a red door, gesturing to it.
“She’s down there, in the dungeon.” The woman clenches her jaw briefly, stepping away. “You’re on your own from here.”
My mouth becomes drier. The woman looks frightened as she backs away.
“Thank you,” I tell her, grabbing the doorknob.
“You’re lucky I liked Analla.” With that, she scurries away.
I face the door and twist the knob, opening it slowly. Darkness yawns below, broken only by floating red orbs that shine on a slick staircase. Another lump forms in my throat. I try swallowing past it as I take the first step down.
I’m consumed by darkness when I finally reach the bottom of the stairs but find only a sliver of relief when I turn the corner and see another row of floating lanterns.
I pick up my pace. The air grows colder with every step, heavier, thick with rot and damp stone.
I gag as a horrid smell hits me.
Oh gods. I should turn back. I don’t even know what I’m walking into. And that woman could be lying. I might be stumbling my way into a trap.
But what if Analla is down here?
That tiny whisper of a question keeps me going.
Heart pounding, I continue, passing several cells occupied with prisoners who are hardly clinging to life. Other cells are empty but have piles of ash and bones. I gulp when it dawns on me that the ashes are that of the dead.
My anxiety heightens as I pass cell after cell, until I finally see a familiar body lying on the floor in one of them.
“Analla,” I whisper.
Her eyes snap open.
Orvena’s sake.
She looks awful, her face hollowed, brown skin ashen, and the coils in her hair matted to her head.
She sits up quickly, but not without a wince. “Zaira,” she breathes. “What the shadows are you doing here?”
“You never came home and then I felt my pendant get hot.” I grip the cold bars, studying her again. “What happened to you? Why are you locked in here?”
Her eyes instantly water as she sinks her teeth into her chapped bottom lip. “It’s Seferin,” she utters feebly. “He placed a curse on me.”
I feel a sudden drop in my stomach. “W-what? Why would he do that?”
She sniffles as she points to a corner inside the cell. “Because I tried to take that.”
I look where she’s pointing and spot an indigo crystal. It seems so out of place here, just like she does.
“You tried to steal it from him?” I ask.
“I didn’t think he’d miss it. There were so many of them in his study, and I—I don’t know. I thought I could sneak one out and sell it, get a bit more coin because we could use it, you know?” She shakes her head and frowns. “He said I was one of his favorites. I didn’t think he’d do something like this to me.”
“Analla.” I wheeze in disbelief, my eyes burning with unshed tears. “Why would you steal from Seferin of all people? You should’ve known better!”
“Shh! I know!” she whisper-hisses as she steps closer and reaches through the bars to grab my hand. Hers are dry and cold as they wrap around mine.
I look her all over in the sheer, black nightmaiden’s dress she’s wearing. “I told you not to work here. I told you to quit before you got hurt, Analla.”
“I know,” she murmurs. “But it’s too late to do anything about it so I need you to leave, okay? Get out of here and never come back.”
“No,” I snap. “I’m getting you out of here.” I pull away and study the cell door. There is no lock for a key, nothing to even pick at to at least attempt a breakout.
“The locks are controlled by his magic,” she mutters sullenly. “Only he can open the cells.”
I groan. Of fucking course.
“I’m not getting out of here, Z, and even if there were a possibility of breaking out, the curse will kill me regardless. It doesn’t matter where I am.” Her head falls in defeat. Or shame. Possibly both. “He said the curse will kill me within thirty days. He…he said it will be a slow and painful death—that I deserve it for betraying his trust.”
My tears finally fall as I choke on a sob. How can this be?
My sister, cursed.
I don’t even know what to say. How do I save her? I usually know what to do under pressure, but right now, my mind is blank.
Analla swipes at her tears, then reaches through the bars, gesturing for me to come closer. When I’m near enough, she cups my cheek in one hand while smoothing down some of my curly hair with her other. She puts on a brave smile even though her eyes are rimmed with tears.