Jacinta shrugs, the motion nonchalant even though the look in her eyes is anything but. “Well, what else would she need our blood for?”
“Maybe they found it and realized that there was another measure needed to open it up,” Dad speculates.
“But she didn't have access to the house. How would she have found it? Surely, Dad would have known,” Emma points out, but Kai shakes his head.
“You said it yourself; there are secret passageways all over the estate. Carmen was one of the count’s working girls. Who’s to say that she didn't know a different way into the house?”
“Kai’s not wrong.” Thomas has returned in time to hear the last bit of the conversation. “We need that map so we can make sure all the access points are closed off.”
Emma stands up and brushes her hands on her jeans. “Do you want to go straight to the vault, or do you want to wander through the house first?” she asks Jacinta and Jaxon, but they exchange a glance before looking at me.
“You decide. This was all for you, so it’s only right we do what you want,” Jaxon says, and my heart skips a beat.
“Jesus, it has to be the vault, no questions asked. I would hate to be kept waiting, and there’s no way I’m going to make you guys wait.”
Oliver sighs with relief. “Thank fuck. If you had said you wanted to tour the house and leave us in suspense, I probably would have died.” He’s so fucking dramatic, but I can see everyone feels the same way.
“Okay, let's go then.” There’s a commotion as we all stand up and move after her. She heads back into the wondrous foyer and straight up the carpeted stairs that lead to the second-level mezzanine. Directly in front of the stairs, overlooking the whole area like a king surveying his kingdom, is a large painting of a man.
“Fuck me, that could be you in a few years, Jax.” Kai’s whispered words only echo what surely has to be on everyone’s minds. We’ve all stopped as one, gaping at the likeness on the wall.
Except for the ridiculous mustache and soulless eyes, he’s a dead ringer for Jaxon. The similarities between them would have been enough to make anyone stop and do a double take, but it’s the differences that are making the goosebumps rise. Those eyes… There’s just something about them that’s haunting. They’re like an empty void, causing a shiver to run down my spine. This isn’t just a normal portrait, no, this is one where it feels like he’s staring directly into my soul.
Nana speaks next, something thoughtful and hushed about her voice. “I had forgotten about that. You know, it never occurred to me to put two and two together. It’s so obvious now. I feel like such a fool.” Poppy wraps his arms around her and sighs.
“If you were a fool, so was I. When we cut him out of our life, I didn't really think about him anymore. Even when he disappeared, it had been years since we had seen him. Not since you were pregnant with Brad. That’s over forty-seven years ago. Don’t be down on yourself.” The soft sound of Poppy’s voice is a comfort to more than just Nana, chasing away the chill brought on by the count’s stare.
Looking around the mezzanine level, I notice it matches downstairs, with all the arches leading to more doors and the same style wall sconces. Opposite us is a staircase to another mezzanine level.
“I bet you can really see the porn from up on that level,” Oliver whispers in my ear, and my nipples pucker at the sensation. I smack him on the arm as I stifle the chuckle that wants to escape because now is not the time, but I tuck the idea away for later.
“The house is riddled with secret passageways. Essentially, the count wanted his help to be invisible. Each room has a secret entrance. Dad made me memorize them all, so I’m probably the only remaining person who knows about them. Most of the former servants were elderly, and I think most of them would have passed on by now,” Emma explains.
“Well? Where’s the secret vault?” Jacinta asks breathlessly. For someone who wanted to have nothing to do with the house, she sure is excited. Has she changed her mind?
“Don’t worry. She’s just caught up in the drama of it all.” I spin to where Jaxon is behind me, surprised.
“How did you know?” I ask him.
“Babe, you got all tense and clenched your hands. I took a guess.”
I don't get to respond before Emma answers Jacinta. “There’s only one way into the vault from the house.” She reaches up and pulls down on the wall sconce. There’s a click and a mechanical whirring sound, then the painting of Count Bucataru swings away from the wall. A false wall pops back and slides to the side, exposing a set of elevator doors.
Holden looks up at the elevator, then back down at Emma before saying, “That’s all well and good, but how the hell do we get up there?” Almost as though the house itself was listening, a false wall opens below the painting, and a set of steps rolls out, leading directly to the doors.
“Wow, that was cool,” Hope whispers quietly, the words carrying in the silence of our collective amazement.
“The elevator goes down to the vault which is below the main structure. We can’t all fit in, so we’ll have to go in turns. Thankfully, the elevator doesn't require blood to activate it. I’ll go with the first lot so I can put the lights on down there.”
“How about Jaxon, Jacinta, and Harlow go first? We can follow after in a couple of trips,” Dad suggests, and everyone agrees.
“That sounds good. There’s a button in the elevator that will make everything close up. The count didn't want anyone else knowing it was there, so he couldn't leave it hanging open when he was going to be down there for a long time. The last group to come down can press it. You can’t miss it; it’s gotClosewritten on it.”
We all shuffle around, with Emma being the first up the steps and in the elevator. She pushes a button, making the doors close, before turning to face us.
“This elevator only goes down to the vault. There’s another hidden elevator, which I will show you later, that goes into one of the turrets.”
“What’s up there?” Jacinta asks before either Jaxon or I can. Emma looks uncomfortable but answers anyway.
