“Why are you so full of answers all of a sudden?” I asked her.
“There isn’t any need to keep anything from you now,” she replied. “No orders left to follow,” she continued.
I felt for Sasha’s sake to keep up the ruse that Katrina was only a servant and not some rebel group spy sent to abduct me. What was with people trying to abduct me? Once was enough.
“I am still a Lady of Ardens, and this estate has not fallen yet. You will show me the respect I am deserving of,” Sasha warned.
Katrina wobbled on her feet slightly. “That would be all of nothing,” she spat back. “You’re Lady of nowhere. Petra was dissolved long ago, and True North won’t leave your wife alive. Without her, who are you?”
“That’s enough!” I yelled, taken aback by the hurtful words of Katrina.
If she though Adamantia was as good as dead, then what did that say about Selene? And Sasha didn’t deserve to be spoken to like that. She had saved us.
“Sasha saved us, and is helping you now. If all you have to speak is nastiness, maybe don’t say anything at all for a while,” I told Katrina.
Sasha looked at Katrina like she wanted to rip the stone tiles from beneath her feet and pin her up to the ceiling.
“We can leave through one of the old servant entrances. A number of them have been blocked off over the years. There is one on the ground floor in the west wing, nearest the maze, that was blocked off almost three decades ago—shortly after I arrived. Others may know of it, but I’m the only Petra witch on the estate, and without a lot of strength or equipment, no onebut me is breaking through,” Sasha explained after turning her attention to me.
“Why wouldn’t we leave through an actual door—or a window for that matter? Blowing a hole through a wall isn’t exactly inconspicuous,” Katrina replied.
“All feasible exits might be watched—especially if they are targeting Percy. You are clearly unfamiliar with Petra magic. I will create an opening without the need for dramatics.”
Katrina looked to Daniel. I didn’t follow her gaze. I kept my sight anywhere but near where it might land on him. I didn’t need more images for my nightmares—they were full enough.
“That was hurried,” Sasha defended. “And neither of you were injured in the process.”
“Why an old exit near the maze?” Katrina continued to question.
Sasha exhaled angrily. “Why with all the questions?” she asked in return.
Katrina only stared.
“Percy, we’re going now. I don’t care if your friend follows or not,” Sasha continued, holding her hand out for me.
It was odd, the way Sasha held her hand out for me—the tone of her voice held no room for arguments. And I found myself reaching out, taking her hand as silently commanded. There was something comforting in her grip, in the way she had taken control of the situation.
“But what about Selene?” I asked as she guided me from the kitchen.
“This is a bad idea, I feel it,” Katrina complained as she followed.
“I am certain that Selene and Adamantia will find us. Don’t worry,” Sasha told me, her tone less sharp.
“Where are they going to find us, exactly?” Katrina asked.
“In the maze,” Sasha answered.
“Wait, what?” Katrina asked.
“The maze?” I clarified in unison with Katrina.
“It will kill us,” Katrina continued.
Sasha pulled me a little closer to her as she led us through the corridors. I could hear the sound of gunfire, and each shot seemed to cause more tension in my spine. I felt rigid.
“The maze was created by our ancestors,” Sasha began.
“I thought we didn’t know who made the maze,” I said.
