“Going somewhere? Maybe you could just toss me the coin then.”
Lina bared her teeth in reply.
“Right.” Elysia prayed the rope could hold her and jumped the short distance. Her hands slipped on the worn rope, flesh burning as she slid.Shit.Her knees snapped together, clamping the rope between them, bringing her to an abrupt and jarring stop. Forehead dipping against the rope, she paused, dangling in the dark. Stale air surrounded her, not even a whistle of fresh air creeping in from outside.
The rope swayed gently, and Elysia blew out a nervous breath. Scrunching her body like a worm, she made quick work of the obstacle, not wanting to be on the rope any longer than necessary.
Down, down, down, she went.
Until she came to the old servants’ closet. Releasing the rope, she landed in a crouch. Fingers on the dirt covered floor, relief came with a long drawn out exhale.So much better.She stood, rolling out her shoulders, and snatching up Lina’s leash. Out the servants’ door and into the tunnels, it was only a short walk to the stairs that led to the castle grounds.
Elysia paused with her hands on the circular grate that would lead outside.
Tunnels.
Cold moisture dampened her hands as she gripped the iron grate. She looked out through the diagonal cross sections, letting the night air hit her face. What if there were tunnels or something like it beneath the docks? She had scavenged through countless homes, businesses, and buildings in the south side. And what did they all have in common? Hidden doors. Tunnels. Cellars with escape hatches.
Were tunnels beneath the sea so farfetched?
She didn’t think so. Not when magic tugged on her bones in a land where it shouldn’t exist.
The grate stuck, mud and moss sealing it to the ground, but she shoved, wiggling it side to side, loosening the debris until it gave way. Lugging herself out onto the cold, wet dirt, she lay there catching her breath, staring at the grim sky.
Gods, she regretted not being able to change into trousers or leather training pants. Bits of muck and gravel stuck to her bare skin, slimy and sharp they clung and dug, but it didn’t matter. How she looked was irrelevant. She just had to make it to these people in one piece. Hope rose for the second time that evening,now a small flame in her chest. Not enough to warm her, but enough to make her carry on, foolish and headstrong until her brutal end.
Elysia, still holding the long line of Lina’s leash, began pulling until she could grab the creature by the scruff out of the grate hole. “Sorry, friend.”
She offered a grape as a peace offering. Snatching the grape with her foot, the racoon still clung to the coin like it was her life’s treasure. The mist and wind whipped the loose strands of Elysia’s hair. Standing there in the bitter dampness, her eyes caught on the torches held within iron sconces lining the walls of the castle grounds. Flames danced, refusing to cower even with the mist.
What am I doing? I can’t bring a raccoon.
Mouth firming, she looked down at the fat, furry creature. “I can’t take you.” She pulled out a fistful of fruit and held it out, palm flat. Lina pounced and so did Elysia, ripping the coin out of her impressive grip. The raccoon screamed, but Elysia ignored it, untying the leash, so it wouldn’t strangle itself.
Crouching, she looked at Lina seriously. “Topp will have my neck if anything happens to you, so just be good, will you? Weasel your way back into his rooms.”
Coin finally in hand, Elysia looked up at the moon. A purple haze drifted past its pale yellow face.
Midnight moon, foggy and bright
Best to stay inside
Lest you meet your ruin tonight
The old children’s rhyme played in her head. It was just a silly thing—something mothers said. A reminder that nothing good ever happened in the wee hours out on the cobbledRelaclave streets. But the words were pins and needles beneath her skin tonight.
Elysia broke the trance of the moon, setting off at a brisk pace. She walked out of the castle grounds, pointing her feet in the direction of the sea. Nursery rhymes couldn’t stop what was in motion this evening. She allowed herself one more glance at the moon’s face, shrouded in warning.
She knew what she needed to do, but the coin burned against her palm, a reminder of how difficult these people had made this for her. They could have just helped her, but instead, they had made it practically impossible. Jump, they said. Giving her hoop after hoop.
Resentment, thick and oily, ran through her—fueling her every step. She was going to get into this meeting even if it killed her.
She had no idea just how likely that was.
Chapter 21
Topp Blatzstill felt green at the ears, but thanked the undead gods that at least he was upright. The ballroom was a reeking, disgusting mess. It was as though everyone had completely lost control of their bowels in a matter of minutes. Vomit, feces, no one could move fast enough. They just hit the ground and wept from there.
He had a strong feeling that Elysia had once again misjudged the potency of whatever plant she’d been working with, much like she had with the pukeweed. The woman was brilliant. If she’d been a man, then she’d easily have been an intel officer within Kava’s armies.
