Panicking and not thinking clearly, I ended up at another dead end. I wanted to scream, but that would only make my situation worse.
I stilled as the sound of destruction ceased behind me. Swallowing, I turned, but nothing was in the path. I didn’t trust that the creature wasn’t nearby however, lying in wait. I felt the ground around me, then lowered myself as flat as I could so that the fog swirled overhead and covered me. I pulled myself as close to the hedge as possible and pulled my legs into a ball, praying that the fog would be enough to hide me.
Branches snapped just beyond a bend in the maze, and I focused on keeping my breathing even and low so I wouldn’t give myself away. Without poking my head up, I had no way of knowing where the beast was, but hopefully it was in a similar state of uncertainty. The only problem was that if it came too near me, the fog blanketing me would disperse, leaving me without any protection. I just had to hope that wouldn’t happen.
I lay there for several minutes, straining for any noise the night would offer me, but I heard nothing. I couldn’t stay there forever. Had the beast given up and left? Or was it making a thorough search of the maze? If that were the case, it would eventually find me. I had no idea how long this fog would linger, after all.
Tentatively, I lifted my head, allowing my eyes to adjust to the darkness for a moment before getting to my feet. I held my breath, expecting something to come charging at me from out of the hedges, but nothing did. I was not going to let my guard down, however. I very carefully and quietly picked my way through the maze, recalling the position of its passages so I wouldn’t have to make any unnecessary course corrections. I decided that it would be best to come out of the maze closest to the château, and when I skulked along the final passage, I nearly sobbed with relief. I was almost to safety—unless the creature was waiting just outside.
At the end of the corridor, I ducked my head out and, seeing nothing, took a small step out into the open. And then another. I heard something snap behind me and took off at a run, but nothing gave chase. Still, I tore through the servants’ door and shut it firmly at my back, breathing heavily.
My hands shook as I climbed the stairs back to my room. But rather than shut myself away out of fear, I went to Henri’s bedchamber and knocked.
After a minute, the door opened, and Henri stood before me in trousers he had likely only pulled on to answer my summons. I was distracted by the sight of his naked chest, but I shook away the feelings stirring within me, reaching forth and grabbing his arm. “Henri. I was in the hedge maze. There’s something out there. It killed Fournier and another man.”
Henri’s eyes widened, and he pulled me into his room, closing the door behind him. He grabbed me by my shoulders and looked me in the face. “What were you doing out there? You need to stay in the château at night.”
“I saw a light in the mausoleum. I had to investigate.”
Henri ran a hand back through his hair. “I … give me a minute. I’m still waking up.”
I followed him to his wardrobe, where he pulled on a loose shirt. “Fournier, you say? Are you sure he was dead and not drunk or passed out?”
“He was dead,” I insisted. “His throat was … missing. And the other man’s arm was wrenched from his body, and I think it took his heart.”
Henri stared at me. “Did you see what did it?”
“No. I heard it crashing through the maze. It was growling. I don’t think it was a bear, though.”
Henri nodded slowly. “Could it have been a man with a dog?”
I blinked. I hadn’t considered that. “I … yes, I suppose it could have been.” I shuddered. “A man may have been behind the murders, after all. If they trained a dog or even a wild animal …”
Henri put a hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eyes. “I’m going to have a look. You stay here, in my room, and lock the door behind me until I return. Don’t open it for anyone else.”
I drew back. “Henri, you can’t go out there. What if we’re wrong and it’s still there?”
“I’ll bring a gun, just in case.”
“Henri …” I yanked on his sleeve. “Please don’t.”
His jaw clenched. “I’m going, Emile. Stay here.”
I let go of him and watched silently as he slipped from the room. He looked back at me once before closing the door behind him. I rushed forward to lock it.
For the next hour, I paced, unable to sit still, worrying for Henri. It seemed far too long for him to be out there in the maze by himself. What if he needed me? I should have gone with him rather than hide in his room like a coward.
Just when I had resolved to fetch Count Montoni himself, there was a sharp knock at the door. “Emile. It’s me.”
I sighed with relief, the tension in my chest unspooling as I unfastened the lock and threw the door open. I wrapped my arms around him. “Thank God.”
Henri chuckled and patted my back. “It’s okay. I’m fine.”
I looked up at him. “And the bodies?”
Henri hesitated but shook his head. “Emile, there were no bodies.”
I drew back, eyes wide. “No bodies?”
