“They’re gone,” Ludovico confirmed, getting to his feet. “You’re both alright?”
I nodded before I realized that he wouldn’t see the motion in the dark. “As okay as I’m going to be.” My voice shook, as did my hands as I attempted to relight my lantern. It took three tries before I managed, sending a dull light throughout the chamber.
“No, don’t look,” Ludovico told Annette, turning her away as another moan was loosed from the prisoner.
“How is he still alive?” I asked, swallowing.
“That’s why the victims need more prisoners. Spread over three people, the victims might live for a while, especially if they give them breaks between feedings.”
My stomach lurched and I stumbled across the room, where I vomited in a discreet corner.
“Dear God,” Annette cried, confirming that she had seen the prisoner for herself. “Can’t we … do something for him?”
“How would we get him out of the castle undetected?” Ludovico asked.
“I can’t even get myself out,” I agreed, wiping my mouth as I looked back at Annette. “We’re all prisoners here. Some of us more so than others.”
Annette was pale as she drew in a deep breath. “My lord, you … you have to escape. I’ve heard things, about what the count wants your aunt to do.”
“I know.” I looked away. “And I’m trying. I just can’t find a way out.”
“Montoni is a villain,” Ludovico said, shaking his head. “I just thought he was an unfeeling man. But he … he’s planning to kidnap people. He’s killing them. And for what?”
I glanced up and met Annette’s eyes.
The antidote.
I shook my head slowly. What was going on around here? What were those leeches for? To extract blood from their victims? To use that blood for the antidote? Or was the blood for something else entirely? And why not extract the blood in a more direct way? Why use leeches at all?
“We’ll help you get out,” Annette said.
I looked up. “What?”
“We’ll help you, sir,” Annette repeated, grabbing Ludovico’s arm and lifting her chin.
“But … how?”
“Oh, I have an idea. Give me a week to set things in motion.”
My heart sped up. Was she serious? Could she help me? A surge of hope coursed through my veins as I smiled at her gratefully. “Thank you, Annette.”
“Don’t thank us yet.” Annette’s lips drew into a tight smile. “Once you’re outside these castle walls, you’re on your own. And we’re a long way from proper civilization. The rest is going to be up to you.”
“I can manage,” I assured her. “After all, I managed to run away once before.”
“Yes, well, do a better job of staying hidden this time.”
I nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
Later that week, I complained of a headache after dinner and turned in early. I left the note for Henri on my bed, where he couldn’t miss it, before I ventured to the main hall. As promised, Bertolino was nowhere in sight, likely being distracted by Annette.
I hoisted my pack on my back. I’d kept it as light as possible, but it was still filled with enough food for a week. It also contained one of the notebooks from the laboratory. I hadn’t found anything damning in its contents as of yet, but given what I’d seen in the dungeon, I had to believe something within its pages was enough to warrant an investigation. It was just the leverage I needed to be free of Montoni’s malevolent schemes if I could escape with it.
With a cloak across my warmest clothing, I slipped out the door and into the courtyard beyond. I kept to the shadows as best I could as I made my way to the front gates of the castle. Once there, I waited for Ludovico. It took ten minutes before I finally spotted the man. I rushed over to him, and he looked around, as if watching for signs of being discovered.
“Well?” I asked him.
Ludovico nodded to me. “The guards are all asleep from the tranquilizer Annette gave me. I put it in their tea. Everyone’s out, but I doubt they will stay that way for long.”
