“Fine. Fine.” I waved him off and set in to tell them everything I knew about the capital over the last five years.
Chapter 8
When my stomach was so full that I felt like it might burst, I finally left the kitchens. Baylen had offered to walk me to my rooms or to call for Fran, but I waved him off wanting to explore on my own.
I retraced my steps back to the main entrance, keeping in mind where the kitchen was before I approached the large double doors once more. A quick glance around told me no one was nearby. Still, a sense of unease filled me as I wrapped my fingers around the handle of the door.
It wouldn’t even twist to unlock.
Wiggling the handle for good measure, I let out a hard breath as I dropped back from the door. This was going to be harder than I thought. If Blackthorn was the only one who could open it, where did the food come from? They had to have deliveries of some kind. Certainly they didn’t come through the front door every time?
Moving away from the doors, I walked back to the split hallway, choosing to go in the direction that Blackthorn had earlier. If I ran into him, all the better, maybe I could plead my case again and he’d actually be reasonable.
I huffed.
Doubtful.
My plan was simple. I’d taken note of where things were in the kitchen and decided to come back later when everyone would besleep, after I found something to use as a bag in the closet in my room. Then I would make my escape.
However, I couldn’t go anywhere if I didn’t find a way out of this castle.
The hallways seemed to be endless with lots of doors that led to nowhere interesting. Some held sitting rooms, others studies. The only one that looked remotely fun was the ballroom which had a heavy layer of dust covering every inch of it. It was obvious they hadn’t used that room in a long time.
I almost left the neglected room before I caught sight of several glass doors that had to lead outside. I raced across the dusty floor, leaving footprints and kicking up dust on my way. Grabbing both handles in either hand, hope filled my chest as I turned.
Only for it to come crashing down when the doors wouldn’t budge.
Moving through the ballroom, I tried every door, every window. Anything that might lead me outside. Nothing. Everything was locked tight.
Had Blackthorn used some kind of magic to bind this place?
I wouldn’t put it past him. There were several witches in the area, and it wasn’t like they weren’t known for taking payment for spells.
Once I was back in the hallway, I kept going until I found a set of stairs leading upward. Curious if these went back to where my rooms were, I followed them up and up until I realized too late that they were going far higher in the castle than where Fran had taken me.
When the stairs finally stopped, I stepped into an open room. Sheets covered the furniture, a fine layer of dust across the floor except for where it looked like someone had walked across the room to stand before a picture hanging on the wall.
I followed the path of the previous person until I stood before the painting. In the frame sat a picture of a woman. She was about my age with brown hair and big brown eyes. Except she was far more beautiful than I could ever be. The artist had captured the image of a goddess in paint form.
Who was this woman? Certainly someone cared about her. Could she be why Blackthorn has locked up his castle?
I had so many more questions than answers at the moment, and it was beginning to drive me a bit crazy. I needed to do something productive. Something that would put me one step closer to leaving this place.
Turning from the painting, I jolted in place.
Blackthorn stood in the doorway of the room, his eyes watching me sullenly.
Feeling like a mouse cornered by a predator, I rushed to explain. “I was just trying to find my room and though the stairs went to it. I didn’t mean to intrude. I’m sorry. I’ll just... go.”
Except Blackthorn still blocked the only exit. I stopped before his tall form, waiting for him to move so I could leave. When he didn’t so much as flinch, I lifted my eyes to his face. Blackthorn wasn’t looking at me, his eyes were over my head, toward the painting on the wall.
Did he know her? Was she his wife?
“Uh... Blackthorn.” I shifted in place unsure if he wasn’t even really here anymore. “I can’t get by.”
His dark gaze slowly moved from the painting down to my face where it lingered for a long minute before he finally opened his mouth to speak. “Please refrain from coming up here again. This room is off limits.”
“Yes, of course.” Swallowing the intensity in his gaze made me squirm. “I apologize.”
