His future because if they did not succeed in freeing her, Cassian could never leave.
“Samantha, from what we discovered, something was protecting you, or so we assume,” Maia announced as she came in carrying a tray loaded with breakfast foods. Petra followed with a tea service.
“What?” Samantha asked.
“She wants to know what,” Cassian said. “How do you know?”
“More pages were translated.”
Samantha sat forward as the food was placed on the table and then the tea service.
“Why do you think she was protected?” Cassian asked for her.
“Because, if you gave yourself over to the music, it should have taken you quickly. Or, so we had assumed,” Maia explained.
“We are still working on the translations, but we do know that no soul was ever fully claimed,” Eugenia announced. “Each woman was able to escape.”
“Then why do they assume that the piano would have quickly taken me?” Samantha asked Cassian.
He opened his mouth as if to answer, but his grey eyes nearly filled with hopelessness.
The familiar panic began to rise again, but she forced it away. It wasn’t easy, but with steady calm breaths she was able to retain some control over her emotions.
“How were the others able to escape?” Samantha asked since Cassian would not answer her first question.
“It has not been fully explained,” she hedged.
Samantha narrowed her eyes. The music of Lady St. Alban’s words were laced with falsity. She knew, but for some reason had no intention of telling her.
Even if she no longer had the power to produce fire, her ability to hear music had not failed, though maybe a part of her wished it had because nothing was more frightening than knowing they were keeping the truth from her.
“We will know soon, I hope,” Petra added.
Except, she already knew too but they were not telling her. Or, they were afraid to tell her.
Did she press for answers? Or were they being cautious because it may not work?
Oh, Samantha wished they would just come out and tell her but even if she demanded it, she heard enough in their music that they would not be fully truthful while not lying.
“What is important is that your situation is not hopeless,” Lady St. Alban insisted, which was an honest statement.
“Why do you think that I was somehow protected?” Samantha asked since she knew they would not answer her other question or they would have already.
“That is a very good question,” Cassian said. “I would like to know that as well.”
“What?” Lady Saye asked, and Cassian explained.
“We are not yet certain, but it is the only explanation since you claimed to have played without being mindful, and for a length of time,” Lady Saye offered.
“Protection!” Petra announced. “You said that you were returning the crystals, but did you before you came in here?”
Samantha reached into her pocket and pulled the crystals free and held them in her hand.
“She is holding an amethyst,” Cassian said.
“It is a powerful protector and can shield against negative forces. What is the other one?” Petra asked.
“Black tourmaline,” Samantha answered when he looked at her, questions in his silver eyes.
