“What is this place?” I asked.
“This is where you and the other recruits will stay tonight,” he said. “You must be briefed before your Initiation Ceremony.”
Two cloaked men burst through the door and rushed to meet us. One of them lifted me into his arms and quickly rushed me up the stairs.
“How is she still awake?” the other called.
“I don’t know,” Everson said. “Get her to Lady Roslyn.”
Slowly, I made my way into the building. Tapestries covered the high stone walls, and torches burned from their sconces. We passed through a large circular room with red velvet seating areas and a large fireplace. The fire danced and crackled as we passed through the room quickly and into a long corridor with several doors on either side. They took me down the corridor before stopping and thrusting the door open.
They laid me on a four-poster bed with clean, tucked-in covers.
“She’s awake?” I heard a female voice say.
I looked for the woman who spoke, seeing her in the doorway behind the cloaked men.
“Yes, Milady.”
She came to the bedside, her red curls tumbling to her waist. She kneeled beside me and touched my forehead.
“A little warm still,” she said, scrutinizing me. “My name is Roslyn. You must be in shock. Recruits are typically rendered unconscious during descent.”
“The others—are they okay?” I asked.
She smiled. “Yes, they are resting peacefully, and I recommend you do as well. I’m going to bring you a cocktail that will help you sleep. You will feel much better when you awaken.”
I closed my eyes. Sleep was precisely what I wanted.
She returned a few moments later, holding a misting metal cup. She helped me sit up and placed the cold metal to my lips. Briefly, I considered questioning what it was, but I was too tired to argue. Giving in, I tasted a delicious sweet nectar. Forgetting any thoughts of questioning it, I gladly drank it all.
“I look forward to speaking with you, Anna,” she said. “Now rest. You’ve earned it.”
My mind grew heavier with each word she spoke until they closed, and she was gone from sight.
My hand twitched,and I forced one eye open. I snapped it shut immediately at the bright rays shining through the window.
Where was I?
I sat up slowly, taking in the ornately decorated room. A red velvet swag hung around the perimeter of the four-poster, and a claw-foot dresser sat with a mirror above. Across the room was a wardrobe with one door open and a single uniform hanging within. Feeling the weight of the blankets, I threw them off and made my way around the room until I found the bathroom.
Freshly showered and dressed in the uniform, I made my way to the room I’d passed through the night before. The other recruits were seated comfortably around the fireplace, with Commander Everson and the red-haired woman seated amongst them.
Everyone looked up at me.
“You’re awake,” the woman said. “Perfect. Come and join us.”
Everyone else was in various forms of the same black uniform. I took a seat beside Isabella.
“My name is Roslyn Talonhart. First, let me say congratulations. You’re the final group to make it here. Regardless, what you’ve accomplished was not easy. There’s a reason so few of you made it through the tasks. It takes strength not commonly found to join us here at Nightfall. I’ll be going over your first few days here, and then I shall answer any questions I can,” she said.
“As Recruits who have completed all three tasks, you’ve now earned the title of Initiate, as have the groups that have taken the trials before you. You and the other groups will join hundreds of other Initiates already in attendance at Nightfall. As you may already know, Nightfall is special. We do not recruit ordinary people.
“Nightfall has been hidden for many centuries as a sanctuary for the last of our kind. Now that you’re here, you will be trained. After your training, the possibilities are endless, but first, you’ll be tested to determine your place here—if you have one.”
Riya and I shared a look of apprehension.
“After you’ve feasted and dressed in your newly earned uniforms, you’ll be escorted to the castle where your induction ceremony will occur. Following that will be an opportunity for you to get to know the other Initiates and become acquainted with your dormitory,” Roslyn said. “Now, does anyone have any questions before I let you have your much-deserved leisure time?”
