My knees slammed onto the stone, hands scouring the floor, desperate for the telltale bite of iron. A raw chill sliced along my spine as Pablo’s claws scratched the rough ground, facing the way we’d come.
I froze when I heard it. The faint scuff of a guard’s leather boot high above me on the cold grey steps.
Damn.
My fingers connected with the frigid metal of the keys. The time for systematically working my way through the bunch was over. The guards were coming. I took a second to rub my throbbing forehead. Could I open the door, and ensure the diafol spotted them first? Blowing out a shaky breath, I shoved key after key into the lock.
The wolf snarled as the echoing footsteps swelled. The damn creature might be a pain in the backside, but he ached for freedom as much as I did. I turned my head to see with my better eye, and a pitiful whine escaped my lips. The amber glow of approaching lamps illuminated the steps.No. I clenched my jaw, told myself to focus. This time I’d make it. Not even Vyrus himself could force me back up the Tower.
Another key, another failure. I fumbled through them, no longer sure which ones I’d tried. The base of the door jerked as the diafol drew in a frantic gulp of air.SurelyI’d tried them all? As I swallowed bile, I rammed one of the remaining keys into the lock, sending a prayer to Evella. The damned Goddess owed me a break. For a fleeting heartbeat, it seemed I truly was one of her blessed. The key slid effortlessly into the hole. With shaky breaths, I offered her my thanks.
‘Pablo!’ I whispered, then recoiled. Even the lightest sounds reverberated through the stairwell.
The wolf turned towards me. I straightened, ready to twist the key and dive towards my freedom. As I dragged my slick fingers down my coarse skirts, a smile curled the corner of my mouth. I grasped the iron. One twist of the key. A single turn of the lock and I’d be gone.
Then, the monster crashed into the door from the other side. The creaking oak shuddered, the shock firing the key out of the lock. I swore as the bunch clanged against the floor once more.
‘Vyrus’s balls.’ The curse exploded from me. Without the keys, it no longer mattered.
Pablo barked, and I shivered. Readied myself to be dragged back by the guards who must be upon me soon. The diafol, crazed by the knowledge living, breathing meat lay on the other side of the wood, slammed into the door.
I crashed to the floor and hunted with my hands for the iron keys. After all those attempts, I’d finally held the key. Heldmy freedom. I bit my cheek to prevent the tears falling at the thought of beginning my search all over again. My heart lurched as my hands skimmed across the keys on the ground. I had them! I had the?—
‘Call that bloodymuttoff or I’ll let this arrow fly. It doesn’t matter how dark it is. I’m not like you. I won’t miss.’
My heart shattered at Guard Delver’s harsh tone. I slipped forward, eyes scrunched, my forehead resting against the rough wood. I’d been so close to finally breaking my stepfather’s ever-tightening chains. So close.
Pablo snarled.
‘Leave it, Pab.’ I despised how my voice broke.
Delver snorted.
‘Oh, miss,’ said another, softer voice.
A wry smile tugged at the corner of my mouth, despite the twist of regret in my chest. Turning, I sat back against the still trembling door and opened my eyes, and then blinked at shadowy blotches – my constant companions since the accident. The blotches swirled into sickly green uniforms, before morphing into a form I recognised. I clenched my fists. The guard on the steps, Delver, clutched what appeared to be a small wooden crossbow, still aimed at the snarling wolf. I couldn’t make out the expression on her pale face. I didn’t need to. She always wore a constant scowl. The other, shorter figure, his portly stomach spilling over his belt, approached gingerly as a low growl rumbled next to me. I turned to the shaggy grey lump.
‘Enough, Pablo. We’re done.’
Smythe’s clammy face came into shaky focus as he crouched, smiling. ‘Put that down, Delve. He’s a good boy. He won’t harm ya.’
Delver grumbled, but lowered her crossbow.
‘Now.’ Smythe grunted as he took a step down. ‘What are you up to, miss? It’s almost as though you don’t want to be a Tribute.’
He held out a chubby hand. I shook my head, hauling myself up.
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ I said, my fingers seeking Pablo and the comfort of his fur. ‘I was so excited at the prospect of my impending sacrifice, I thought I’d get a head start and meet you at the volcano.’
Delver grunted and turned, leading the way up. Glancing back over my shoulder, I dragged in a cooling breath to dampen the sting of tears. There were two more months till the night of Tribute. I’d managed to find this exit. Theremustbe another way out, lurking in a hidden corridor or behind a tattered portrait.
Smythe raised the lamp, taking the rear and chuckling to himself. ‘Ah, such an eager Tribute. But I reckon that diafol out there would probably gobble you up before you offered yourself as a sacrifice to Vyrus.’
‘And that would have been such a tragedy. How fortunate you found me in time.’
I lifted my long skirts with my free hand. I didn’t need to slip and crack my face on the steps. Pablo nuzzled my hip, and I heaved in a settling breath at the soothing warmth of his fur.
Smythe tutted. ‘You’re far too valuable to end up as a snack for one of them diafols. We’ve got to give Vyrus a Tribute. Do you really want to risk angering the God?’
