No one comes after me.
I reach the door as silence descends, then twist open the knob and pull. The cold knocks the air from my lungs, such a sharp contrast to the fiery blaze at my back.
Still, no one tries to stop me.
Unease twists in my gut, but if Sullen is here, I will gladly be imprisoned with him. I just want to touch him. I just want toseehim.
The darkness blots against my eyes after so much light from the blaze, but I don’t let my gaze adjust. I slip inside, aware all three men are watching me carefully. I know I will not get far. I know something is coming, but I don’t care.
I let the door fall closed.
A trickle of haunting surprise oozes down my spine when the men let it happen.
The scent of iron, like a roomful of pennies, reaches my nose.
I hear nothing.
Not at first.
I see even less, but I step forward, arm extended.
And I can’t stop choking on his name. “Sullen?” I hate the way I sound so frightened, but it’s only the truth.
There is a pause.
I think he won’t answer.
I take another step forward.
Another.
Then,“Karia.”
It isn’t a scream this time, yet somehow it sounds worse.
A prickle along my scalp forces me to look back, over my shoulder.
Through the pane of the glass, I see the dancing flames.
But no one is following.
Where does this lead?
I face forward, take another step.
My hand brushes against something solid.
I press my palm to a wall, or a door. I don’t know in the dark.
“Sullen?” I whisper it, resting my temple against the barrier between us.
A thump sounds almost directly against my hand.
I suck in a breath, but I don’t move back.“Sullen?”The word creeps up my throat.
“Karia.” He isn’t pleading anymore, or begging. There is a hollowness to the way he says my name, but I know he isright here.On the other side.
“Sullen.” My pulse races with something besides terror. If I can just get him out, if I can open the door or tear down the wall or… “How do I get to you?” I whisper, pulling back. I use both hands to feel along the smooth surface between us, searching for a handle, a catch, anything to free him. “Where are you? Why… why did you scream?” The last sentence splinters apart. I don’t know if he can hear me. Tears build behind my eyes, because I already understand we are doomed. Stein wouldn’t let me come back here if we weren’t. He wouldn’t let the guards simply watch me if I had a chance to get to his son.
