Floating in the air, I flapped my wings and began speeding down the hall. The first corner I reached, I turned down the length of it, racing at full speed. With every beat of my wings, I flew faster, charging down the elongated halls of this colossal manor.
“Phantimèssa.”The eerie voice returned. I tried to ignore it, but invisible hands gripped my thin gown and refused to let go.“You will not leave us.”
Panic choked in my throat.
Out.
I needed to get out!
No onewas going to take me against my will. Not when I just survived the Ivory Rain trying to do the same thing on behalf of the Farasee Order. I was getting the rot out of here. I would find another way to survive whatever Hèls waited for me beyond this manor of breathing darkness.
“We need you, Phantimèssa.”
A string of skeletal giggling that made my nerves brittle.
“We need your blood. We need your song. Won’t you bleed for us?”
More giggling. More tugging at my gown. My burning sanity.
“Won’t you sing for us?”
Tears burned at the back of my eyes. These voices were frightening. Why would Obsidian bring me to this skies-awful place? I had thought that maybe he would become a friend. Why did he do this to me?
And where in the rot was Bones?
I flew past an array of statues all fashioned after the likeness of the angels of the Twelve Elledelle Ranks. The sculptures were in angelic order, beginning with Calvaethim and ending with a Babephim. Tempted as I was to slow down and soak in the abundance of rich beauty dripping at every corner and turn, my mind was locked on one singular focus.
Getting the starsoutof here.
I flew into a baronial foyer with doors on the other side that seemed to lead outside of the manor. As I continued flying, an odd presence filled the open space. The walls creaked like old wood. The ethèrlamps flickered in and out. An eerie hiss trailed me.
I whirled around. Searched the foyer.
There was no one there.
I took a deep breath to steady myself.
A creeping feeling tingled down my spine.
I started flying again. Faster. My wings pulsed with the increased speed. A delicious heat filled the powerful muscles of each wing as my feathers carried me through several more foyers.
The hissing returned. I flew faster. I couldn’t shake the feeling that this manor wasalive. And if I stayed, it would consume me.
A low rumble from the shadowy corners of the manor slowed my flight. My hearts beat like drums. Blackfire seeped into my palms. My body started tofyuse. Black flame with lavender starlight overtook my brown hands, then my arms, as I began shifting.
Then I spotted my ticket to freedom.
Ahead were a set of four large doors, made of mosaic stained glass trimmed by onyx stone that trapped the sunlight. Beyond, I saw a garden.
I smiled, exhaling deeply.
Then a monstrous roar tore through the air.
I whipped around and found a pair of steel-blue eyes glaring at me from the shadows in the dark.
“Is sneaking out of my manor any proper way to say thank you?”
Chapter 8
