Her words make me flinch as I shift to sit next to her on the dusty floor. I know we still need to make the journey back to the hall with the rest of the women. That there’s still the ledge, we have to traverse. I’m not sure if the guards will do a headcount after catching the others or if they’ll assume they were the only ones. Again, I can’t help but wonder if I really did meet the eyes of the golden-eyed guard. Warmth spreads through me as I think back. If he’d met my eyes, there’s no way he would’ve just kept walking. It makes no sense.
I can feel her eyes boring into mine. I know she wants me to deny her words, to assure her that we aren't going to die. But I can’t force myself to lie. Every day that we spend here, I know, is one closer to the day that the wolves come for us, and there’s no surviving them. Part of me wants to believe that we will survive. Maybe some of us will. Most won’t, though.
“It makes no sense to me why he would kill them when he needs them,” I finally say. “Just as he won’t kill us until we’ve served our purpose. Because of that, I’m going to believe that there’s still a hope that we walk away from here.”
Hazel shook her head. “I’m not strong enough to survive. I knew the moment my father dragged me from my room that my life was over. I hate waiting, wondering when the blow will come. I just want it to end.”
Her shoulders shake as she buries her face in her hands. I bite my lip as I watch her. Her soft cries fill the room, and for a moment, I fear that she’ll attract the guards to us. Pushing that thought away, I return to gently rubbing her back. I knew that men would happily hand their daughters to the wolves. Yet, seeing delicate Hazel crying before me, I wonder for the first time if perhaps the wolves aren’t the only monsters. I think of sweet Lyra, and I’m convinced that the wolves are just the biggest monster but not the only one we must face.
Eventually, Hazel’s tears slow, and her sobs quiet. We stay in the sitting room until she’s pulled herself back together. No more words are shared between us. I have no more comforting words to give her, and she seems to understand this. It’s with great reluctance that she finally stands and glances at me.
“What will we tell the others?”
“Will they ask?”
Hazel shrugs. “I’m sure they will. I know many were tempted to follow them tonight. They will want to know if the escape was successful.”
“I should think our return would tell them that it wasn’t. We will simply tell them that our escape was foiled, that the others were caught while we managed to hide.”
“They’ll blame you.”
It was my turn to shrug. “Let them. I warned you all that it was risky. Perhaps this will discourage others from wanting to try their own escape.”
Hazel nodded, letting the conversation end there. I could tell that she was worried about the others blaming me for the disappearance of Isabelle, Ava, and Sophia. As though I didn’t blame myself for them getting caught. With a sigh, I led Hazel back the way we came. I’m not sure how much time has passed since we moved through the dark servant’s corridor. It could be mere minutes or hours. I’ve lost all track of time since our run-in with the guards.
When we reach the window, Hazel hesitates for just a moment before following me out onto it. I note that the sky is just beginning to lighten. It’s been hours, then, since we left the hall behind. We’ll need to hurry if we don’t want to be caught by Ms. Thompson slipping back into the hall.
16
Heath
Isaw the flash of red hair as I turned the corner. The others at my side seemed unaware that there were more than three women escaped. They waste no time in dragging the three women off, not even hesitating to consider that they aren’t alone in the hall.
When Kaiden had turned, sure to find the woman hiding in the shadows, I had grabbed his attention. Ordering him to help the others with the struggling woman. That she had managed to hide just in time was a small relief. I hate to think what would have happened had she not slipped into the shadows, dragging another with her.
“They shouldn’t be out,” one of the newer guards comments.
I make no comment as we move through the halls. The women have fallen quiet save for their sobs. It takes every ounce of self-preservation within me to not glance at them. There is nothing I can do for them. Not without giving away my true intentions.
“Should we check the others?” Kaiden asks.
I shake my head, “It seems unlikely that the others have escaped. We will see to these first.”
I hoped that it was enough time to ensure the redhead made it back to the hall. There was little else I could do to help keep her save. It had to be enough. I hated the way my stomach clenched at the thought of her being caught by other guards. Of her being dragged before the Grey Prince to receive punishment. He would enjoy breaking her more than he should. Even if she wouldn’t make it easy for him.
Nearing the prince’s rooms, I force myself to push thoughts of her out of my mind. I’m thankful to every star and the moon that she hid when she did. That I’m not forced to drag her before the prince. I’m not sure that I would be able to. Her capture would threaten everything I’ve worked for. Everything I’m working toward. It would risk revealing the truth about my loyalties.
“What is it?” the Grey Prince demands as we enter his bed-chamber.
Keeping my gaze on the golden bedframe, I tell him, “We caught these humans attempting to escape, your highness.”
Even not staring directly at him, I can sense the wide grin that spreads his lips. One of the women whimpers while another sob. The third remains quiet, her eyes meeting her fate directly, her eyes misty, and her cheeks damp. There’s flash of defiance that dances across her face.
“What a shame,” the Grey Prince says. “Leave. I shall handle this myself.”
The other guards hesitate for only a heartbeat before dropping the women and leaving. I stay for another second, torn between saving these three and playing the part of loyal guard. It seems wrong to have escorted them to their death. But that is the part I’m to play, I remind myself.
“Should you need anything else, your highness,” I say, bowing my head before making my own retreat.