Sanctuary (the Affliction Trilogy #2)

Chapter 6

Six

I ’ve lost count of the days since I arrived at Morhaven. Three? Four? All I know is every night I have the intention of sneaking out of my room and finding River. But it isn’t easy when someone is awake in the bed across from mine. My roommate, a woman in her forties, is a member of the housekeeping staff. She doesn’t say much, but she does stay up late reading books that she steals from the castle library. Every night, I fight to stay up later than her, so I can sneak out, and every night I fail.

Looking for River during the day is not even an option. People are everywhere. The moment I step out of the kitchen, someone is asking me where I’m going. It’s disturbing how strangers know so much about my restroom habits—both fake and real. It didn’t take me long to learn that night is my best option for finding River. If only I could stay awake.

I’m exhausted by the end of my long workdays. Scrubbing floors and dishes, lifting crates of food, and hustling around the kitchen is the hardest work I’ve ever done. The moment I hit my lumpy mattress, my body goes limp and my eyelids grow heavy. I spend what feels like hours in a fierce battle with myself, wavering between drifting off and snapping awake to find my roommate still reading.

Working in the kitchen does have its benefits. Violet being the best of them. She has become my greatest source of information. It turns out she has a talent for obtaining information she shouldn’t have. Most of my working hours are spent by her side, listening as she collects stories from the other servants. Her nosy nature is the reason I know River is safe in her own room, and it doesn’t appear that Holden has made a move on her. It’s obvious that tidbit of information is a letdown for Violet. She is eager to learn all the scandalous details about the prince and his soon-to-be wife. For me, it’s a temporary relief.

Holden gives off impatient vibes. According to the serving staff, he can hardly wait his turn to have his wine glass filled. I doubt he will continue to hold out for the woman he believes he is marrying.

The safety of my cousin isn’t the only thing that has my nerves on edge. I’ve heard nothing about the boys. I’ve asked around about them, but no one knows what I’m talking about, and there has been no sighting of new men on the property. However, most unmarried men who are secured —as they call it—from outside the wall go to the fields on the outer perimeter of town. The palace staff has no interaction with them. It’s a massive dilemma that I have no idea how to solve.

Ryland would have a genius plan organized in no time. We would be sneaking past the guards and scaling the wall like it’s just another day. Not one of us would be left behind. I feel so inept. All I’ve come up with is a half-baked plan that requires me to drink five cups of coffee to keep me awake, so I can wander through the hallways tonight and find River. So far, I’ve given myself the jitters and a stomachache. Damn, I miss him so much.

I look over at Linda—or is it Lydia? Her book rests face down on her nightstand and she lays on her side with her back to me. The moonlight does little to illuminate our small room, but I can make out the even rise and fall of her shoulders. I click my tongue and wait to see if the sound gets a reaction. When the steady tempo of her breathing remains the same, I slide out of bed and tiptoe across the room.

My hands shake as I reach for the doorknob and turn it. Biting down on my lips, I slip out into the dark, quiet hallway. I glide my fingertips along the wall and take cautious steps as I make my way toward the kitchen. The gentle glow coming from the coals burning in the oven helps me navigate around the counters and into the dining room. I hurry past the monstrous table and to the double doors. Cracking them open, I peek out into the foyer.

Flickering flames from the meticulously-placed oil lamps create haunting shadows that dance across the walls. I hold my breath as I listen for any indication that someone is nearby. After several silent seconds, I slip out and rush for the stairs. My heart hammers in my chest as I race up the steps. All it will take is one odd creak and my little excursion could come to an end. The guards roaming throughout the palace will catch me and send me back to my room. I refuse to go another day without knowing if River is all right.

When I reach the landing, I look down the hallways on either side of me. My fingers dive into my hair and pull at the roots. I knew this place was big, but I didn’t understand just how huge until now. Both hallways are lined with dark green runners on the hardwood floors and gilded paintings decorating the walls. Either way is a toss-up.

“I told him if he spoke to me like that again I’d kick his ass,” says a man’s disembodied voice.

I scurry the opposite way and hurry behind the first door I come across. My jaw clenches as I ease the door closed behind me and press my back to it. The small space and the lingering stench of chamber pots tells me I’m in a washroom. Squeezing my eyes shut, I stop breathing as the sound of two sets of footsteps move closer. If they open the door, I have nowhere to hide. It was stupid of me to do this without a weapon. I should have grabbed a knife from the kitchen. Venturing through the castle is comparable with being in a Z nest. I don’t know what I will find around every corner. I would have never entered an abandoned building unarmed. Yet I’m wandering the home of my enemy without anything to defend myself.

The voices drift away, and I finally take in a gulp of air before cracking the door open. With a look down each way to make sure the coast is clear, I step out and continue my exploration. Behind the first couple of doors are bedrooms with plush beds and no one sleeping in them. When I turn the corner, I quickly discover I’ve gone the wrong direction. The corridor is wide and long, and at the end sits a massive door with a golden royal seal in the center. I turn around and make my way to the other hall.

Fewer doors are on this side of the second level. I twist the knob on the first room to find it locked. My initial thought is that this is River’s room. I lift my fist to knock but hesitate. If I’m wrong, this is it. I won’t get a chance to look for her again. I have to make sure before I risk it.

I discover another washroom and empty bedroom before I reach the end of the hallway. My only option is to turn right where one door stands at the end. As I move closer, the sound of voices reaches me. I lean in and listen to the muffled sound of a woman’s laughter. The door opens and I scurry back the way I came.

“I have to go, Your Highness,” the woman giggles.

“You should stay a little longer.”

I don’t need to look around the corner to know it is Holden. The tone of his voice will forever be etched into my brain.

She yelps before moaning his name.

My feet eat up the distance between me and the room I suspect to be River’s. I tap my nails against the door hoping that it’s enough to get her attention while remaining too quiet for Holden and his friend to hear. Bouncing on the balls of my feet, I glance down the hall before gently knocking with my knuckles.

“Come on, Riv,” I whisper, willing her to answer. But seconds tick by with no response.

“You are tempting me, Your Highness. But I have an early morning.”

He clears his throat, and says, “I’m holding you to that promise. I’m curious to see just how flexible you are.”

“Oh, I promise to show you next time,” she purrs.

The floor groans under their steps as they walk my way. Panic rises within me, and I react without thinking. My palm hits the door hard.

“Did you hear that?” Holden asks.

I lift my hand to pound again, but the door opens mid-swing. I barge inside, easing the door shut. My fingers shake as I turn the lock and catch my breath. Everything is quiet until the door handle rattles against my hand.

“Are you okay in there, my lady?” the prince asks River through the door.

I open my mouth to answer, but the person behind me beats me to it. “I’m fine.”

All the pent-up tension leaves my body at the sound of River’s voice.

“Very well. I’ll see you in the morning, darling,” he says, before he walks away.

I release my death grip on the doorknob, and as soon as I turn, River wraps me in her arms. The familiar scent of coconut and sunshine bombard me as I squeeze her tighter.

“Quinn,” River sobs, pressing her cheek to mine.

The emotions that have been brewing within me finally bubble over. Tears streak down my face.

“Are you okay?” I ask, pulling away and looking her over. The pale pink cami and shorts set she wears allows me to examine her arms and legs. Nothing seems out of place. Even the curls sitting high on her head look perfect.

She nods and brushes her palms to her wet cheeks. “I’m good. Are you?”

“Yeah. I’m all right.”

She grabs my hand and leads me farther into the room. It’s vastly different than mine. It has a small sitting area with two wing-backed chairs in front of a stone fireplace. The tall window is the backdrop for a round table with matching chairs. And the bed… The bed is piled with satin pillows and a fluffy comforter. We sit on the edge facing each other, refusing to let go of the other’s hand.

“I tried to get to you, but the guards would never let me into the kitchen. They would always send a server to get whatever I needed,” River says, drying her eyes with the front of her shirt.

“I’ve been trying to get to you too. I’ve also been looking for the boys. Do you know where they are?” I ask, nervously gripping the front of my food-stained skirt.

River shakes her head and the tears well again in her eyes. “I haven’t seen them since they took us from the cabin. Ry went ballistic. From what we could hear, he caught Thomas’ men carrying you out of the woods. I think he thought you were dead. We all grabbed our weapons and ran out to help, but” —her throat bobs as she swallows down her mounting emotions— “they drew a knife and held it to your throat while using you as a shield. We didn’t have a clear shot. Ry threw his hands up and gave himself over. I knew he wouldn’t let them take you without taking him too.”

“He would have never let you guys do the same thing. How did you end up here?” I say through the new piercing pain in my chest.

“There must have been a dozen guards. They came around from the backside of the cabin. That was the last time I saw the boys. They separated us so we didn’t have a chance to fight back. I don’t know if… if they are here. I’ve tried asking around, but no one seems to know anything.”

“We will find them. I won’t give up until we know for sure where they are.” I would never stop looking for Ryland. I realized long before this that I needed him as part of my everyday life. Not being near him these last few days only confirms that. Thoughts of him consume my mind, causing a deep-rooted ache. Every day we are apart, the empty space inside of me hurts more and more. I need to get back to him, and I’m not opposed to doing countless horrific acts to make that happen.

I come out of my Ryland induced fog and meet River’s somber stare. Her gaze is locked on me and my shoulders sag under its weight. She has to be just as miserable as I am without Noah. Despite everything we’ve been through, her light never truly dimmed. And when he came into her life, it only burned brighter.

“I promise we will find Noah,” I say.

“It’s not just him. You don’t know the relief I felt when I saw you the other night. I was so scared I’d lost you, Quinn.”

I place my hands on her cheeks and brush away the tears streaming down her face. “I’ve been worried about you too.” I swallow down the lump growing in my throat, readying myself to ask a question that makes me sick to my stomach. But her answer will determine our next move. “Riv, Holden hasn’t… He hasn’t done anything to you, has he?”

“No, he hasn’t touched me. But I can tell that I’m not going to be able to hold him off much longer.”

“Do I have enough time to try to find the guys, or should we try to escape now?” All she has to do is say the word, and we’re out of here. It doesn’t matter what kind of danger the guys are in. If Holden is an immediate threat to River, they would want us to leave and come up with a plan for them once we are safe.

She sits up and runs her hand down her face. “We’re supposed to have our engagement celebration in four days. It’s supposed to be this big kingdom-wide festival. Between needing to prepare for that and finding a personal maid, I should be able to avoid him.”

“A maid?”

“Yeah, I’m being pushed to find someone to tend to me. I already hate having my bath drawn and people helping me into clothes. The last thing I want is someone waiting on me hand and foot while breathing down my neck.”

I jump up and pace beside the bed. “We need to find a way for you to choose me.”

“No.”

“Yes. We would be together all the time. Besides, I don’t want to work in the kitchen anymore. I’d rather pour bath oils in your water and tuck you in at night or whatever a personal maid is supposed to do.”

She gnaws on her bottom lip. “I don’t know, Quinn.”

I understand her hesitation. It’s degrading to be forced to serve someone when that’s not what I want to do, but I’m already doing just that. I could replace one terrible situation for a slightly better one. This would be perfect for us.

She picks at her thumbnail, and says, “I haven’t seen you since you dropped the water at dinner. Don’t you think it will be suspicious if I choose you?”

“Let me worry about that. You just act royal or whatever it is that you’re supposed to do.”

I rush to set the table for breakfast the next morning. I robotically set the plates and silverware, my mind swirling with all the ways I can be placed in River’s path. It all comes down to one person—Mrs. Lockhart. I need to talk her into giving me another chance to work in the dining room.

As I’m setting the last of the goblets on the table, she comes through the double doors. I step into her path, blocking her from going any farther.

“I’d like to work in the dining room today,” I say.

She sidesteps me. “No. I can’t have you causing another commotion like you did the other night.”

I slide in front of her again. “I can do better. I’ve caught on quickly and haven’t made a mistake like that again. I deserve another chance.”

She purses her lips and crosses her arms.

“Please,” I say, desperation coating my tone.

She opens her mouth and quickly snaps it shut. I brace myself for her rejection and ready my next rebuttal. After an exasperated sigh, she says, “You may serve breakfast in the garden today. It’s a small gathering, meaning you can give the diners your full attention. If you do well, I’ll consider letting you serve breakfast tomorrow.”

My shoulders slump and I move out of her way. A group of young courtiers normally eat breakfast in the garden. I sometimes hear them gossiping from the small kitchen window. I hate that they and another day stand between my and River’s plan.

“Thank you,” I say, dipping my head. It’s more to hide my disappointment than a sign of respect.

“Cheer up. Many would be thrilled to serve the prince and his fiancée during their first private meal together.”

My head snaps up and she gives me a small tilt of her chin. She is the biggest puzzle in this place. The king, Holden, those that choose to quietly stay here, I understand their motives. But this—I have no clue why she would want to help me.

“I’m happy to serve them. Thank you again,” I say.

The gardens are beautiful. Pink, gold, and violet flowers bloom along white sandstone walkways. A small table with matching wrought iron chairs sits inside of the gazebo overlooking the marble statues surrounded by manicured shrubs. I wait off to the side, hands clasped in front of me, playing my part as the obedient servant.

Prince Holden strolls out into the garden with his hands in his pockets. His sleeves are rolled up, showing his thick forearms. His blond hair catches in the breeze as he looks over the table before taking a seat. He drums his fingers on the tabletop, eyeing the back of the castle. The agitation rolling off him is almost palpable in the air.

River should have been waiting for him, not the other way around.

I grab the water decanter and calmly walk to the table. “May I fill your cup, Your Highness?”

He looks me up and down before rolling his eyes and returning his attention to the door. “Not water. I’ll have wine.”

I should have known better. Over the past few days, one thing has become abundantly clear to me about the prince—he almost always has a drink in his hand. His mood is fine during the day, almost friendly as he gets a couple of drinks in him. But after dinner and a few tumblers of whisky, his temper rears its ugly head. I can hear him through the kitchen door snapping at staff and getting testy with others at the table.

I return to my cart to fill a glass with red wine, watching him from the corner of my eye. A forced smile spreads across his face and his voice takes on a chipper tone when he says, “There she is my future bride, looking gorgeous as always.”

River walks along the pathway in a lavender chiffon dress with her hands clasped in front of her. Her hair is a halo of dark gold spirals around her face and her expression is completely somber. The spark of optimism that always shines in her eyes is dim and her full lips are set in a hard line. It’s as if he has drained her last ounce of joy.

“I’m sorry I’m late, Your Highness. I’m still searching for the best fit to be my maid. I had the worst time picking out the perfect dress for you,” she says, side-eyeing me as I set Holden’s wine on the table.

He pulls out a chair for her and says, “I’m sure you won’t let it happen again.”

“Of course not, Your Highness,” she says, flashing a dazzling smile.

I grit my teeth, shoving down the anger boiling within me. Better that he says terrible things than lay his hands on her.

He takes his seat a cross from her and snaps his fingers at me like I’m some kind of pet. “When it's the two of us, you may call me Holden,” he tells River.

“Yes, Holden.”

I gnash my teeth, hating the way she is appeasing him. It’s all for show, but it’s so fucking degrading all the same. It makes me so mad that my hands shake. The silver dome covering Holden’s plate slightly rattles as I place it in front of him. I remove the lid and move to serve River.

“I’d like to show you around the kingdom today,” he says, shoveling a forkful of eggs into his mouth.

“I would love that, but I have to get this maid issue sorted out. After all, who will hold my umbrella while we are walking?”

I step on the tip of her shoe as I set her plate down. This is the perfect opportunity for at least one of us to get a feel for what’s outside of this castle. She cuts me a sharp glance, the plastered smile never leaving her lips.

“I can assign someone to you if you like,” he says.

“Or…” River looks around the gardens and then fixes her gaze on me. “I can just take her. You can hold an umbrella, can’t you?”

My jaw drops. What happened to the girl who hesitated when I made the suggestion to be her maid. Now she wants me to trail behind her and keep her shaded. I’m questioning if she wasn’t drugged in the middle of the night.

“I suppose she will do,” Holden says. “Now, eat. Your food is getting cold, and I can’t wait to show you my kingdom.”

The tour of the kingdom ended up being just an ego boost session for Holden. People fawned over him everywhere we went. Shop owners offered him free goods and the who’s who of Morhaven tripped over themselves to be seen next to him. He spent more time basking in the compliments of his adoring subjects than playing tour guide.

Minus the ache in my arm from holding an umbrella over my cousin’s head, the outing wasn’t all bad. I got my first glimpse of the wall that keeps this place safe. Mrs. Lockhart wasn’t exaggerating when she said nobody is coming and going unless it is through the gate. The steel structure is made up of thick, smooth metal plates. It would be next to impossible to climb. River asks about the importing and exporting of goods, trying to get a feel for other ways out. It turns out that the only thing coming and going is the team of guards who search for new people to kidnap from the outside.

The day in the sun played in our favor. River claims to be overheated and unable to attend dinner. I make her a plate of food and sneak a bottle of wine out under my apron. Dressed in the most comfortable clothes in her closet, we curl up on her bed.

“He was seriously scared of you, like he thought you were going to shoot him in his sleep.” River chuckles before taking a sip of wine from the bottle.

“I wasn't that bad when you and Noah first got together,” I say, popping a cube of cheese into my mouth.

“You were too!”

“I was not!”

A knock comes from her door and we fall silent. We scurry to our feet. I shove River into the bathroom with the wine in her hand. “Coming,” I say, throwing on my dirty dress over my sleeping shorts and cotton shirt.

I take a deep breath to calm my breathing and swing the door open. “Mrs. Lockhart!”

“I've come to check on Lady River,” she says.

“She's in the restroom. Poor thing has been vomiting all evening. That sun really got to her.”

Mrs. Lockhart glances around the room, pausing on the half-eaten plate of fruit and cheese. “Perhaps I should call the doctor to check on her.”

“I don’t think?—”

The bathroom door swings open and River steps out with a dewy face. “Mrs. Lockhart, thank you for coming to check on me,” she says with a groggy voice.

She takes in the sight of her and shoots a suspicious glare in my direction. “I'm not an idiot,” she says, sitting in one of the two chairs at the foot of the bed. “You two are up to something.”

I sit in the chair across from her and fold my hands in my lap. “You're right; River is my cousin. I just wanted to be with her. We saw an opportunity with her needing a maid and we took it.”

The features of the woman's weary face soften, and her posture relaxes. “I'm happy you've found each other, but you can't hide away in here. It was noticeable that Lady River wasn’t at dinner. People are already talking.”

One thing about Mrs. Lockhart has been abundantly clear since I met her. She has attempted to guide me down a path that will result in as little harm as possible. This is no exception.

“We just wanted one night together to catch up,” River says.

Mrs. Lockhart leans back in her chair, gripping the armrest with her slender fingers. “Where were you girls off to when Thomas' men found you?”

River moves closer to me. Standing next to my side, she places a protective hand on my shoulder, and I grip her fingers.

“We were trying to follow some clues that are supposed to lead to a safe community,” I say.

“The Sanctuary,” Mrs. Lockhart states without batting an eye.

I nod as excitement builds in me. This is the first time I’ve heard someone talk about the Sanctuary without saying something negative. “Yes. We were headed to the Fumux Mountains. Although, I'm not exactly sure where.”

She runs her finger over her lips as if she is thinking and then says, “I've heard the stories, but the furthest I know of anyone getting is to General Grasser’s Dome. After that, who knows what happened to them.”

My mind reels with the riddles I found and two lines of the lines I’ve memorized. Follow the path of the green general. He knew the quickest way and Trek the path that goes up, up, up to the dome in the sky.

She gave me the clue I've been looking for. But as fast as my excitement comes, it vanishes. None of this matters if River and I can't get away from here and find the boys.

Mrs. Lockhart stands and moves for the door. “The Sanctuary is nothing more than a legend, much like the talk of the Lodge's tunnel system. They say the king's men use it instead of the gate sometimes. Can you believe people really think there's a trapdoor under the rug in the king's study? It's absurd.”

I raise my eyebrows at her odd comparison. Perhaps she's trying to set us up, or maybe she doesn't want to see us stuck here like her. Whatever her reason, I can't deny she's given us priceless information.

I stand before her and whisper, “Thank you.”

She places her hands on my upper arms, and her eyes twinkle. “I have no idea what you're talking about.” She straightens her back and sets her mouth in a hard line, resuming her solemn role before walking out of the room.

I exhale and close my eyes, basking in the tiny bursts of joy bubbling inside me. Finally, River and I have the start of a solid plan to leave this demented hellhole.