Chapter 13
Thirteen
Kol has been gone from Midnight Manor for more than a week, and with every day that passes, I become more and more lonely. I keep thinking I should find a phone to reach out to my mother, but I stop myself every time.
I flip in bed, unable to fall asleep.
The darkness filling the bedroom feels heavier, almost oppressive. With a sigh, I reach toward the night table and flick on the lamp. All that does is to further highlight the shadows in every corner the light doesn’t penetrate.
I’ve kept to myself since Kol has been gone. Before he left, he explained that the house manager, Marcel, could take care of any of my needs, so I’d requested that my meals be brought to my bedroom. Eating with the rest of Kol’s family when he isn’t here doesn’t feel right.
Anabelle was nice enough to seek me out one day, and we spent that evening chatting on the seating near the pool. But she’s busy with a new husband and her job as his assistant, so I don’t fault her for not returning.
The truth is, I just want Kol to come back. He’s the most familiar thing in this massive manor, and there’s a comfort in knowing he’s close, even if he resents me most times.
I huff and yank the blankets off of me, sliding out of bed. Lying here staring into the dark abyss isn’t any use. I’m going to go paint for a bit and wait for fatigue to settle in.
I slide my feet into slippers and open the large door to the bedroom. The sconces in the hallway are lit, casting a dim light down the wide hallway. It’s hard not to feel as if the darkness is chasing me as I make my way down the hallway.
Very often as I make my way through the manor, that feeling of being watched arises, and tonight is no exception. It’s completely silent except for the sound of my slippers shuffling on the floor, but I swear I feel the penetrating gaze of something, or someone, following my movements.
I pick up my pace until I reach the conservatory. It’s huge and filled with plants and some flowers, with towering glass walls and a ceiling supported by black iron. Marcel told me that Kol asked him to set up all my painting supplies in here because he thought I would like the abundance of light. He was right.
But tonight, there’s not much light since it’s the middle of the night.
An idea sparks in my head, something I could never do when I was living with my mother because of the restricted views out our windows. I’ve always wanted to paint a night scene cast in moonlight. It’s not a full moon, but it’s close, so I grab a fresh canvas and some paints I’ll need. I remember from the night I snuck out that lights surround the manor on the outside, so if I stick close to the building, there should be enough light to see what I’m painting.
Excited for a new challenge, I shake off the creepy feeling I had earlier and gather my supplies. I contemplate going back to my room for a sweater, but I’m wearing a long-sleeve button-up pajama shirt with pajama pants, so I don’t think I’ll be cold outside. The days continue to get warmer and warmer.
I haven’t spent much time outside the manor, so I’m a little unsure which way to go, and I wander for a bit, much of what I pass looking unfamiliar. When I find a door that leads to the outside, I take it. I’m not sure exactly where I am, but I gather that I’ve come out from one of the other wings since I don’t recognize the landscape, even if it is dark.
The moon shines, but I continue walking a little farther to get a better view of the outside. I step through the grass and around some large greenery but stop when I hear murmurs of voices.
I frown, wondering who could be out here in the middle of the night. Maybe it’s some of the landscape staff, though I can’t imagine why. The sound of tires on gravel intrigues me, and I make my way past another large bush to see what I overheard.
There’s a door on the wall of the manor between the two wings, and outside of it are a bunch of parked SUVs. They’re all dark with blacked-out windows and remind me of the kind I see celebrities and politicians in on some of the TV shows I’ve watched.
The door swings open and a few people—two men and a woman—with masks step out. I can’t see what’s past the door because of the angle I’m at, but as soon as I register the masks on their faces, I innately know that it will not be a good thing if I’m caught here, so I step into the shadow of the large bush and peek out around it.
The three of them get into the back of an SUV, and it drives away, the sound of tires on gravel filling the night. I watch until the taillights disappear around the other side of the manor.
Why were they wearing masks? Why are there so many vehicles here? Is a party or something going on?
Someone else comes out of the door, and I suck in a breath when I recognize the wolf tattoo on his neck. Sid. He wears a gold wolf mask.
What the heck is going on?
A woman in a red dress is at his side and wearing a black mask, with black hair that flows down her back. He escorts her to the back of one of the SUVs, and when they reach it, he grips her chin roughly and says something I can’t hear. She grins and runs a fingernail down his chest before he steps back and reaches around her to open the door.
She slides inside, and he closes the door, stepping away right before the vehicle pulls out. Once the vehicle disappears, he slides the mask up so it rests on top of his head and pushes his hands in his pockets, turning to look at the doorway.
I swing my eyes in the same direction and gasp. Kol stands just outside the doorway with a gold mask dangling from his fingers.
He’s back.
He’s back, and he didn’t even bother to tell me.
Sid says something to Kol, and Kol’s brows draw down. He says something back to Sid, who lets out a low chuckle. Kol turns in my direction, and I slide completely behind the bush, heart hammering. Did he see me?
I wait one minute. Then two. After I don’t hear anything for some time, I risk peeking out from behind the shrubs once more, finding them both gone.
Not wanting to push my luck, I make my way back to the door where I exited, with more questions than ever about the secrets Midnight Manor hides.