Chapter 19 Scarlett
SCARLETT
Something is very, very wrong.
I feel it the moment my eyes open. Not only because it’s dark in my room when the last memory I have is of morning breakfast with Krane.
No, what concerns me the most is that I am alone.
Where is Krane? I sit up quickly and swing my legs over.
The next indication that something is off is the soreness.
Or the lack thereof.
I’m used to the aftereffects of Krane’s vigorous lovemaking. I should be feeling tender at the very least, thanks to his new endowments. There is some slight discomfort, but nothing out of the ordinary. My muscles feel like they’ve been asleep for a long time, waking with pins and needles.
Unease grips me. I have to find Krane. Now.
Dressing quickly, I head out of my room, calling his name. It is deadly quiet inside the castle. I can hear every groan and shift of the crumbling structure. I open every door upstairs as I shuffle through my last memory.
He had asked me to forgive him. Forgive him for what? My mouth feels full of poison. Krane is nowhere to be found.
He had asked me to forgive him, and then nothing. I couldn’t remember anything after that—everything had gone dark, just like when he took me from my wedding day. The puzzle pieces come together in my mind. Krane put me to sleep, but why? How long have I been out for?
Pushing into the dining room, our breakfast feast still lies atop the table.
My stomach sinks as I take in the state of the food.
A day left unattended would not cause this.
The bread has molded around the edges. The fat on the bacon has solidified and is turning black.
The eggs are drier than dust. One ripe, ruby apple remains in the fruit basket.
A single worm tunnels through the rotten flesh, exposing the mealy inside.
I swallow down my vomit, quickly turning from the room.
I have to get out of here. I have to find Krane; something terrible has happened. I can feel it. I exit the front of the castle, still calling for him even though I know it is of no use. He wouldn’t intentionally abandon me. If he put me to sleep, he thought he was coming back. So why hasn’t he?
Mounted out in front is his horse. I approached the creature cautiously. Holding up my hands, I take a deep breath.
“Do you know where he’s gone?”
I don’t know if the animal can understand me, but I have to try. Much to my surprise, the horse flicks its head as if it’s nodding—a deep fog rolls in from the woods, blanketing the ground. I disregard the chill and use all my strength to mount the towering horse.
Taking the reins in my hands, I urge the beast forward, and it launches into a gallop. The wind whips at my hair and tugs at my gown. I have no idea where we are going.
The only thing I can hope for is that Krane is still there and I’m too late to save him.