Chapter 6
Chapter Six
SERAFINA
Outside Penelope’s quarters, chaos reigned. Screams echoed from the lower floors. Smoke burned my nostrils and stung my eyes. The air was thick and cloying, carrying a coppery scent. I inched down the hallway, heart galloping in my chest.
I was going to die.
Rotten Penelope and her wretched mother. After years of servitude, they’d sent me out to meet a bunch of flesh-eating monsters looking like a decorated cake. Did they think I was some trained pet? A simple-minded fool, eager to march to my own slaughter to save their ungrateful souls?
Apparently so.
Animalistic yowls rose from the floor below, shredding the last thin thread of calm that held me together.
Panic energized my trembling limbs. Screw Lady Richwell’s plan.
No way I was detouring to the main hall to get the monster’s attention on purpose.
There were several paths in and out of the manor, the royals knew nothing about.
Servant passages, old delivery doors, hidden routes they never bothered with. One of them could lead me to safety.
But which one?
Near the end of the hallway, the screams grew louder. Footsteps thundered in my direction, and my legs locked in place. Something was coming. Mortal or monster? I prepared to bolt when a figure burst into view. A soldier. He skidded to a halt at the sight of me, armor rattling, eyes wide.
Relief washed the panic from his expression. “Your Ladyship. Thank the gods. I thought you were one of the monsters.”
“Same.” I exhaled a breath. This was good. I’d explain the plan, and the fellow with the sword would help me escape.
He gestured behind him. “You mustn’t go that way. The monsters— Ahhh!”
His warning ended on a piercing shriek as his outstretched arm was sheared clean off. Blood sprayed the walls. One of the creatures chewed on the stolen appendage. Another pounced on the man, pinning him to the ground, sinking jagged teeth into his throat.
I stared, mouth gaping. Breath frozen. That… That did not happen.
Up close, the beasts were even more terrifying. Their bodies were humanoid, but with long stick-like limbs and leathery, blackened skin.
Move, Sera. Move! a voice in my mind screamed.
Without looking back, I took a cautious step in reverse, careful not to make a sound.
Then another. Another. Sweat slicked my brow.
My breaths grew shallow. The wet smacking sounds of the monsters feeding pushed bile up my throat, and I swallowed it down.
Not now. There’d be time for that later. I hoped.
Another step.
Glass cracked under my heel. Both skeletal heads snapped toward me.
Flark!
I spun and bolted down the hallway. Faster, Sera. Faster. Were those footsteps I heard or my pounding heart?
A corridor opened on my right. I winged around the corner, slammed into the wall, and raced off again. Howls and strange clacking noises chased me—inhuman, hungry. I sprinted, terror in my veins, my sense of direction slipping away.
Over the sounds of my panting, I registered the quiet and slowed. Had I lost them? I dared to glance behind me. Empty.
Praise the fates. Relief buckled my knees, and I caught myself against the wall, dragging in great gulps of air.
Only then did I notice the paneled wood around me.
It was a servant’s passage that led to the kitchen.
A kitchen that had an exterior door for deliveries.
Brilliant. That could work so long as the creatures hadn’t breached that room yet.
My legs trembled as I descended, a lone torch sputtering shadows across the narrow space. The heavy skirt with its obscene layers swished with every step, making stealth impossible. Halfway down, I froze. In the darkness at the bottom of the steps was an unmoving lump. What was that? A body?
“Hello?” I whispered, creeping closer. “Hey. Can you hear me?” A familiar uniform came into view. A footman. At least it wasn’t one of the monsters.
I shoved my ruffled skirts aside and nudged the fallen man with my toe.
At my prodding, the body tilted onto its back.
Breath caught in my lungs. His face was sunken, skin loose upon his skull.
Where his top three buttons were torn, his collar bones were prominent.
As if some creature had sucked the life out of him, leaving an empty shell.
“Blessed gods.” My blood ran cold. “What madness is this?”
“What madness indeed?”
Body jolting, I spun. “Master Mortis!” He stood across the kitchen, Cookie’s worktable between us. Abandoned dishes rested on the surface in various states of cleanliness, those who labored here having fled.
He stepped into the firelight. Crimson splatters stained his usually impeccable shirt. My stomach flipped. Was it his blood or someone else’s?
“Well, look at you.” Mortis’ voice was a blade slicing through bone. “The keep is under attack, and where do I find sweet Serafina but skulking about in stolen clothing and jewels.”
“What? No.” I stiffened, a cloak of indignation covering the panic clawing my ribs. “I’m no thief, but a decoy meant to lure the monsters away so the royal family can escape. Now, if you would kindly step aside, I can carry out Lady Richwell’s orders.” More or less.
His smile sharpened. “I think not.”
My patience snapped, reckless words spilling out. “Truly, Mortis. I do not have time for your games. Any moment one of those things could—”
“Time?” Flames from the hearth cast demonic shadows on his sneering face. “That is the problem, isn’t it? You never have time. Not for me. Even so, I’ve gone out of my way to make time for you.”
As he circled the table, I did as well, keeping the scarred oak between us. His boots clicked across the flagstones, steady and deliberate.
“You.” His gaze raked over me, disgusted yet hungry. “Look at you. A lowly slave with nothing to her name. Yet you dare to spurn me. To peer down your nose at all I can offer you.”
Several truths struck me as Mortis continued to block my escape. Rottbarry Manor was lost. The high ruler and his precious family fled while sending me to my death. In my mind, that meant my contract was null and void. Therefore, Mortis’ dominion over me had come to an end.
A bitter laugh rose in my throat. If not for the horde of flesh-eating monsters, this may have been the best day of my life.
I squared my shoulders and met his predatory stare. “I’ve no interest in being kept by any man, Mortis. Least of all you.” The words tasted better than pilfered sweets. For years, I dreamed of spitting them at the bastard.
His eye twitched, the muscle jumping as rage fractured his control. “So full of yourself. Prideful and stubborn despite your standing. Tell me, where did this misguided delusion of importance come from?”
“My heart. And there’s no changing that.” I thrust out my chin. “So you may as well give up on me. I’m a lost cause. Or so I’m told.”
“See, that’s where we disagree. Because I’m certain with the proper training, I could make you love me.”
Training. Ha! “Love isn’t something you can beat into someone, you fool.”
His nostrils flared. “And what would you know about love?”
Nothing. Absolutely nothing, since I’d never experienced it for myself. But I knew loyalty. I knew sacrifice. Knew the quiet devotion I had for Speck. Was that not love in its truest form? I steadied my breath. “I know more than a pathetic, power-hungry steward.”
His upper lip twisted, baring yellow teeth. “I’ve had about enough of your insolence. I believe it’s time for your first lesson.”
The maniacal glint in his eyes made my stomach pitch. He lunged, faster than I expected. As I bolted, my legs tangled in the layered dress. Arms like steel bands snapped around me, and I uttered a shout of outrage.
Clamped in a painful embrace, I sailed off my feet. Mortis slammed me face-first onto the table. Crockery exploded, shards and dishes skittering across the floor. Pain erupted through my midsection.
“Release me, you bastard,” I screamed, rearing back, but Mortis pressed harder, his weight crushing my hips into the wood.
“Not until you admit you belong to me, Serafina.” Rough hands grabbed at my legs, tearing at my layered skirts in frantic jerks. Revulsion forced bile up my throat. I’d rather die than let this cretin violate me.
My grasping fingers flailed across the debris-strewn table—ceramic shards, spoons, splintered wood. Searching. Searching. Metal gleamed in the corner of my eye. Cookie’s carving knife. Praise the fates. I wrapped my hand around the hilt and swung with every ounce of strength left in me.
Mortis caught my wrist mid-arc.
“No!” I seethed. His grip was iron, twisting until white-hot pain shot up my arm. I cried out as the knife slipped from my fingers and clattered to the floor.
“So, that’s how you want it?” Mortis snarled, his rancid breath heating my cheek.
Angry hands wrenched me upright, bruising my shoulders, flinging me onto my back. My vision swam, then focused. Lust and rage contorted his face.
I swung. Pain rocketed from my knuckles up my wrist. Blood spurted from Mortis’ nose, and he unleashed an unholy roar. Before I registered his intent, his arm drew back and slammed into my gut.
Once. Twice. Three times.
The last drove the breath clean out of me.
At first, I felt nothing, staring blankly at his snarling visage. Mortis stepped back, and I slid off the side of the table, hitting the floor in a pile of ruffles and lace. Warmth spread across my belly, wet and hot.
The steward loomed over me, chest heaving, spittle painting his mouth. “Look what you made me do.”
In his white-knuckled grip was the knife I’d lost. The blade was slick, crimson dripping to the floor.
I pressed my hand to my stomach and raised it before my blurry eyes. My fingers glistened red. “You stabbed me,” I murmured, detached from the world.