A Shade of Novak (A Shade of Vampire #8)(29)

There didn’t appear to be central heating in this castle. Although there was an old-fashioned fireplace in the corner of my room. It was filled with dry logs and some coal. Grabbing a set of matches on the mantelpiece, I lit the fire until it was stoked enough to warm the room. I lay in bed and huddled beneath the blankets, finally feeling my body return to a healthy temperature.

That was when the door unlatched. I rushed out of the bedroom in time to see the door slam shut and the key turn again. On the floor was a tray. There was a jug of water, an empty metal cup, and a metal bowl. I bent down closer to sniff the bowl. Oatmeal.

Oatmeal, huh. If this is what you feed your guests, I hate to think what you feed your prisoners.

I drank the water, but I didn’t have any appetite for food. Especially not oatmeal.

I shuddered as I wondered if Ben was being treated any better. Somehow, under Stellan’s rule, I doubted it.

Once I’d finished drinking the water, I curled back in bed beneath the covers and tried to fall asleep. But I couldn’t. I lay for hours, staring at the chandelier hanging from the ceiling. I couldn’t get the harrowing images of Ben being sucked back into that black submarine out my mind. I couldn’t stop thinking about how worried our parents would be once they found out we weren’t in Scotland.

It must have been well past midnight when a thump reverberated across my ceiling. Then another thump. It sounded like it was coming from the room directly above mine. The thumps got louder and more violent until the chandelier was swinging in its place.

What in the world?

“Stop,” a man shouted, making my heart leap into my throat.

Glass smashed. Then more shouts.

I got out of bed and walked out onto the balcony, shivering as I drew the robe closer around me.

“Don’t make me do this.”

The voice was clearer this time. The balcony door upstairs must be open.

Then a female, shrill and breathless: “Why do you make this so difficult?”

More crashing and thumping on the floor.

“Caleb!”

Caleb?

Wood snapped.

“You bitch.”

Another thud against my floor and then a groan of pain.

“I think we’re done for this evening,” the female voice said.

Her voice was clearer that time, as though she was standing right by the balcony. Clear enough to realize who was up there with him: the witch.

I crouched down and listened with bated breath as footsteps disappeared. A door slammed shut in the distance. Then footsteps sounded again on the balcony above. I ducked down closer into the shadows as two hands gripped the banister above. I heard heavy breathing.

I stayed in my spot, even though my bare feet were beginning to freeze, until he left the balcony and the doors closed behind him. I did the same with my doors and climbed back into bed.

I tried to close my eyes and finally fall asleep now that the noises had stopped, but now I felt more awake than ever. I couldn’t get the sounds of the violence going on up there out of my head. Even though they had stopped, they continued to echo around in my mind—most of all, the way Caleb had groaned out in pain.

What was that witch doing to him?

Chapter 18: Rose

I ended up climbing out of bed in the early hours of the morning and, placing my blanket and pillows near the front door, lay there. I obviously wasn’t going to get a wink of sleep that night, so I figured that I might as well wait by the door in case someone came to give me breakfast in the morning. I needed to catch whoever it was.

I was right in my presumption. At about nine o’clock according to the old clock in my corridor, the door creaked open. I scrambled to my feet and stuck my foot in the gap, wedging it open. Gripping the door, I pried it open further.

Standing in the doorway was Frieda, another tray of what appeared to be more gruel and a jug of water in her hands. She almost dropped the tray from the surprise of seeing me.

I had to think fast. “Frieda,” I said, “I really can’t stand oatmeal. In fact, I’m allergic to oats. I didn’t eat the portion you gave me yesterday. Can I please have something else?”

She stared at me, as though not sure what to make of me.

“That’s just the standard fare we feed all humans here. Afraid we don’t have much else.”

“Can you please take me to the kitchens? I’m sure there must be something better…”

“Listen, I’m no cook. I’m just bringing you this up because Caleb specifically asked me to—I don’t know why he requested me.”

“Okay, well, just tell me which direction the kitchens are in and I’ll find it myself.”

She frowned at me. “Caleb didn’t tell me that you could be wandering about by yourself.”

“Well, your witch said I’m a guest here. Not a prisoner.”

When she continued to look hesitant, I said, “Look, I promise you that I’ll be back within half an hour. I’ve been locked up in this little room for ages. I need to stretch my legs.”

“All right,” she said, sighing. “But I’ll come with you. I’m sure Caleb wouldn’t object if I accompanied you.”

She put the tray down on the ground inside my apartment, then caught hold of my hand and led me away down the dark corridor.

As we descended down to the lower levels of the castle, I didn’t notice many other vampires roaming about. Perhaps because it was still early. “So do you steal away humans regularly then?” I asked, trying to sound casual, but failing miserably.