Emma raced through the empty corridors. She wanted to get back to the safety of her and Sara’s living quarters. She would find the dark cloak she used to hide her pale coloring and escape into the gardens. She would hide so deep that no one would ever find her.
She pushed open the door leading into her living quarters and rushed through the elaborately decorated living room down the hallway to her bedroom. The floor-length black cloak lay on the end of her bed where she had dropped it early that morning. Sweeping it up in a hand that trembled violently, she pulled it around her like a suit of armor and headed for the balcony doors.
Pushing the double doors leading out onto the balcony open, she drew in a deep breath of the scented night air. A feeling of calm swept through her. This is w
