Eira’s POV
The heavy doors slam shut behind us.
The sound is final, like a coffin lid dropping. Then silence. Nobody moves. The only sound in the hall is Elias's uneven breathing.
For the first time since we met him, he looks old. Really old. His shoulders are hunched, his hands trembling slightly as he throws the iron bolt across the doors. He checks every window. He pulls each shutter closed, his fingers fumbling with the latches.
Only after finishing does he finally turn around.
"It heard us," he says.
The words drop into the room like stones into deep water. Nobody asks what "it" is. The look on his face tells us the answer wouldn't help.
Elias walks to the long wooden table and lights another lantern. The flame came up, but it burns pale blue instead of orange. I didn't c
