Grace’s eyes snapped open to the unfamiliar high ceilings of the mansion, her throat feeling as though it had been lined with dust. Beside her, the mattress shifted as Rose stirred, blinking against the gloom of the massive suite.
"What's wrong? Grace?" Rose’s voice was thick with sleep, a drowsy mumble from the depths of the silk pillows.
"I just need water," Grace whispered, her voice sounding raspy. She sat up, feeling the strange silence of the house pressing in on her. "I can’t sleep without a bottle by the bed. It’s a habit."
Rose began to push herself up, her hair a tangled halo. "Should I come with you? This place is a maze."
"Go back to sleep, Rose. You’ve had a long day," Grace insisted, already sliding her feet onto the cold floor. She reached for the nightgown Rose had insi
