Moon Bound

Sneaking Out

I went into the bathroom to turn the shower on, hoping that if Aiden and Killian were listening for movement they would just assume I was cleaning up after my puke fest.

When I came out I tiptoed over to the main dresser that was placed directly across from the bed. I wouldn't be able to get anywhere in just a bathrobe.

I stopped dead in my tracks as panic cut into my gut. What if my mission turned up dry? What if I couldn't even get out of the bedroom?

Claustrophobia closed in on me, making me fall forward. I steadied myself against the edge of the dresser and blew out, zoning in on the slow decompress of oxygen.

Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. The confidence I felt a few minutes ago was fading fast.

I shook my head and pushed away from the dresser. Now was not the time for being overly emotional.

Dad would be so disappointed in me. He had tirelessly spent the last twenty two years drilling survival skills into me. I needed to get my s**t together and actually put that stuff to good use.

Regaining my composure, I took care in slowly opening the drawers in front of me. I peered in each one to see if there was anything I could wear.

The first few were empty but then I hit the jackpot. Leggings and a t-shirt with a motorcycle logo on it. The shirt smelled like Aiden, and I momentarily breathed it in before realizing what I was doing. I scowled at the shirt and continued digging through the drawers. It didn’t take long before I found underwear, a bra, and socks.

Flipping the bra over to look at the tag, I frowned. It was exactly my size. Aiden somehow knowing what size bra I wore was not comforting. I shot a dirty glare at the door, hoping he could sense my disgust.

It was creepy but I chose not to dwell on it for too long and hurried to dress myself. The shirt was oversized, the fabric relaxed and softened from being worn and washed many times before my turn to wear it, and I sighed as Aiden’s scent drifted up from it.

Get. It. Together.

I straightened and drew my shoulders back. If I wanted to make any sort of progress I had to stop getting distracted.

Ever so carefully, I stepped over to the door and pressed my ear against it. I couldn’t hear anything on the other side. I twisted the knob hesitantly. To my surprise they had left it unlocked. Taking my chance, I pulled the door back as quietly as possible.

The hallway was empty. Dark wood paneling that matched the bedroom lined the walls. I looked down at the grey damask carpet stretching across the length of the floor, and smiled. If I was lucky, the carpet would help hide my footsteps.

To the left was the top of a banister, and stairs finished in a dark stain led downwards. I would have to start my search up here. I had no idea what the floor plan was like downstairs, and I didn't want to risk running into Aiden and Killian.

I shut the door behind me and quickly started opening doors and peeking in them. There were more bedrooms, a bathroom, and what looked like an office. As I inched my way down the hall I noticed paintings of forest scenes were hung up on the walls. At the very end of the hall on the left side was a door that sent spirals of nerves bouncing around in my belly.

My hand hovered over the gold oblong door knob. The icky feeling was growing. The door wasn’t any different than the others, but it made me feel… wrong.

Shaking off the dread, I grabbed the knob and opened the door.

It was just another room.

I stepped inside and shut the door to see why this one had felt so off. In the middle of the room was a big, round, wooden table with curling feet supporting it. Aged books of all sizes were scattered on top of it, along with containers of what looked like dried plants and various liquids.

Botanical wallpaper covered the walls, and a chandelier was hanging from the ceiling just like in my room, but this one was made of gilded leaves. More books were lined up in ceiling high bookshelves, and in the corner of the room was a bed tucked in black sheets with a pair of boots tossed carelessly on the floor beside it. There were no windows- similar to my room.

There was a six drawer dresser pressed into a small space in the corner of the room where the wall had been pushed back. Secured to the wall above it was an oval shaped mirror with gold filigree encasing the edges. More books and papers were spread across the top of the dresser.

I wandered over to the table and picked up the nearest book. Flipping through the pages, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was looking at. There were graphic illustrations of what looked like sacrifice and torture, then different flowers and plants, then stones covered in runes. The text was even more confusing. It was in a different language. Latin perhaps.

A vial of something that was crushed up and orange in color caught my eye. I held it up to examine it. Whatever was inside shimmered under the dim lighting as I rotated it back and forth. The contents shifted and what looked like a small reptilian scale stuck to the side of the glass.

I returned it to where it had been sitting on the table and my fingers hit something hard under a pile of papers. I moved them aside to find a knife. The onyx blade glinted up at me. I lifted it by the handle wrapped in black suede cording. Red angular jewels were embedded down the center of the blade. When I flipped it over I was met with symbols that matched the ones in the book.

“What are you doing?”

I dropped the knife with a scream and whirled around, bumping the edge of my hip into the table. The knife hit the cold wooden floor with a loud clatter.

Killian was standing only a few inches away, appearing taller than I remembered. The room had shrunk around him and one of his thick eyebrows arched as he looked down at the knife.

“Nothing.” I said it too quickly. His other brow rose to meet the one that was already lifted. Something I couldn't read flashed in his eyes.

He leaned forward and I bent back, bowing against the table like an opposing magnetic force. He knelt down, brushing his fingertips against my ankle as he grabbed the knife from between my feet.

The flat of the blade whispered against the gap of skin between the cuff of my leggings and the top of my sock. A cold sweat crackled along the back of my neck, my hair feeling too heavy where it sat on my shoulders.

He rose slowly and pointed the knife at me, “Is that so princess? Last time I checked, sneaking out of your cushy cell and going through my things wasn’t nothing. Actually, I think that’s a big something. A problem.” The knife tilted forward until the sharp tip was poking the hollow between my throat and collarbone. There wasn't enough pressure to break the skin, but one wrong move and there could be.

Killian flashed a predatory smile at me.

I swallowed carefully, trying my best to avoid jostling the blade. He dropped a hand forward with a smack against the table, curving his body over mine.

“So let’s start over shall we?” His whisper sent chills crawling down my spine.

“What the f**k are you doing in my room?”