Page 11 of When Storms Ruin

When we reached the top of the second staircase, we were right below the main floor of the palace, the staircase opening up into an unoccupied antechamber of sorts.

A flash of movement caught in the corner of my eye, and I turned quickly, raising my arm to shield myself despite having no weapons.

I hadthoughtthe antechamber was unoccupied…but a guard stood by the main door, his arms uncrossing as he moved towards us. His hand reached for his sword as he pulled it free of its scabbard.

Nik was fast, but so was the guard. Nik lurched forwards, pushing us back towards the staircase and away from the guard. His sword sliced forwards, but the guard was able to back out of the way. The blade barely skimmed the material of his tunic, opening a slice in the fabric.

The guard swung his sword with all his might, Nik narrowly avoiding it by twisting out of the way. He kicked the guardin the back of the legs as he passed and the large Shade fell to his knees, his sword swiping out in front of him as he fell. Nik was able to escape the edge of his blade, maneuvering behind him. He cracked him over the head with the butt of his sword so hard he fell to the stone floor with a grunt. He remained there, motionless.

Puck helped Nik grab the guard’s arms, pulling him into the shadowed corner of the alcove. We hadn’t had to kill him, and a wave of relief washed over me. He would wake up with a wicked headache, but hewouldwake up. They might be Donika’s men, but I didn’t revel in the idea of killing anyone.

Except for the ones who tortured us…thosedeaths I would revel in.

Puck backed away, wiping sweat from his brow from the effort. The guard was easily twice the size of either of them.

“This way,” Puck whispered softly, guiding us past multiple sets of doors and another staircase that led up to the main level. “Quickly.”

Nik still hadn’t spoken, his presence a heavy silence at my back as we scurried through the twists and turns of the corridors. We were moving quickly now, passing down an empty hallway unseen. Before we could reach the end Puck stopped suddenly, resting his hand against the stone wall. He brought a finger to his lips to quiet us, and I felt the urge to gulp down air to catch my breath. I held it as best I could, Puck quietly putting his ear to the wall and feeling around for something between the stones.

What was he doing?

He found whatever stone he had been searching for and pulled, the stone swinging away from us like a hidden doorway. Now that I studied it closer, that’sexactlywhat it was. There were hidden passageways in the castle. We passed through the doorway into darkness, the only thing illuminating the dirt path before us the lantern that Puck clung to with a gloved hand.

“Liss will have to take it from here.” Puck quietly closed the door behind us and handed the lantern off to the woman.

She grabbed it in her dainty hand and moved forwards, as if she knew these pathways by heart. Had she grown up in the castle? Had she discovered these pathways in her time here?

“Watch your step,” she called out, speaking for the first time.

She descended the steps nimbly, waiting for us to catch up once she reached the bottom. The corridors here were damp and dark with packed dirt floors. They were narrow, twisting this way and that. I wasn’t sure how she had any idea which direction we were going. I could see another lantern up ahead and she quickened her steps, moving ahead of us.

I had so many questions, but no time to ask them as we tried to escape The Stone Palace with our lives. How had they gotten rid of Donika’s guards? How did they know this woman, Liss? How had they discovered the pathways out of the castle?

My questions would have to wait, and I swallowed them back as I trailed after Tess ahead of me. My hand traced along the damp stone walls to steady my steps. I was exhausted down to my bones. I had known when the time came foran escape I would need my strength, but I had no idea how quickly I would weaken and tire. I struggled to push onward as we entered another wide antechamber, a familiar face greeting us.

“Zion…” his name fell from my lips on an exhale as I doubled over, trying to catch my breath.

“There were no guards, as promised,” Liss told him, giving him a quick hug in greeting.

How did Liss and Zion know each other? Were they allies? I knew deep down that Zion had to have been the mastermind behind this escape. But…why? He was Donika’s father…what did he gain from helping us?

“Thank you, Zion,” Puck said, clasping his hands in his.

“We don’t have much time,” Zion replied, his deep voice filling the small, circular room. “Donika will notice any minute that her guards have been…misplaced. She will suspect you right away.”

Misplaced?What was that supposed to mean?

“This is where we part.” Zion swallowed hard, grasping Liss’ shoulder and giving it a tight squeeze. “I will join you when I can, but I have to keep up the charade a while longer. Long enough for you to make it out of Akra and join the resistance.”

“I understand. Be safe, Zion. I will be indebted to you forever.” Liss’ voice was soft as she spoke.

Was she being held prisoner here as well?

Zion gave her a soft smile before standing aside and opening the door behind him, revealing yet another stairwell that led down. How many more staircases were there? I wasn’tsure I would be strong enough to make it out of the castle at this rate, let alone Akra. What if Donika and her army caught up to us? I didn’t have the strength in me to run.

Zion passed two heavy packs to Puck and Nik, and they took them silently, strapping them across their backs. I glanced at Nik, but he wouldn’t meet my gaze across the chamber. We passed through the arched doorway, and it began to shut behind us.

I glanced behind me, and the last image before the door closed entirely was the soft smile on Zion’s face as he watched us go.

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