Page 61 of Flame and Fury

I flinch, and Estella grimaces. “I swear to you. It’s been making me sick, even sharing those pieces of your life.”

Nathaniel’s eyes had sparkled with spite when he’d told me about Estella’s actions. She’s just another tool he’s using to manipulate people.

“Listen, Wren, I understand why you might not believe me, but I swear I want to help. Just now, I heard Grima telling one of the guards that there’s something wrong with you. They’re going to see Nathaniel. They’re going to torture you to find out what’s different about you. Even if Grima is lying, they’ll still torment you until you break.” The way Estella is looking up at me tells me she knows it’s not a lie. Shit. That little show of my Fury is already coming to bite me in the ass. Stupid impulses.

“He will punish you and then make an example of you for the people in this territory.” Estella’s breaths are coming in fast, her hands shaking. “You have to go.”

Whatever situation Estella’s found herself in, it likely wasn’t her choice. Just like everyone else, she’s beholden to the whims of the gods and the clerics. Do I expect her to single-handedly take down Nathaniel and the Heralds of Olympus? She’s a victim here, too. Didn’t I just tell myself I needed to trust my instincts? Fuck it.

I finish tying my boots and stand up. A floor-length dress that barely contains my boobs is not my ideal getaway outfit, but it will have to do. I hold out a hand to Estella. She gives me a tentative smile when I help her up.

“It’s a good thing I was already planning to leave.” I turn toward Lark. “Are you in?”

A smile breaks out over Lark’s face, and I remember that she’s pretty badass. She was a champion for a reason. With a resigned sigh, I cock my head at Saffron.

“Do you want to come with us?”

Saffron rolls her eyes. “Do I want to be hunted down like a dog, then dragged in front of cameras to be shamed like a witch and burned at the stake? No thanks. I’ll stay where I’m fed and clothed.”

I’m slightly relieved that Saffron doesn’t want to come, and then guilt trickles in. Can I really leave her behind in this place? If we do, is she going to rat us out? Will it matter anyway? They’ll figure out we’re gone sooner than later, and it’s not like I’m leaving a map with an X on it for Saffron to hand over.

I travel to the corner of the room where my dirty clothes sit in a pile. Picking up the tank top, I tear it down the middle, ripping it into two strips.

“What are you doing?” Saffron eyes the cloth as I cross the room to her cot.

“I’m helping you out. When they come in here and find out we’ve escaped, they’re going to ask why you didn’t do anything to stop us.” I wrap the cloth around her wrists.

“Gross. Is this your blood?” Saffron’s voice is so high pitched my ears ring. Lark rushes over to my side and grabs Saffron’s robe from the side of her cot.

“I didn’t agree to this!” Saffron shrieks when Lark rips the arm off the floofy thing.

“We have to make it look realistic.” Lark grins down at her before she wraps the fabric around Saffron's mouth, shutting her up.

“Good luck.” My words are sincere. Even if I don’t like her, Saffron has every right to stay here. I hope she doesn’t regret her choice.

Estella is biting her nails, her eyes darting between the door and Saffron.

“And you? Are you coming with us?”

Estella drops her hand, eyes widening with relief. “Really? You don’t want to leave me behind too?”

I frown at her. “I understand how Nathaniel had you cornered. I’ll give you a pass this time. Do it again and I won’t be so forgiving.”

“Understood. Let’s get out of here.” Estella dashes for the door, but slowly opens it like she’s expecting a brigade of soldiers on the other side. Lark and I are right behind her, and I’m ready for a fight. We’re greeted by an empty hallway.

Estella locks the door as soon as we’re all out. “It’ll only slow them down a little if they come to check on you, but every second helps.”

“Do you know how we can get out of here? They only ever take me up to the house.” Lark whispers as we follow Estella down the hall.

“We’ll stay in the servants’ quarters until we can get outside. There’s a nine-foot-tall steel fence all around the perimeter of the property that we’ll have to get over. I’m not sure how, since I wasn’t planning an escape.” Estella’s words tumble out in a hushed tone as we flee down the black corridor.

“I’m not worried about it. Let’s just get to the fence.” Lark and Estella both give me wary looks.

Estella gnaws on the corner of her lip, her brow furrowed. She keeps looking over her shoulder at me. “I know you’re mad, rightfully so. And it’s not a good excuse but Nathaniel threatened to fire me if I didn’t report back to him. I don’t have to explain what it’s like to grow up with nothing, to worry about your next meal. I let him scare me and I hate myself for that.”

I knock into her shoulder. “It’s done. Let’s focus on getting out of here and you can apologize some more later.”

We hurry down the hallway, keeping our steps as quiet as possible. The halls are empty, not even a single servant hurrying past. It would be easy to get lost in here. Like everything else in Nathaniel’s house, the floors and walls are black. Doors break up the monotony of the darkness, but there’s nothing to distinguish one from the other. Estella’s guiding us with a certainty that leads me to believe she knows where we’re going.

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