Page 46 of Unkindness of Crimson Ravens
Perhaps I had died and was in purgatory, answering for my sins before the Moon. Perhaps my Sandra was safe, and this was no more than a twisted jest of my consciousness, punishing me for all the wrongs I’d committed throughout my life.
Even if it was a lie, the thought brought me comfort.
“Tell me where the Queen’s study is,” Francis whispered. “I will get the documents and come back for you.”
I shook my head, “No. I am fine.”
I could not allow any distractions: not when we were so close to our target, not when we were playing hide and seek with death herself.
For Sandra.
The wardrobe door opened with an uncomfortable screech, bringing me back to my surroundings as I barged into the room that once was my own. Francis quietly followed after.
My eyes scanned the room that used to be my only shield from the outside world. The only thing that had been safe and certain in my life was now full of grief. It smelled like home and suffering. No matter the fact that all of my things were in places where I’d left them last; no matter the comforting darkness of my old surroundings, the room was not mine—not anymore.
Despite the tears that threatened to break loose, my trembling body made it to the door Sandra had been dragged out of.
Leaning on the wooden barrier that separated me from the main hallway, I tried to catch the sound of any proof Mother’s order was actually being followed.
The sound of guards pacing behind the door made it clear the order was indeed being fulfilled; the guards were in their designated spots, waiting for anyone foolish enough to intrude on their Queen’s new rule.
This was our only way out of this room. The only way that was now guarded. Damnation.
I turned to find Francis patiently waiting at my side. His brows flew up in question, which I replied to with a slight shake of my head: we could not get through it unnoticed. Francis’ lips turned into a thin line.
A small voice in my mind screamed at me to leave the palace, admit failure and find safety once again, yet I ignored it, determined to succeed no matter what—
The sound of several steps from the hallway broke through the room; our gazes met in pure terror. Francis gestured for me to go, yet I was frozen in place, scanning my old room for anything useful.
One wrong move would mean our immediate execution, or worse. How could I have come here this unprepared? How could I have let my own impulsiveness lead us into jeopardy? My foolishness would get us killed.
As quietly as possible, my legs carried me in the opposite direction of the passage. Kneeling on the floor before my old bed, I prayed to the Moon and all the Gods that my sword was still in its designated place: safely hidden from unwelcome eyes, underneath the bed frame. I reached for the scabbard, dragging it toward me from the corner.
Quickly strapping it around my waist, I managed to get it into place as the sound of several steps got terrifyingly close.
I flew towards Francis, who guarded the entrance of the passage, waiting for me to go through it. He had unleashed his own dagger, glaring at the main door.
We rushed through the wardrobe, closing the door tightly behind us, separating ourselves from the intruders of my old room. Just like that I said goodbye to my childhood.
Just like that I said goodbye to my old life.
“Are there any other entrances?” Francis whispered as we made our way through the darkness.
“Yes, but it's dangerous,” I replied just as quietly. “We don't have a choice.” I said more to myself than to him.
Although I knew Sandra was not in her room, my sister’s room was not abandoned. Her servants might still be there, yet somehow this option was more appealing than wandering the infinite hallways of the palace—Brian’s chambers were much farther from the Queen’s studies than Sandra’s.
“We have to go through Sandra’s bedchambers,” I made the decision.
Francis nodded, although I could tell he was not fond of the idea.
The door of the passage to Sandra’s room opened silently, as if it had never been used before. The room was painfully empty.
Despite my relief, part of me refused to believe Sandra was truly spending the night in the dungeon. I closed my eyes, taking slow steps toward the main entrance. The idea of being so close to my sister broke me in half.
Leaning on the door, I took a deep breath, listening carefully for any sign of movement in the hallway.
Francis squeezed his dagger as I slowly opened the door ajar. The hallways were quiet, dark, and... empty, thank the Moon. I pointed at Mother’s study, meeting Francis' gaze. About a hundred yards separated us from the documents.
