Chapter 6

Un-dead

 

Over the next couple of weeks Danielle began the insanely daunting job of trying to gain what should have been a four year diploma in two. She never thought she’d end up even trying such a thing, and agonized over the task and secretly fantasized about eloping with Ethan rather than working so hard. Not because she was lazy … it was just that the once doable load of homework had turned into an intimidating mountain.

She couldn’t resist asking Ethan to help her finish reports. He was much faster at typing, and there was an advantage to using his hundred and seventy-three-year-old knowledge. He was actually a better source than the internet, especially since he happened to be a fan of art, and seemed to know a lot in that area. And it only took a few extra kisses to persuade him into helping her.

Between stints of working on homework, Ethan took Danielle back out to the ruins to watch the progress on the construction of their home. He’d drawn the plans up himself; apparently architecture was another thing he’d studied over his many long years. He was building a two story country chateau, which was turning out to be much bigger than she thought they needed, but she knew better than to argue, and decided to let him do what he wanted.

A narrow road was cut through the trees so they could drive directly up to the ruins rather than hike in. Ethan would spread out a blanket and a picnic, and they would eat while construction workers cut wood and hammered nails. Unless it happened to be raining, if that were the case, they would watch from the comfortable inside of his Jaguar. They spent a lot of time at the site of their future home when Danielle wasn’t working on her studies. It was peaceful there, and their security guards would keep a nice distance from them.

This wasn’t one of those peaceful days…. Danielle fiddled nervously with the cell phone Beon had given her while she scowled at her now towering pile of homework. Beon wanted her to have this phone for emergencies, and she was pondering her current one—three reports due Monday, and it was Friday!

Her eyes fell on the heavy load once again. She groaned audibly and flipped open the cell phone. She wasn’t calling Beon, however, she was calling Ethan. Beon wasn’t needed for this type of an emergency.

“Hello, Danielle.” Ethan said cheerily.

“Hi, Ethan, do you miss me?”

“Always. How’s the homework coming along?”

“That’s actually why I’m calling. I need help.”

“Again?”

“Yes, again. Will you write a report for me?”

“Isn’t that cheating?”

“Sort of…” Oh darn it, integrity was kicking in and she said, “You’re right, I’m sorry. But I have three big reports due in three days! I know the goal is for me to graduate in less than a year but I’m beginning to wonder if I can actually do it.”

“How about I type for you again and I’ll help with the research part? What are the topics?”

“Trompe L’oeil, English artist and Jack Vettriano.”

“Ah, Vettriano, do you like his work?”

“He’s one of my favorites.” This is why she’d chosen him for one of her topics.

“Which paintings of his do you fancy? No, wait, let me guess.”

“Okay,” she said smiling.

“You like The Singing Butler and Dance Me to the End of Love.”

“Everyone likes those.”

“But are they your favorites?”

“Yes,” she had to admit.

Ethan began chuckling softly.

Deciding to change the topic, Danielle offered, “How about another movie tonight?”

“Another picture!” Ethan snorted. “Aren’t you tired of going to see films we never actually watch?”

“No. Are you?”

“Well, no, I must confess that I’m not tired of it. I doubt I ever will be, to be honest.”

“Good!”

Ethan laughed again. “All right, darling, I’ll pick you up at six o’clock.”

“Perfect.”

They spent the entire time kissing, as usual, and Danielle didn’t want the movie to end. Unfortunately, they’d somehow chosen a very busy night to go to the theater. There were huge crowds waiting for the next showings to start, making it difficult for them to navigate their way out of the theater with eight vampires following. They’d brought dates again.

“What is playing that’s brought this on?” she asked.

“It’s probably that werewolf picture,” Ethan joked.

Danielle giggled. “We should have gone to see it then, we must be missing out…. Wait! Are those things real?”

“Danielle—” He began to answer, but silenced himself as they moved through the throng of people situated outside. With him pulling her closer, she watched his expression tighten as his muscles coiled with tension. Ethan didn’t like the crowd tonight, and Danielle didn’t understand why.

Seth, Beon, Cedric and Max had closed the distance between them as they searched the crowd in earnest. The behavior of the five of them made Danielle apprehensive. She then noticed that Eva, Sophia, Anna and Nadia were stealthily making their way through the mass of pedestrians, checking for any threats. Then Nadia snapped her head back to Max, a look of horror on her face.

Danielle gasped. Right in front of them, with only a few people between, stood Lucas and Celeste. The expressions of the two started as a mixture of shock and confusion, then twisted into menace as recognition settled in. The two villains now knew for certain that she was still alive and that Ethan had tricked them quite thoroughly.

Her eyes quickly found the ground, as did Ethan’s, before they could be entranced. Danielle clutched onto Ethan’s jacket, knowing the privileges that governed their relationship were going to change yet again.

“This can’t be good,” she whispered.

“We knew it was inevitable,” Ethan reminded.

Suddenly ripped from Ethan, Danielle grunted in surprise when she was slung over Max’s shoulder as he then raced for Beon’s black car. She could hear that Beon had already started the engine as they neared. She watched from her precarious position, perched on top of Max, as Seth lugged Ethan like an oversized football going in the opposite direction, disappearing into the crowd.

Danielle was shoved, almost roughly, into the backseat of Beon’s Aston Martin, and slammed into the cushion by Max’s hands and body. Beon took off with a jerk of the car, and a squeal of tires.

She struggled to sit up properly. “Max! Let me up!”

“Stay down, Danielle, we don’t know if you’re safe yet.” He kept a firm hand on her head pressing her cheek into the leather, the other hand on her shoulder, and the rest of him served as a heavy blanket over the top of her.

“Dang it, Max! You’re squishing me,” she grumbled, trying futilely to budge the heavy vampire.

He said nothing more, nor did he move.

It was several long minutes before he finally rolled off and let her sit upright. She exhaled loudly as she straightened her clothes. “Was that really necessary?”

“What if they’d had a gun?”

“Do you really think they’d pull a weapon amongst so many civilians?”

“Without a doubt. This is war, Danielle. Never forget that.”

“I don’t get—Is Ethan all right?” she asked.

“I’m certain he is. You could call him,” Max offered.

“I just—never mind.”

“I’m terribly sorry, Danielle, but I’m afraid the dates at night are going to have to stop. Perhaps all together,” Beon said.

“But … I mean, we’re engaged, we need—”

“You can’t get married if one or both of you are dead. I’ll consider what we’re going to do during the day, but as of now there will be no more dates at night.”

Beon continued to mutter to himself angrily and then said with a curt tone, “I never should have allowed these movie outings. I think we should also cease any dates in public: no restaurants, no movies, no clubs, et cetera.” She was aware of the fact that Ethan had talked Beon into the freedoms they’d had … for her … and knew this was the risk he’d taken in trying to maintain some sort of a normal courtship.

Danielle sighed, knowing it wasn’t open for discussion. “Yes, sir.”

Worries and thoughts whirled through her mind as she kept her gaze out the window. Danielle always knew in the back of her brain that this scenario was a possibility, but now that it was actually here, she found it harder to deal with. The vampires following her for the cure had generally been harmless, and easy for her guards to deal with. Celeste and Lucas had still been out of the picture ... until now. This changed everything.

The car ride back to her uncle’s home was long and silent while she wrestled with the distressing thoughts that threatened to make her cry. She missed Ethan already, and wanted so badly to be done with the drama and just be a regular couple: no more guards, no more threats, and no more school. But there was no escaping any of it. This evil curse continued to plague her fairytale, and she felt if they never found a solution, it just might become fractured forever.

She realized she’d started to cry when Max slung an arm around her shoulders and presented her with a handkerchief. Too embarrassed to take it, she tucked her hands under her legs, ignoring the offer. Max sighed, blotted at the tears anyway and whispered into her ear, “Have faith, Danielle, do not falter. Ethan needs you to stick it out.”

“How can I? This isn’t going to end.”

He sighed again as Beon pulled into the driveway, and she lunged for the door, muttering, “Thank you, Max, Beon. I appreciate everything. Goodnight,” She was unable to hide the new tears streaking down her cheeks as she sprang from the car and slammed the door.

Max followed and caught her arm as she turned away. “Danielle, everything will be all right, trust me.”

“Really, Max, how do you know?”

“There is hope. You have many on your side and we can handle a little bit of mayhem.”

“Don’t you remember Alex? It only takes one to betray us, and then it’s over.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“You can’t know that!” She wrested free from his hold and stormed toward the front door.

Still, Max wouldn’t have it. He snagged her around the waist, turned her into his chest, and hugged her while she sobbed and struggled to get away. “Shhh, little one, just let it out,” he said softly while she soaked his shirt. “That’s it. Have a good cry, then lift up your chin, and carry on.”

He waited until she’d calmed, then loosened his embrace. “There now, do you feel better?” He’d taken the hanky from his pocket again to dry her face.

“I guess I’m okay. I’m just … tired.” Tired of being followed by vampires and guards. Tired of being told when and how I can date my fiancé. Tired of ... and why can’t I stop crying? She shoved more tears from her cheeks.

“I still think you should call Ethan.”

“Thanks, Max. You’re right, I will.”

“Now that’s a good girl. I think talking to him will help,” he said, chucking her chin with one gentle finger.

“All right, ’night, Max.”

“Sleep well.” Max then performed a chivalric bow with a great deal of flourish. She couldn’t help but giggle, and realized his intention was to make her laugh.

 

* * * * *

She wished her relatives goodnight, went straight to her bedroom, shut the door and pulled the cell phone from her purse. She pressed the button to call Ethan, and listened to it ring as she settled onto her bed and kicked off her shoes.

Ethan only let it ring once before he picked up. “Hi, how are you?”

“I’m just peachy, and you?” Peachy wasn’t really a good thing in her book, and from his reply, she knew he’d gathered her meaning.

“You don’t sound very convincing.”

“Neither do you.”

“Truthfully, I’ve been better. They took me to Seth’s place, so I’m held up in a guest bedroom for the night. I’d much rather be in my own room, where I can at least look at your picture and the painting you gave me. There’s not much to look at in here.”

Danielle lifted his picture while he spoke, the one of him from the ball. “That would be frustrating, why didn’t they take you back to your place?” Wouldn’t Order headquarters have been a safe place for him?

“I guess because Celeste and Lucas know that’s where I live. There’s also a good chance they know that I’m mortal now, which puts me in more danger.”

Knowing he wouldn’t admit it if she asked, Danielle wondered how helpless he felt now being a mortal.

“They’re only going to become stricter with our time together. Though, I do think it would be easier for them if we were under the same roof.”

“Yeah, Beon already told me we can’t go out at night any more, and threatened to take away our daytime dates, as well.” She sighed. “I wish we could just get married now because I wouldn’t be surprised if they took away all of our dates.”

“Me too…. No more fine dining? That would really bite.”

Danielle heard her aunt and uncle’s phone ring, and then a few moments later, footsteps came toward her bedroom. Someone knocked and then her door opened. It was Aunt Charlotte. “The bell’s for you, dear.”

“Hold on a sec, Ethan, I have a phone call.”

“I’ll be here. I’m certainly not going anywhere.”

“Thanks, Aunt Charlotte,” she said, taking the phone from her hand. Charlotte then left.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Danielle. How have you been?”

The strangely familiar voice sent chills down her spine. When recognition dawned, she thought, no it can’t be her. “I’m fine, who’s this?” she asked, fearing she already knew, but hoping she was wrong.

“I knew you were rather slow, but seriously, Danielle, how could you not know who I am?”

And that was all she needed. Celeste! She gasped.

“That’s right.” The menace in the vampire’s voice couldn’t be missed. “I must say, you and Ethan did manage to fool us, but now we know the truth. I’m afraid this situation just isn’t acceptable. Lucas and I will need to give you a friendly reminder, and you should expect this time to be much more painful. Thanks for leaving your cell phone with us. It’s nice to have all of these new contacts.”

Fear clawed its way up her throat as Celeste then recited Danielle’s home address in Colorado. Her family.... “Don’t you dare—!”

“Oh, and we’re hearing some strange rumors about Ethan being mortal.” Celeste laughed at that. “What an utter fool he is to make himself so vulnerable!”

Danielle took a breath to speak again, but Celeste hung up. Gulping, a trembling hand reached for her cell phone and brought it to her ear. The other phone slipped from her fingers onto the blankets.

“Celeste just called me!”

“What?”

“They have all of the numbers off my old cell phone. What am I going to do?”

“I’d worried about this. I should have gone back to get it after we’d escaped.”

“You know you couldn’t have done that.”

“The Order needs to know.”

“And, Ethan, they know you’re mortal.” Knowing it was a reminder of what he’d given up by escaping the curse, she feared telling him that, and secretly worried he’d want to go back.

He was silent for a moment. “Danielle, will you be okay if I hang up, call Beon, and then call you back?”

“I’ll be all right,” she whispered in a tight voice.

 

* * * * *

Beon placed guards on her parents, and anyone else listed in her phone. She was followed by a complete entourage of vampires when she went to school. Her protectors were becoming less discrete as they watched over her, and she knew that people were probably starting to think she was some sort of foreign dignitary’s daughter, or a celebrity. They did make an effort to keep it from her relatives as they stayed hidden when she was with Brianna, or was exercising in her uncle’s garden. Which she could only do when it was warm or not raining, and those days were becoming less and less available as the seasons changed in England.

One Saturday afternoon she and Ethan spent the entire day self-confined in his room at the bed and breakfast. The Order wouldn’t let them spend much time at her uncle’s place, saying it wasn’t secure enough, probably because they didn’t have full run of Uncle Nick’s house and had to remain hidden. So this was all she and Ethan had. The only problem here was that Sophia felt the need to keep them well fed. It seemed she feared they might actually starve to death if she didn’t…. There were many things Danielle loved about Sophia, but the constant interruptions into their desperately needed quiet time were getting annoying.

Ethan no longer cared about the mess Sophia made of his kitchen. What else could be done? If they wanted to be together, they were at the mercy of the vampires who protected them. Danielle understood it, but her emotions were becoming raw and she knew she could easily crack.

Today—Sophia had been particularly obsessive about keeping their stomachs full. The coffee table in front of Ethan’s settee was buried with trays and plates holding everything from breakfast sausages, scrambled eggs, and waffles, to sandwiches, pastries, fancy hors d’oeuvres, berries and bananas, two teapots now holding cold tea, along with teacups, honey and cream. Not to mention, English scones with jam and clotted cream. All of that brought to them by noon!

They’d eaten as much as they could, but Ethan said he was beginning to understand why Danielle complained about the over-the-top portion sizes he used to try feeding her when he was a vampire. It just wasn’t physically possible for either one of them to eat the enormous amounts of food Sophia felt the need to make.

“Does she know when to stop?” Ethan asked.

“You’ve known her longer than I have.”

“It’s a few hours before dinner, perhaps she’ll settle down until then.”

Danielle burst out laughing. “Really? You think she’ll forget about the traditional four o’clock tea service with little sandwiches, cakes and whatever other finger foods she dreams up?”

Ethan groaned, obviously knowing it was inevitable.

A sexy song by Black Lab, entitled Weightless was playing softly in the background. The breathy voice of the male singer created a romantic mood which was perfect for snuggling. Lying curled around each other on the leather settee, Danielle snuggled closer, dragging her bent leg over his and settling the bottom of her foot against his denim-clad calf. Even knowing this was definitely not nineteenth-century appropriate behavior, she decided she didn’t really care at this point and was glad Ethan was letting her get away with it. They were engaged to be married! Most ordinary twenty-first century couples would have slept together by now. But they had agreed to save those intimacies for the wedding night. Secretly she wanted that regency-romance-novel honeymoon of innocent exploration the ideal promised. The thought fulfilled many of her girlish fantasies, and Danielle knew she’d found her very own Mr. Darcy willing to give it to her.

Yeah, he didn’t seem to have an issue with showing his affection for her publicly, but he also strictly felt anything more would disrespect her. Ethan had said he didn’t want to spoil the innocence of his own bride. Respecting him for that, she shifted closer, because despite those feelings, Danielle was beginning to wonder how long she could last in the face of temptation. She wanted to wait, yet….

In this position and with his lips so close to hers, she couldn’t resist that particular enticement and pressed her mouth against his as she wove her fingers into his hair. Ethan went along, and then slid his hand up the length of her spine. By mistake, her blouse came up with his fingertips, allowing them to graze along her bare skin.

They both froze, pulling in a sharp intake of air. Danielle disengaged her lips and stared into his eyes. Ethan closed his and let his fingers glide along the flesh of her lower back a moment longer, then exhaled abruptly and yanked her blouse back to its proper position.

“I’m sorry, Danielle. I didn’t mean—”

“I know. Truthfully, I liked that much more than I should have,” she confessed.

This long engagement was becoming physically painful as their desire for one another grew—as it naturally should. It would’ve been best in this situation to get married sooner than later, and therefore avoid the allure of what they’d forbidden themselves by choice.

“You shouldn’t tell me you liked that. That really doesn’t help,” Ethan groaned.

Smiling a guilty smile, she said, “Sorry.”

“This is getting massively frustrating, isn’t it?”

“Yes, and you know how impatient I can be.”

“How could I forget? Waiting till you graduate must be killing you.”

She laughed, and mumbled, “That’s an understatement.”

“Honestly, I’m getting to the point—I’m tempted—or rather, I’m tired of—Yet…” Apparently he was unable to even finish one sentence, and she realized then that his patience was waning as well. This Edwardian boy was reaching his limit. With his gaze suddenly smoldering, he twisted so she was beneath him, and came down on her with one hot kiss that stole her breath. Eyes going wide, Danielle wondered if maybe he’d changed his mind about waiting and then closed them in bliss as his mouth moved over hers. How far...?

Two soft knocks interrupted the party. Never mind, she thought irritably. Could only be Sophia, and what timing!

Ethan kissed her nose, and pushed himself from her. “Sophia to the rescue, yet again.”

Danielle moaned.

Opening the door to reveal Sophia standing there with tea service for two, Ethan directed the pretty vampire inside. Sliding her gaze to the clock on Ethan’s fireplace mantle, Danielle noticed it wasn’t even four o’clock—yet. Her eyes narrowed, Sophia was early!

Ethan thanked her and took the tray, then brought it to the settee because there was no room for it on the table. Sophia left.

“In the mood for tea?” he asked.

“Actually, yes. What about you?”

“Now’s as good a time as any,” Ethan said, seating himself next to her.

As Ethan poured the hot liquid into her cup, she watched as something new began swimming in the depths of his deep blue eyes. He muttered quietly, almost to himself. Then his gaze turned scheming as he poured honey and cream into her tea and held the cup toward her.

She took the cup and saucer, and asked, “What are you thinking?”

“Hm?”

When he wouldn’t make eye contact, she accused, “You’re plotting. What is it?”

“Pardon?” Ethan asked, feigning innocence, stirring his tea.

“Nice try. Tell me what you’re planning.”

“I’ll tell you later. I need to do some other things first.”

“Like what?”

“Drink your tea, Danielle, I’m not telling you now.”

“Humph.”

They drank in silence for a few moments, and she considered seducing it out of him as she’d done with his sword. But just as they were finishing with their cups and before she could even attempt it, Ethan attacked.

He plopped the china-littered tray onto the floor a bit too roughly. Before the delicate porcelain even stopped clattering, he’d pinned her to the Chesterfield settee, and she squealed when he assaulted her neck with as storm of kisses.

“What’s gotten into you?” She laughed as he tortured that ticklish spot.

Another three raps at the door came before Ethan’s answer, and the look on his face told her everything.

“Was that your plan? Did you know she’d do that? Is she standing right outside the door? Because that can’t be coincidental.”

“No, my plan is entirely different. However, I was testing her…. It seems you may be correct,” Ethan whispered and shook his head. “This needs to end.”

“What are you going to say to her?”

“Nothing. It would hurt her feelings. I have some other strategies up my sleeve this time.” Ethan kissed her one more time and made his way back to the door.

Sure enough, Sophia stood behind it. “Darlings, I noticed how many dishes you have cluttering the table. I came to clear some of it away.”

Gaping, Danielle thought, smooth!

“Thanks, Sophia.” Ethan then helped her stack and gather things up.

“Ethan, dear, I’ll do the dishes today; you needn’t worry yourself about it.”

“I appreciate that, Sophia. Thanks for taking such good care of us,” Ethan said.

Impressed that he always remained sweet and respectful toward Sophia, regardless of how many times she interrupted them, or demolished his kitchen, Danielle fell a bit more in love with him for that. He had the patience of a saint.

Sophia paused, considering them suspiciously. “Now please, Ethan, consider her rep—well … oh, never mind. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon,” she said as she bustled from the room, her arms filled to the brim with trays and dishes.

Danielle stared after the lovely immortal, shocked. Was Sophia going to say what she thought she was going to say? Her gaze shifted to Ethan, and he responded to the question apparently written on her face. “Yes, Danielle, she was thinking that.”

“So that’s why she’s been lingering by your door?”

“She just wants to help. She wouldn’t want you ruined in the eyes of the ton.”

“The what?”

“The ton is the fashionable scene in London. It’s a Victorian term.”

“Oh. Same as the notion of being ruined—old-fashioned.”

“Indeed,” was Ethan’s antique response.

Exhaling a frustrated groan, Danielle shook her head. While she too wanted to wait, she also knew long engagements were not a smart way of holding onto virtue. Danielle pushed upright. “I don’t know how much longer I can do this. I’m going to school nonstop. I have homework I should be doing right now, but I’d rather not. It’s become a tedious task trying to rush through it. I’m tired of feeling threatened. We all know Lucas and Celeste have started plotting against us again, and I’m tired of being followed or interrupted constantly.” She looked at the engagement ring on her finger, and twisted it once around her finger. “I … I….” But she didn’t really know what else to say.

Ethan sat back down, lifted her left hand, placed a kiss on the ring, then spoke, “Danielle, I have a plan.”

“Tell me, please. Right now.”

Ethan didn’t answer right away. He just peered into her green eyes with his sapphire ones. Then after a moment or two, he closed them and rested his forehead on hers. His other hand twisted through her hair. “I’ll tell you tomorrow.”

“Seems I’ve heard that before.”

“And did I keep my word?”

“Yes.”

“I need to see if it’ll work first. I don’t want to get your hopes up if it won’t.”

“Fine, tomorrow then.”

“Shall we test Sophia again?” Ethan whispered appealing as he dropped his mouth against hers.

Danielle laughed, and succumbed easily. His lips parted as he exhaled his delectable breath into her mouth. Even though it wasn’t new, she was surprised at how much she liked that, and with anyone else that may have been kind of gross, but not with him. Her hands traveled their way around his waist, pulling him closer, knowing Sophia would begin rapping on the door any second.

This time the door flew open. Startled, she jerked reflexively away from Ethan. However, it was Nadia this time. The black-haired beauty noted their intimate position with one look, then ignored it altogether.

“Guess what!” she said with untamed excitement radiating off her.

“What?” Ethan grumbled. He didn’t release his hold on Danielle, but rested his cheek against hers with a sigh.

“The room is almost finished! Soon you’ll be able to bite me and turn me into a mortal!”

“That’s nice, Nadia. Does that mean you’re going to lock yourself away right now?” Ethan asked, apparently hoping she would soon leave.

“Beon said it’ll be ready in a month or so, and then he’ll lock me in for two weeks.”

“Two weeks, locked up with no food. That sounds horrible,” Danielle mused aloud.

“It won’t be as bad for me as it was for Ethan. Beon is stocking the room with books and other things like that for me to do.”

“Great. Things for you to throw at us when you’re at your grouchiest,” Ethan complained.

“Was it that bad? Danielle, was Ethan mean?”

“Um, not at first … but then, yes, he became sort of scary.”

Ethan cringed at her words. Okay, she admitted in her head, he was completely terrifying, but Danielle kept that to herself.

Nadia frowned. “Did he hurt you?”

“No.”

“I came damn close to it.” Danielle could almost feel the wave of guilt that seemed to crash over Ethan. It was true though, he had been rough in his handling of her while they’d been trapped together and the curse began to poison his mind. She figured his tortured expression was due to the memory, and he pulled her onto his lap into the cradle of his arms, then tucked her under his chin as if he felt the need to protect her again.

Nadia’s eyes grew substantially with worry, and her sable brows twisted upwards. She sat down next to them, and placed one hand on Ethan’s. “Ethan, will I be able to do this? Or will I just end up trying to kill Danielle?”

“We won’t let you kill her. But I won’t lie to you, it was extremely difficult. You have to really want the cure.”

“Danielle, are you sure you want to do this for me?”

Danielle understood that for the curse to be broken, Nadia had to willingly submit to a bite from a mortal while extremely thirsty, with the power of the curse at its strongest. And she knew that vampires were most dangerous and most likely to lose control in that condition. But for Nadia she was willing to try it, knowing Max and the others would be there to prevent Nadia from harming her. “Yes, I’m certain. I want to do this for you. It’ll be fine. Ethan and I were alone, but you’ll have support from friends.”

Nadia kissed Danielle on the cheek and hugged her hard. “All right, I’ll leave you two alone for now.” And then she left.

“Would you like to take a tour of the dungeon?” Ethan offered.

“Sure. You know, it’s kind of funny, you said you didn’t have dungeons before, yet now you do.”

“And I’ll bet money Beon has it connected to a secret passageway.”

“You still never showed those to me.”

“Well, it seems now is the time.”

“Oh!” Halting Ethan with a hand on his chest, she dropped her voice to a whisper and said, “Would those be a good way of escaping Sophia?”

Ethan laughed. “Don’t you think I’d have already taken you there if that would have worked?”

“Yeah, I guess so,” she replied, deflated.

One of the well-lit passageways led to the new dungeon, which looked depressing at the moment. It was lined with thick, reinforced cement, and the walls were plain, but the furnishings Nadia had described would make it nicer than the one she and Ethan had been trapped in. Though, to Danielle, it still looked like an extremely bleak place to spend two weeks.