Page 28 of Moonlit Thorns

The corners of my eyes burn, but this man will never know he’s gotten to me. I step around him at a steady pace, not willing to let myself run from here in tears as I want to do.

“Don’t let me find you in here again!” he roars behind me, and I pick up my pace.

Tears pool in my eyes as I rush down the long hallway with the stained glass. When I pass the stained glass bear, it’s impossible not to think of Asher Voss and the parallels he has to the beast.

It isn’t until I manage to find the room I was working in that I realize I still don’t know where the music came from in the first place.

Chapter

Thirteen

ANABELLE

Acouple of nights later, I set my book on my lap. My eyelids are heavy, and I don’t think I can read anymore. I’m in the communal area of the building my room is in. I don’t often spend time down here, but being alone in my room is starting to feel more and more isolating.

“I think I’m going to turn in. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

Finn and Marcel are on the opposite couch, watching television. They both glance over.

“I’ll see you bright and early,” Finn says.

With a smile and a wave, I leave them there. I don’t know that I’d consider them friends per se—their loyalty definitely lies with the Vosses. But they’re the closest people I have here at Midnight Manor.

When I reach my room, I hear it before I see it—the distinct sound of dripping water. And when I look across the room, there’s a giant wet spot on the ceiling that’s bulging, looking as if it’s about to unleash a tropical storm in the middle of my bedroom.

“Shit.” I rush back downstairs.

Finn and Marcel look over at me when I enter the room.

“Change your mind?” Marcel asks.

“There’s a big leak in my room. It looks like the ceiling is going to cave in.”

They bolt up off the couch.

“Get Jenkins to Anabelle’s room right away,” Marcel says to Finn as he makes his way to me. “Let’s go have a look.”

I don’t know who Jenkins is, though if I had to guess, I’d assume he must be a maintenance guy or something.

I lead Marcel to my room.

“Merde,” he says.

“What do you think happened?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “Probably a pipe or something would be my guess since it hasn’t rained.” He looks around the room. “You should gather your things before that blows. You’re obviously not sleeping here tonight.”

Before I can ask him where I’m going to sleep, Finn and the man I assume is Jenkins push past us into the room.

The older man puts his hands on his hips and looks at the bulge that’s grown larger in the last few minutes. “Gotta be a busted pipe or something.” Then he turns to me. “You can’t sleep in here.”

I nod. “We were just talking about that. I’m going to gather my things and get out of your way.”

Heading over to the corner, I grab my suitcase, then I empty most of the contents of my small dresser into it. When I turn back to face Marcel and Finn, they’re whispering conspiratorially, glancing over at me.

“Where am I going to sleep tonight? Is there another room somewhere in the building?” I walk past Jenkins, who’s still studying the ceiling with his hands on his hips as though he can stop it with his mind alone.

Marcel turns to face me. “There are no more rooms in the building, but we have an idea.”

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