Page 28 of Shattered Vows

I slide my feet into slippers and open the large door to the bedroom. The sconces in the hallway are lit, casting a dim light down the wide hallway. It’s hard not to feel as if the darkness is chasing me as I make my way down the hallway.

Very often as I make my way through the manor, that feeling of being watched arises, and tonight is no exception. It’s completely silent except for the sound of my slippers shuffling on the floor, but I swear I feel the penetrating gaze of something, or someone, following my movements.

I pick up my pace until I reach the conservatory. It’s huge and filled with plants and some flowers, with towering glass walls and a ceiling supported by black iron. Marcel told me that Kol asked him to set up all my painting supplies in here because he thought I would like the abundance of light. He was right.

But tonight, there’s not much light since it’s the middle of the night.

An idea sparks in my head, something I could never do when I was living with my mother because of the restricted views out our windows. I’ve always wanted to paint a night scene cast in moonlight. It’s not a full moon, but it’s close, so I grab a fresh canvas and some paints I’ll need. I remember from the night I snuck out that lights surround the manor on the outside, so if I stick close to the building, there should be enough light to see what I’m painting.

Excited for a new challenge, I shake off the creepy feeling I had earlier and gather my supplies. I contemplate going back to my room for a sweater, but I’m wearing a long-sleeve button-up pajama shirt with pajama pants, so I don’t think I’ll be cold outside. The days continue to get warmer and warmer.

I haven’t spent much time outside the manor, so I’m a little unsure which way to go, and I wander for a bit, much of what I pass looking unfamiliar. When I find a door that leads to the outside, I take it. I’m not sure exactly where I am, but I gather that I’ve come out from one of the other wings since I don’t recognize the landscape, even if it is dark.

The moon shines, but I continue walking a little farther to get a better view of the outside. I step through the grass and around some large greenery but stop when I hear murmurs of voices.

I frown, wondering who could be out here in the middle of the night. Maybe it’s some of the landscape staff, though I can’t imagine why. The sound of tires on gravel intrigues me, and I make my way past another large bush to see what I overheard.

There’s a door on the wall of the manor between the two wings, and outside of it are a bunch of parked SUVs. They’re all dark with blacked-out windows and remind me of the kind I see celebrities and politicians in on some of the TV shows I’ve watched.

The door swings open and a few people—two men and a woman—with masks step out. I can’t see what’s past the door because of the angle I’m at, but as soon as I register the masks on their faces, I innately know that it will not be a good thing if I’m caught here, so I step into the shadow of the large bush and peek out around it.

The three of them get into the back of an SUV, and it drives away, the sound of tires on gravel filling the night. I watch until the taillights disappear around the other side of the manor.

Why were they wearing masks? Why are there so many vehicles here? Is a party or something going on?

Someone else comes out of the door, and I suck in a breath when I recognize the wolf tattoo on his neck. Sid. He wears a gold wolf mask.

What the heck is going on?

A woman in a red dress is at his side and wearing a black mask, with black hair that flows down her back. He escorts her to the back of one of the SUVs, and when they reach it, he grips her chin roughly and says something I can’t hear. She grins and runs a fingernail down his chest before he steps back and reaches around her to open the door.

She slides inside, and he closes the door, stepping away right before the vehicle pulls out. Once the vehicle disappears, he slides the mask up so it rests on top of his head and pushes his hands in his pockets, turning to look at the doorway.

I swing my eyes in the same direction and gasp. Kol stands just outside the doorway with a gold mask dangling from his fingers.

He’s back.

He’s back, and he didn’t even bother to tell me.

Sid says something to Kol, and Kol’s brows draw down. He says something back to Sid, who lets out a low chuckle. Kol turns in my direction, and I slide completely behind the bush, heart hammering. Did he see me?

I wait one minute. Then two. After I don’t hear anything for some time, I risk peeking out from behind the shrubs once more, finding them both gone.

Not wanting to push my luck, I make my way back to the door where I exited, with more questions than ever about the secrets Midnight Manor hides.

Chapter

Fourteen

RAPSODY

The next morning, I don’t wake until mid-morning after being up half the night. I stare at the ceiling, going over the events of last night and trying to make sense of what I saw.

Maybe it was a costume party, but if so, why didn’t the guests use the front door?

I’m still pondering while I get out of bed and dress in a pair of leggings and short-sleeved shirt that cuts off just above the waistband. Then my stomach rumbles, so I braid my hair and decide to make my way to the kitchen to see if I can scrounge something to eat.

Marcel will scold me if he finds me there fending for myself rather than just summoning him to take care of it for me, but Mrs. Potter, who is in charge of the kitchen staff, doesn’t seem to mind. It still feels weird to pick up the phone in my room and ask someone to do my bidding when I’m perfectly capable. Not only that, I have nothing better to do. Kol may be back, but it’s not as though he’s bothered to come see me.

---