Page 56 of Blood Caged

Excitement and fear surge through me in equal measure. The note’s absence can only mean one thing: my plan is in motion. We’re one step closer to freedom.

Unless…one of the guards found it.

No, Mia. Don’t think that way.

I straighten up, struggling to keep my features smooth despite the hope blooming in my chest. Although there’s a lingering fear that I may have acted impulsively yesterday, I allow myself a small, secret smile.

I’m about to head back inside when I spot her again – the tall, dark-haired witch I’ve glimpsed a few times since that first day in the garden. My pulse quickens as I realize she’s timing her approach to reach the doors at the same moment as me. This is no coincidence.

As we near the entrance, I can feel the weight of Jake’s gaze on us. I keep walking calmly, praying the other witch does the same. We can’t afford to arouse suspicion now.

“Ladies,” Jake says, his tone bored as he holds the door open.

I nod in acknowledgment, careful not to make eye contact with the other witch as we step inside. The air of the facility is cool on my skin after the warmth of the garden. As we move into the narrow hallway, I feel a slight brush against my hand. The instant she touches me, a word takes root in my head.

“Sabine.”

My breath hitches. She’s a telepath. Probably one of several powers; it’s one of mine, too.

“Mia,”I respond silently. I can’t help myself. I glance over and make eye contact.

“Hey!” the guard following Sabine says sharply. “No fraternizing between guests.”

“Guests?” The witch’s voice is low and husky. “Pull the other one, bozo.”

I like her already. I’ve turned my attention away when another word floats into my thoughts.

“Lion sculpture.”

I say nothing as Jake leads me back to my room, but my mind is working. The huge lion sculpture at the bottom of the garden is a great place to hide things.

I step back into my room, the door closing behind me with its usual finality. But for once, the sound doesn’t fill me with dread. Instead, a small flame of hope lights in my chest, warming me from the inside out.

Sabine. I roll the name around in my mind, savoring it like a precious secret. Finally, I have an ally, someone to share this burden with. The brief connection we made, fleeting as it was, has rekindled something I thought I’d lost – a sense of possibility.

My mind races with ideas. If Sabine is a telepath, what other powers might she have? And, more importantly, how can we use them? The vampires may have suppressed our magic, but they can’t take away our ingenuity or our will to survive.

I close my eyes, focusing on the lingering sensation of Sabine’s touch. It was brief, but in that moment, I felt a surge of energy, a connection that went beyond mere physical contact. Is it possible that our combined powers could be stronger than the vampires’ suppression techniques?

A plan begins to form in my mind. It’s risky, full of unknowns, but it’s more than I’ve had in months. For the first time in what feels like forever, I allow myself to imagine a future beyond these walls.

I take a deep breath, feeling my resolve strengthen. I may be trapped for now, but my spirit isn’t broken. With Sabine’s help and perhaps the assistance of other captives, we might just have a chance.

20

Chapter 20

Soren

I’m striding down thecorridor toward Mia’s cell, a worn copy of “Sense and Sensibility” clutched in my hand. The weight of the book is comforting, but it does little to settle the unease churning in my gut.

What the fuck are you doing, Daire?

This isn’t protocol. It’s not even close to protocol.

I try to rationalize my actions as I walk. It’s just a book. A simple gesture to keep our most valuable asset mentally stimulated. That’s all. Nothing more.

But deep down, I know that’s a lie.

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