Page 37 of The Wolf

Scarlet suppressed a shudder, bile burning in the back of her throat. That was where they kept the worst of the worst, not innocent sick children.

“It’s too risky for you to go,” Jaq added.

“I have no other choice.” She gave the twins a weak smile. “It’s my fault he’s there in the first place. I meddled in his life and Arwen is punishing him for it. I can’t stand by.” She slung her bag over her shoulder. “Be careful while I’m gone and keep your heads down. Old Mother will be looking to take heads when she discovers Moses gone.”

“Keep safe,” the twins murmured.

She spared them one last glance before entering the secret hallway hidden beside her fireplace. Darkness closed in around her as the door swung shut and she took a moment to calm herself before she began running for the dungeons. Over the years she’d memorized all the hidden corridors. The ones Arwen knew about, she avoided.

With no time to waste, she moved down two flight of stairs that connected with the lower dungeon. She paused at the door and strained her ears.

No sign of movement on the other side.

With care, Scarlet pressed the keyhole and the door swung inward. She stepped into the weapons room and fought to keep from gagging. Calling it a weapons room was generous.

It was the torture room.

Weapons covered in dried blood hung from the walls and chains dangled from the ceiling. She latched the door behind her, the fake stone blending seamlessly into the wall. Scarlet crossed over to the wooden door on silent feet and listened once again. No one was usually down here at this time of day but one could never be too cautious.

Luckily, there was no lock on this door.

Sure she could pick a lock but it would waste precious time.

Scarlet opened the door just a crack and scanned the left side of the dungeon.

No wolves.

She opened it farther and peeked right.

No guards.

Time to move.

She fled down the center aisle way of the dingy dark place.

Most of the cells were vacant. Her stepmother didn’t like to keep prisoners for very long. She enjoyed killing them too much.

Scarlet’s heart picked up as she spotted Moses in one cell and his parents in the next one over. None of them looked alright. How the devil was she supposed to get them out? Abel’s left leg looked mangled and Riia was one giant bruise.

Her heart sank. They would need to be carried out and so would Moses. Heat pressed at the back of her eyes. She couldn’t save them all.

“Take him,” a soft, almost inaudible voice begged her. Abel. He dragged himself to the iron bars and held up a shaking, almost skeletal hand in the direction of Moses’ cell. “Please. Take him.”

Riia rolled onto her side, eyes glassy and whimpered, pointing to Moses.

They knew they wouldn’t survive.

“I’m sorry,” Scarlet whispered before rushing to Moses’ cell. She used her lockpicks that always hung from her garters and opened the iron door. It groaned and she flinched. Not much time now.

“Time to go, sweet one,” she murmured as she scooped the child up. He was delirious, on the edge of unconsciousness. Scarlet laid him over her shoulder before running for the weapons room without sparing Abel and Riia a second glance.

This was their last request and she’d honor that. She’d mourn later.

Her breathing sped up as she closed the wooden door behind her and swiftly moved to the hidden stone door. She pressed a small divot in the grout and the door swung into the dark, narrow corridor.

Moses whimpered.

Scarlet closed the door behind them with her foot and ran a hand over his back. “I know it’s dark but I have you. We need to keep quiet to hide from the big, bad wolves.”

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