Page 32 of Diamond Kisses

“Your time down here is up.” The head guard shrugged. “My orders are to take you to get ready.”

“Get ready for what?” Peter asked.

“You’ll find out soon enough.” Waving his gun, the guard commanded, “Unshackle them.”

I didn’t move as the three other guards fanned out. One went to Henri and unhooked the chain from his collar. One to me to free my own neck. And one to Peter.

Once all three of us were no longer tethered to the wall, the guard by the door marched into the corridor. “Follow quietly and obediently, and no one will get hurt.”

Peter went first, the beads of his spine bruised and red from sleeping on such a hard bed for so long.

I trailed him, my bare feet icy and white dress completely filthy.

Henri slipped silently behind me.

A current of connection tingled across my back.

His energy blended with mine like a warm blanket across my shoulders.

So close.

Far closer than we’d been in over a month.

I shivered as his hand landed on my hip. His thumb stroked those wonderful Morse code circles.

“No touching.”

Henri grunted as the guard behind him struck him.

His hand fell away.

We all shuffled in a long line, barricaded by guards and guns. None of us spoke as we travelled down the long pathways of the dungeon. No other cell was being used. BDSM equipment waited in the gloom for players. Torture devices in others stained by previous victims.

I lost all sense of direction as we turned left then right and left again.

My numb toes hobbled over pebbles and grit, my eyes slowly growing used to the brighter light as we reached a staircase. Memories of traveling down them so many weeks ago on the night of the Halloween masquerade came quick and sharp.

The crowd of Masters as we’d been carted like sheep to the slaughter.

The Temple of Facets. The altar.

Swallowing hard, I followed Peter and the first guard.

My heart pounded at the exercise as we climbed up and up and up.

I squinted as light slowly stopped being artificial and became sunshine instead.

I could barely see as we spilled out at the top and stepped into the small courtyard with its spearing tower and flapping flag far in the sky.

Too bright.

Sobright.

Not midnight after all.

No stars.

No moon.

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