Page 38 of Dig Your Grave

Anubis listened, his face contorting with anguish.I never mentioned him as I revealed my pain to the room.I thought I saw tears in his eyes, but it could have been the flickering light.

“Now you know,” I whispered.“Why I withdrew from everyone.Why Toccara’s death dredged everything up.”I said all that, but it wasn’t enough, so I added.“The worst part was I enjoyed what happened to me.”

He bowed his head, pressing his forehead to mine.“I’m sorry,” he murmured, voice raw.“I guess, it’s my turn to finally share.”

But before he could finish, a faint click startled us.The chest’s lock popped open.

I gasped, stumbling back.It was as if the room itself recognized my confession.

Inside the chest lay a single brass key on a cushion of black velvet.Anubis lifted it, turning it over in his palm.

“Key to the door?”I guessed.

He nodded.I tried the handle on the library door, which was indeed locked.Then Anubis slid the brass key into the slot, and it turned with a smooth click.

A wave of relief crashed over me.We opened the door and found the watchers waiting.One nodded approvingly, then led us back to the foyer.

We reentered the grand foyer to find only Sophie, his father, and a few masked figures standing around.The rest were absent, presumably guiding the other pairs.Sophie’s mask concealed her expression, but I sensed her dissatisfaction.

“Congratulations,” she said in a throaty purr.“Many never make it out of their first trial.”

I suppressed a shiver.The so-called puzzle had forced me to share my darkest secret.That was a violation of the most personal kind.

“And for your second trial,” Sophie continued, “you will proceed to…”

She was cut off by a slamming door.Another pair stumbled in, trembling, tears streaking their faces.They, too, held a brass key.The watchers behind them pronounced, “They’ve passed.”

Sophie paused, glancing at Anubis’ father.He inclined his head, and she sighed.“Fine.We’ll continue the Trials together in the courtyard.Gather your strength.”

She gestured for Anubis and me to stand aside with the others who had succeeded.The courtyard was accessible through a set of glass doors, behind the foyer.

I leaned closer to Anubis, voice barely audible.“There’s another trial?I’m not sure how much more I can take.”

He looped his arm around my waist, drawing me in.“We’ll get through it,” he breathed, eyes flicking warily to the watchers.“I’m so sorry you had to share that secret.”

I pressed my face into his shoulder.

His grip tightened.“You left out the details about me, about the Skulls.Apparently, that’s what they truly wanted.A confession that absolved them.”

Sophie’s clear voice rang out, halting the moment.“Now!”she called, leading us through the foyer.“We continue outside.”

The courtyard was a broad, flagstone-paved space surrounded by towering hedges.Torches flickered in wrought-iron stands, casting dancing shadows.In the center stood a low, black granite pedestal.On top of it was an ornate dagger with a gilded hilt.

My stomach lurched.A dagger?

Chapter 14

Sophie stood beside the pedestal, removing her half-mask to reveal a deceptively calm expression.“Pairs,” she commanded, “step forward one at a time.”

The first couple from earlier approached.Sophie lifted the dagger and made a shallow cut on each of their palms.They hissed in pain but didn’t resist.Then Sophie pressed their bloodied hands together.

“Seal your vow,” she said.“Share the vow you’ve made.”

The pair mumbled something about loyalty and secrecy.Then she wrapped a black ribbon around their joined hands, the watchers chanting softly in a language I didn’t understand.

I recognized the patterns from archaic secret society rites:Blood vow.A partnership sealed by literal blood.

Something akin to what Anubis and I had already done last weekend.

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