Page 84 of Isabella and the Slipper

Delilah bounced up from the couch. “Yes. I’d love to show you.” She yanked on Chase’s arm. He stood and followed her around the first floor as she showed him each room. Chase could see why Isabella had fallen in love with the house. It was quite artistic in itself.

“And here’s the bathroom ...” Delilah said, motioning. “I think that’s everything.”

He glanced toward the entrance, where the grand staircase was. “How about upstairs?”

She frowned. “You don’t want to see up there.”

He slid his arm around her waist. “Actually, I’d love to see the upstairs. It’s where your bedroom is, isn’t it?”

She giggled and nodded. “Okay. Come with me.” She took his hand and ran up, going past the first door. “Here’s my bedroom,” she said, pulling him into a room with purple walls. She had a purple duvet on her bed, purple curtains, and purple carpet.

He wondered how she slept at night. This room would creep him out.

“Nice,” he said, not knowing where to land his gaze. “What other rooms are up here?”

She pouted a little but led him out. She opened the door she’d skipped and brought him into Isabella’s room. He held in a gasp. Her bed was gone, as were her paintings. The closet was bare. There was no trace of her left. “This is the master bedroom,” Delilah said. “I’ll be moving in here soon. This room has the best view of the house.”

She tugged him over to the sliding-glass doors and brought him out onto the balcony. He looked over the city lights, trying to hide the emotion surging in him.

What had they done to Isabella? It was like they erased her.

“It’s beautiful,” he said, looking at Delilah while trying not to show his disgust on his face.

She giggled and fluffed her hair. “Come on. Let’s go watch a movie.”

He took her hand. “You haven’t shown me the rest of the upstairs.”

She waved her hand. “Not much more to see.”

“That’s okay. Show me anyway.”

Delilah sighed and took him to the hallway. The next door she opened and pointed. “This is Ava’s room.” The walls were pink. He nodded, but didn’t go in.

She pulled him past the next door, and he stopped. “What’s this door?” He reached out and turned the knob, but it was locked.

Delilah yanked him past the door. “That’s the attic. Nothing up there except for spiders.” She made a face.

An overwhelming urge to kick open the door came over Chase. That had to be where they were keeping Isabella, right? He clenched his teeth and stopped himself from saying something. Somehow, he had to find a way to prove she was being held up in the attic.

Delilah pointed to the next room. “Here’s my mother’s room.”

He peeked in to see a huge four-poster bed and dark, royal colors on the walls. “Nice.”

“And that’s it,” Delilah said. “That’s everything.”

Before he could say anything, she was pulling him down the hall toward the stairs. He had no choice. He had to follow her.

When they got back to the living room, he went to the wireless speaker system, getting an idea. “Do you want to dance? We didn’t get to dance much at the fall formal.”

She grinned. “Sure. I’ll go get my music.”

He grabbed her hand. “How about if I pair my phone and play one of my favorite slow songs?”

While she batted her eyes and nodded her head, he took out his phone. He wasn’t sure how he was going to get up to the attic to see if Isabella was up there, but he could send her a message. The first strums of the guitar started, and he cranked up the volume before taking Delilah in his arms.

Isabella lay on the floor, staring at the ceiling. She had no idea if it was still Friday. Time seemed weird with no sunlight to measure it by. She’d eaten all the crusty bread Elenore had brought her earlier. Her stomach gnawed at her. Elenore said there’d be no more food until Isabella produced another painting.

Isabella defiantly refused to give in. At least for now. She was sure once the hunger grew to a painful roar she’d break down and comply.

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