Page 43 of Shadow Caster
We took several turns, and I noted the markings on the wall—arrows and symbols. Directions?
We passed an arch that led to another tunnel, even more dimly lit than the one we were already in, and then cool, fresh air caressed my cheek, and we were piling out of a wooden door, up an earthy incline, pushing through shrubbery, and out into the starlit sky.
The exit had brought us up on the other side of the training grounds. The tunnel behind us was neatly hidden by the bushes we’d just stepped through.
Clever.
“Fan out and search the area,” Lloyd said. “Only two hours till dawn. Let’s find the Nightwatch cadet.”
To the left was the outdoor herb garden, and to the right, the glass roof of the hothouse was visible. Several cadets ran off toward the gardens.
“Let’s check out the hothouse.” I jogged off in the opposite direction.
Harmon was on high alert, sniffing the air. “I can’t smell anything. The air is off.”
“What do you mean?” Thomas said.
Nightbloods had excellent senses, but we couldn’t beat the moonkissed sense of smell.
“It should smell of earth and pollen and life, but there’s a musky scent in the air that’s masking it all.”
I inhaled deeply. “Yeah … I smell it. Weird.”
We slowed, taking in the surroundings. No point looking for prints, too much foot traffic there. The ground was part grass and part mud. Scent was our best bet at finding Lottie, but with the strange masking effect on the air, it wasn’t going to be easy.
We were outside the hothouse when a cry went up.
“I found something! A shoe. I found a shoe.”
“Blood!” someone else shouted.
Harmon turned and ran toward the voices.
Thomas made to follow, but I grabbed his arm.
I shook my head. “Wait. They found a shoe and blood. They haven’t found her. We should check out the hothouse, just in case.”
Thomas looked torn but then nodded and followed me into the hothouse. Warm, humid air blasted in our faces. The hothouse was a huge structure filled with delicate and exotic blooms and herbs. Flower beds to the left and long tables holding herb pots to the right. This was Master Herman’s domain. Maybe he was here somewhere?
The place was large enough to get lost in, but we’d barely gone a few meters in when I caught sight of a shoeless foot sticking out from behind a table.
My heart skipped a beat, and I rushed toward the figure. “Lottie.” I crouched by her unconscious form and did a quick sweep of her. No visible injury. “Lottie.” I shook her shoulder gently.
“I’ll get Harmon.” Thomas turned and ran for the exit.
Lottie looked calm and serene like she was simply sleeping. They’d found a shoe and blood. Was the blood hers? Moonkissed healed fast too, so the wound could simply have knitted.
Shit.
“Lottie.” I lifted her head into my lap. “Wake up.”
Her eyelids fluttered, and she moaned softly. “Whaa …”
“Lottie, hey. You’re okay.”
She opened her eyes and stared up at me.
I smiled reassuringly. “Hey, what happened. How did you get here?”
