Page 79 of Death of the Glass Angel
But nothing else was here. Only scribblings from an innocent child.
20
Des/Talon
They are so alike, the shadows. Confident, self-assured, sharp-tongued. Beneath the bravado they crack, hiding their scars from the world.
-Private letter from Alfaris to Professor Aevus
Des awoke from a groggy sleep, her body heavy and head pounding. She sat up slowly and adjusted her eyes to the darkness.
Pain shot through her arms as her wrists twisted behind her. Shackles bound her hands behind her back, and cold stone pressed against her like a coffin.
This was a dungeon. Iron bars separated her from the cells to her left and right, though only one was occupied.
Shifting closer to the bars, Des stared at the unconscious man bound in the neighboring cell. Talon didn’t appear to be injured; Des saw no bloodstains or noticeable welts.
He roused shortly after her, slowly pulling himself into a sitting position. The moment he noticed her, his eyes widened.
“Are you alright?” Talon asked worriedly.
“I’m fine,” Des assured him.
“I’m so sorry-” he cut himself off, changing his tune, “What were you doing running around the stone quarter at midnight?!”
“Janus doesn’t always think things through.”
Talon paused before speaking again. “How did she find me?”
“She’s more resourceful than most give her credit for.”
Letting out an exasperated sigh, Talon’s eyes flicked around the area. “There are carvings all over these walls.” He observed, though Des couldn’t see them. Cefra had better night vision. “Ruins?”
Dust drifted down from the ceiling as something thudded overhead. They were underground.
“Are we down the tunnels we found?” Des asked.
“Maybe.” Talon shook his head. “Who knows how long we’ve been out? They drugged you as soon as you passed out. And then me.”
Standing, Des stretched her stiff limbs, hoping she would be able to slip her arms around to her front.
“I don’t understand,” Talon muttered.
“I don’t either.” Des interrupted him. “Were you trying to get caught?”
“Yes. My partner was supposed to trail and free me.” He released a frustrated exhale. “When she saw you were involved, she should have intervened immediately.”
“Or maybe that’s why she didn’t. There were two of them and only one of her. Attacking might have only put me in more danger.”
“I suppose.” Talon grimaced. “She should know where we are if nothing else.”
“A backup in case we can’t escape ourselves.” Des leaned on the bars. “I don’t have any pins in my hair. What about you?”
“A few lockpicks hidden here and there. I don’t think they found one of my daggers.”
“Good. Can you pick locks behind your back?”
“Why would I need to?” Talon asked, effortlessly slipping his shackled wrists under his feet around to his front. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you’re alive, but you aren’t exactly a young stormborn man.”
