on.”
She turned around slowly and did as I’d ordered. Pressing the barrel of the gun directly against her temple, I said, “Now hold onto my legs and start climbing.”
She gripped my legs and stood up.
“Take me into the castle, though an entrance that will least attract attention. Once we’re there I will tell you what to do next.”
She started walking up the cliff, far too slowly. I gripped her neck and dug the gunmetal harder against her skin. “Faster, Frieda,” I whispered.
“I feed you every day and this is how you repay me,” she muttered.
Although I could practically feel her eyes rolling, she sped up and about a minute later, we had reached the castle. She walked past the main oak doors and crept round the narrow path that ran round the side of the castle. The path was so narrow and there was no railing stopping a person from hurtling hundreds of feet down the cliffs. I shuddered, feeling nauseous as I caught a glimpse of the fall.
I breathed out in relief when Frieda stopped beneath an open window. I gripped hold of her for dear life as she leaped upward. She climbed through the window and we both landed in the corner of a thankfully empty hall.
“Now what?” she asked through gritted teeth.
Now what I really wanted was to be taken to my parents. But that was too dangerous right now until I understood what had happened to them. This would have all been a waste if I also got caught and imprisoned. I lowered my hood so that it covered most of my face. “Do you know where Caleb is?” I whispered.
“In his quarters.”
“Take me there. Avoid walking along corridors where there are likely to be vampires. Take a longer route if you have to. But remember,” I said, digging the gun against her temple again, “I’m watching you.”
I held my breath as she launched forward. She climbed up the main staircase in the hallway and hurried along the corridors. I was relieved that there weren’t many people about. I’d lost track of what time it was now. She climbed higher and higher until we reached the staircase I was so familiar with by now—the set leading up to Caleb’s apartment.
I began trembling as we approached. It wasn’t Caleb himself I was afraid of; it was hearing what he had to say. The truth. From his own lips.
My stomach fluttered as Frieda set me down outside his room. I reached for the door handle and knocked, not taking the gun off Frieda while I waited. I pressed my ear against the door.
Please be in. Please be in.
I reached for the door knob and twisted. It had been left unlocked. I slipped behind the door and locked it. I had to be quick now. Frieda would no doubt warn the witch and everyone else that I’d returned.
I crept along the dark corridor and entered Caleb’s open-plan apartment. I looked around, my heart sinking as I realized it was empty. I ran my hands along his instruments. They appeared to be in the same place as I had last seen them, untouched since. I walked around the living room, then entered the kitchen area.
He’s not here. Now what?
Now I was kicking myself for letting Frieda go before I’d laid eyes on him. She must have lied to me. I cast my eyes desperately around the room once again, then turned the corner toward the exit of the apartment.
My heart leapt into my throat as I saw a tall, dark figure standing in the hallway. His hands rested on either wall. Shadows fell across his face as he blocked the door.
“Caleb,” I whispered.
He slid his hands down and moved forward into the light, stopping a couple of feet away from me. His face was now clearly visible.
“You were using me the whole time?” I asked, fighting to keep my voice steady. “All to get to Anna.”
His face was blank, unreadable. But his eyes were intense as they bored into mine.
He nodded curtly.
His admission stabbed through my chest. My breathing became heavier as the full weight of his deception came falling upon me. I reached into my cloak’s pocket.
She turned around slowly and did as I’d ordered. Pressing the barrel of the gun directly against her temple, I said, “Now hold onto my legs and start climbing.”
She gripped my legs and stood up.
“Take me into the castle, though an entrance that will least attract attention. Once we’re there I will tell you what to do next.”
She started walking up the cliff, far too slowly. I gripped her neck and dug the gunmetal harder against her skin. “Faster, Frieda,” I whispered.
“I feed you every day and this is how you repay me,” she muttered.
Although I could practically feel her eyes rolling, she sped up and about a minute later, we had reached the castle. She walked past the main oak doors and crept round the narrow path that ran round the side of the castle. The path was so narrow and there was no railing stopping a person from hurtling hundreds of feet down the cliffs. I shuddered, feeling nauseous as I caught a glimpse of the fall.
I breathed out in relief when Frieda stopped beneath an open window. I gripped hold of her for dear life as she leaped upward. She climbed through the window and we both landed in the corner of a thankfully empty hall.
“Now what?” she asked through gritted teeth.
Now what I really wanted was to be taken to my parents. But that was too dangerous right now until I understood what had happened to them. This would have all been a waste if I also got caught and imprisoned. I lowered my hood so that it covered most of my face. “Do you know where Caleb is?” I whispered.
“In his quarters.”
“Take me there. Avoid walking along corridors where there are likely to be vampires. Take a longer route if you have to. But remember,” I said, digging the gun against her temple again, “I’m watching you.”
I held my breath as she launched forward. She climbed up the main staircase in the hallway and hurried along the corridors. I was relieved that there weren’t many people about. I’d lost track of what time it was now. She climbed higher and higher until we reached the staircase I was so familiar with by now—the set leading up to Caleb’s apartment.
I began trembling as we approached. It wasn’t Caleb himself I was afraid of; it was hearing what he had to say. The truth. From his own lips.
My stomach fluttered as Frieda set me down outside his room. I reached for the door handle and knocked, not taking the gun off Frieda while I waited. I pressed my ear against the door.
Please be in. Please be in.
I reached for the door knob and twisted. It had been left unlocked. I slipped behind the door and locked it. I had to be quick now. Frieda would no doubt warn the witch and everyone else that I’d returned.
I crept along the dark corridor and entered Caleb’s open-plan apartment. I looked around, my heart sinking as I realized it was empty. I ran my hands along his instruments. They appeared to be in the same place as I had last seen them, untouched since. I walked around the living room, then entered the kitchen area.
He’s not here. Now what?
Now I was kicking myself for letting Frieda go before I’d laid eyes on him. She must have lied to me. I cast my eyes desperately around the room once again, then turned the corner toward the exit of the apartment.
My heart leapt into my throat as I saw a tall, dark figure standing in the hallway. His hands rested on either wall. Shadows fell across his face as he blocked the door.
“Caleb,” I whispered.
He slid his hands down and moved forward into the light, stopping a couple of feet away from me. His face was now clearly visible.
“You were using me the whole time?” I asked, fighting to keep my voice steady. “All to get to Anna.”
His face was blank, unreadable. But his eyes were intense as they bored into mine.
He nodded curtly.
His admission stabbed through my chest. My breathing became heavier as the full weight of his deception came falling upon me. I reached into my cloak’s pocket.
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