Page 8 of Nocturn

“Through there. Hurry up.”

“Why is the toilet chamber down here?” She rolled her eyes, obviously thinking I was an idiot.

“It’s the servants’ quarters. His Highness doesn’t have our limitations.” She motioned to her bladder.

“Oh.” I kept my shoulders relaxed, trying to appear as non-threatening as possible. Once she handed me the chain, I turned to the door, taking my time to stride inside. That bit of his ‘otherness’ wasn’t covered by Miriam’s tutor.

His Highness wasn’t here, and I did not know when he would return. Out of everyone I encountered, including members of the Guard, he was the most terrifying. So if I was going to escape, it was now.

My hand shook, but she could not have seen it with my body in the way. I quickly went into the toilet chamber and shut the door behind me. A stone wall stretched to the ceiling, a pace higher than my head, and forced me to stride around the curved entrance that led to the four sectioned-off toilets.

Despite my nerves, I forced myself to relieve the pressure in my bladder. As I did, I scanned for an item to render the girl unconscious.

My throat was getting smaller by the moment, making it difficult to breathe. I finished and left the stall. Everywhere I looked, everything was cemented in place. Nothing I could wrench free. I pressed the sink’s lever and water sprayed out, filling the basin. Liquid spilled over my hands, and I withdrew, flicking my fingers, making the chain rattle and clink against the basin. I grabbed the chain to stop the clinking, then hesitated.

It was lengthy enough to wrap around her throat. If I cut off her breath, she’d remain unconscious long enough for me to find Piper and get out of here. I could face the ‘how’ of it after I got to Piper. I stretched the chain as far as I could. Exhaling in a slow stream, I readied myself mentally.

Only until she loses consciousness.

I wouldn’t want to kill her. Worse than her death was what would happen to her wraithling. Unlike redbloods, wraithlings could live without their human, but they would become a shell of themselves, reverting to an instinctive state. They lost their ability to reason and their sense of self.

The door creaked, and I backed against the dividing short wall, keeping my grip on the chain stiff so it didn’t clink. She rounded the corner, and I lunged, using her surprise to my advantage. Wrapping it around her neck, I crossed it to the side, struggling against her writhing body.

Her wraithling left her and lunged at me, frantically squeaking as it slid into my sleeping gown. The bite near my collarbone was sudden and agonizing, causing me to loosen my grip on the chain.

She took the give and rammed her shoulder into my chest, over my breasts. Another bite sank into my skin, and I screamed, wrenching the chain harder. It made the girl thrash. I lost my balance, stumbling to the side as she swung in the opposite direction, essentially dragging me.

Cold metal cut into my palms, but I could not stop. Her eyes screamed retribution.

She slammed backwards, and my head ricocheted off the corner of the jutting wall bracing the sinks. My hip hit the porcelain counter. That, combined with another bite from her wraithling, sent shockwaves of agony through me.

She repeated the attack, slamming me even harder.

A bloodcurdling scream left me.

“Enough, Eliza.”

The woman dressed in all black—the one I had seen when I first arrived—ordered as she grabbed Eliza by the hair. I noticed a tall officer at her back a beat later. Eliza whirled with her arm raised, but when she saw who had her, her fist dropped. I leaned into my tender side that she slammed against the sink.

“All he ordered was for us to keep you breathing and intact, but there’s pain you can experience without being marred by it—at least on the outside.” Her spittle hit my cheek, and Eliza swung her palm, clapping it over my ear. A sting seared through my eardrums, and I curled forward, cupping my head as I battled a wave of nausea.

Through watery eyes, I watched Eliza limp away, pausing to curtsy at the woman in the black gown. “Lady Drusilla,” she murmured.

I wheezed on a breath, straightening as much as I could.

“Stupid girl.” Lady Drusilla tutted, shaking her head at me. “Take her back to where His Highness left her.”

The officer grabbed my arm and hoisted me up with a single yank. My shoulder screamed. I inhaled hard, and agony sliced through my temple. I half stumbled, half leaned on the officer as he took me away.

I peeked up at him. His focus stayed forward. He had a no-nonsense look to him.

“Please free me,” I whispered, my voice almost blending with my footsteps. I studied his stiff features that hinted at absolutely nothing. Nor did he say one word.

No one would help me.

“Just do as you are told,” he murmured, his eyes meeting mine for a moment.

“But my wraithling—” I cut myself off.