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Crossing the threshold, I was immediately in a huge dining room with wood paneled walls and large-format flagstone floors. Cast iron chandeliers lit the place in dim, fake candlelight.

Long wooden tables stretched from each end of the room to the other. I could hide under any number of them.

Despite the layer of dust on every surface, it wasn’t hard to imagine this place in its prime. At the far end of the banquet hall, there was a long buffet-style table. It would’ve been a great place for parents to get their kids fed.

But the eerie carnival music that played over the speakers reminded me that I wasn’t here to walk down Feverpoint’s cursed memory lane.

Whipping my head around, I looked for a better place to hide. The tables would be too obvious, the Freaks would walk in here and immediately hit the deck — spotting me almost instantly.

Instead, I worked my way to the long banquet table at the head of the room. Wood panels covered the front of the table that overlooked the rest of the hall. I could tuck myself inside and stay hidden.

I moved the ornate, carved chair out of my way and squeezed my body into a tight ball as I pulled the throne back into position.

Feverpoint would have hired actors to play the roles of the royal family. If I remembered correctly, they would perform a dinner-fight sequence every couple hours while patrons ate.

On the walls, mounted swords crossed over each other and decorated shields with family crests promised protection.

At least I’ll have something to defend myself with.

If Cyrus happened to find me again, I might have a shot at getting away from that fucking psychopath this time.

I had no interest in being trapped in her lair again. The first time had been torture enough for a lifetime. I’d rather take the punishment for cheating the rules than end up under her wicked grasp again.

A shiver ran down my spine at the thought.

I wasn’t hiding for long before I heard someone moving around just outside the banquet hall. The heavy booted footsteps grew louder as my hunter waltzed into the dining area.

All I heard was heaving breaths and then…

SMASH.

A suit of armor clattered to the ground.

“Come on, Trinket. I just want to talk.” Blade’s voice was fevered, concern laced in every syllable.

More items came crashing down as Blade tore the banquet hall apart.

I had to stop myself from flinching too hard or getting paralyzed with fear as I heard her tear through the place.

She was getting closer, her footsteps growing louder.

I need to run.

Now or never, I pushed the king’s chair out from the table and lifted my body from the banquet table. As soon as I did, I came face to face with Blade’s blood-splattered mask. On the opposite side of the table, Blade lunged forward and across the wood to grab at my clothes.

She winced as her body slammed into the wood, just missing the edge of my shirt.

“Fuck.” I winced as I moved toward the end of the table.

Standing up, Blade shook out her neck and repositioned herself around me. I was trapped in the corner of this massive banquet hall. Anywhere I ran, she’d leap across the table and grab me.

I just have to be faster.

Reaching for a gold goblet, I chucked it at her and ran in one direction. “Fuck you!”

Blade groaned as the metal smacked into her arm. Undistracted, she jerked toward me.

I switched directions.