Chapter 40

Olivia

Although I was forbidden to train, Damien did not confine me to his rooms. I was still allowed to wander freely through the castle.

I stood at the top of one of the ballroom staircases. I thought about throwing myself down the stairs. I was confident that I would not die.

Unfortunately, even if I did manage to injure myself, I would heal in time for the ceremony.

I had spent the day subtly testing myself. A small cut on my hand healed in a few minutes. Bruises faded almost as quickly as they appeared. I did not dare try anything more obvious, but I estimated that a broken bone would heal in days, not weeks.

I needed a new plan to delay the Acceptance Ceremony. If injuring myself would not do it, what would?

I could make Damien angry, and earn a punishment. I shuddered at the idea. I would hate to spend more time in that tiny cell.

But what would stop Damien from simply leaving me in the cell until the ceremony? He could do whatever he wanted. He could punish me as long as he wanted, and end it whenever he wanted me back.

That wouldn’t work.

I paced the hallways. Movement in the corner of my vision caught my eye and I froze. I turned to see myself, reflected in an ornate mirror.

I faced the mirror and studied myself. I was still dressed in the clothing that Damien chose. I wasn’t even allowed to pick my own underwear.

I tugged at the trailing hem of one of my sleeves. I would never pick a dress like this for myself. It was beautiful, yes, but I did not like blue. I preferred shades of green.

Also, the dress was impractical. The sleeves were long and constantly got in my way. The skirt hem trailed along behind me. I had to work constantly to keep from picking up dirt and debris as I walked.

I looked up at my own face. My skin was pale, like fine porcelain. The robust tan I’d gained from long years working in the sun was gone. I looked like a doll.

I forced myself to meet my own eyes in the mirror, and gasped in dismay. Was that a flicker of crimson? Or did I imagine it?

I opened my mouth. Were my canine teeth longer than they should be? I prodded at my teeth with my tongue. Were they sharper than they used to be?

How long until the person in the mirror was a complete stranger? I was already changing so much. Would my family even know me if they saw me now? Would Jacob want me like this?

I wrapped my arms around myself. I was cold. I was always cold lately. I had thought it was just blood loss. Now I knew the truth.

The woman in the mirror was as much vampire as she was werewolf.

I was no longer the person I used to be. I could no longer draw my loved ones’ faces. I tried, and I failed, over and over again. I could barely remember the details of my own life.

How long until I didn’t remember what my own face should look like?

I tightened my hands into fists.

No. I was not going to accept this. I would not become a monster without a fight.

There would be no Acceptance Ceremony to make me into a vampire if I was not in the castle. The only way I could stop the ceremony now was to escape.

So that is what I would do.

I had found a place to climb over the wall. And I had trained enough. I was confident I could succeed in a climb.

But I remembered all too well what had happened the last time I tried to escape. I could never let that happen again.

I would not involve anyone else. If I was caught, they would be executed just like Andy and the others. I would not let that happen.

I needed to prepare. If I just climbed the wall and ran, I would be captured quickly. I needed supplies and I needed a map. I needed a plan.

I had to avoid the other slaves. I hated to do that. I missed their company terribly.

But they would be questioned after I escaped if they were seen with me too often. The only thing I could do to help them was stay away.

I ate my meals in solitude. I kept a little bit of my food aside. I would not be able to carry much, but every morsel would help.

I found a place to hide my supplies. There were many hidden alcoves and tiny nooks in the castle. I found one that was thick with dust, and placed a small box in a dark corner. Hopefully, if anyone else spotted it they would think it was just extra supplies that were tucked out of the way for storage.

I would need water. I searched the castle top to bottom, and found an old flask. It would hold enough water for a day. I could refill it any time I crossed a stream or river.

I found a small, leather bag to carry my food in. It was probably meant for a messenger. It was discarded behind some furniture in a salon. I did not think anyone would notice it missing.

I had my survival supplies gathered. What I needed most was a map. If I didn’t know where to go once I climbed the wall, I might run in circles. I would be caught easily.

I knew better than to try to steal a map. Instead, I gathered my drawing supplies. If I was caught, I would claim I was looking for a place to draw.

When I found a map, I would copy it in my drawings. No one but Damien ever looked at them, and I was sure I could hide one small page from him.

While I was searching for a map of the area around the castle, I almost bumped into a group of guards and servants. I froze in the shadow of a deep archway. I had to wait for them to move on.

The guards were complaining to the servants. They had been out on double patrols.

“We’ve searched high and low,” one guard said. “It’s been days. I think it’s just rumors.”

“If there really was a rebellion, what could they even do?” one of the maids asked. “They’re just a bunch of dumb animals.”

“I don’t know, but the king is taking this seriously,” a second guard said. “I’ve heard they found a rebel.”

“A real rebel werewolf?” a servant gasped.

“Yeah,” the guard said. “He’s locked up in the dungeon right now. The way I hear it, he’s going to be interrogated before they execute him.”

I gasped, and covered my mouth. I stayed still, but no one reacted. I backed slowly away. I would search that room for a map later.

Was it true? Was there a werewolf rebellion? And was there a werewolf who was a part of that rebellion in the castle?

I had to find them. I had to know.

If there really was a rebellion, I would join them when I escaped.

For the first time since Andy and the others died, I felt the first embers of hope. There might be someone out there fighting the vampires.