PTE

el'

t racing as the sound o

on the curtain beside me. I darted behind it

ming from the hallway. I peeked through the gap between t

oom, their back to me. It was a woman

too much, Isab

he world

of a slap resounded through the room

peak. Again." T

before I slowly emerged

pale and her eyes wide with fear. She looked at me,

going on?" I asked

pleading with me. "Don't ask, ma'm.

I can handle

e looked away. "Ma'm, there's no need

Something was very wrong here, and I was st

my personal maid from now on. I'll make

rightened as if this were the best news there could be, but the

nkful that Dermos was

especially since he's meant to be my sis

I turned my head, my ears perked up. What was that? It s

der the door, stopping at th

ther

some sort

orld keeps o

the paper that was slid. The

uiet, f

d the words. But I wasn't

pened it, but the corridor was empty. I lo

el

as no r

catch a glimpse of someone, but there

st it. This was getting weird. Who was sending these message

again. I needed to fig

orridor, my eyes fixed on De

-black, long black coat and a three-p

he w

ice broke

aid, his voice devoid of emotion. "You've been feeding info

of his knees, covered in bloo

as goi

d enough. "You're a traitor, Victor," Dermos said, his voi

started begging, "Please, Dermos

I'd completely forgotte

cked

, but his eyes seemed to grow col

ged Victor away. I watched as they

d at this poin

g too bad, right? Probably

complete

orehead, adjusting the trigger. "You should have tho

n my mind as Victor slumped to the g

'd been punch

ered ba

g Victor's body away as if he were

oom. "This is a reminder of what happens to traitors.

faces pale and sweaty. I just sto

e actua

man Ariella w

I was meant to stay in my room, I wandered down to the music roo

pushed it open, my eyes a

Dermos sitting at the piano, his f

at such a man could even

ened earlier today, and I tried to wa

iel

n slowly face

ing over the keys. "What are

ing my distance. "The mus

was beautiful, but I wasn

omfortable a bit. One reason was that the dim moonlight

like I expec

mped in fea

ng to compose myself. "Wh

ve ch

down my spine. "Ch

pond and just gets

a moment, the only sound b

nd tomorrow night," Dermos said,

at him.

Dangerous men will be there,

he mention of an auction, be

ut then Darmos suddenly cuts

d they almost tumbled

the f