Meadow

ood Manor alone. Towering pine trees lined the path, their branches forming a dark canopy overhead that made the late aft

ocking my path. They were warriors, their bodies tense and alert, their

voice a low, gravelly comman

... I'm here to see Cole Blackwood," I stammered, my voice sounding

. A flicker of recognition crossed his face. Silas. My brother must have put my name on a visitor's list, just in case. The realization sent a co

's sister?" he asked, his tone shifting from sus

r pedestrian gate set in

success that I completely missed the real reason for it. I thoug

imposing up close, a modern fortress of dark stone and vast panes of glass that reflect

he main building. The great hall stole my breath. The ceiling soared two stories high, and the floor was a polis

ed into a palace of giants. The warm, sweet-smelling pap

at me, their eyes wide with a fleeting curiosity, before quickly looking down and scurrying away. Their deference was a physical

area for any sign of Cole. The place was huge, a maze of hall

efully cleaning a large porcelain vase. "Excuse me," I said, trying to keep my voic

een caught doing something wrong. In a place like this, simply s

she stammered, her gaze fixed on the floor

ace servants were forbidden to speak of, let alone enter. She pointed a trembling finger

he girl gave a jerky n

ngdom. A knot of fear tightened in my stomach. But then I thought of Cole, of his ti

ht gave m

erie silence that was broken only by the frantic beating of my own heart. The walls along the staircase were lined with more portraits, older ones in black

eager to escape the

hallway stretched out before me, lined w

d left, my sneakers sinking into the thick, bl