anything he might have realized
was lost in those inky depths.
Now and then things flew across his vision but he didn’t know
they were, had no way to identify them. A memory stirred and suggested…
suggested something, but he couldn’t hold it for long enough to understand. It
teased the edges of his mind, playing with him and he wanted to scream in
frustration.
At times, when the bewilderment cleared ever so slightly, Adam
wondered if he was ill, fevered and dazed. If he was lying in his room
somewhere, maybe surrounded by the shattered crystal and brandy, or maybe in
his bed—warm and looked after. Grace and Finn at his side. This thought
comforted him, made he reach towards the light, away from the dark, but it
seemed there was no escape from it. Not yet.
Adam wondered if he was losing his mind.
Sometimes he thought he heard noises, a woman weeping, a man
reassuring her, but the sounds came to him as if from underwater and he
couldn’t make out the words. Was it Grace and Finn, sat as his bedside,
encouraging him to get well, like he hoped? Or was it nothing more than a
remembered thought, a snatch of a dream?
Adam wondered how much more he could take. How long he would be
able to stand it.
“You have to set me free, you have to put a stop to this,” he
begged.
No one answered.
Chapter
Thirteen
Eva could feel, like little lasers, every single pair of eyes on
her. It was not a comfortable feeling, and when Grace came to stand beside her
she was beyond grateful to the older woman.
“Eva will take you to your room then,” she said.
With some difficulty Eva tore her eyes from him and looked
at Grace.
“The red room,” Grace said and Eva knew immediately which one she
meant. All the staff had all been given floor plans of the house and told to
memorize them—one of the few bits of work they’d actually been given. The red
room was on the same floor as Eva’s own room and it was the largest, most
luxurious room of all. She’d been in only yesterday and had gasped at its
beauty. A riot of silks and satins, it was a room made for indulgences.
Deep breath, calm down.
Eva exhaled shakily and nodded at Grace, trying without words, to
reassure her. She looked worried and Eva thought that must be because she was
concerned her guest, seemingly the most important one, would not be looked after
properly.
Looking away from Grace across to the other staff—Eva wanted to
look anywhere but at him—she caught Lily’s gaze. She couldn’t help but see the
shock stamped across the other girl’s elfin features, in fact most of the women
were looking pretty put out. The men however had turned their attention to the
women guests, eyeing them appreciatively.
Eva smiled tentatively but Lily glared back and Eva guessed she
wouldn’t be on the receiving end of anymore friendly chats with her. Yep, he
picked me, so get over it.
She frowned. Eva could concede that Lily, from her perspective at
least had a point. If she’d had to pick the most striking of all the staff Lily
would win hands down. Eva was well aware that her commonplace dark hair could
not compete against the other girl’s golden strands and baby blue eyes. If
truth be told Eva couldn’t actually believe that he had chosen her. Okay, yes
he called her ‘this one’ but still.Horribly nervous and horribly
excited at the same time, Eva was sure she’d probably spill his drink all over
him.
“Come with me, please,” he said and his voice was clearly a
signal for all the other guests to start laughing and chatting again. The foyer
filled with feminine giggles and male murmurs. He began walking towards the
stairs and Eva wasn’t sure whether to follow or not.
“Me?” she asked Grace in a whisper, who nodded and gave a small
push forwards.
Taking the hint Eva moved quickly, she could feel herself
blushing and she wanted to get away from Lily’s glares that were still scorching
her. He was waiting at the foot of the stairs and
was lost in those inky depths.
Now and then things flew across his vision but he didn’t know
they were, had no way to identify them. A memory stirred and suggested…
suggested something, but he couldn’t hold it for long enough to understand. It
teased the edges of his mind, playing with him and he wanted to scream in
frustration.
At times, when the bewilderment cleared ever so slightly, Adam
wondered if he was ill, fevered and dazed. If he was lying in his room
somewhere, maybe surrounded by the shattered crystal and brandy, or maybe in
his bed—warm and looked after. Grace and Finn at his side. This thought
comforted him, made he reach towards the light, away from the dark, but it
seemed there was no escape from it. Not yet.
Adam wondered if he was losing his mind.
Sometimes he thought he heard noises, a woman weeping, a man
reassuring her, but the sounds came to him as if from underwater and he
couldn’t make out the words. Was it Grace and Finn, sat as his bedside,
encouraging him to get well, like he hoped? Or was it nothing more than a
remembered thought, a snatch of a dream?
Adam wondered how much more he could take. How long he would be
able to stand it.
“You have to set me free, you have to put a stop to this,” he
begged.
No one answered.
Chapter
Thirteen
Eva could feel, like little lasers, every single pair of eyes on
her. It was not a comfortable feeling, and when Grace came to stand beside her
she was beyond grateful to the older woman.
“Eva will take you to your room then,” she said.
With some difficulty Eva tore her eyes from him and looked
at Grace.
“The red room,” Grace said and Eva knew immediately which one she
meant. All the staff had all been given floor plans of the house and told to
memorize them—one of the few bits of work they’d actually been given. The red
room was on the same floor as Eva’s own room and it was the largest, most
luxurious room of all. She’d been in only yesterday and had gasped at its
beauty. A riot of silks and satins, it was a room made for indulgences.
Deep breath, calm down.
Eva exhaled shakily and nodded at Grace, trying without words, to
reassure her. She looked worried and Eva thought that must be because she was
concerned her guest, seemingly the most important one, would not be looked after
properly.
Looking away from Grace across to the other staff—Eva wanted to
look anywhere but at him—she caught Lily’s gaze. She couldn’t help but see the
shock stamped across the other girl’s elfin features, in fact most of the women
were looking pretty put out. The men however had turned their attention to the
women guests, eyeing them appreciatively.
Eva smiled tentatively but Lily glared back and Eva guessed she
wouldn’t be on the receiving end of anymore friendly chats with her. Yep, he
picked me, so get over it.
She frowned. Eva could concede that Lily, from her perspective at
least had a point. If she’d had to pick the most striking of all the staff Lily
would win hands down. Eva was well aware that her commonplace dark hair could
not compete against the other girl’s golden strands and baby blue eyes. If
truth be told Eva couldn’t actually believe that he had chosen her. Okay, yes
he called her ‘this one’ but still.Horribly nervous and horribly
excited at the same time, Eva was sure she’d probably spill his drink all over
him.
“Come with me, please,” he said and his voice was clearly a
signal for all the other guests to start laughing and chatting again. The foyer
filled with feminine giggles and male murmurs. He began walking towards the
stairs and Eva wasn’t sure whether to follow or not.
“Me?” she asked Grace in a whisper, who nodded and gave a small
push forwards.
Taking the hint Eva moved quickly, she could feel herself
blushing and she wanted to get away from Lily’s glares that were still scorching
her. He was waiting at the foot of the stairs and
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