Chasing Shadows

by Ashley Townsend

  “Excellent.” The gray-haired man pulled a small pouch from his belt and tossed it to Will. He caught it mechanically, but Sarah could tell that he was still dazed. She imagined her face looked the same.

  “I’ll fetch Edith so she can start you on your training.” Without waiting for either of them to speak, Terrance quickly left the room.

  Sarah turned astonished eyes toward her companion. Will looked down at her, and she couldn’t ever remember seeing the look of surprise and alarm that he wore now.

  “Why did you say that you would live here?” he whispered, his voice sounding urgent.

  Sarah wondered for a moment if she had misinterpreted her gut feeling, but she quickly dismissed her doubt. No, she was supposed to remain here, she was sure of it.

  “I can’t explain it,” she said softly. “I just know that for right now, this is where I belong.” Her eyes sought his, wanting him to understand when she didn’t fully comprehend what she was getting herself into. “I can’t help but feel that this is the only way we’re going to finish this, once and for all. Don’t lose faith in me just yet, Will—don’t give up on me.”

  His eyes were intense. He placed his hands on her shoulders and leaned down so that their faces were only inches apart. “I won’t leave you in here for long. We will work through this together.”

  A slight smile curled her lips. “Are you saying that you’re going to help, Mr. Taylor?”

  “Yes,” he said seriously. “If I am working from the outside and you within, then hopefully we can get you out of here as quickly as possible.”

  A servant entered the room, and Will straightened slowly. Sarah turned to face the woman in her mid-thirties. She wiped her hands on the front of her plain black dress and smiled at Sarah. The gesture looked genuine and unforced.

  “You must be my new charge,” she said. Sarah released the breath she had been holding, feeling relieved that the woman seemed pleasant enough.

  “Yes.”

  The woman stepped up to her and held out her hand. Sarah shook it automatically, feeling overwhelmed at the speed at which she had been hired.

  The maid’s large brown eyes were kind and seemed to convey an understanding of what Sarah was feeling. “My name is Edith.” She smiled politely at Will before turning her attention back to the new help. “Come. I cannot be kept away from my duties for too long, and I must show you how things are run around here.”

  Sarah nodded in response, though she felt a confusing mixture of fright and detachment from the situation. She began to follow Edith out of the room, but stopped when she felt Will’s hand on her arm. She looked up into his dark, worried eyes.

  “Try to draw as little attention to yourself as possible,” he advised quietly.

  She nodded bleakly. “If you see Karen, tell her where I am. I’ll get word to her if something goes wrong.”

  “But how?” he asked.

  She sighed heavily. “I’ll figure out a way. Goodbye, Will.” She turned around and slipped from his grasp, running down the hallway after her guide without a backward glance. It was too difficult to look behind her and see her uncertainty mirrored in Will’s eyes.

  Edith must not have realized that she was missing because she was going on about the workings of the castle when Sarah sidled up next to her, nodding and pretending like she had been listening all along. She tried normalizing her breathing after her sprint down the hall and did her best to take in all that was being said.

  “The fireplaces are done every Monday and Friday,” Edith explained. “Usually we have servants assigned to that task, but sometimes we have to help them out. The wing that I work in most is on the east side, so I’ll keep you with me over there. The dusting in the east wings are done every other day, and we wash the windows on Sundays.”

  “Always on Sunday. Right.” Sarah made a mental note and prayed that she could remember all of the instructions.

  “Now,” Edith continued, rounding a corner, “since you are new, I will tell you when we must clean the rugs and tapestries. Sometimes it’s every week, other instances we need only do them twice a month. I will show you what floors need to be cleaned.” She greeted a young servant girl carrying a stack of linens as they passed. Edith grinned conspiratorially at Sarah and lowered her voice. “But I like you, so I won’t force you into laundry duty.”

  Sarah smiled back in relief. “I’d appreciate that.”

  Edith inhaled a deep breath and let it out quickly. “That about does it. That is the typical schedule, except for when a ball is being held. Speaking of which, preparations are already underway for the annual winter masque at the beginning of the coming week. Everything changes when we have to prepare for an event.” She laughed at the look of dismay on Sarah’s face. “But you needn’t worry about that; I’ll be with you every step of the way. You came at the perfect time, though. We’re rather short staffed, which does mean more work for us, but you’ll be getting your own room in the servants’ quarters.”

  Sarah nodded and tried to look pleased at this bit of news, but that small consolation did nothing to calm her fears.

  ~Chapter 8~

  Sarah collapsed onto the low mattress in exhaustion, not even bothering to remove her worn shoes. It wasn’t nearly as comfortable as her straw bed back at the Joneses’, nothing but a lumpy mattress set on a low wooden box, but she was so relieved to be off her feet that it didn’t matter. She wasn’t used to such hard work and decided that her mom was grossly under-appreciated for keeping the house so clean all the time.

  Edith had been kind and helpful when Sarah needed assistance or had a question as they worked side by side, but the woman made sure that she earned her place at the castle. Under Edith’s watchful eye and guidance, Sarah had beaten rugs—sneezing all the way—scrubbed the floors so long her knees still throbbed, and dusted until her arms felt like they would fall off.

  She had imagined working at the castle differently. Somehow it had seemed exciting, maybe even glamorous, and she had thought there would be plenty of time for snooping.

  Sarah gave a small, mirthless laugh in the tiny room. There had barely been enough time in the day for her and Edith to grab a meager lunch and later a small supper in the kitchen before rushing back to their duties.

  “Tomorrow is Friday, and things always slow down for the weekend,” Edith had assured her when she caught the exhausted look on her face.

  “T.G.I. Friday,” Sarah mumbled sleepily, closing her eyes. Nearly a full minute passed before she heard the sound of little feet scurrying across the cold stone floor. Her lids flew open and her heart immediately began hammering against her chest.

  She lay there, hardly daring to breathe as she listened for the sound again. Maybe it had just been her imagination. Her bed was supported by planks that kept her half a foot off the ground, so she really didn’t need to worry about any vermin crawling into bed with her . . . She didn’t think.

  For the next ten minutes, she lay deathly still, listening intently to every sound as her eyes darted about the small room. She wondered if the shadows she saw were really moving or if she was just being paranoid. After what felt like an eternity of straining her ears to pick up the slightest sound of movement, her body began to relax and her heartbeat returned to its normal pace. Edith had given her a candle to find her way to her room in the dark corridor, and Sarah had neglected to extinguish the stumpy flame when she fell into bed, knowing that it would burn itself out soon. It offered little light, but now she was too worked up to gather the nerve to blow it out, so she left the reassuring light burning on the wooden crate beside her bed.

  She could feel her tired body drifting again and was more than willing to succumb to the blackness. She had almost lost total consciousness when a creaking noise coming from the hallway registered in the back of her tired mind. Her eyes opened in a flash and her heart beat wildly against her ribcage as she came fully awake.

  Her door creaked open slowly. Sarah held her breath and pulled the woo
l blanket up to her nose, as though the simple covering could shield her from whatever was creeping her way.

  She watched, paralyzed, as a dark form stealthily entered her room. The intruder crept noiselessly over to her bed, and she pressed herself deeper into the mattress. She imagined her eyes must have been huge, though she hoped he couldn’t spot the whites of her eyes in the dim light as she watched his every move.

  Her intruder came closer, and her shriek was muffled as he pressed his hand over her mouth. She struggled to put distance between them, but the man was strong and managed to hold her down.

  “Sarah, it’s me,” he whispered close to her ear. Her wild thrashing ceased, and the man removed his hands slowly, as if he were afraid she might try to escape again.

  Sarah placed a hand over her heart, trying to keep it inside her chest. “Holy cow, Will!” she whispered hoarsely, pulling herself into a sitting position with quivering arms. She leaned her back against the wall and held the blanket protectively against her chest. “How did you find me?”

  Will crouched down on the floor. She squinted at his profile, trying to make out his face in the candlelight. “It wasn’t too difficult,” he said quietly, “though I did enter several wrong quarters before I found yours.”

  Sarah’s eyes widened. “Does anyone know you’re here?”

  She caught the faint shake of his head. “No, the occupants in those rooms slept through my intrusion. It’s a miracle, really, since it was difficult for me to make out their faces if they were turned away, so . . .”

  Sarah was still out of breath, but she had not lost her sense of humor in the scare. She stifled a giggle. “You didn’t.”

  “I did.” She heard the amusement in his voice. “But I managed to roll them over without them waking, though one lonely woman did make a grab for me in her sleep.” She caught the way his dark eyes danced in the light and felt a strange sense of déjà vu as she remembered another instance where the two of them had talked over candlelight. Will had been leaning toward her, like he was now, and she could almost hear his voice and remember the look in his eyes as he told her about his parents’ tragic deaths that led him to invent the Shadow.

  She shook her head slightly to dispel the memory and focused her attention on the man kneeling beside her. “What are you doing here, anyway?”

  Will rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, something Sarah had come to find that he did when he was nervous or stalling until he could find a way to redirect the conversation. She managed to hide her grin.

  “I’m waiting,” she said when he remained silent.

  He cleared his throat softly. “I was coming to make sure that you were all right and, well, perhaps steal you away from here.” He spoke tentatively and posed his words almost like a question. He seemed to be trying to judge her reaction to his words.

  Her shoulders sagged. “Will, you know I have to stay here and figure this out. I can’t just leave. Not yet.”

  “I was not suggesting a permanent release,” he quickly amended, one hand outstretched to stop her from making any further argument. “My only concern is for your wellbeing; the lack of natural air you’re subject to in the castle can weaken your spirits. You must get out for a time—for your health. Then I can bring you right back after you get some fresh air.”

  Sarah could hide her grin no longer. “You mean you want to spring me out of this joint and then put me right back?”

  His face clouded in confusion. “I am not sure, but I believe that’s my idea.”

  She had to cover her mouth to squelch a sudden giggle that tried to escape her lips. She had forgotten how her “modern” lingo confused him, but it was fairly enjoyable to watch his face as he searched for her meaning.

  Her mirth dissipated as she chewed on her lower lip and debated whether or not it was wise to go with him. Although she had been ready to collapse earlier, his surprise visit had given her a rush of adrenaline that left her feeling wide-awake and alert. There was no way she could fall back to sleep now. But still . . .

  “I don’t know,” she said slowly, but it was obvious she was weakening.

  “Please. For my peace of mind.” His eyes held a look of pleading hope.

  She could feel herself relenting as she watched the candlelight flicker across his face. She shook her head at herself, knowing that she would be exhausted when she performed her duties tomorrow, but the adventure of escaping with Will tonight was too much a temptation to pass up.

  “Fine,” she said. Sarah thought she caught a slight smile on his lips and realized how much she had missed it. “But I really can’t stay out for a long time.”

  “Of course.” He blew out the candle and stood, offering his hand. She took it and pulled herself to her feet, glad that she had kept her shoes on. Holding her hand in his large calloused one, Will pulled her along behind him as they crept noiselessly down the dark passageway. Sarah felt her heart beating in anticipation and unease. If they were caught sneaking out at night, what would they do to her? Fire her? She suppressed a shudder at the thought that they might do worse to a disobedient servant.

  Pushing those disquieting thoughts aside, she followed Will silently as he guided her through a series of unlit hallways and stairs leading downward. The air was filled with silence; his mind was occupied with the task of selecting each corridor and guiding her safely to the next bend, and Sarah was busy watching her steps as they carefully picked their way along in the darkness. After several long minutes—during which her initial excitement had begun to fade in her intense concentration—Will guided her down a long, dank hall that ended at a reinforced door built a foot off the stones.

  He released her hand and produced a set of keys from his belt, hardly glancing at the twelve or so keys on the ring before selecting one. It was obvious that he’d used this door many times in the past as he placed the thick key in the heavy iron lock and gave it a smooth, familiar turn. The grating sound of metal on metal was soft in the silence, but it caused Sarah to grimace.

  He drew the key from the lock and quickly returned the ring to his belt, and Sarah wondered which of the guards had let his attention slip long enough for Will to snag the keys . . . and how many times he had done so in the past.

  Grabbing the metal rung in the center of the door, Will pulled it open, the hinges screeching noisily from disuse, to reveal a narrow tunnel behind it. It was long and dark enough that Sarah couldn’t see its end.

  Will reached back for her hand, and she gripped his a little tighter than necessary, ducking as he helped her step over the inconvenient doorframe and into the elevated passage. She straightened once inside and blinked rapidly. It was darker here than the rest of the castle had been, and she couldn’t make anything out in the total blackness before her. She was relieved when Will ducked his head and stepped into the tunnel behind her, brushing past her in the narrow space. He picked up her hand again and began to lead the way up the gentle incline.

  His broad shoulders nearly touched the sides of the passageway, and he had to keep his head low so it didn’t graze the ceiling. Sarah felt like asking him if he knew where he was going, but reminded herself that if anyone knew their way around the castle in the dark, it was Will.

  The passage widened slightly, and the barest hint of light brightened the oppressive darkness. Sarah’s shoulder brushed the ivy threaded along the walls. It grew together, thickening until she and Will were walking under an arched mass of tangled vines, tree limbs, and pale lavender flowers. She marveled at the barest shards of silver light breaking through the cracks in the short tunnel of flora. It was enchanting.

  Will lifted a hand to push something aside in front of him, flooding the passage with pale moonlight. He flattened his back against the green wall to make room as he held the curtain back, gently guiding Sarah around him and into the night. She hadn’t been able to see past him in the narrow tunnel, but she wasn’t surprised when she found herself in the forest.

  The wind had calmed as night c
ame in, and it was only a gentle breeze that caused the ends of Sarah’s hair to dance softly behind her. A haze of clouds hung low in the sky, and a few of the brightest stars peeked through the trees to light the ground. Though it was cold, the snow was not very deep on the earth here—the thick covering of trees had taken the brunt of the storm and suspended most of the white fluff overhead on bowed branches.

  Will released her hand, and she glanced over her shoulder to see that the tunnel they had just come through had been built into the side of a small hill. Moss was growing in the dirt and had trailed up the hill in places, and a thick bunch of it hung low over the entrance. She could barely make out the short, tunnel-shaped mass of vegetation just past it.

  “So that’s how you got in,” she said, half to herself.

  Will nodded. “Not many people know of this tunnel. I am not even sure that Cadius or the prince knows. It has been a heavily guarded secret for many years.”

  Sarah grinned and asked wryly, “Then how do you know about it?”

  His eyes sparkled mischievously in the twilight. “If you hadn’t yet noticed, I am very good at sneaking around.”

  Sarah took on a serious expression and wagged a finger playfully at him. “Yeah, well, if we get caught, I’m going to sing like a canary.”

  His chuckle was genuine but soft and came from deep within his chest. She loved it when he laughed, though that didn’t happen very often, and was glad that he had let his guard down some with her. That was progress where she was concerned.

  “Would you like to walk or sit for a spell?” he asked.

  “Let’s sit. I don’t want to get too tired for tomorrow’s work.”

  Will looked down at her, his eyes conveying sudden concern. “Oh, Sarah. I did not think about-”

  She waved a hand in the air to stop his apology. “Nuh-uh. No apologies. I’d much rather be out here with you.” Her face heated as soon as the words left her lips. “Uh, I mean, you know. I’d rather be in the fresh air.” She winced at her attempt to save face.