A rush of relief washed over Gabrielle, followed by confusion. Gabrielle turned to the lone window in their chamber and was shocked to see stars beginning to crest the sky.
How long was I laying there? Gabrielle was pulled away from the window, spun towards the wardrobe and her dress was hoisted over her head by one of her roommates.
“Quickly! Put something on and adjust your composure, Gabrielle. Once the sun goes down, we may never find our way.” Claudie commanded as she took a moment to assure her bun was perfect in the small vanity that clung to the side of the wardrobe.
Looking into the small cabinet, Gabrielle ran her gaze across the garments hung in front of her. Every time she looked at the clothing the three girls shared, she was amazed.
Everything was handmade, either by themselves or the other servants. Breaking from her moment of awe, a sliver of salmon caught her eye. Gabrielle reached into the waves of fabric and pulled a pink dress from the center of the rack.
She appreciated the ornate floral design that was sewn into the fabric and loved the appearance of the soft material. The tips of her fingers danced across delicate threading to the base of the dress before it was stolen from her grasp and slipped over her head. The dress wafted across her cheeks and shoulders and fell perfectly into place over her hips.
Gabrielle’s eyes caught a glimpse of her reflection in the small mirror before she was pushed aside by Claudie and Hilde. She’d never dreamed she could look so grown up. Donning a half smile, Gabrielle walked to her cot and slipped on a small pair of shoes that sat beside her bed.
As a rule, Gabrielle spent much of her time avoiding large gatherings, preferring to people-watch from afar. It was a game she used to play with her father. Each would describe a person they saw, then the other would have to find them in the crowd and create their backstory.
“Come on Gabrielle, the sun is setting,” Claudie whined as she bounced on the balls of her feet behind the door. The hallway outside was dimly lit by oil lamps and the noises and voices from the kitchen reverberated down the stone hallway.
Hilde took a small, shaky step forward, peered out of the doorway and examined the hallway to see if there was any sign of life. Gabrielle squeezed the hem of her dress, waiting for the hurried cry to hide from prying eyes—or worse—Madame Toinette. The girls were not allowed to leave Palace grounds after sunset but her friends were masters at sneaking out.
“Remember, upon my beckoning we must be off down the corridor and to the entrance of the kitchen. From there, we will sneak through the doorway to the vegetable garden where we should be free from that point forward. The grounds men should have retired to their chambers for the evening by now.”
Not a moment after her warning, Hilde sprang into action. The three crept down the stone passageway towards the commotion at the end. As they approached the kitchen, the smell of dinner stabbed at Gabrielle’s nose, begging for her attention.
By sheer force of will, Gabrielle focused on the task at hand. The slightest error could cost them their entire evening. Not to mention how terribly she would feel having let her companions down.
With Hilde in front, followed by Claudie and then Gabrielle, the trio froze while Hilde checked the kitchen. In spite of the kitchen being full of people, no one was paying attention. After only a small pause, the command was given to break the threshold, make their way to the doorway and out of the kitchen to the garden.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Gabrielle heard a muffled thud behind her as the old door closed. It wasn’t until this point that she finally exhaled and refilled her lungs with the sweet evening air. Though it was still warm, the falling sun and advancing twilight was doing wonders to cool the air.
Gabrielle was surprised at the insisted level of stealth and secrecy given that she hadn’t seen another person. She caught a glimpse of something moving out of the corner of her eye, there and then gone in an instant. A dark figure with what looked like a dog of some sort. The bracelet warmed against her wrist, but she thought nothing of it, as the royal family was quite fond of dogs. The animals tended to roam the grounds of the palace while their owners were tending to other business.
As the girls approached the main gate of the palace, Gabrielle smiled as luck shone down on them once more. The guards hadn’t taken their evening post, so the gate still sat open and unsupervised. Pausing in the shadows of a small willow, they stared at the gate through the draping switches from the tender tree.
Gabrielle drew a deep breath, pulling in the sweet smell of the small pink flowers that bloomed this time of year. A light gust of wind rattled the long arms of the tree and several of the flowers snowed down on Hilde’s and Claudie’s hair.
The light material of her gown flapped behind her as Gabrielle ran behind the others. The girls didn’t break their hurried pace until they reached the bottom of the hill and the gates had faded out of site.
A dusting of perspiration chilled Gabrielle’s brow as the breeze kissed her face. Butterflies fluttered in the pit of her stomach as she realized she was going to her first party. As a young girl growing up in Envisage, she’d always dreamed of going to social dances, though she didn't have many friends and kept to herself.
Twilight was approaching and the ambient light was fading. Gabrielle’s feet kept the same meticulous pace as she followed her friends toward the lights of the village.
She had only a moment to be lost in her thoughts before the dirt under her feet turned to cobblestone. The yellow hue of lamp lights cast a warm glow over the pattern of her gown, making the lace look almost like sunflowers.
Gabrielle hadn’t been to the village more than once or twice and she made sure to stay close to her leaders. Even though the sun had set, the village streets were alive with people buzzing around.
Countless whispers and conversations crowded Gabrielle’s ears and she strained to hear them as they passed. Claudie yelled various commands as the group maneuvered through turns, shortcuts, and crowds, as if on autopilot.
“You know, I find it intriguing that there are this many people out in the evening. With the whispers of revolution, the town is almost alive with emotion. Is this not exciting?” Claudie yelled back at Gabrielle without ever breaking stride.
Gabrielle allowed her friend’s words to sink in. The entire concept of revolution made everyone in the palace uneasy. It was strange that Claudie, like some of the others, was secretly intrigued by the idea.
“One more block further, then we will cut through the alley and be right in front of the tavern.” Hilde, now in the lead, yelled over her shoulder as the three began their final part of the jaunt.
With a second wind, the leaders began to increase their pace, forcing Gabrielle to do the same. Hopping a curb, she was abruptly pushed backwards as a horse and cart flew in front of her. Stumbling, it took all she had to not fall to the dirty stone ground and soil her dress.
The fierce animal let out a frustrated bray as its master cursed at Gabrielle. Apologizing profusely, she caught her balance and steadied herself. She turned her attention back to her friends only to realize she was standing alone on the cobblestone street.
CHAPTER NINE
A sickening sensation crept its way up her throat as Gabrielle realized she didn't know where she was or where she needed to go. Gabrielle looked around in a panic as she chewed on her lower lip to clear her mind.
Her friends couldn’t have gotten far. The last direction she remembered was that this was the last block, and then they were to turn down an alley and continue to the tavern. Finding her bearings, Gabrielle shot off in the direction she last saw her friends.
After a few moments of searching, Gabrielle found herself at the mouth of what had to be the alley her friends were talking about. With only a few seconds of internal debate, Gabrielle turned down the alleyway, picking up speed to try and catch up to her friends.
Her steps echoed around her in the narrow passageway and it wasn’t long before the sounds of the nearby avenu
e faded, leaving her alone in the dim light.
The light did her no favors, nor did the numbing fear that tried desperately to consume her. Gabrielle picked up her pace, feeling her inner child panic at the enclosing dark. A strange feeling wrapped itself around her as the deafening beat of her heart increased. She didn’t like this place.
A sharp chill ran up her spine and Gabrielle threw herself around to face what was following her, concealed by the shadows. She looked around, eyes ravenously tearing through the dark, heart pounding in her ears and her lungs expelling air as if it were toxic.
Another glimpse of a shadow; something flew overhead, and her eyes were drawn towards the sky. She followed the masonry to the crest of the building.
Two jet black eyes peered back at her as a large, black raven sat perched upon the wall. She’d seen this animal before, sitting in her window back at the palace. It looked at her now as it had then—with concern and intrigue. She lost herself in the endless black eyes of the magnificent animal. Then it drew a great breath and screamed. The siren screeching of the bird sent fear, awe, and panic throughout Gabrielle.
RUN NOW!
CLICK.
Turning away from the bird, she lunged down the passage to get as far away as she could. Her bracelet. Had she heard it click? Was it warmer now or was that just her imagination? Something was here, this she knew for sure. Something that meant her harm.
As Gabrielle turned each corner, her steps rang all around her. She didn’t dare to look up, but was certain the bird hadn’t followed her. Rounding the next bend, Gabrielle paused, stretched her arms out in front of her and leaned against the wall to catch her breath. How long is this alley?
Taking slow breaths, she held her eyes closed and listened to her surrounds for a sign of what to do next. Nothingness enveloped her and though she could hear nothing, see nothing, Gabrielle could feel she wasn’t alone.
CLICK.
Gabrielle’s eyes shot open as her bracelet’s call shattered the silence around her and warmed so intensely it nearly burned her wrist. This time she was sure she heard it. She pushed away from the wall and stepped back to the center of the aisle, rubbing her wrist and thumbing the bracelet.
The faint whoosh of breathing filled her ears. Gabrielle turned in a circle, looking for the source of the sound, but she wasn't even sure where the sound was coming from.
Her eyes danced though the dark until they found themselves fixated on a shape that was foreign amongst the stone walls and cobbled pathway. Frozen, Gabrielle slowed her breath and listened.
The breathing continued but she couldn't tell if it was coming from the mass or somewhere else nearby. The bracelet grew hotter and, with calculated caution, Gabrielle made her first step toward the visitor.
The stranger did not move. With continued caution, Gabrielle wheeled her other foot around and took another slow step towards the mass. From the pitch and timber of the breathing, she thought it was a man. He sat on the ground, back against the wall, clothed in thick, pitch rags. In the darkness, Gabrielle may have even run right past him and not given it another thought.
With another muffled tap as she brought her foot into a small puddle huddled between two stones, Gabrielle paused. Beneath the intermittent breathing and deafening silence, she thought she could hear whispers.
Every hair on her body shot toward the sky as she realized the whispers were coming from behind her. She spun around, clumsily throwing her hands out to protect herself, but there was nothing there. Again, hearing the whispers coming from behind her, Gabrielle shook her head from side to side.
Straining her eyes in the scarce light, Gabrielle glared through the nothingness at the man. The whispers were coming from him. Her wrist was on fire as she slowly bent downward to get a better view the man in rags.
From under the cusp of a tilted hood, Gabrielle saw the lower half of a weather worn face. Pale features, thin lips, and a sharp chin were the only pieces of evidence that she was looking at a person.
Slowly, she tilted her head and brought her face closer to the man, trying to understand what he was saying. With a sound like bones breaking, the man snapped his head around and brought his gaze from the ground to meet Gabrielle.
She threw herself backwards, stumbling away until the back of her head and shoulders met the opposite wall. Ruby eyes stared back at her, as if trying to bore a hole in her soul. Then, like lightening breaking the sky, the figure spoke.
“Long is the day, and long is the night, and long is the waiting of Arawn.”
CLICK.
CHAPTER TEN
Gabrielle sat in silence, and stared into the haunting gaze for a moment, terror raging through her body. The man turned his head to look down the passage from where she’d come. He froze in this pose, causing Gabrielle to turn her head to see what he was looking at. As she stared into the abyss, a clicking sound tickled her ears and she brought her head back to the man. But he was gone.
Gabrielle pulled herself up and turned wildly as the clicking grew louder and louder. Looking to the sky, to the walls that surrounded her, and down the corridor, Gabrielle wondered if she’d imagined the whole thing.
She closed her eyes and tried to will the noise to stop. Her bracelet burned hot and Gabrielle looked down at it, remembering that it clicked when danger was near. This sound was different, higher pitched than the sound her bracelet made. This sounds more like claws. With that final thought, the clicking stopped. Gabrielle threw her eyes open and stared into the darkness ahead of her, willing them to see.
Nothingness sat before her, still and lifeless. She thought for a moment she’d surpassed the nightmare. It was with that thought the breathing started again. This breathing was different than what came from the disappearing man. This breathing was animalistic, and much louder.
A chill crawled its way through Gabrielle, as if it were trying to occupy every inch of her being. Forcing her eyes to focus, even though she could see her heartbeat through them, Gabrielle turned around.
RUN! She told herself, yet her legs remained still.
GET OUT! She pleaded with her body, yet she stood staring at the beast before her. It was as if she’d lost complete control of her body. Four large dogs with ruby red eyes glared through the dark right at Gabrielle. The dogs looked mangy, forgotten… dead.
They had matted black fur that fell off in patches, revealing their maggot covered flesh. Gabrielle found herself in a staring match that could end with her becoming fodder for the beasts.
The four hounds were large—much larger than any other dogs Gabrielle had ever seen. A cold sweat rolled down her spine as she froze to the hum of the demonic panting. The mutts’ haggard chests were the only thing to move as they rose and fell in unison. Like Gabrielle herself, the animals remained otherwise still, waiting for her to make the first move.
Her bracelet grew hotter, but she ignored the searing pain. Alexandra what do I do? In this macabre moment of adversity, a single thought crept into her mind like a clarion call to the lost wanderer: fight.
She stayed motionless. “I can't fight these things! I've never fought anything in my life…I don't know how to fight,” Gabrielle mumbled under her breath, arguing with her mind, or Alexandra, or whoever put the thought in her head.
She turned on the ball of her foot, careful not to move too quickly. Keeping eye contact with one of the monsters, she prepared herself to run.
One of the hounds slowly lowered its head and snarled. It was as if the snarl was devoid of sound, like it was sucking all sound from existence and, in its place, left nothingness.
Gabrielle froze mid pivot, every single muscle in her body tingling.
FIGHT.
As she shook her head to clear her mind, one of the hounds took a small step towards her. She was running out of options; she knew she couldn’t outrun them. She brought her balled fists up to her chest, mimicking what she saw on TV in her other life, her real life. As she scrunched her eyes to focus and took a step toward the
beasts, a dim shimmer caught her attention from the corner of her eye.
Daring to break eye contact, Gabrielle glanced to the side, seeing an old stick. It looked like a club or walking stick, with a slightly tapered handle and a large knob at the end. The weapon lay motionless right at her side. Where the Hell did that come from?
Another low grumble erupted from the pack and, in that moment, only one thought filled the crevasses of her mind.
FIGHT!
Gabrielle threw herself to her knees and pawed at the weapon. She brought the club up and a loud crack reverberated off the stone walls as it connected it with the dog closest to her. As the leader of the pack charged, teeth snapping, the club smashed into its powerful bottom jaw. The beast went cascading over her and collided with the wall. Gabrielle stood stunned as she admired the feat.
“Holy crap, I’m a badass!” Bringing herself back to the task at hand, she rose to face the rest of the beasts. The stick in her hand and the bracelet on her wrist glowed a brilliant white. Gabrielle took a second to wonder what was going on before a snarl brought her back to reality.
The animals grouped and began to swarm, enclosing her in a circle of rotting teeth and mangy fur. The alpha rose on his back paws and shook his mighty head. He seemed dazed but the others were looking to him for instruction. He brought his deadly gaze back to Gabrielle and slowly began to circle her.
“Uh oh.”
CLICK.
She spun around and brought the stick down on the top of a hound’s head. With a yelp, the decaying creature retreated to the safety of its group. Their growls thundered through her as they paced around her. Glancing from side to side, Gabrielle realized they could attack her from any angle.
“Come on,” Gabrielle commanded her tired limbs. “Do something! Get us out of here.”
Two hounds rushed at her, one from behind her and the other in front. The one behind her brought its powerful teeth down on the base of her neck and knocked her to the ground. Gabrielle let out a shriek of pain as her hands flew back to feel the bite. She clenched her jaw and gritted her teeth as the pain pulsated from her neck and down her spine.
The Gabrielle Series Boxed Set Page 18
