long shimmering chaise and then wedging it crossways against the enormous flat, cushion-like bed provides the best anchor we've got. It makes me nervous, but there's no time to spare, and nothing budges when we tug on it, so it'll have to do. I tuck a few of the combs and soaps into the front of my filmy dress, since we have no money or weapons—again—and I'm hoping maybe we can barter once we get away from here. I'm not going to think about the fact that I have no shoes and my dress is see-through. One problem at a time, and I've got Aron with me. He's like a weapon all on his own.
For a brief, shining moment, I wonder if we should take our chances with the guards in the halls. I hesitate, staring at the ornate double doors. There were at least a dozen guards waiting out there, sure. But I can try and hide in the room, let Aron handle things, and come out when it's safe. But I don't trust Tadekha to not have something up her sleeve. For all I know, they could lob a grenade into the room the moment Aron shows his face at the door, and then I'm toast. Even if we do take the guards down, what then? We're still trapped here with Aventine about to attack.
Rope ladder it is.
I turn back toward the window…and Aron is already climbing out the damn thing. "Hey!" I sputter. "Wait for me, asshole!"
"Then hurry up," he says impatiently, already out the window and moving down the rope. "You take far too long to get moving. Or is that the plan? Be recaptured by the Aventinians?"
"Wow, just when I think you've hit the height of arrogance, you prove me wrong yet again," I tell him, heading to the window myself. "So kudos for that."
"Less talking and more climbing," he tells me, and then his head disappears over the side.
"It's my damn rope," I declare, but it's pointless trying to reason with Aron. He's a god and he's got the ego to boot, and I shouldn't be surprised. With an irritated sigh, I grab onto the sheet-rope and turn to climb out the window.
19
They make this shit look so easy in the movies, but in reality, it's a nightmare. My arms are weak and strain under my own weight. Aron below me makes the rope shift back and forth, and the high breeze makes it almost like trying to climb down a pendulum. We're so high up it's terrifying, and I'm actually glad I don't have shoes on, because my toes cling to each knot. It's only the knots themselves that keep me from falling to my death, because I can rest my hands on each one. If I had to rely on my arm strength, I'd be dead already.
Still, I don't make fast enough time for Aron. He paces ahead of me quickly, shimmying down the rope as if he's done this a hundred times. Me, I've never realized just how out of shape I am until I have to use my arms for climbing down. I know we have to hurry. I'm trying.
I refuse to look down at the ground, because if I notice just how high up we are, I might freak the fuck out. I've never been afraid of heights that I know of, but I don't want today to be the day I acquire that fear. I just hope no one from above figures out what we're doing and cuts our rope—
Oh god, why did I just think that?
I force myself to move faster, to keep going. Because this is not safe, and no matter how scary it is, I have to get to the ground, and fast. Whimpering, sobbing, I keep moving down, foot by painful foot. My hands feel raw from how tightly I've gripped the rope, and each knot burns against my skin. Doesn't matter.
Just keep moving down.
Just keep moving down.
Something grabs my ankle. I let out a terrified scream, nearly losing my grip. Only sheer terror of falling to my death keeps me from letting go.
"Calm yourself," Aron shouts up at me.
I look down, and sure enough, it's his hand on my ankle. "Don't fucking do that," I hiss at him. "You almost made me fall!”
He lets go of my ankle and then gestures at the open expanse below us. "There is no more rope. There is nowhere else to go."