Fables & Other Lies - Claire Contreras Page 0,57

was any other way, one that didn’t require death.

Chapter Twenty-Two

River

He thought there must be another way. It had taken six years to get her back on Pan Island and a lifetime to get her on Dolos Island, and yet he wanted to look for another way. Any way that would spare both of their lives, but it seemed impossible. Maybe it was a doomed plan from the beginning. Maybe he should do what he was supposed to and take her to the cave, to the part of the island where, according to legend, according to the man in black, he could reverse all of this. He could restore everything back as it once was. He hadn’t expected to enjoy her company as much as he did. He hadn’t expected to enjoy laughter. Or light. Or any of the things he often read about but hadn’t truly experienced in this way. He hadn’t expected her to be the way she was, and so, he had to look for another way.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Penelope

It was dark and dreary, which wasn’t a surprise, but it was also raining hard outside, and that hadn’t happened since I’d arrived. I sighed, stepping away from the window and going back to the dinner table. River, Sarah, and I had finished having dinner, and she excused herself to go back to her room, leaving him and me here. We’d dressed for the party—him in a tuxedo, me in a floor-length silver and ivory gown. I’d said I didn’t want to dress up, but when I saw it, I couldn’t not wear it. It was similar to last night’s in that it was also simple, also made of fine silk, and also didn’t allow me to wear a bra.

“I want to show you something.” River stood from his seat and held his hand out to me.

I took it and followed him out of the dining room. He walked down the other hall, the one that led outside, but instead of going to the backyard door, he opened the door to the left. He let me walk inside first, following closely behind and shutting the door. It was dark. Pitch black, not even a gas lamp to light the way.

“River?” I whispered.

“One second.” I heard him fussing with something, but I didn’t know what, until the light illuminated. He held a lantern between us. “You need to follow closely behind me.”

“Where are we going?” I asked, then paused when I heard a drip, then another. “What is that sound?”

The room was empty as far as I could tell. River walked and I followed and when we reached a rope hanging from the ceiling, he lifted his hand and pulled it down, bringing a staircase with him. He placed the lamp on the step in front of his face and looked at me.

“You’ll have to trust me.”

I stared at him. I didn’t trust anyone. Especially not after yesterday.

“You’ll have to at least trust me to ensure your safety.” He searched my eyes. “What I want to show you is up there. You’ll have to take your heels off, unless you trust yourself in them.”

I reached down and slid off my shoes, carrying them by the heel in my right hand. “Now what?”

“Now you climb.” He took a step back.

I swallowed and did as I was told. I was too curious not to and if the party wasn’t happening that meant I wouldn’t be seeing my friends tonight or leaving anyway. When I reached the top, I looked down and saw him climbing up behind me. Once we were both up, he pulled the stairs up and folded them flat. We were inside another dark room. The attic, I guessed. I’d never been inside of an attic before.

“Stay put,” he said.

I did.

He walked somewhere and suddenly there was light. I gasped. Small tealights were hanging everywhere in the room. Not the kind of lights the rest of the house had, lit by candles and gas. These were real, electric lights. I didn’t know why, but knowing that even this small part of the house was lit with electricity gave me hope. Not that I needed hope. I’d be leaving soon. I wouldn’t get stuck here the way Sarah had. I walked forward. A large, wide window covered the longest wall, and even though it was dark out, I knew the moon was out there somewhere. There was a mattress beside the window and a fluffy white comforter that looked like the one on