He’d had no childhood at all, but what if he had? What if he’d had a mother?
He wouldn’t be like this, that was for sure.
But that was also no reason for me to abandon my efforts to escape. Even if he did tug at my heartstrings and my curiosity, I owed it to Mac and to myself to get the hell out of here.
He was the epitome of a fixer-upper, and deadly to boot. His plans for me involved the end of the world as I knew it. The end of sunshine and green grass and trees and plants.
And if I wasn’t careful, I would help him.
I’d felt the darkness inside myself, just like he’d said before. It was there, deep within my soul. Weaker than the light, weaker than my desire to do good and be good.
But still, there.
And so tantalizing.
I reached my room and shoved inside, slamming the door behind me. It took everything I had to drag my memory from the sweet feeling of the darkness rising inside me. That darkness wanted power and security and strength.
I wanted that.
No.
I had to leave. To get away from him. How could I expect to cure him when I had the same problem?
I strode to the window, looking out at the wine-dark sea. The late afternoon light was gray and dreary. Miserable.
I needed to get out of here. Needed to find that key and get through the library.
I needed a plan.
Scratch that. I was going to need at least three plans, with backups for my backups. Because I would only get one more shot at this.
But who to ask for help?
A small bird flew toward me, its flight path erratic.
Beatrix!
The brief hope was dashed when it neared. It was the small bat that had been stalking me. It flew over my head and fluttered into the room. I turned to follow its path, watching it land on top of the wardrobe and stare down at me with keen black eyes.
I tilted my head and stared at it. “Did you hear me asking for help?”
The bat just tilted its head and stared harder.
“Why do you follow me?”
It fluttered off the wardrobe and landed on my shoulder, so light that I barely felt it. I turned my head, and the bat leaned forward to make eye contact. We were so close I could see the soft fur on its face.
It was freaking adorable.
“What’s your name?”
Echo.
I heard the name in my head, unsure of whether or not I was imagining it. And somehow, I knew he was male. “Echo? Really?”
There was only silence from the bat.
Maybe I had imagined the name.
“Well, Echo, I need a plan.” I turned back and stared out at the sea, watching the waves crash and wondering what was on the other side. “Is there an armory in the building?”
Echo launched himself off my shoulder, as if to lead me.
Damn. That was convenient.
“Let’s go find it.”
Echo fluttered toward the door, and I followed. With any luck, Lucifer still thought I was with Hades and would give me a break. Out in the hall, I looked left and right. “First, we need a weapon. Kitchen?”
Echo turned toward the kitchen and fluttered down the hall. I followed him, grateful to find the large room nearly empty. It was between meals, and a quiet day, apparently, because there was just one chef. When she walked into the pantry, I darted into the room, quickly surveying my surroundings.
I spotted a canvas bag on the counter, empty and crumpled. I grabbed it and looked for a knife but didn’t see one. My eyes landed on a large frying pan hanging from the ceiling with its fellows.
It would have to do.
I pulled it down from the hook, then grabbed a short spool of thick twine that sat on the counter. I fled the kitchen, shoving the pan and twine into my new bag as I ran. Echo followed, and we made away with the fruits of our labor.
“Now to the armory,” I whispered, hoping the bat would understand. He fluttered ahead of me, leading the way confidently.
As usual, the castle was quiet. The result of Hades’ cockiness about the breadth of his power was a much smaller security force than one would expect for a castle this size.
He underestimates me.
Who wouldn’t underestimate me? My first escape attempt had been disastrous.
I couldn’t pretend that had been on purpose to lower his guard. Nope. I was a girl