here to rescue you.”
Now that her eyes were adjusting to the darkness, she could see the outline of the prisoner. Scarlet looked thin. Much thinner than she’d been the last time Trinity had seen her. And as she took a step forward, wobbling on pencil-thin legs, Trinity felt an unexpected rush to her gut. The last six months, she’d been so preoccupied with what Emmy must be going through, she hadn’t given much thought to Scarlet’s well-being.
You sent her here, the nagging voice reminded her. Whatever she’s suffered is all because of you.
“Trinity? Connor? Oh my God, is it really you?” Scarlet cried. “I was beginning to think you’d forgotten about us.”
Trinity winced at the unintentional jab, the guilt again twisting in her gut. She wanted to protest—to explain they’d been trying desperately, this entire time, to stage this rescue. That she hadn’t had one moment of rest since Emmy had been taken away. But what would that matter to Scarlet? Scarlet who had been stuck in a dark, dank cell, waiting for the rescue that had been promised and—up until this moment—not delivered.
And what about Emmy? Had her dragon given up on the idea of rescue too?
“Where’s Emmy?” she demanded. “We need to—”
A booming sound drowned out the rest of her question, followed by a flash as the fluorescents flickered back on. Someone must have hit the override. Now, in better light, Trinity could clearly see Scarlet standing before them, dressed in a dirty blue jumpsuit and brown slippers. She was definitely skinnier—almost gaunt—and her arms and legs were covered in track marks and bruises. She was pale too, her copper skin now faded to beige, as if she’d lost a good deal of blood. And her once-shiny, thick hair was dull and matted.
Nausea rose in Trinity’s throat. What horrors had this poor girl been through? And if this was how they’d treated her—a fellow human being—what more had been done to her dragon?
Scarlet blinked, as if trying to adjust her eyes to the sudden bright light. “They keep Emmy on the other side of the facility,” she told them. Her voice sounded hesitant. Strangely…reluctant. “I can take you there. I know the way.”
A rush of relief crashed over Trinity. She hadn’t allowed herself to consider, until this moment, the very real possibility that Scarlet wouldn’t know where Emmy was being held. Or that Emmy had already been moved somewhere else. Or—she shuddered—that Emmy wasn’t even alive to be rescued at all.
No. She’s alive, she assured herself, her gut wrenching again. She’s alive and Scarlet’s going to take you to her now. In just a few minutes, you’ll see her again.
This had to work this time. It had to.
She shook herself. “Great,” she said, making her way to the door. “Then let’s go.”
She stopped at the doorway, realizing Scarlet wasn’t following. She turned back impatiently. “Well?” she asked. “Aren’t you coming?”
Scarlet stared down at her feet, shifting her weight from left to right. “Yes. Of course,” she said in a slow voice. “But first, well, I think there’s something you should know.”
Trinity frowned. They were wasting time they didn’t have. And yet Scarlet didn’t look as if she were willing to move until she’d had her say. “What is it?” she demanded. “What is it you think I should know?” Even as she asked, she wasn’t sure she wanted the answer.
Scarlet suddenly looked up, her eyes meeting Trin’s for the first time. Large, frightened eyes that sent a shiver tripping down Trinity’s spine. Whatever she was about to say—well, it wasn’t going to be good. Trinity swallowed hard. “Scarlet, what is it?”
“It’s about Emmy.”
Chapter Two
About Emmy?
Trinity bit her lower lip, her heart thudding violently in her chest. She could feel Connor’s hand find her arm, trying to calm her down, but she shook it off. They didn’t have time for this. The guards could realize they were here any second now and sound the alarm. “Scarlet, what is it? What should I know about Emmy?”
“It’s just…well, I think you should prepare yourself. I don’t want you to be shocked when you see her,” Scarlet said in a voice so low Trinity could barely make it out. “Emmy’s…I don’t know…different now.”
Cold dread gripped Trinity with icy fingers. Suddenly, it was all she could do to keep standing upright. “Different?” she managed to repeat. “What do you mean, different?”
Scarlet let out a slow sigh, still not moving from the spot they’d found her. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s best if you