Encircled by Laurie Lucking & Tori V Rainn & J M Hackman & S E Clancy & E J Kitchens & Jebraun Clifford

Author:Laurie Lucking & Tori V Rainn & J M Hackman & S E Clancy & E J Kitchens & Jebraun Clifford
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Kydala Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2019-04-16T04:00:00+00:00

Finale

THE DOOR WASN’T locked. Darianna slipped inside, thankful the princess wasn’t lurking in a dark corner. A few minutes of searching produced nothing. There were no blueprints, remote pads, or anything else to turn off the monstrosity. She closed her eyes for a minute before they flew open with a memory—the cuff on Jerissa’s wrist. That was how she’d turned on the citadel.

The box the mirrored creation came in rested on the ornate desk, taunting Darianna. She picked it up and glanced at the small print. Caution: keep bag away from children. This is not a toy. Broken glass can harm children and infants. Do not ingest. Not intended for children under twelve. She rolled her eyes and tossed it back onto the desk. Something clunked inside. Darianna picked up the box again and opened it. The clear keydagger to the citadel shimmered inside. Slipping it from the box, she marveled at the balanced heft of the blade. She’d seen keydaggers before at the market but had never held one, especially one as important as this knife. The clear edges glittered, an elaborate etching of a skeleton key engraved on the side. After a few more moments admiring the craftsmanship, she tucked it into her belt and left the room. All the way down the dim hallway, she puzzled over how to shut down the citadel. Maybe she could lock Jerissa up inside? But then the guests would be locked up, as well, and the glass rooms would continue to operate with their shifting lights and creepy music.

All too soon, she arrived at the ballroom, the glittering, mirrored rooms of the citadel glowing with multicolored beams. Two palace guards stood at the entrance. One stepped forward. “He said he would wait for you inside, Miss.”

She nodded and hurried into the glass rooms. One pass through didn’t reveal Jerissa or West. She squinted. They had to be here somewhere. She found Ruler Audric in the same room as before. He sat there, eyes half-closed, this time talking to the wall. “But, my dear, you sound divine every time, even without another singer to accompany you. Execution seems a bit extreme for the singer. Uncooperative employees are usually exiled.”

After a moment, he nodded. “Yes, execution is an excellent deterrent.”

Darianna backed up, hiding behind a mirrored pane. Was the image of his wife telling him she needed to be killed? She renewed her search, even more impatient to find West or Jerissa. In a large mirrored room nearby, she found West staring at a wall while Jerissa muttered into the cuff on her wrist. When he caught sight of Darianna in the mirror, he turned to Jerissa as she finished speaking into her cuff.

She glided up next to him and took his arm. “Sorry, Kyllen, I needed a minute. Have you seen this beautiful landscape?”

He pulled away, frowning. “Jerissa, you’ve had your fun, but now it’s over.”

“What do you mean?” Her big blue eyes went wide.

“I mean, we need to leave. This contraption is dangerous.

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