Necromancer Abbey by Adrienne Blake

Author:Adrienne Blake
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-64898-108-1
Publisher: City Owl Press

Chapter Twenty-One

The Labyrinth

The same black walls greeted us all on the inside. The Tilneys had softened the darkness with natural fabrics and earthy-colored furniture. There were friendly pictures of the family everywhere I looked. In the main living room, tall, arched windows allowed in plenty of natural light, and there was a crackling red fire burning in the grate, spreading a cheery warmth throughout the room. It was charming, and I anticipated pleasant evenings, snuggled under one of the many throws, gazing into the flames and listening to their many stories.

“Excuse me, gotta run—call of nature.”

As Henry dashed off, Eleanor waited patiently as I took my surroundings all in. “When you’re ready, I’ll show you to your room.”

“Oh, right. Sorry, I’m ready,” I said.

“Don’t be sorry. It’s a very unique place. I’d be more surprised if you weren’t curious about it. Follow me.”

Eleanor wandered toward a corner of the room, and confused, I hesitated, not seeing a door or hallway there. I thought maybe I’d misunderstood her. But then she turned and disappeared. I followed behind, wondering where she’d got to.

When I got to the corner, I found her waiting for me. “It’s confusing, I know. The stone walls create something of an illusion, hiding the halls, and it’s easy to get lost in here. Hank jokes we should give visitors breadcrumbs or petals, so they can find their way back. We’re used to it, of course, and so will you be soon, I promise.”

He wasn’t wrong. “It’s like a labyrinth,” I remarked, thinking of Ariadne, Theseus, and a ball of twine.

“Totally. Wait till we get to the stairs. From the outside, it looks like there’s just the two levels, but you’ll soon see there’s a whole lot more.”

“How many are there?” I asked.

“You know, I’m not totally sure. Dad keeps changing it all the time. He just bought one of those magical realty packages and keeps adding and taking away floors without telling anyone—it’s very confusing.”

I could see how it would be. The hall seemed an endless row of stone, the cold wall illuminated by soft lighting and decorated with more pictures. If these were all relatives, there were a hell of a lot of them.

“Are these all family portraits?”

Eleanor stopped and turned to look at a bunch of them with me.

“Yes, mostly. Mom came from a very large family, and a lot of them are her cousins and nephews and such. She liked having them all around her. I’ve tried taking some down, but it upsets Dad, so I don’t bother anymore.”

“He misses her that much?”

Eleanor raised a puzzled eyebrow and glanced at me. “Perhaps. Come on. Let’s get you settled in.”

I wondered what she’d meant by that, but her tone didn’t invite further conversation. She turned a corner, then another, and then we started to climb a winding staircase.

“You’re not wrong about these corridors. I think I’m lost already. I’d better make sure my phone’s charged, or you might lose me forever.” I only half laughed at my own joke.

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