la

eath a ghost in my chest. Time passed in strange ways inside that room, where th

ally,

hat else

as I stood. The silence had returned, that strange hush that

the doo

ay beyond

d stone floor. I wasn't sure where I was going, only t

one of them looked down at me with cold eyes and a cruel mouth. He could'

ed into a grand dining room.

s bea

vet. A chandelier above, glittering even in daylight. Silverware lined each place setting like weapons. And in th

llowe

I hea

dishes. The metal

und a corner and pushed

ed into t

m lights. Pots bubbled on the stove. Pans hissed. Maids and cooks moved in practiced rhythm. Someone was cho

ust insid

she t

an from

r mouth tightening as she step

ply, her voice slicing thr

yes were dark, framed by fine lines

. "Head housekeeper.

not to shrink b

ept over me

t the breakfas

t hungry,"

napped. "You eat when food is provided. Y

o

ve me time to

n and honey-colored eyes looked up

Ms.

r to the laundry quarters.

, ma

ur place here, girl. Don't expect spe

d away without

approached, offering me a so

ar the prep counter. She set down a small plate-s

a's bark is worse than

ayed nearby, slicing str

ay," she said. "But e

sl

e already knew. "Y

itchen. We descended a short flight of stairs into a cooler, plainer space-the servants' win

nded m

. Clean. A ma

she said. "I'll

the clothes

age. Just

, I c

ar high. The hem hit just below my knees. When

You'll mee

chen, the rhyth

he space, introducing n

der woman stirring a massive pot. "He

nce-over, then ret

lies. Clara does desserts.

ure if I was

lowered

-lipped girl with high cheekbones and a stare lik

r. She smiled. I

i added quietly. "Thinks Vince

arder than it

hing my shoulder just hard

uttered, not

ore I could react. "Let

llowe

talk. I learned she was twenty-two. She'd come here after her older brothe

w," she said quietly. "But you

know wh

d as I was dr

she instructed. "It's empty. No on

a cloth and

a look-one I

hen, following

taircase. Through a colder corr

r. It creaked o

lean, wiping down surfaces, fold

I hea

cre

d. Br

fr

cream. Cl

Agon

t. I knew

owed the s

ll. Around

n door stood

pt cl

Low. Thr

open a fraction

me like a punch

as stone.

the c

s tied t

sted. Bruised be

sleeves rolled, fore

ide him Rocco, I reme

them-tools. N

blowtorch. A s

liers and grippe

ies," he s

ithout

d the man

over my mouth to

ied out, b

er fi

anot

. Unhurried. His exp

he blo

me roared

it against t

burning flesh

ack, but the

head t

ze found m

locked

Abso

er in,"

ned the d

frozen,

he chair across fr

dn't

ow

sa

dn't b

n't t

closer, crouch

this life is, Isla?" he

hin toward the

at happens

Quietly. H

dn't

I wa

second

every broken b

man stoppe

stopped

even

't look aw

her

e I co

I understood exactly wha

ong to