Chapter 25

**Nerissa POV**


I heard unfamiliar voices sounding near me, making my heart race as I kept my eyes shut, evening my breathing as I listened silently to what the unfamiliar voices were saying. 
“When can we start?” A male voice asked someone, but the voice sounded so familiar. A voice I haven’t heard in a while. 
The memories of the night when Emily and I managed to escape the Draconis pack lands. A memory of Reynard coming inside my room, in the middle of the night, flashed through my mind as my heartbeats thundered inside my chest.
 “The ritual can take place only on a day when the red moon will appear, and that is fortunate in two weeks’ time.” An unfamiliar, raspy female voice said, making chills pass through my spine at the sound of her voice. 
“Good, and you are sure it will work?” the same familiar voice, the one I was sure belonged to Reynard, asked.
 “Do not doubt me and the ritual. Dark magic is powerful and will do the deed.” The same female voice answered with anger and I heard the clacking of heels, sounding on the floor as they stopped, reaching their destination.
Another set of footsteps sounded, slowly approaching me. I could smell his scent, cinnamon rolls as he leaned closer, making me feel his breath, tickling my cheek.
A cold knuckle caressed my cheek, making me wish to pull away from his touch when the same female voice came, saying, “Let’s go.”
I heard him exhale, frustrated, but he moved away, making me feel able to breathe as the sound of the door opening and closing followed after the sounds of their footsteps leaving.
Slowly, I opened my eyes just to notice I was in an unfamiliar room.
The room was light and spacious, decorated with expensive furniture as the colors white and gold dominated the room.
Looking at the closest window near my bed, I slowly sneaked towards the window, peeping under the curtain, looking outside, trying to figure out where I am.
The first thing I noticed, looking through the window, was that I was on high ground. I could see some guards patrolling around the house I was in. Looking further away, I saw a garden made like a maze. On wider areas were inside the maze, smaller flower gardens with what seemed like a fountain placed in the middle of each one of them. 
My eyes traveled further ahead, and I could see a little trail that led on one side to what seemed like a town and on another, into the woods.
The woods, if I manage to get to them unnoticed, I could try to search for a way out of these lands and try to find Allister and Alexander.
Looking back inside the room, I noticed clothes laid down over a chair. I walked towards the chair and dressed up in a hurry, putting on some jeans and a shirt, searching for some shoes when I saw them placed down near the door.
I took the shoes and put them on. I tried to reach in my connection with Bellania, but she was not responding to me, making me feel worried as to what they do to her?
Gathering up courage, I approached slowly towards the door, trying to tune up my senses as much as I could, listening closely for any sounds that could come from behind this door.
As I heard no sounds coming from behind the door, slowly I placed my palm on the brass knob, pressing on it, making the door silently open.
Peeking out my head, I looked left and right, seeing the big empty hallway. I walked outside the room, slowly closing the door behind me, standing for a second as I tried to decide which way would be best to take. When finally I choose to go right, moving silently as I possibly could, my back pressed into the wall.
Slowly advancing, I passed a few rooms. Not wanting to stop, I started to walk faster, controlling my steps to not make any sound when I heard voices coming my way, making me look around fast, deciding I should enter inside one of these doors and hide.
I rushed to the first door to my right, pressing down the knob only to find the room locked.
Panicked flooded through me as I looked to the left and rushed to try the door across from the ones I was at.
Pressing on the knob, the door didn’t open, doing the same thing as the first one.
My heart started to race in my chest as the sound of two unfamiliar male voices were getting louder as they were fast approaching me, I forced myself to push my fears aside and try to find a hiding place.
Turning around, I rushed back the same way I came from, trying every door I came upon only to find it locked.
Approaching the doors where I was, I chose to walk to the left side of the hallway, finally finding a staircase.
I peeked carefully over the handrail, checking out fast that no one was down at the end, I rushed silently down the staircase, finally getting to the ground floor.
The rush and clatter of dishes sounded from the room behind me, making me move away fast, searching for a way out.
Reaching the front door, I could see two guards standing on the side, guarding the entrance. 
Walking away from the front door, I set my focus to search for some other way out so I could try to reach the woods.
I saw a door opened on one side. I sneaked to it and looked inside, finding it to be another hallway, but thankfully it was empty.
Hearing what appeared to be servants talk from the kitchen, saying, “We will take these into the dining room.”
“Ok, then come back for the rest.” another woman’s voice came as I saw two younger females walking outside through the doors near the staircase, holding trays, I rushed into the empty hallway scanning fast around, noticing a window at one end of it.
Smiling happily as I saw my chance to get out, I rushed to the window, opening it up slowly.
Looking out, smiling as I saw no one was around, I tossed my leg through the window and as I was about to do the same with the other one, a strong male voice made me freeze as it said, “And where do you think you are going?”