He held up his hands in tacit acknowledgement.
‘I just want to make sure he’s safe. That’s it.’ She held his gaze. ‘Will you help me?’
He didn’t answer immediately.
Allie wasn’t going to beg him. She was almost certain he’d know where Christopher was being held. He was very close to Raj and Zelazny, always involved in high-level decision making. It was just the sort of information he’d have.
But if he didn’t want to tell her, she’d find out on her own.
She thought she saw a flicker of emotion in the ocean blue of his eyes – a hint of the loss she felt, too. And of the connection that always existed between them. Different from the one she had with Carter. Not a love like that. But no less real.
‘I must be insane.’ Sylvain let out a long breath. ‘Come with me. I think I know where they’ll take him.’
Turning on his heel, he headed down the hallway with long, confident strides.
Allie hurried after him. ‘Are you sure?’
‘No. But if it was me, I’d put him in one of the old storage rooms in the cellar. Secure, private…’ He glanced at her. ‘Soundproof.’
The lights were off in the classroom wing when they reached it, but they both knew it well enough to find their way through it in the dark. Sylvain moved with lithe grace. Allie matched him step for step.
She knew Isabelle wouldn’t be happy to see her, but it didn’t matter.
What she’d told Sylvain was only partially true. Yes, she wanted to protect Christopher, but she also wanted to decide for herself whether or not he was telling the truth. Whether or not she could trust him.
They were nearly to the end of the hallway when Sylvain stopped with such abruptness Allie slammed into him, full force. He grabbed her shoulders to keep her from falling.
Even in the dark, the look he gave her scorched. ‘Careful.’
She took a hurried step back.
‘Sorry,’ she mumbled.
But he’d already turned away. He opened an unmarked door to reveal a staircase going down into complete darkness.
‘This way.’ His voice was devoid of emotion.
The old stone spiral staircase had a musty smell. Unable to see even an inch ahead, Allie clung to the metal banister. She couldn’t see Sylvain anymore – she could hear his feet scuffing on the steps as they descended.
‘What do you think he wants?’ His voice echoed, disembodied.
‘I don’t know,’ she said. ‘Maybe he really has given up on Nathaniel. Maybe he’s really on our side.’
‘If not?’
‘Then it’s a trick.’ Her own voice rang back at her mockingly. ‘And Nathaniel sent him to sabotage us. Or to spy.’
The stairs ended abruptly, and Allie suddenly found herself standing in a small, dark room, with corridors branching off in several directions.
The cellars were a tangle of old tunnels and rooms that had been added to over the years. Some were centuries older than the building that stood there now.
They headed into a long, narrow corridor. The ceilings were low, and the only light came from ancient wall sconces. The sconces emitted a flickering, ghostly glow, making shadows that jumped and ducked in an almost human way, setting Allie’s nerves on edge.
After a long, straight stretch, the corridor turned sharply to the right.
Just as they reached the bend, two guards appeared out of the darkness, blocking their path.
‘You’re not supposed to be here,’ one said.
Next to her, Sylvain stiffened but, before he could speak, Allie stepped forward to confront the two guards.
‘My name is Allie Sheridan,’ she announced. ‘I need to speak with Isabelle. Now please. Get out of the way.’
The two guards exchanged a look. Then they stepped back and let them pass.
Allie couldn’t believe it worked. The rules of Cimmeria’s game really had changed now that Lucinda was gone. She wasn’t just a normal student anymore.
If she ever had been.
‘Interesting,’ Sylvain murmured. ‘Would you care to explain what just happened?’
‘Long story.’ Allie pointed to the end of the hallway. ‘I think we found them.’
Raj and Isabelle stood with a group of guards outside a battered door.
It was the same room where they’d kept Jerry Cole.
Allie knew what was inside. Bare, stone walls. And chains.
‘Isabelle.’ The word came out sharper than she’d intended, and the headmistress spun around to face her.
‘Allie? What are you doing here?’ Isabelle frowned. ‘Sylvain? What’s going on?’
‘You have Christopher in there?’ Allie pointed at the door. ‘The same room where you kept Jerry? Why would you do that? What are you doing to him?’
The headmistress held up her hands. ‘Now, just one second, Allie…’
‘He’s not chained.’ Raj stepped up to join them. His expression was serious. ‘We just needed a safe place to keep him while we evaluate the situation.’
When he put it like that it didn’t sound unreasonable, but Allie still didn’t like the symbolism of it.