He was not going to let me save my friend. He’d hold me back and let Caleb die—if he wasn’t dead already. I couldn’t let that happen.
For a second time that evening I coaxed the sinister siren to the surface. I opened myself up and let my power take over. My skin began to glow lightly.
Andre’s eyes widened when he realized what I was doing. But it was already too late. “Put me down.” Once again my voice was not my own.
Andre hesitated.
I brushed a piece of hair away from his face. “Put me down,” I repeated, my voice melodic. His jaw clenched and unclenched. Slowly, so slowly, he let me down. I could tell he was trying to fight it, but even he could be swayed.
As soon as my feet touched the ground, I began to run, keeping my injured arm close to my body. I didn’t know how much time I’d have before he regained full control of his actions.
My skin was still glowing, and I noticed individuals approaching me as the siren pulled them in.
Although only a minute had passed since I was last inside, the mansion was now largely consumed by flames. I hesitated only briefly before plunging in. Once inside, smoke obscured my vision, and my eyes teared up almost immediately. I made my way through the smoke to the chandelier. Next to it was my fallen friend.
Caleb lay so still that I was convinced he was dead. I knelt down and felt for a pulse. It was there, very weak but there nonetheless. I almost collapsed with relief.
I hooked my arms underneath his. A wave of nausea passed over me as I forced my injured shoulder to support Caleb’s weight. I took in a deep breath, steadied myself, and pulled him to his feet. Lifting him was effortless, but I screamed from the intense pain shooting through my arm as I moved it. He moaned, slowly coming to, and I almost cried out my relief.
“Gabrielle?” He began to cough.
“Hey sleepyhead, not the best place for a nap!” I had to yell to be heard above the fire.
He smiled then winced and rubbed his head.
“We need to get out of here!”
I let him lean on me as I walked us through the haze and back to the mansion’s main entrance. As soon as I could see it, however, I knew there was no way of getting out. The large oak doors were engulfed in flames, turning our escape into a wall of fire. My heart dropped. We were trapped in a burning house.
“We’re going to have to figure out another exit,” I said.
This was beginning to feel like déjà vu; I had lived through one fire already.
That’s it.
“Persecution tunnels,” I said.
“What?”
“Can you walk?” I asked him.
Slowly he nodded. “I think so.”
“Good. We need to head to the kitchen. There should be a tunnel beyond.”
I was desperately hoping that Bishopcourt was somewhat similar to my childhood home. If the pantry connected to the kitchen contained a wine cellar, then it would be the perfect place to put a persecution tunnel. If it didn’t … I refused to think about the alternative.
Something in the distance crashed, and I began to walk us towards the east wing.
Caleb paused to catch his breath, leading to another coughing fit. Meanwhile my eyes were tearing up from the heat. Time was quickly running out for the two of us.
The walls and ceiling of the hallway off of the main entrance were on fire, but luckily they were wide and high enough to pass through mostly unscathed. I sent up a silent prayer that the floor here was marble.
We were almost to the other end of the hall when I heard a wall behind us crash.
“Can you run?” I asked Caleb.
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Hmmm.” Could I carry him and get us out in time?
“But I might be able to shapeshift.”
“Shapeshift?”
He let out a shaky cough, reminding me how injured he was. “Change into an animal. Something you could hold so I don’t slow you down.”
I nodded. “Let’s try that.” It was the best idea we had. If he changed, I could use my supernatural speed, increasing our chances of survival.
Caleb closed his eyes and exhaled. His skin rippled, and he began to shrink and thin. Scales formed, replacing skin. His body curved and coiled until he was nothing more than a garden snake sitting amongst his crumpled clothing.
I repressed a shudder. I’d never been a big fan of snakes, and up until now I’d never held one. I bent down and hurriedly picked Caleb up; the ground must be scalding. He slithered up my injured arm, and I bit back a scream as he coiled himself around it.
After he was securely wrapped around my arm, I dashed down the hallway and turned left. The fire had only tentatively made its way down this hall. The third door on the left was the kitchen, and I sprinted through.