Page 23 of The October Trials

She steps closer. “My son has always had exquisite taste. And you… God, you’re going to look so lovely when he finally breaks you open.”

The motherly warmth she’d radiated moments ago feels rotten now, stripped away to reveal something evil lurking beneath. It’s like she’s a siren, luring you in with her angelic charm just to squash you like a bug afterward.

“You’re sick,” I whisper.

She laughs softly, the sound vibrating through my bones. “We all are, darling. Some of us are simply honest about it.”

A chill crawls down my spine, unease settling deep in my gut. I take a small step back toward the door.

“Goodbye, Blair. I’ll be seeing you again.”

One moment, she stands there in her flowing white gown. The next, her body flickers like a dying candle flame before disappearing entirely. And she’s… gone.

“What the fuck…”

I spin in a frantic circle, eyes darting around the room. Nothing. She was right here. How the hell does someone disappear like that? Oh my god. Oh my god.

Panic claws up my throat. I bolt for the door, fingers shaking as I fumble with the knob. It takes me three tries before the mechanism finally clicks. I yank the heavy wood open and run.

The hallway stretches long and dim in front of me. My boots slap against the old floorboards as I sprint, breath coming in short, terrified bursts. Portraits blur past. Candles flicker like they’re laughing at me.

I round a corner too fast and crash hard into a solid wall.

A shriek rips out of me before I can stop it, animalistic, the sound scraping my throat on its way out.

What the hell is going on in this house?

“Mmm, fuck,” a strained, familiar voice growls.

I jerk my head up.

Cage.

And he’s not wearing a mask…

Holy shit, he’s gorgeous.

Black hair, slightly damp, falling across a brow furrowed in something like amusement. A sharp jaw shadowed with stubble. Full lips curved at one corner. And his eyes, they’re piercing gray just like his mother’s.

I’ve spent all night wondering what kind of face could belong to a man like him, but seeing it for the first time leaves every thought in my head completely useless.

His mind must be caught in the same carnal turmoil, because my scream clearly affected him. His chest rises and falls faster, lips parted as though he’s still savoring the sound.

I shove hard against his chest, pushing him back a step so I can straighten up. My hands are still trembling.

“I saw a woman!” I scream, voice cracking. “She was right there in that room and then she—she just disappeared! Like into thin fucking air!”

Cage raises an eyebrow, then his mouth curves into that slow, dangerous smirk I’m starting to know too well. He takes a step closer, crowding me against the wall, one hand coming up to brace beside my head.

“Mother has that effect on people,” he murmurs, voice rough. “What did she say?”

“She—” I gulp. I can’t sit here and tell him that she told me he likes me. “She just scared me.”

Cage hums.

He leans in closer, his breath warm against my ear. “You’re shaking, little bird. I like you better when you’re terrified. Maybe I should take you to see mother more often.”

“Please…” I whisper. “Please tell me, is she…”