"Leave me alone," she says again.
I take a deep breath and shut the door.
A second later, the deadbolt clicks.
I stare at the handle.
My chest heaves, and my hands shake, and I don't know what the fuck to do.
I press my palms flat against the door, like somehow I can feel her through the wood.
But the only thing I can feel is silence.
I turn and slide down slowly, until I hit the floor and rest my head against the door.
The fire crackles down the hall and the wind howls outside through the trees.
And I sit here, guarding the door, waiting for her to let me in, but i'm starting to worry that I've maybe lost that chance forever.
13
ELENA
Iturn the lock with shaking fingers, and my chest heaves as I back away from the door, one step, then another, my eyes fixed on the handle, waiting for it to rattle.
Waiting for the door to explode inward or for a fist to crash through the wood as he forces his way in to drag me out by my hair.
That's what Maxim would have done.
But none of that happens.
I glance around the room, unsure of where the hell I even am.
The walls are dark wood, and the bed is massive and covered in a thick white duvet. There's a nightstand with a lamp and a door to the left that leads into a full bathroom.
I'm safe here, maybe, but I don't feel that way.
I feel like the walls are closing in, and I can't seem to get a good breath. My hands won't stay still either.
This is all just too much for me.
I mean, the château, the blood, Maxim's lifeless body, and Adrian.
Fucking Adrian.
I close my eyes and press the bottom of my palm against my temple as my fingers pull at my hair.
I need to calm down, to breathe.
I need… my pills.
My eyes snap open, and I stumble toward the nightstand where I dropped my small purse earlier.
No, wait. That was in my room with Maxim.
I wasn't carrying anything when Adrian dragged me out of that room.
Panic flares in my chest.