My fatigued brain tried to process his words. “A question we haven’t thought to ask?” I repeated.
“Like what?”
“No idea.”
I nodded. “What do you think ‘deliverance’ means in this context?”
Casimir shrugged. “It could refer to any number of meanings. Freedom, relief, escape.”
“Or salvation?” I offered, then paused for a moment. “I wanted to ask you something,” I began, blood rising to my cheeks in embarrassment. “I was wondering?—”
I halted when a loudthunksounded above our heads, making both of us freeze.
“What was that?” I whispered.
“I don’t know,” breathed Casimir. His expression was tense, his eyes wary.
“Here,” he said softly, sliding the cipher into my hands. Wordlessly, we crept toward the iron door and creaked it open as gently as we could. The clang of metal swinging open sounded earth-shattering in the dead silence, and we paused to listen for footsteps overhead. I grasped onto Casimir’s outstretched hand, and the feeling of his warm, strong fingers on mine felt like a ward against my fear. Continuing up the stairs toward the main level, the sense of eerie disquiet that had troubled me on our descent returned in full force. I gripped his hand tightly as we prowled around the stacks like thieves in the night.
Casimir muttered, “This way.”
I realized he was guiding us through a different route than the one we’d taken earlier. In case we’d been followed.
Shit. Had someone been watching us tonight? I’d been so distracted by our search that I’d completely forgotten to be vigilant. I glanced down each row we passed, but it was too dark to see much of anything. My neck prickled with unease. The next moment, an enormous rat skittered over the floor at my feet, causing me to squeal in surprise. In terror, I stumbled backward and crashed into Casimir.
He caught me before I collided with the floor. I wrenched away when I realized he was doubled over with laughter. I swore loudly.
“That’s the fattest rat I’ve ever seen!” I screeched, which only made Casimir guffaw harder. I shoved an elbow into his side in retaliation. I wasn’t especially afraid of rats, but that didn’t mean I welcomed the idea of them skittering over my toes in the middle of the night. “It could’ve bitten me, you prick!” I scolded, which only made Casimir laugh harder. I smiled in spite of myself. “But I’m glad my peril amuses you so much.”
“Sorry,” he coughed an apology. “It was just the look on your face.” He wiped a tear from his eye. “Anyway, I think we’ve found our culprit.”
I scowled at him, but allowed my shoulders to slump in relief. Then Casimir cast me a curious glance.
“What were you going to ask me just before we heard the noise upstairs?”
“Nothing,” I said quickly, averting my gaze. Too late, his interest was piqued.
“No, tell me,” he insisted, his eyes alight with curiosity.
“I don’t even remember what it was,” I lied, trying to push past him, but he remained immobile, an obstacle blocking my only exit.
His smirk only grew. “You’re lying, I can tell.”
I strode away from him and toward an unfamiliar row of stacks, halting when I realized it was a dead end. Of course, he’d followed me. Trapping me.
I glared at him as he approached.
“Casimir,” I said warningly. “We don’t have time for this.”
He approached slowly, like a hunter trying not to startle its prey. “Come on, Farrow,” he said, imploring me with those impossibly amber eyes. “I promise I won’t laugh.”
“Why would you automatically assume that whatever I have to say will make you laugh?”
He scoffed. “I don’t.” When I glared at him disbelievingly, he rolled his eyes. “When have I ever laughed at you?”
I gave a derisive snort. “Seriously? Is your memory that short? I seem to recall you doubled over with laughter at my expense not five seconds ago?”
He gave a dismissive wave. “That was different.”