Blood Red (46 page)

Vivi Anna

pleadingly into her face. Her Grandma smiled. She brushed
her hair from her face. “Hush now, darling. It will be all
right.” She plucked a shiny red apple from her pocket. She
handed it to Red. “Eat this, child, and you will feel better.”

Red took a small bite of the apple and fell into a deep
sleep.

“Mistress? Mistress?”

Red struggled from her sleep. She felt a hand on her shoulder. She bolted up and grabbed the intruder by the neck. She opened her eyes.

Rose stared wide-eyed at her. Her face grimaced in terror.

“I could kill you for what you’ve done,” Red growled.

“I’m sorry, Mistress. It was the only way. The only way he’d believe me.”

Red glanced around the cell. No one else was present. “Why are you here?”

“To help you.”

Red furrowed her brow. Why should she believe this lying whore? “Where are the guards?”

“Dead. I’ve poisoned them.”

“How?”

“A little hemlock in the tea I always bring them in the night.”

Red searched Rose’s face. She looked deep into her eyes. She saw hope and fear in them. She let go of her neck.

Rose rubbed at it. “Thank you, Mistress. We must hurry.”

Red jumped off the bed. Rose handed her some clothes. “I brought you these.”

90

Blood Red

Red nodded and dressed quickly. They left the cell.

Red glanced down the passageway. The two guards lay on their sides, eyes bulging, tongues hanging out blackened by death.

“Do you know a way out?”

Rose bowed her head. “I’m sorry, Mistress. I do not. I thought you’d have a plan.”

Red shook her head. “Damn it!”

“I know the way.”

Red turned. Wolf was stalking toward her. She smiled. She could not stop it. He raised his hand and touched her gently on the cheek.

“How did you…?”

“I had a little help.” He stepped to the side.

Rapunzel stepped around him. She nodded to Red and Rose.

Red spurted. “But she’s one of them.”

“She knows a way out,” Wolf protested.

“It’s a trap. She’ll get us all killed.”

Rapunzel smiled. “You were going to die anyway.

What do you have to lose?”

Red looked up at Wolf. His eyes glowed brightly.

She would trust him. She could see the truth in him.

“Fine. But I need something first.”

Red neared the fallen guards. She grabbed their crossbow and tossed it to Wolf. He caught it on the fly. She relinquished their clubs and their knives. She tucked a club into her pants, and gripped a knife in her hand. She handed the others to Wolf. He tucked them into his trousers.

Rapunzel led them the opposite way down the narrow passage. There were no more cells down the 91