to protect her eyes from beads of rain being thrown with such force they struck like stones.
Then, looking past her, Nathaniel cursed.
Following his gaze, Allie saw a mass of black-clad guards climbing over the castle walls. Dozens of them. Moving in silence, with deadly grace, they poured over the stone like black oil.
Raj was here.
Nathaniel turned back to her, his gaze narrow.
‘You made the wrong choice, Allie,’ he shouted above the cacophony. ‘You will pay for this. Tell Lucinda she’s already lost.’
Around them, black-clad guards swarmed the castle yard.
His shoulders high, Nathaniel climbed into the helicopter. Through the rain, she saw him motion to the pilot and it began to climb, swinging dangerously in the wind.
Allie leaned back to watch it go, willing it to crash. But it rose into the storm and disappeared, the rhythmic thud of the rotors gradually fading.
THIRTY-FIVE
‘Ouch!’ Allie jerked her wounded arm out of Sylvain’s grip, wrapping her hand round it protectively.
‘Allie, I must roll up your sleeve to see the wound,’ he insisted gently. ‘I know it hurts but we have to stop the bleeding.’
‘I know,’ she said. ‘It’s just… ow.’
Around them, guards swarmed like insects, searching the castle grounds for anything Nathaniel might have left behind.
‘Hang on a second,’ Carter said. He turned to one of the guards. ‘Excuse me, mate. Have you got a knife I can borrow?’
The guard stopped and took in the scene. Blood still dripped from Allie’s arm, mixing with mud on the ground. Pulling a dangerous-looking blade from a holster on his hip, he flipped it over expertly, handing it to Carter hilt first.
‘Thanks.’ Carter held the knife out to Sylvain.
‘Come on, Allie.’ Sylvain held out his hand. ‘One more try.’
Biting her lip hard, she held out her arm to him. Very carefully, he lifted the cuff of her sleeve and slit it with the knife. The blade was sharp. The fabric gave easily, all the way to the shoulder. Handing the knife back to Carter, Sylvain peeled the sodden fabric back. The cold air felt good against the wound.
Sylvain’s breath hissed between his teeth as he saw the cut. His grip tightened on her wrist.
All Allie could see was blood. Wincing, she tried not to look at it.
‘It’s a long cut but I don’t think it needs a tourniquet.’ Sylvain glanced at Carter for confirmation.
Peering at the wound, Carter nodded. ‘The bleeding is slowing. Bind it and let’s get her back for stitches.’
As the others watched, Sylvain pulled off his own jacket and cut off one of the arms with the knife. He wrapped that around the wound snugly then used a strip of her shredded sleeve to tie it in place.
The makeshift bandage was secure. Allie’s arm instantly felt better.
‘Hold it like this.’ Sylvain demonstrated, holding his arm across his chest. Obediently, Allie emulated him and he smiled, squeezing her good hand. ‘Now, we need to get you back.’
‘We have to find Rachel first,’ Allie insisted. ‘I’m not going without her.’
Frowning, Nicole peered into the distance. ‘Zoe went after her ages ago. She should be back by now.’
‘Let’s find Raj,’ Carter said. ‘He’ll know.’
‘I think I saw him over by the wall.’ Sylvain pointed.
They headed that way. Carter had one arm around Nicole, whose damaged leg barely bore her weight.
Allie didn’t like the bruise on his jaw – it was purple and swelling. ‘That looks bad, Carter.’
‘It just needs some ice.’ He rubbed the back of his neck. ‘It’s my neck that really hurts. I didn’t like the way it crunched when Gabe hit me.’
Sylvain looked at Allie. ‘It’s you I’m worried about – you’ve lost a lot of blood.’
‘I feel OK,’ she said. She looked over at him. ‘You and Zoe were great back there. I haven’t had a chance to thank you.’
His lips tightened. ‘I’m sorry Nathaniel got away.’
‘Me too,’ Allie said quietly.
When they reached the wall, one of the guards directed them over it towards the woods, where he said they’d find Raj.
Carter helped Nicole over first. Sylvain climbed up next and helped Allie across, lifting her gently as if she weighed no more than a child.
‘There’s Zoe.’ Ahead of them, Carter pointed towards the woods to where a small figure had emerged, leading a taller one by the hand.
Allie’s heart seemed to stop in her chest. ‘Rachel,’ she breathed.
She took off towards them, ignoring the jarring pain in her arm.
‘Rachel!’ She shouted it now, running to her. She heard Rachel call her name, saw her stumbling towards her and then they were both sobbing, hugging each other.
Stepping back, Rachel studied Allie with fear in her eyes. ‘What happened? You’re bleeding everywhere.’
‘I’m fine,’ Allie said with false bravado. ‘I just need a few stitches. I should watch where I’m going.’
Rachel looked at the others who had reached them now. ‘Is she really fine? How bad is it?’
Sylvain stepped to Allie’s side. ‘She’s OK. We’re taking her to the infirmary now. What about you?’ He gestured at her bloodied nose and bruised cheekbone.
‘It’s superficial,’ Rachel said. ‘I’ll live.’
But she looked weak and exhausted.
‘Did you see your dad?’ Allie asked her. ‘He was worried about you.’
New tears filled Rachel’s eyes. ‘He found me as soon as I got to the woods.’
‘Good.’ Allie nodded, trying not to cry again.
Everyone was OK.
‘We need to get going,’ Zoe said impatiently. ‘Raj said we had to go straight back to the school.’
‘Yeah, let’s keep moving,’ Carter agreed. ‘I don’t know how long Nicole’s leg’s going to make it.’
‘I’m fine,’ Nicole insisted, but Allie could see the pain etched in her face.
The rain had stopped but the footpath was slippery mud and they moved with caution.
The adrenaline that had kept Allie going up until now was wearing off, and as they made their way down the hill she began to
When she tripped over a rock, though, the movement sent pain shooting through her shoulder and she was unable to suppress a whimper.
‘Here.’ Sylvain slipped his arm round her waist, supporting her weight. ‘Lean on me.’
‘I’m OK,’ she lied and he almost smiled.
‘I know you are,’ he said.
It seemed to take hours to reach the school, although Allie knew it couldn’t have been more than twenty minutes.
When they limped across the terraced back gardens and through the door, they found the building flooded with light and almost too warm after so long out in the rain. Allie hadn’t realised she was shivering until she reached the heat.
But the wide hallway was strangely empty.
Exchanging puzzled looks, they walked past the marble statues and oil paintings, their footsteps echoing in
