I step back, narrowing my eyes at him. "No. I've seen the way that Riordan has looked at me. I see the way he looks at Kane which is the same way you do when you don't think he's looking. I'm not sure I feel comfortable with that at all."
Willem leans his head back in frustration and stares up at the ceiling. I bite the inside of my cheek and bigan to pace, my thoughts roving through the possibilities of what could be wrong with Kane. I think about what we've been through, and the horror of the Nephilim that we fought. A thought enters my mind and I consider not asking, but it very well could be the answer to our problem.
I turn back to Willem and stare at him curiously. He gives me a double take and wrinkles his brow. "What?"
I run my tongue across my lips and tap my finger to my cheek. "Would it be possible, if a Nephilim was close enough to Kane, could he tell what's wrong with him?"
Willem purses his lips, thinking about it. "It's definitely possible. It's especially possible if there is some sort of force driving him from the inside. I can't be sure though, we would need to talk to one. But for now, I need you to stay out of view. Lay low. If you're not going to allow me to get you out of here, then at least don't get yourself in a situation that I have to rescue you from."
Anger surges through me. "You know, I'm not completely helpless. I did defeat a Nephilim myself. I did break into the crypts of Drogaem. But for now, I'll heed your warning and take it into consideration."
Willem gives me one last look before stomping out of the room. Of course, I have no intention of laying low. I might simmer down my seductive tendencies a bit, but it's my responsibility and it's my duty to figure out what is going on with Kane. If I can't help him, he's not the only one that's doomed.
Chapter 10
Briar
It's late at night, and though I know Kane doesn't want me up walking around the castle, I can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes it's filled with heat and light, and every time I open them, I'm filled with darkness and curiosity. The Kane that grabbed me earlier in his office is not the Kane that I grew to be so fond of. But I still have hope, hope that whatever he's doing isn't nearly as terrible as I believe it to be. I want to believe that there's good left in him, love, caring.
I throw my black cloak over my dressing gown and slip on a pair of shoes before leaving the room. I assume when I open the door I'm going to have to fight with the Guardsmen, but to my surprise there are none there. I know I should be suspicious, but I just want to get away. I haven't been back to the garden since that night with Kane, as I hid my dagger there knowing he wouldn't go there unless I was there. I've been trying to stay away to keep my secret safe. I head down the hallway, looking at all the pictures moving in their frames, wondering what life was like the moment they were created.
I've always had a bit of an imagination, the only thing my father couldn't control. I keep it to myself, but it keeps me company on lonely nights and scary occasions. This night, I try not to use my imagination too much. It wants to run free, think about things that I shouldn't think about. Fear needs to stay at bay, and the dark and gloomy castle doesn't help.
I decide to take a different route through the corridors this time, weaving in and out of hallways, stopping to peek inside of grandly decorated ballrooms, and libraries with books enchanted by chains and magic. The castle really is an interesting place, but my mind isn't in an adventurous mood. It sits with Kane, even with my walls up I can't help but think about him. The moments of comforting and caring keep replaying in my mind but when I picture the Kane that I saw earlier, it's almost as if they're two different people.
Meandering down the hallway, I notice ahead that the lights begin to flicker, and it's much darker in this area of the castle. I don't believe I've ever been in this part, and things seem almost older, darker than they have in the past. I wrap my cloak around my body tightly, feeling a chill which is unlike anywhere that I've been in the Underworld. I walk softly, trying not to make noise as I have a sneaking suspicion, a feeling in my gut that this is where Kane has been spending the majority of his time. When I reach the end of the corridor, there's a stairwell. It's made of stone, not covered in lush carpets, nothing hanging on the walls except for large torches with the fire glistening shadows across the rocky surface. There's a stagnant smell in the air that sits right at the opening, and it's musty and old.
There are so many things in the Underworld that I don't understand yet, so many things that keep me anxious and fearful. Something about the staircase doesn't feel right. There's an evil even darker than what surrounds me on a daily basis and it pushes me away from the stairwell. My breath catches in my throat feeling the fear bubbling in my stomach. I take a step back and go to turn but pause, hearing a sound. I stand perfectly still, listening harder, trying
