Emerald stirred slowly, feeling a heavy weight on her arms and legs, as if her body was filled with sand.
The room was quiet, dark, and dimly lit by moonlight spilling in from the balcony. The fire in the hearth had gone out, and the shadows had returned to their quiet corners.
Her head throbbed, and for a few seconds, she just lay there, staring at the carved ceiling.
Where am I? She asked herself.
Then it all came rushing back: the fire, the sealed door, the smoke curling under her nose, the heat on her skin, and just before she passed out… the shadow.
She sat up slowly, ignoring the spike of pain behind her eyes.
Had someone followed me here? She thought, taking in sharp, shallow breaths. Was it the same person from my pack? The one who sent the messages?
"Maybe," Viola murmured in her mind. "But what if it wasn't? What if it was someone here?"
Before Emerald could respond, the door creaked open
