The Keepers

Chapter 18

Without further explanation about why Marcus was endangering Josie, Donatella turned on her heels and left. Promising to send supper up to her room, Sam not-so-subtly indicated that the girl should also retire for the evening.

Even though she hadn't eaten since breakfast - and goodness knew how long ago that had really been - Josie wasn't hungry. When Wesley arrived with the bowl of lamb stew, the girl ignored it in favor of staring out the window.

Pressing her nose to the cool glass, she watched as the large clumps of crystallized flakes fluttered to the ground. The English garden where the children had played in the warm sunshine was now completely covered under a thick blanket of snow. The large, full moon also struggled to shine through the clouds delivering the unexpected precipitation, casting an eerie glow over the scene.

Josie couldn't help but think of her new friend, locked away upstairs. Why was Hyde examining him? Would he still be here in the morning? With the way Margie Blackburn had disappeared, Josie feared Marcus would also be gone without another word.

She couldn't let that happen. He was the first good thing to happen to her since arriving at the manor, and the least she could do was say goodbye. By the time she reached this decision, the fire in the hearth had almost died down completely. The room was becoming colder with each passing minute prompting Josie to find her cloak in the wardrobe. After bundling herself in the warm, wool garment, she opened the bedroom door a crack and listened.

Approaching voices at that exact moment made her quickly shut the door. Putting her ear against the wooden panel, she could tell it was Ezra and Dr. Hyde passing by, but she was unable to make out their exact words.

Confident they were far enough away, Josie opened the door again and peeked out. It was just in time to see the two men round the corner at the end of the hallway before disappearing down the grand staircase. Slipping out into the corridor, she cautiously closed the bedroom door behind her and headed toward the secret stairwell.

Most of the previous times she'd used the spiral stairs, they had connected the second floor with either the parlor or dining room. Only once did it take her - along with four other women intent on holding an séance - all the way to her Great Aunt's penthouse loft. Not knowing where the main staircase leading upstairs was - or whether the manor would even let her find it - Josie tiptoed toward her only option in reaching Marcus.

She knew the inside of the correct path was lined with endless shelves covered in books, but when Josie pulled the concealed door open, she was met with familiar, stone walls.

The girl sighed and shut the door. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on where she needed to go and tried again.

Still no books.

She repeated the process, imagining the colorful volumes neatly lined up on the curved bookcases. This time, she only opened her eyes when she'd pulled the door open.

Bare walls.

Shutting the door, she turned around and leaned against its frame. Burying her face in her hands, she muttered to herself - and maybe a little bit to the house. "Go to Donatella's room. Find Marcus. Go to Donatella's room. Find Marcus."

Lowering her hands and turning back to the staircase's entry, she peeked into the dark abyss one more time.

A sconce flickered alive, and its light bounced off a dusty, leather-bound tome.

Josie smiled as the whole spiral staircase was gradually enveloped in the soft, yellow glow as the phenomenon repeated itself all the way to the top. Stepping inside, she pulled the door closed behind her and started upward.