Empowered (Unbound, Book 6)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

I felt oddly energized once I returned to the Fallamhain home. Whether it was because the Manor—or Maible even—was so dark and emotionally draining so normalcy felt like I was on top of the world or the energy of the house invigorated me like the Kingdom could, I didn't know. Perhaps it was the solitude—the library was closed and I was completely alone with only silence as a companion.

With no one present and my increased energy, it was the perfect opportunity for me to explore.

I dropped my keys and purse off at the second floor, putting my phone in my back jeans pocket. Onyx stayed at my side and we went to the first floor. I found the kitchen that was minimally stocked and then continued. Wandering around, I found nothing unusual. Just the main area for books and the reading alcove across from the secret door only my family could enter. In fact, all I learned was that the library had many books I wanted to read and vowed to make more time for it.

Forcing my exploration to continue, I left the books to check the secret room. Duvessa and Calin both introduced me to. Like before, the room was basically empty. I backed out before the door closed from my entry, not wanting to waste time. I'd seen three other doors, one I knew lead to the garage and another the basement Calin had said he stored things in.

The first door I checked just off the kitchen lead to a storage that doubled as a pantry. The second nearer the back of the house was the garage. The last door I found between the two on the opposite end of the hall from where I could access the second floor was dark. I leaned in, pawing the wall until I found the light switch, then blinked against the brightness until the spots in my vision cleared.

Once I could see, I wasn't surprised to find a staircase winding down, I was taken aback by the fact that it was so accessible to anyone. If it was the same as what I found at the Manor, it could lead to the Council chamber, which definitely needed to remain secretive. The towers at Grimas were more protected and had less chance of exposing the magical community.

I slipped through the door, closing it behind me, and started down the stairs.

At the bottom, it was finished construction, becoming less eerie than at the Manor. There was an alcove behind the stairs, a door straight ahead, just beside an open archway, and a door to the right. Given the direction this house faced compared to the center of town, I assumed the layout would be opposite of the Manor, so I stepped forward to check out the rooms from left-to-right, starting with the door straight ahead.

It opened to floor-to-ceiling storage filled with odds and ends, and furniture. I couldn't see the back wall except a couple inches that revealed a door, nor did I have the time to take an inventory. I closed the door, mentally noting to get Calin to help me clean it out when we finally had time and were hopefully back to being in a good place. I couldn't do it alone but assumed the odds were high that there were things owned by my family I would want to see and possibly even keep. Plus, I wanted to confirm there was a door and discover where it lead. Why would it be blocked? I hoped it was only a coincidence.

Through the open archway was an open room sparsely furnished with items I recognized from when Duvessa had pretended to be my friend. It had all been in the hidden room before Calin had it relocated downstairs because I had disliked its purpose. Seeing nothing different in the furniture to draw my interest, I backtracked to the landing and went to the door on the right, hesitating only a moment with my hand holding the handle.

Exhaling, I opened the door and entered, jumping slightly as the weight of the wood slammed it shut behind me as soon as I let go.

Lights flickered on like baseboards near the ceiling in response to my entry. My eyes adjusted from dark to just brighter than dim, and I looked around, thankful someone had seen wisdom in finishing the flooring and walls to reduce the creepiness. There were no cells or tables to work on. Instead, one side of the room was equipped with gym mats and equipment for working out, and the other side with a coffee bar, half of which was stocked with alcohol and glasses on the shelf above where a TV was mounted. Large armchairs with TV tray desks surrounded it. Around the entire room as a track wide enough to accommodate two runners.