Unspeakable Secrets The Alchemist Series (A Dark Medieval Progression Fantasy)

Chapter 58 The Monster

The idea of being instantly killed with little more than a glance didn't fill Connor with optimism. And he supposed he should've considered that earlier too...

But, in the end, he had to know.

He opened the panel, sliding it to one side.

What he saw made his eyebrows rise with stunned surprise.

He'd half expected to come face to face with a slavering beast of nightmarish proportions the instant he opened the viewport, but instead, he saw a spacious, opulent room not too different from his own.

It too contained a single cell of similar design, except covered in six times as many runes and with dark iron bars thicker than his legs. He saw a sink on one side, but the rest was obscured by blankets draped over the bars above.

The contents of the cell made it clear that the occupant was likely intelligent and Connor considered whispering through the door as the open panel disabled the sound suppression in the other cells enough for that to be possible so it seemed reasonable that the same would be true for this one. But, again he found himself hesitating...

Just because the creature within was likely intelligent and perhaps even civilized didn't mean it was any more trustworthy or less dangerous than those in the previous cells.

The blankets rustled and he could swear he heard something sniffing the air, but it might've been his imagination.

"Connor? Is that you?" asked a familiar voice.

Connor smiled and bit back a chuckle. No wonder they were so paranoid. No doubt Vadik had warned them many times over about Adelia. The only one other than Victor that Connor could never beat in a fight.

Though even for her, this level of security seemed incredibly excessive and he found himself wondering if this was indeed her... or perhaps some creature skilled in mimicking voices. Perhaps with the ability to sense who he secretly wished to hear from?

But, then again, he'd escaped.

So, perhaps their security measures weren't excessive. And, there were times when she'd pulled off feats that he'd have sworn were impossible. Not to mention her senses which seemed to surpass even his sense enhancing potion.

He found himself torn, with a relieved sigh stuck in his throat even as his guts twisted with trepidation.

It couldn't truly be her... could it? Why would they put her behind so much security? Did Vadik exaggerate her abilities... or does the Syndicate know something about her that I don't? Connor thought. He was afraid to hope and yet unable to help himself.

"Yeah," he whispered, knowing she'd hear him with ease, "it's me. How'd you know?"

There was a soft laugh on the other side.

"Told you, I'd recognize your scent anywhere. How'd you get out?" Adelia asked.

Her words did little to allay his fears. If this was in fact some other creature that could portray itself as Adelia and had the ability to read his mind, then making such a reference would be easy for it.

"I'll explain later," Connor said, "Trouble is, the way I used won't work for this door. Your locks are thicker and there are far too many. Trying to pick them would take even longer, especially without my potions. They seem even more worried about you getting out than I'd have expected," Connor said.

His voice carried a degree of humor and he partly expected to get a dark chuckle out of her, if this was indeed her, but none came. Moreover... the 'Adelia' didn't rush to explain exactly why she would be bound behind such heavy security.