Your attempt to rescue Savannah has gone wrong. She’s disappeared and now Bluebeard is demanding your name…

You can’t tell the truth. You’re not supposed to be here. If he discovers that you violated his rule, you might very well end up just like poor Savannah. She’s disappeared entirely now, and you’ve no idea where she went. Savannah…

That gives you an idea. 

“I don’t remember.” You force yourself to speak slowly, not to let a single tremble affect your words. Just like Savannah, when she tried to remember how she came to be in this place. If it’s possible for her, then surely it’s a believable explanation for you.

The darkness is so thick here. You know Bluebeard stands before you, but you can’t see him. You only get the impression of height, of breadth of shoulders, of danger. His voice is still deeper than it was during daylight hours. “I find that impossible to believe.”

Fear cascades down your spine. It takes every bit of control you have not to stiffen in the face of his mild–and dangerous–words. “I don’t know what to tell you, then. I don’t remember.”

“You danced with me earlier. I recognize your dress.” The words feel like a threat. Or maybe an attack. Your mind is spinning too much to be sure. 

You swallow hard. “Yes.” A truth in the midst of lies. Surely that’s the way to go? “But I don’t know how I got here, or where this dress came from. I danced with you and then I saw two masked people dragging a woman away. So I followed.”

“Hmmm.” You can see him a little more clearly now, and your terrified mind half expects a plume of smoke to curl from his nostrils. You’ve never thought to compare a human man with a dragon, but suddenly you can’t think of anything else. His voice is too big for such a mundane body. 

Your breath is trapped in your lungs, no way to escape. Gods, this might be the end for you. You’ll become a missing person, and then a fading mystery. A foolish woman who drove into the woods, never to be seen again. Horror movie or fairy tale, you’re suddenly sure you’re not going to get one of the renditions with a happy ending. People forget not every fairy tale ends in happily ever after. Some of them dissolve into blood and death and sorrow. 

“I’ll ask you again, stranger,” he finally says. “What is your name?”

“Savannah,” you say without thinking. Why did you say that? Savannah is her name, and surely he knows that. He’ll guess you’re lying and then…

His hand appears in front of you, palm up. “Come with me.”

There’s no way to refuse. You’re trapped in this hallway filled with unnatural darkness, with only him as a source of direction. You could run, but you should have reached a wall by this point. Are there walls anymore? You would have thought such a thing was impossible, but you’ve experienced several impossible things tonight alone.

So you set your hand into Bluebeard’s and allow him to guide you through the shadows. Step after step after step, with only his touch to ground you. You lose all track of how long you’ve been walking. Your senses tangle up. Is that movement at the corner of your vision or are your eyes trying to compensate for the lack of light? Do you hear a slow, dragging step behind you? Surely not. Surely, it’s all in your head. You wish you could be sure.

You focus on Bluebeard because he’s the only thing that seems remotely real right now. There seems to be no heat coming off his body, or perhaps the hallway has gone so cold, it can’t reach you. His palm beneath yours is gloved, cutting off even the slightest chance of being skin to skin. It’s for the best. You just wish his scent was less intoxicating, filled with deep, spicy notes that tug at your stomach. You shiver.

The door appears in front of you when you’re a mere foot away. One moment, there’s nothing but darkness. The next, Bluebeard has to tug you to a stop before you run right into the monstrosity. It’s easily eight feet tall and twice as wide as normal doors. The frame is some kind of glinting metal, but Bluebeard moves forward and opens it before you can see any more details.

Heat slaps your exposed skin as you follow him through the door. You shiver and wrap your arms around yourself. You hadn’t realized how cold you were until this moment. When you look at your hands, you’re only partially surprised to find your fingers are edging into a worrying red. They hurt, too, though you didn’t notice it until this moment. 

“Come. Sit by the fire.” Bluebeard motions to the giant fireplace, flames crackling merrily within. 

The details of the room come to your shaking self in waves. Giant fireplace. Big desk. Shelves covering every available wallspace, filled with books. And Bluebeard, leaning against the desk with his arms crossed, watching you closely.

You make your way to the tall-backed chair next to the fireplace and practically collapse into it. Your toes are cold, too. Your everything is cold. How long does it take frostbite to happen? It didn’t feel like you were in that hallway for very long, but clearly you missed something. 

Clearly, you’ve missed a lot.

You hold your hands out and hiss in pain as feeling begins returning to the tips of your fingers. The silence feels weighted, charged unpleasantly. He thinks he can make you speak first, can put you on the defensive. You’re not about to let that happen. You just need to survive long  enough to get back to your room. Then you can climb out a damned window or something and escape this strange place. The money would be life-changing, but you can’t change your life if you’re dead. 

“Now…Savannah… I think it’s time we speak frankly.” He steeples his hands. “You’ve trespassed, attacked two of my staff, and terrorized a young woman. One of those violations would be enough to see consequences, but three?” He shakes his head slowly. “We both know you remember exactly how you got here. Now is your time to come clean. I despise lies.”

Because telling the truth would be so much better? You might laugh if you weren’t so terrified. You violated the one rule he gave you when you came to this place. You’re not going to admit to a single damned thing. “I’m sorry. I don’t remember.”

He sighs, as if you’ve disappointed him. “I see.”

A knock on the door interrupts whatever he’d been about to say. Bluebeard curses under his breath. “A moment.” He moves to the door and cracks it open. “What?”

You’re close enough to hear clearly. You don’t even try to avoid eavesdropping. This might be your chance to get the hell out of here.

“I apologize, Bluebeard, but we have a problem.” The voice is low and sweet, and you’re certain you’ve never heard it before. “Since the girl woke up, the enchantments aren’t taking. We need you.”

Enchantments. After everything you’ve seen, you don’t know why this brazen discussion of magic is enough to make your head spin. 

Bluebeard curses again. “Very well. I’ll be there shortly.” He turns to you. “I have to take care of something. Do not leave this room.”

You nod shakily, but you’re watching the spot behind him, where the door remains cracked. There is no darkness behind him, but a hallway that looks identical to the ones you wandered down at the start of this nightmare. Did he bring you back to the main house? You’re not sure you left it to begin with, but things have gotten confusing since you entered the party that shouldn’t have existed. 

The moment Bluebeard steps out of the room and closes the door, you’re on your feet. Now’s your chance… But what do you do? Your gaze goes from the door to the massive desk. There might be information there that could help you. Or maybe you should take your chances and escape. Or…

*

What will you do?