Sorry for the shorter chapter, I'm in a show this weekend and don't have a lot of free time but I wanted to get some kind of update out. I promise a very long, very exciting chapter next week!
Freeing himself from his cell, and knocking out the guards was almost too easy. Making his way to the castle with the aid of the night wasn't any harder in the black cloak which blended into the dark smoothly. Will's discomfort came from the people around him, as he noticed many doors and shutters with hastily painted crosses on them. From a few houses he could hear muttered, anxious praying, and from others soft sobbing.
He safely reached the secret door into the palace, entered the passage and made his way to his old room. Lying neatly on his bed was his sword. Hannibal had left it as a welcoming gift for him, just as he'd expected. He tied the halter around his waist and hid the sword in the great folds of his cloak. Then he quietly entered the hallway and headed to where he knew Hannibal would be waiting for him.
As he turned a corner, he suddenly jumped back behind the wall. A few steps down the hallway the Prussian Ambassador had left his room. He'd also taken care to do it quietly. Will noticed he'd flung a dark red cape over his shoulders and glanced around with a chilling ferocity before he had left down the hallway. The rage in his eyes sent a shiver down Will's back, and he couldn't breath until he was sure the Ambassador was completely gone. When he next peered around the corner, Dolarhyde was gone as swiftly as a magician during a disappearing act. Will hoped he wouldn't finish the show by appearing out of thin air.
Unable to forget the fury in Dolarhyde's eyes, Will carefully tried the doorknob to his room and was distressed to find it locked. This only made his need to see what was behind the door greater. He glanced around as a caution and then pried his sword between the door and its frame. Will shoved his weight against it until the door splintered. A sickening moment passed as Will waited for nobles or royal guards to appear, or Dolarhyde himself. No one did. He pushed open the door and stepped into the room.
Panic surged in his throat as he realized there was nothing suspicious there. He pushed his hair back, knowing this couldn't be. However, there wasn't even a rug out of place. His room had every typical accommodation for the guest rooms. There was a bed, night table, a wardrobe, coffee table with two chairs, desk with quill, ink and fresh paper. Pushed into the corner was a chest, which Dolarhyde must have brought himself. Inside was clothing and an extra pair of boots. Why hadn't Dolarhyde emptied it into the wardrobe?
When Will grabbed the wardrobe's knob, he noticed something on it that appeared to him like red paint. He squinted his eyes and then opened the cabinet.
Before him was a painting of a dragon, it's back contorted as its red wings unfurled over a glowing woman collapsed on the ground. The monster's horns curled up then down to conceal his face. Whoever had set up the painting had also smeared red paint around the wardrobe and set up candles to create an alter. On the bottom of the wardrobe was the wax seal that had haunted Will since he first found it on a letter.
Will stumbled away from the closet. He unsheathed his sword and rose. He rushed to the door but then stopped as an alarm sounded in the distance. Gazing painfully down the hallway, Will couldn't bring himself to chase after Dolarhyde. Time was now short and Hannibal was still waiting for him. He might be suspecting Will of having run away. Will had no choice but to head to the ballroom.