*** This story contains some mild language, suspense, romance, and some frightening images and situations—13 and older, please.

In the Grip of Twilight

By:

Olivia Tannis Moore

Chapter Eighty Two:

The Dungeon Sorrows

The Gods' Eye seemed to glow as if it was alive as I held it in my palm. The dark and light bands of amber swirled through the stone to its very core; its surface was smooth and polished. And I stared mutely at the stone, mesmerized by its intricate beauty.

Audrina was staring at me; the envy in her eyes was painful to witness.

"It's not for me," I told her. "It's going home."

"Oh…" she said, and I could tell she didn't know where home was for the stone.

"Dimetri's just entrusting me with it until I can get it to its rightful owner," I continued.

She raised a thin eyebrow. "You don't mean the Lycans?" she scoffed. "That can't be right. Dimetri wouldn't turn over anything to those monsters."

I smiled and shrugged, not knowing how much I should tell the girl. But then the stone claimed my attention once more, and I realized it was warming in my hand. I closed my hand around it and the amber light coming from the stone radiated from between my fingers as if it could not be contained.

Audrina's eyes widened. "It didn't light up for me like that," she accused.

I opened my hand and the bright spiraling light burst into the dark study.

"Cover it! Quickly!" Audrina said. "They'll be able to detect it if they are close…"

I tried to smother the light between both of my hands but the rays of light filtered between my fingers and then my skin as if my hands were transparent.

Audrina looked around frantically. "Someone's coming!"

I looked toward the window but Audrina shook her head. "No time," she said, taking a dirty antiqued ragdoll from her deep pockets.

I dove under Dimetri's desk and set the stone on the floor beside my feet. The glow immediately waned and then went out just as the door creaked open. When I peered up, I could see Audrina, but not who was at the door; although, it wasn't to remain a mystery for long.

"Father," Audrina said flatly.

"What are you doing in here, Audrina?" Caius asked, his voice low and gravelly with suspicion. The sudden appearance of is black boots in front of the desk, and so close, made my heart lurch in my chest. If he leaned over the desk, even a small bit, he'd see me.

"Playing house—Dimetri said I could," she said in a childish, peevish tone. She didn't look up at him, just kept smoothing the doll's yarn-hair.

Caius paused for a second, one of his black boots hovered in the air before coming down inches from my splayed fingers. "I thought I saw a light in here… Audrina, there's to be no lights burned tonight, remember?"

"Yes, Father," she huffed. "But, I didn't turn on a light."

"And if you hear or see anything…strange…you're to report it to me right away," Caius added.

"I know…" she huffed as if irritated by the reminder. "No lights tonight, Felicia," she told the doll as she smoothed its yellow yarn hair.

"Very well, then," Caius said. "I'll leave you to your play."

"Bye, Father," she said dutifully, and I watched as she whirled the ragdoll around by its arms as if they were dancing and had no more time to converse. It was one of the best performances I had ever seen of someone acting like a child. And it had disarmed Caius without a glitch. No one ever wants to believe that their child is up to no good, I thought with a wry smile. So it was with Elena and Aro, and now with Caius and Audrina. It was ironic that the wicked parents expected saintly children.

The door closed with a heavy click and I let my held breath whoosh from my lungs.

Audrina knelt down beside me underneath the desk. "Now that was close."

I held my hand out to her and she helped me from the floor. "Where'd you learn to act?" I asked her. "I'm impressed."

She gave me a slight smile. "I didn't learn to act. I just never let him see that I grew up. Besides, it's much easier if he thinks I'm just a dumb kid or a simpleton. He leaves me alone that way."

"Well, works for me—if it didn't I'd be toast right now. Thanks."

She nodded. "You'd better go while he's inside the castle. He was out in the courtyard earlier making the rounds."

I shook my head. "Wish it was that easy. I've got to find someone and get them out of the castle."

She tilted her head and looked at me. "The boy you came with?"

"No. Actually it's his sister," I told her, again omitting that I was trying to find Dimetri as well. "Her name is Alice."

"Alice!" she said surprised. "I know Alice." Again she fished around in those large, seemingly bottomless pockets of hers. "She's like me…sees stuff before it happens." She brought out a thin, gold chain. "She gave me this necklace yesterday. Said she wanted me to have it."

That was so much like Alice it made my eyes mist up. She was always giving her stuff to others. I thought about the broach she'd given me before I'd left to come to Volterra. Alice wouldn't think twice about giving away real or costume jewelry if she knew someone liked it.

But it was much more than that. It was Alice's way of giving a piece of herself… and as I stared at the little oval cameo pendant swaying on the gold chain, I shuddered. It was one of the few pieces of jewelry from her life before becoming a vampire. And it was her favorite necklace; rarely did she go anywhere without it.

"Aro has taken Alice somewhere," I said. "If Alice was in trouble, where would Aro take her?"

Audrina turned whiter than her usual pale. "The Dungeons. He'd take her to the Dungeons." She bent her head and lowered her voice until I could barely hear her words. "But you can't go down there. No one ever comes out once he puts you down there." And as if she, too, finally understood, she looked at the cameo necklace and said sadly, "That's why she gave me her beautiful necklace…she knew she'd not be coming back."

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(Apologies…it's been a while. As always, thanks for reading. OTM)