Chapter 68. A Truce

Screams echoed all around, ricocheting off the glass walls until it seemed as if they had embedded themselves inside her head like claws and refused to let go. Lady Lucia clamped her hands over her ears to try and block out the noise but it was pointless.

All around, the Mages went about their business as if nothing was happening, as if a poor girl somewhere within the castle was not being fed upon. As a matter of fact, gaiety was the order of the day as laughter rang out clearly amongst the Mages who stood in small groups, talking animatedly amongst themselves.

Lady Lucia huddled in a corner at first, as if by some stroke of luck, the walls could swallow her up and she would disappear. When the screams only grew louder and it seemed the Mages would continue to turn a blind eye to them, she stood on shaky legs and walked out of the hall. 

On instinct, she made her way to the garden, drinking in the rich scents of the various smells of the flowers. Here, she fe