Page 31 of On Edge

Beyond the braced scaffolding poles, the hallway vanishes into shadow. Only a lonely strip of yellow tape lies coiled like a snake on the dusty floor, with the wordDANGERrepeating over and over on it, like a warning. It looks like it’s been there for years.

It probably has. And I should probably take it seriously.

Or not.

I climb through the poles, moving cautiously. I’m in my dress, and I have a cardigan and my boots on. Since my suitcase never showed, I’ll have to ask if I can borrow something fromMrs Oakley, though she’s smaller than I am. The alternative would be to steal a shirt from Severin, but I shudder at that thought. I guess I’ll have to wear this dress until it falls off my body. I can handle the cold for now; it actually feels cooler in this part of the house, though that could be my imagination.

It’s so sad that this whole section of the house looks untouched and unloved. Why would a man who can do anything he wants buy this tomb-like house and then take so long to restore it? The property agreement showed an enormous figure that Severin paid for this place. On top of that, it must cost a lot to heat and maintain. But it’s not like Severin hasn’t got the money.

Why can’t a billionaire afford heating?

Or at least finish the refurb.

Some of the walls here are still black with ash, like the fire happened only yesterday, though a layer of thick dust and cobwebs tells me otherwise. I brush one away, out of my face, and stop to try a blackened door.

Locked.

“In case you didn’t know, this side of the house is off limits.” The voice is gruff, grating.

I spin around.

“Oh, I didn’t know that. I was looking for somewhere to make a phone call.” The blatant lie is thick on my tongue, burning my cheeks the second it slips from my mouth.

It’s not Severin.

Somehow it’s worse.

Mundel has followed me through the boards. His boots are muddy like he’s just come from outside. He doesn’t seem to notice or care about my lie; he only nods.

“As I said before, if you need to make a call, you could try outside. Sometimes you can get a phone signal up by the tower.”

The remaining tower. It’s one of the places on my list to check out, since my sister’s diary was found at the bottom of it.

“Oh. That’s good to know. How do I get there?” I give him a kind smile, the one I keep ready for the old busybodies at the family bakery when they would start asking questions about my father, I could never answer. It’s strange to think I was only there last week, and now here I am, knee-deep in the old bones of a dying house.

He stalks towards me, dripping dirt everywhere, and reaches out. Without thinking, I pull back, stumbling away.

He scoffs, raising both hands. “No need to be afraid. I was going to show you where to go.” He reaches again, slower this time, and unlocks the door I’d been standing beside.

A blush spreads over the rest of me, making my face and the back of my neck hot, despite the gnawing tendril of fear in my gut as I look into the room he just opened for me.

Maybe he is only trying to help.

“Through here and then through those doors.” He points to the patio doors at the far end of the room. “Turn left and keep walking until you come to a set of stone steps outside the building. Climb until you get to the terrace. You should get a signal up there.”

I glance into the room. Despite the fire-damaged door, it’s one that’s newly renovated, smelling of fresh paint. A new set of patio doors has been installed at the far end.

“Is it safe? Isn’t there a storm coming?”

“It’s not here yet, you’ll be fine until the wind picks up.”

“Right.” I flash him another friendly smile. “Thank you, I’ll give it a try.”

He smiles, not a nice one, and moves away, giving me enough space to enter the room. I side-eye him, and he continues staring, lips curled up, his eyes so flinty that I suddenly want to get away. Now seems as good a time as any to escape outside.

Trying to ignore the feel of him watching me, I push past him, into the room. By the time I reach the patio doors and unlock them, Ineedto get away. I’m actually looking forward to climbing the terrace, filling my lungs with air that doesn’t smell like mold and secrets.

Outside, the smell of rain is intense but refreshing compared to the musty halls I’ve left behind. It does make me feel a little better to be outside rather than in. Since my brain has been working overtime to connect the dots, it’s getting confusing, tiring. I’m usually at home with a book most days.