Page 148 of The Secrets of Jane: Reborn

He doesn’t even look at me as I’m guided through the castle. There’s a certain, tight bustle to the people inside. Like how Skull’s Row would get right before a hurricane—thinking that over, I notice that the curtains billow with more force, evenrippling in the wind. Light rain begins to land on the sills, the stone shining.

My bones already feel soaked and freezing at the thought of going out into that. It even starts to smell damp—did I not notice this in my room?

Someone strides up to Blackwell, breathing heavily as if he rushed to get here. “Sir… Merciless is backing out.”

Blackwell stops, the tension making me close my eyes as I nearly wait for him to blamemesomehow. “Andwhy?” Blackwell drolls out.

“Because ofher.”

Fuck, what did I do?

When I glance at the man, rather than indicating to me, he does so to the windows.

Wait, then who? There’s no way it’s Tempest. It feels too good to be true, honestly. Like why did Anya suffer so much just for Tempest to arrive days later?And Merciless backed out? Was he going to join us?

“Then we leave as soon as I say we’re ready, and whoever doesn’t make it, gets left behind.”

I don’t look at Blackwell’s face as we start walking again, but if I were to, I can only imagine the expressions he must harbor as everyone we pass lowers their head in submission when they see his him; a little quicker than normal, like they’re afraid.

“Can I even ask what’s happening?” I inquire. He has no one to threaten me with now, so I don’t have tobehave.

“You set the sirens free,” he says, too calmly. “Tempest is coming, and I suppose that’s why Merciless is gone. But it’s fine, you don’t need to worry, Jane. We’re leaving quite early as it is, beforeanythingbecomes a problem. You’ll still get to have thehonorof serving Morvock,” he says, far too much condescension in his voice.

“Would hate to cause a problem,” I say, my sleepiness completely staved off now.

Tempest…

Oh, I’ll do whatever it takes to jump into the ocean. Therehaveto be sirens in there. I’ll even risk freezing to death over being with Misery.

Blackwell seems to buy that, and evensnickers. “Enjoy breathing without fear right now, Jane. I don’t envy you in the slightest. The sirens being freed is entirely Jesper’s fault, and he’s been punishedseverely. When it comes time to consummate with him, you willhateyour life.”

I won’t let that happen. I need the ocean if I’m to get out of here. I have to hope one of the sirens is in that water, waiting on me with marrowkelp. If not, then... well, again, I’d rather freeze in the waters, and at least Soren can find his sister himself.

I also can’t help but be happy to hear Jasper suffer.

“You seem rather calm,” I state.

“I’mnot the one who needed the sirens. And I mean what I said—your life will be nothing but suffering once on Darkwater. Jesper will never forgive you. I find a lot of solace in that.”

Blackwell guides me to an area where I can see the shipyard in the far distance through a window, but before I can look further, I’m pulled to the opposite side as I walk through a threshold and stand on a landing, stairs in front of me to take us down to a circular entrance hall. My heart races when I spot at least a dozen women—ranging from what has to be late teens to even forties—standing in a row, wearing the same brown garb that I also wear, all with bound wrists and looking down at the ground, lined up.

I’m moved next to the women and placed at the end, with me being the only one to look around while they continue to have a staring contest with the floor. A few fire mages stand guard over us, each one with a different black marking on their forehead—from a diamond with a circle in the center, to three horizontal stripes. Their red robes stand out against the monotone grayish white of this place, their hands clasped behind their backs; they carrysomuch self-importance.

Blackwell moves around the room, surveying all of us, before walking to the only door here and opening it, the rain pattering at his feet.

“Great. There’s a storm,” he grumbles, although I’m not sure it was to anyone in particular. It’s as if he’s too lazy to be angry. Or maybe that’s just how his confidence comes across, like he is certain that no matter what, none of this will stop him.

I lean into the closest woman next to me, whose lips are chapped. “My name is Jane.”

The woman stiffens, shifting her gaze slightly at me before back down at the ground. Well, clearly they aren’t the talking type, which means they were subjected to their own torture so far. I hear sniffing and lean forward, looking at one in the middle—the one who appears the oldest—who seems to be silently crying.

I badly want to speak, but I need to think before acting, for once. I potentially have an armada coming for me, and no matter what, I need to get away from Blackwell. From Misery.It’s either I focus on those who would suffer under his reign, or these Cinders.

It’s such a selfish feeling that saving my own life is more important than preserving others, especially when they’re standing next to me.

It’s necessary, though. I know this.

One of the mages goes under the stairwell, and I hear a door—I must have missed it. We’re told to follow, the winds picking up as thunder rages in the sky. We’re taken through a covered, open-arched walkway,manyarmed guards outside to escort us.I keep glancing out at the sea; a streak of lighting illuminates the entire ocean, revealing angry waves that bash into the coast.