Chapter 73

At that exact moment, Alicia bolted across the room. The others hurried after her. Throwing open the door, she screamed, "Run, run, run!"

The servant rushed toward them. He had his hands outstretched and looked like he was about to grab the end of Avril's cloak.

Nicole toppled tables and pushed chairs behind them, to block the servant's path.

Sprinting through the door, Alicia waited until everyone had exited. The servant was nearly upon them, when Alicia slammed the door and bolted the lock from the outside. The servant pounded at the door, the booming sound of a fist against wood seeming to shake the entire castle.

"Move, move," whispered Alicia, as she took the front of the group. They ran down the corridor. They were in the highest part of the castle. If they stayed there, they would be sitting ducks.

We need to get down to the ground level, thought Alicia. Without attracting attention.

But the servant's noise had already alerted some of the guards.