Troubled Heart

POV: Samanta

The door closed in an unforgiving silence. My voice had jammed somewhere in my throat and my courage had vanished to give way to a heavy discomfort building up in my chest.

I had left my room for some tea when the maids told me about Ana's evening walk. I thought it odd that she was walking around the castle so late, but considering all that had happened I guessed she wanted to clear her mind with an evening walk. I told them that I would take care of it, and as I followed the maids' directions, I found Ana making her way to the heroes' quarters.

My suspicions were heightened and I used my communication crystal to call Molly. The Cherryblossom clan was preparing for an attack on a cultist hideout, so it wasn't uncommon for her to be awake. As soon as she answered my call, I asked her about the arrival of the heroes. What she told me froze my blood.