Free Prisoner of Darkhaven by EMMA PAUL Page B

guardian of Darkhaven. It was a
    small kingdom, so he quickly narrowed down the Boggart demons to
    two. The first one, Bjorg was a harmless house pest, who got his
    kicks by moving furnishings, making hideous growling and grunting
    noises to scare the human hosts that have the misfortune of inviting
    him in. Now the other one was a different story.

    * * * *
Elise waited patiently. She stood to the side of the door with
    wooden tray firmly gripped in her shaking hands. Taking a deep
    breath, she held it as the door creaked open. The minute the door
    closed, Elise struck.

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    Using all her strength, she swung the tray at the back of the young
    maid's head. It collided with the woman's skull with a sickening
    crunch. She fell to the floor instantly. Elise dropped the tray and
    stared down at the woman she felled with a mixture of horror, relief
    and pity. She could barely catch her breath. Her heart pounded
    heavily in her chest and she had to clench her fists to steady her
    shaking limbs.
    Tensing her muscles, Elise wasted no time in recovering from the
    initial shock of thrashing another human being. She dragged the
    unconscious woman to the small bed. After hauling her up on the
    bed, she removed her tattered dress and stripped the clothing from the
    maid's body.
    Once she had dressed in the maid's dowdy brown dress, apron and
    servant's bonnet, she pulled the cover over the naked woman's body,
    grabbed the tray with the empty plates and walked out of the room.
    "Hey you, lass! Hold on a minute!"
    Elise froze. Behind her, a burly guard towered over her. She
    turned her face slightly giving him a semi profile.
    "I am to return the gully. My chores are waiting. Is there
    something you need sir?"
    It seemed like everything had slowed to a snail's pace. Elise waited
    for the guard to recognize her and throw her back in the room. Or,
    worse, get DeMumart, who would no doubt punish her severely for
    trying to escape. The guard reached around with something in his
    hand. Elise braced herself for his beefy hands to seize her.
    Instead, he placed a cloth napkin on the tray, "You dropped this..."
    Relief flooded Elise. "Thank you, sir."
    She gave a quick curtsey and hurried down the hall. Placing the
    tray down, she practically flew down the spiraling staircase. Her
    breast heaved up and down with her anxious breath. Her heart
    hammered beneath her ribcage, but she didn't stop.
    She had to find the pendant had to get to Damien and warn him.
    The problem was she had absolutely no clue where she needed to
    search. If only she could somehow call on Damien to help her.

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    However, the Curse of Darkhaven blocked any subliminal
    communication. She needed the stone!
    She focused on finding the necklace, willing herself to somehow
    connect with the magic inside the pendant, in the hopes it would lead
    her to the location. Hours seemed to have past as she walked around
    the dark corridors that twisted and turned in an endless maze. How
    could anyone find their way around this castle?
    Her head pounded from all the forced concentration. What did she
    expect? She only wasted time. Elise rubbed her temples, trying to
    easy the dull ache throbbing behind her eyes.
    The minute tension released from her muscles, an invisible force
    tugged at her chest. It seemed to be prompting her to turn left. She
    did. The pull became stronger. Elise barely had time to register what
    was going on as her feet led her down a hall she hadn't noticed before.
    Her legs moved as though someone or something else possessed
    them. The sensation in her chest grew stronger.
    It was leading her to the pendant! It must be! She allowed herself to
    relax further. No longer walking, she ran down a staircase, turned
    right into a narrow corridor and stopped at a door.
    Her body tingled. Whatever had brought here, left the moment she
    grabbed the door handle.. Elise took a deep breath, then turned the
    handle slowly and opened the door a sliver, just enough that she