Free Adduné - the Vampire's Game by Wendy Potocki Page B

that their unwieldy crookedness was discovered. She kept her hand firmly clenched on the wooden frame built to support the treacherous climb, but didn’t put much faith in it preventing a tumble. It seemed as solid as a matchstick cathedral. The fact the temperature went down with each step taken was not helping in any way. If Miranda had thought it cold upstairs, the cellar was like wading into a bath of ice. It was as if she dipped her toe in an ice pond and kept going until completely immersed. She wasn’t a member of the Polar Bear Club and preferred her baths warm and steamy. By the time she reached the bottom step, she was tense from the effort taken to surmount the obstacles – the treacherous footing and the merciless cold.
     
    The hearty, hot stew consumed a few minutes ago was a thing of the past, as was the raging fire still going strong in the upstairs fireplace. They both had fortified her, but obviously not for long. She was forlorn and abandoned of any comfort. Even the lighting seemed to be working against her. The meager ceiling lamp at the top of the landing was too weak to properly light the entire staircase. She stood unable to see into the utter blackness of the estate’s basement. She made due until Reginald maneuvered his way to a light switch. He knew where they were located and went ahead.
     
    “ Why on earth is it not right here on this wall? Seems very stupid to have placed it so far away!” she complained.
     
    Reginald huffed in response. He was busily feeling his way along the wall. He’d only gone a few steps when Miranda was hit with a blast of light that more than adequately lit up the stairwell – and from what Miranda could see – the whole of the cellar. True they needed light, but Miranda had questioned the necessity for turning on every single one.
     
    “ You installed spotlights? Were you expecting a prison escape? Or do you just like to blind those that venture down to this godforsaken section of this condemned building?”
     
    “ Oh, you just think you know everything, don’t you? I don’t know who appointed you king of the world, but decisions other than the ones you come up with are valid. And yet, if it’s not done your way, you just complain, complain, complain!”
     
    Miranda shivered and grabbed her sweater tightly around her. She didn’t like this part of the house. It was even more inhospitable than upstairs. There might as well have been a sign posted in the stone that said, “No trespassing,” since that was the sentiment conveyed.
     
    Miranda took a look around at the space demanding to be left alone. With the addition of light, she finally could properly see the layout of the area. The cellar appeared to be one huge square, flanked on all sides with an endless number of doors. Which room housed the collectibles was anybody’s guess.
     
    “ Which door is it? There are so many?”
     
    “ The one to your right.”
     
    “ What are the rest?”
     
    “ Just other storage areas – not quite as large.”
     
    “ Is anything in them other than the bones of enemies? This was a dungeon, wasn’t it? I swear I can feel an enemy presence still here!”
     
    “ There you go, firing off your mouth and imagination. Yes, of course it was a dungeon. During that time, titled people were judge and jury. Luckily times have changed and we don’t keep enemies in our basement – nor mete out punishment with torture devices although I suspect you would love to bring that back in vogue.”
     
    “ Oh, you are rapacious at doling out that wit you think you possess! Too bad it doesn’t exist.”
     
    “ And neither does any telltale sign of prisoners that may or may not have been held here centuries ago. To answer your legitimate question, most of the rooms are empty, but I think some act as silent guardians for some other less successful portraits of the Weatherly clan.”
     
    Miranda saw the opening and attacked. She wasn’t over Reggie scaring her.
     
    “