Song of the Dawn: Standalone Romantasy

A sound made me freeze. Holding my breath, I listened. A distinct splurging sound came from the darkness, where the light didn’t shine. I squinted at the shadows, but the darkness was too dense. Holding the bottle carefully in both hands, I took a step, listening. Unease crept up my spine, and my mouth went dry.

I gave myself a shake. It was childish to be afraid of the dark when it was only the gloom playing tricks on me. A shadow flickered, a shape indistinct and unclear in the semidarkness moved a few paces ahead of me, and a sensation of cold made my fingers numb.

The sound came again. It was lapping or sucking, like a horse drinking from a watering trough. Except this time, it was much louder, as though whatever it was drew nearer. A faint hint of water and decay drifted to my nose, and my chest constricted as a shroud of fear enveloped me.

Instinct told me to run. I caught my skirts in one hand to keep from tripping while dashing back to the stairs. I took them two at a time, heart beating hard in my throat.

When I reached the top, the scent of cinnamon wafted to my nose, calming my initial fright. Peering back down the stairs, I saw nothing but the flickering lamps and the quiet shadows. What had frightened me? And what would make that sound in a cellar? I’d ask Giselle, who frequently made deliveries to the kitchen. She’d know more.

Closing the door, I spun around and practically bumped into Ezra. I hadn’t seen him in a while and had thought my attempt to ignore him had been successful. But now, as I gazed up at him, my heart dropped and that desire sprouted again. “Mila?” His gaze shifted to the door, eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “I didn’t expect to find you here.”

Holding up the bottle of wine, I gave a shaky laugh. “Well, when a guest requests wine, I must comply.”

“That’s a good bottle. The guest will enjoy,” he said, reaching around me to rest his hand on the doorknob.

He was close, too close. Ducking my head, I moved out of the way, wanting to linger but unsure what to say when I had a task to complete. Pointing to the door, I blurted out, “I heard strange noises down there.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Like what?”

“A slurping sound, like a beast was drinking something.”

I almost missed the flash in his eyes. It was there in an instant and gone the next. He pressed his lips together, and irritation crossed his face. “I’ll look. Sometimes the cat gets trapped down there.”

I opened my mouth to tell him I didn’t think it was a cat, but his odd expression made me change my words. “I hope it’s only the cat.”