*** Lionbright Estate - Underground
"I can't believe the headmaster actually trusted that stupid plan of yours."
Lillian sighed. She had been assigned to escort me downstairs, to where Jayden was being kept. Apparently, she was the only one Jayden felt comfortable talking to, which was the only reason Marcellus had learned most of the Church's layout for the ritual in the first place.
"Guess he's really enamored with you, huh?"
"Well, they don't call me the flower for nothing."
"Cheeky."
The stairwell descended into dimmer light, torches flickering in iron sconces along the damp stone walls. Lillian's heels clicked against the steps, each sound echoing back up toward the estate above.
"How is he holding up?" I asked.
"Better than I expected." Lillian's voice softened, just slightly. "Scared, confused, and definitely grateful we haven't killed him yet. The usual, for someone who was supposed to be a living sacrifice."
"And the church hasn't tried to retrieve him?"
