Dead Silence Read Free Page A

topple over any second. She was probably right.
    I almost nodded but felt the pull of spiking pain in my scalp and ended up whispering my thanks and blinking blearily at my surroundings.
    We were in a hole in the earth, probably the storm cellar Derek had mentioned. As I searched the walls I made out the vague shape of a set of rickety wooden stairs leading up to a door. Light surged in through space near the floor, striking on specks of dust that floated above our heads.
    When my vision finally steadied, I shifted my gaze to my quiet companion. "Who are you?" I whispered. Her skin was tight and strained at her eyes, and too pale to be healthy. She seemed startled at the sound of my voice and I guessed I'd disturbed her thoughts, whatever they'd been they didn't seem happy ones.
    She gave me half a smile. "Sorry. I've been here a long time and the only visitors I've had haven't been . . . kind." She ran her hands up her arms in a loose hug, the stance protective enough to make my stomach tighten. What had Loki done to her? She cleared her throat, straightened her spine and drew my attention back to her face as she smiled. "My name is Nita, Daughter of Vanya." She gave me a regal nod and the action didn't surprise me at all now that I knew who she was.
    I shifted on my blankets knowing I should be giving her a much more respectful greeting than my blurry stare, when Nita said, "Don't you even think about moving. Have a drink of water and then you should lie down for a while." She inclined her head, her platinum hair falling over her shoulders, to her hips like a pearly waterfall. A note in her voice told me that it was best for me to listen. I didn't have any plans on disobeying Elf royalty.
    She handed me a cup of water, the plastic cracked along the side. Sipping the cool liquid slowly, I brought my racing heartbeat back under control. My head tipped forward and then I found Nita unwrapping my fingers from the cup and helping me to lay back onto the blankets. I remained unmoving for a while, trying to stop my mind from wondering who'd lain here before me or what the odd, yeasty odor was that rose from the blankets beneath me.
    I cleared my throat and the movement made me wince. "Where are we? I assume a basement of some sort?" I asked, keeping my voice low.
    "Yes, it's the cellar beneath the main cottage, about fifty yards from the barn they found you in."
    "Is Loki still around?" I asked. All I wanted to know was if the blood transfusion had worked.
    "No," she said, falling silent for a moment. "He left in a fury. I think whatever he has been trying to do had not worked. There was a bit of screaming and stamping and then he left."
    I shook my head. "Poor Loki had a tantrum, did he?" I laughed softly. I was more than elated that his plan failed. He'd gone off somewhere to work off his frustrations. Good thing he had neither Thor nor Vanya to take them out on.
    But he'd had someone right here. I glanced over at Nita. "Did he hurt you?"
    The elf shook her head. "No. He knows I am too valuable. Especially since he has plans to get my mother back."
    "She's safe in Asgard," I offered her the information somehow knowing she didn't need it.
    "I know, and thank you, Brynhildr. I owe you a great deal."
    I frowned. "How do you know who I am?" I let my head fall to the side and stared at her. She sat with her back against the far wall.
    "The floorboards are thin," she said with a crooked smile as she pointed to the wooden ceiling.
    I laughed softly, the sound coming out more of a snort than one of amusement. Then fatigue drew its numbing arms around me and led me into unconsciousness.
    When I opened my eyes, my gut was screaming that I was in deep trouble. And suddenly I missed Joshua with an incredible intensity. All I wanted was to have his arms around me, making me feel safe. And then I blinked at the burn in my eyes, refusing to feel sorry for myself.
    Blinking, I rubbed my eyes, scraping away the grogginess of sleep, while at the