CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FOUR – IN THE EYE OF THE STORM

Another deafening boom reverberated through the halls, and Kayla instinctively tucked Cassie closer, shielding her with her body even as she whirled to locate the source of the sound. To her horror, one of the massive leaded windows lining the corridor had buckled inward, shards of thick glass littering the floor as icy rain poured in. "This way!" Beatrice's voice rang out, muffled but urgent, and Kayla spun to see her ushering Julian and Sophie towards a nearby alcove. She darted after them, ducking beneath the low archway just as another crash shuddered through the walls. A hairline fracture zigzagged across the vaulted ceiling above, raining down a fine mist of dust and plaster. Beatrice was already tucked into the alcove, her arms wrapped protectively around the trembling children as she met Kayla's gaze with wild, haunted eyes. "We can't stay here," she shouted over the howling gale. "If this keeps up, the whole bloody castle is going to come down around our ears!" Kayla's th