Chapter 54: First Objective

Ophelia woke with a start, her eyes fluttering open to find herself alone in the large, ornate bed. The emptiness of the room accentuated the hollow feeling in her stomach. She pressed a hand against her midsection, wincing as it let out a loud, almost painful rumble. She should have eaten dinner last night, but she hadn’t—and Nikolai had promised to bring her something to eat. Where was he? Ophelia’s lips pursed in a mix of irritation and discomfort as she scanned the room. There was no sign of Nikolai or Pain. Her sigh echoed in the silent chamber as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and rose to her feet. The cold stone floor sent a shiver through her, and she wrapped her arms around herself as she made her way toward the bathing room. Before she could reach it, a soft knock sounded on the heavy wooden door, causing her to freeze in her tracks. It was an unusual sound—one that didn’t belong in this castle. Nikolai and Rhaziel never bothered with formalities like knocking.