Chapter 21 · My Sister Calls Me Warden

Lena's calling me Warden.

I'm still touching the door. Blood's running down my palm where I cut it on the frame, warm and slick, and my sister is looking at me like I'm supposed to know what that means. Like the word should fit. Her eyes are open now.

They're the same brown they've always been, but there's something else behind them, something that knows the shape of my name and every lock I've ever picked and exactly how many nights I've spent trying to find her.

Elias yanks me back by the shoulder.

"Don't," he says. His voice is raw. "Mara, don't listen."

But I already am. I've been listening for two years. I'd listen to anything if it sounded like Lena.

"Let go," I tell him.

He doesn't. His grip tightens, fingers digging into my jacket, and he's pulling me toward the stairs like he can drag me out of this. Like I didn't already make my choice when I put my blood on that door.

"She's not your sister anymore," Elias says. "She's bait. The door's using her to pull you in."

"Then it's working."

I rip free and step back to the threshold.