Page 35 of Petrify

“I don’t care.”

“Ido. I was told nine PM. I’m not going to jeopardize my position just so?—”

“I have your nights, don’t I?” He slowly steps around the bench, around the piano, moving silently. He’s tall, at least a whole head taller than me, and his shoulders are broad, even though he’s lean.

“Yes, but?—”

“The night isn’t over. Come,” he says, reaching out one hand. Thin, strong fingers, his hand larger than mine, his skin so pale in the low light. Almost as white as his expressionless mask.

When I don’t take it, he walks past me, his stare never wandering from me, even as he reaches the door of the practice room, fingers twisting at the knob—the lock clicking into place.

A stark reminder that he and I are completely alone. And I can’t leave.

“No one can disturb us now,” he says, moving closer. He offers his hand again, and this time I can’t say no.

I know, as I slip my fingers into his, that I’m crossing a threshold and there’s no stepping back.

No one knows that the ghost who haunts this house has been visiting me. No one knows of our nighttime bargain.

No one knows about this.

The moment we touch, I know I am doomed.

His fingers are warm with a solid kind of strength, but he holds my hand gently, steering me toward the bench. Still staring, watching for my every reaction, those dark eyes flickering beyond the mask.

Does he expect me to scream? Or does he know that I will obey?

He leads me to the bench, and I sit, and I feel the warmth of him at my back again. He sets the sheet music back on the stand. At the top of the page, still,For you.

I have more to give.

“Again,” he commands.

Maybe a normal person would be ashamed. As I place my hands on the keyboard, this time I do lean back—I tell myself at first it’s an accident, but his hands cage me in again, and I know his face is right next to mine as he leans over my shoulder, and I just can’t help it. His warm body brushes against my spine. Amistake, then, the press of his chest to my body. His heart is beating somewhere in his ribcage and I wonder if he can feel how mine kicks into overdrive.

I take a breath before I begin. He inhales at the same time.

We breathe together as my fingers draw music from the instrument, filling the air with that melancholic tune.

If Maxim tries to open the door, or if anyone knocks, it goes unnoticed. He’s right, no one disturbs us. And I can’t say I’m surprised, because he moves around like this ishishouse. Each room is his. Each person within?—

At night, you are mine.

Chapter 18

The Ghost

Her favorite spotis the window overlooking the east lawn with the pond and the gray half-dead forest. If I lose sight of her for a moment, chances are good that this is where I’ll find her. Sitting in the window seat, knees curled up to her chest, and nose buried in a book. There’s no reason for the staff to come up this way, and because of my promise, I can’t disturb her, either. Even though I want so desperately to sit within her vicinity. I want to breathe her in.

Her mind is strange. She is so afraid. Afraid of the world and afraid of herself.

Her past, the future she yearns for—I want to know all of it. I want to hear it in her words.

I want her to admit everything.

I want to know all her thoughts.

And I want her toknowI am here.