Read Locked in Silence: Grimm's Circle, Book 5 for Free Online Page A

looked back. He could not tell the man named Louis that there would be no fighting. He looked over his shoulder at the door to the carriage and then back at Louis.
    They needed to escape.
    Now.
    Louis stared at him, eyes narrowed.
    He shot the door another look then gave Louis one more pleading look.
    “Very well, boy. I hope you know what you are about…”
     
     
    Now…
    She hurt.
    Vanya thought the pain would choke her—either the pain or the blood.
    Fear dominated her mind, swamped her.
    I’m here, somebody whispered through her mind.
    A hand touched her brow.
    Strong, gentle.
    Then it was gone—
    No, she thought desperately. Please don’t leave…
    “I won’t leave you alone. I’m here, Vanya.”
    Who was he? She needed something to cling through during the dark, but she didn’t know how to ask, couldn’t find her voice to save her life.
    And then, as though he’d sensed her need, she heard it again, a vague whisper of thought.
    “I am Silence—”
    Silence… what a strange name.
    Her last conscious thought was that he knew her name…and she hadn’t been alone, after all.
     
     
    Silence scowled as he looked around the small, dank hotel room.
    It reminded him too much of the squalid little rooms where he had spent much of his mortal life. Too closed in. Not enough windows. Not enough light.
    Then he focused his gaze on Will. This is a hovel , he signed.
    “It’s where she’s been living for the past few months, my friend. She doesn’t have much money and it’s the best she’s been able to manage.”
    Cocking a brow, Silence pointed out, You have money .
    Most of them did.
    “And do you really think she’s going to let me pay her way? You don’t know modern women very well, do you?”
    Silence frowned. No. No, he didn’t. The woman he knew best was Sina—and modern , she was not. She might adopt certain mindsets, certain attitudes and customs, and heaven knew she loved the clothing and conveniences…but modern?
    She’d been ancient when he had been born.
    He dropped his bag on the floor by the wall and eyed the lone, rickety chair at the table. It wouldn’t hold his weight. It would shatter into splinters and toothpicks, and then he’d have to pick them out of his own ass.
    My home , he signed, looking at Will. Open your damned doorway—let me take us to my home. She can make her transition there. I can begin her training there.
    “Not yet.” Will shook his head. “She’ll adjust better if she awakes in familiar surroundings—you know it. Plus…” he blew out a breath, “she needs to say goodbye to her life. Let her have that. A few days, a few weeks, perhaps.”
    Will grimaced and looked around the hotel room. “Trust me, once she wakes up and her new senses kick in, she’s not going to want to stay here.”
    Then he was gone.
    Lucky bastard , Silence mouthed, shaking his head. Blond hair fell into his face and he sighed, fishing around in his pocket for a band to pull it back with.
    She’d go into the fever soon—the fever always came as the body adjusted to the changes. It would last for hours.
    It wasn’t an easy process and she was stuck with him. Sighing, he settled at her side and rested a hand on her face, his thumb absently tracing over one of the scars.
    Where had they come from? Gently, he angled her face to the side a bit so he could see the marks better. They looked like claw marks almost. Three of them running down the left side of her face.
    Vanya moaned, the sound low and tortured.
    Looking away from the marks, he saw the look of pain, fear tightening her features.
    Not much time.
    I’m here, he thought.
    It wasn’t much, and he knew she couldn’t very well hear him.
    He went to stroke her midnight black hair from her face, frowning at the blood in it. He needed to clean her up—make her more comfortable.
    Now, before the fever started, he supposed.
    But as he was washing the blood from her hair, he discovered it wasn’t her hair, but a wig.
    Scowling,