Carpathian 00 - The Scarletti Curse

think of Sophie skipping through it. She froze in place, terrified of moving, looking around her now with wide, frightened eyes.
    Behind her, Sophie held the door open, valiantly keeping up her end of the adventure, completely unaware of the very real danger to anyone moving around in the passageway. The child was Nicoletta's only escape. If the marble wall somehow closed, she would be unable to find her way out. She had no idea where the doors were located or even how to open them. She had no idea what other hidden traps lay in wait for an unwary victim, but she was certain that they did, each as lethal as the one she had accidentally sprung. Now, in the darkness, after witnessing the sudden descent of that hideous blade, she felt the vibrations of the aftermath of violence. Very cautiously, Nicoletta turned around, careful not to touch the walls and placing her feet gingerly, one directly in front of the other, to minimize the risk of stepping on the wrong stone.
    Cara! She could clearly hear the anxiety in the don's voice. What is it? Your fear is swamping me.
    The sound of his voice brushing so gently in her mind was instantly comforting. Nicoletta managed to take a deep breath, exhaling before walking slowly and carefully toward the pinpoint of light from the open door still several paces away from her. She wished she had Don Scarletti's particular talent so she could answer him. It was terrifying to be moving in the darkness, afraid of the very walls and floor. She used what was left of the broom to probe the stones straight in front of her before she placed her foot.
    She heard Sophie yelp, call out her name, and to Nicoletta's horror, the child's head withdrew into the bedroom. At once, the thick marble wall swung shut, the faint pinpoint of light extinguished, plunging the passageway into total blackness. She froze, her heart pounding so loudly she could almost hear it echoing in the eerie silence.
    Nicoletta attempted to force her mind away from fear and panic. It didn't matter that it was daylight outdoors; here in the passage it was forever night. She could hear the scratching of rats, tiny sounds that made her blood run cold. The air was musty and thick, heavy and still, oppressive in its silence. Beads of sweat began to trickle down her skin. While the palazzo had so many drafts, it was stifling in the passage.
    The low ceiling and walls seemed to be pressing in on her, leaving no space for air.
    She straightened her shoulders and told herself she was simply in an unfamiliar environment. She often Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    stayed alone in the hills, where bears and wolves roamed. This was no different. Both places were potentially dangerous but not necessarily lethal. For all her firm lecturing, Nicoletta couldn't force her feet to move forward. That hidden blade had sprung from nowhere and had disappeared just as silently and smoothly. The evidence—what remained of the broom handle—was in her hands.
    What was the passage hiding? Where did it lead? What was so secret that someone would prepare lethal traps to guard it? An inquisitive rodent touched a tiny wet nose to her ankle, and she cried out, stepping in a straight line, fearful of reaching out toward the walls. The drumbeat in her head seemed even louder, and for a moment she was literally choking on her fear.
    Just ahead a faint crack of light appeared. At first it was a mere slit, but then light radiated into the passage. A man's large frame filled the open doorway. Nicoletta hurtled herself forward, uncaring of decorum, uncaring of his station. She ran into Don Scarletti's arms, nearly impaling him with the remains of the broom handle clutched tightly in her hand.
    Giovanni wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly to him, burying his face in her hair. He took the precaution of removing the broom handle and tossing it into the bedchamber. His body was trembling slightly, and he waited there, still partially in the passage, for the pounding of his heart to subside. Then he hauled Nicoletta back into the bedroom and shook her slightly, furious that she had managed to frighten him when no man had ever done so.
    Abruptly, his arms dragged her close again and enfolded her protectively. "I have considered locking you in the tower, piccola, but I suspect even there you would manage to find trouble." He whispered the words in exasperation against her ear.
    Nicoletta allowed herself the