Treasured Secrets by Kendall Talbot Page A

shield, she identified the Tuscany insignia. ‘So, Robert the Wise…why did they stop coming to see you?’
    Beneath the knight’s feet, carved in the same coloured stone, was a lion, its mouth open as if emitting an almighty roar. She leant over to examine it and saw something that made her gasp. Around the lion’s neck, carved with intricate detail, was a necklace with a pendant, half of it missing. The remaining half had raised letters identical to Archer’s pendant. It was as if his gold necklace had once been positioned right here.
    She jumped at the sound of keys and cowered against the back wall. The robed man glided into the room with an evil presence that rippled fear up her spine. The hood that masked half his face hid her kidnapper’s eyes. The dark shadow it created was even more disturbing. A second man shut the door behind them but slipped back into the dark edge of the room. Rosalina’s first urge was to run, but it was useless. Although her courage felt as fragile as bone china, she gritted her teeth and pushed her chin forward in defiance. She forced her shoulders back, trying to convey to her kidnapper and herself that she wasn’t scared.
    He was much taller than she remembered, standing taller than her by at least a foot. He stood before her with authority, feet apart, hands balled into fists at his sides, jaw clenched. No sight of his eyes yet.
    â€˜What do you want?’ Her voice trembled, despite her resolve.
    â€˜I want answers.’ He waved the other man forward and a chair was placed at her side. ‘Sit.’
    She resisted at first and then obeyed, certain her trembling legs wouldn’t hold her much longer anyway. The second man put a small cage at her feet and she froze. ‘What the hell is that?’ Inside the cage was an enormous black rat. Its thick tail thumped against the wooden bars as it whipped around.
    â€˜Have you heard of a rat dungeon?’
    â€˜What? No.’ She couldn’t drag her eyes from the cage and the hideous creature trapped inside.
    â€˜It’s a form of torture. A very effective one, in my experience.’
    Her fingers dug into the chair as she glared up at him. ‘Torture! What the hell? Who are you?’
    He bared his yellowed teeth in a sick grin.
    Panic flashed through her like a blaze of lightning, leaving a metallic taste in her mouth. She jumped up and went for the door, but his fingers snapped around her wrist and he dragged her to his chest. His rotten breath made her gag. One icy blue eye stared at her from beneath the lopsided hood.
    â€˜There are two ways we can do this, Rosalina. One is a little messier than the other.’ As he forced her onto the chair, a grating cackle erupted from his throat. It was a long moment before she realised he was laughing.
    Rosalina sat with her back rigid against the chair and glared up at the cloaked man. Everything about him was disturbing — his heavy coat, his filthy odour, his rancid breath. Recalling Archer’s description of the shark’s soulless eyes, she dreaded that she too, was about to look into the eyes of the devil.
    After an extended silence, he stepped back, and in one swift movement removed his hood. She snapped her eyes shut, petrified at what she might see.
    â€˜Open your eyes.’ His calm voice was more terrifying than if he’d yelled at her. ‘Rosalina, do you want to meet my rat?’
    She squeezed her palms into her eyes until colourful dots dazzled the blackness.
    â€˜Get the cage,’ he said.
    â€˜No!’ When she removed her palms it took all her might to finally glare up at him. She gasped at the horror. His eyes looked like vacant pits, devoid of any human emotion.
    â€˜Now…tell me about the necklace.’
    She gripped the chair with renewed fear. She had no answers. ‘I don’t know anything.’
    He raised his hand and, fearing he was about to hit her, she clenched her teeth,