CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

LATER THAT DAY

The Barnette's mansion was drowned in darkness and silence with only bodyguards moving about outside. It's residents had retreated to their respective rooms a little early that day, after dinner. Lilliana was in her bedroom, laid back in the middle of her king-sized bed with a book in her hand. Her small figure barely noticeable under the covers. She had just started a new book and had easily found herself lost in it.

While reading, she caught a whiff of something in the air with her nose and frowned. She placed her book on a pillow beside her head, raised her head a little to sniff the air just to be sure. The frown on her face quickly turned into a scowl when she smelled something burning. She sat up straight and tossed the cover off her legs. Lowering her feet onto the floor, she slipped her feet in their cozy slippers and made her way to her closed bedroom door to find out were the smell could be coming from.

Pulling the door open, she stepped into the empty dimly l