2.27 The Pull (2)

I hesitated, weary of his touch. It was a kind, gentlemanly gesture, but something about his hand stretched towards me made my stomach turn.

“Estel, this feels like a trap,” Kai urged. “Even Rodger is saying to call it. Beau too. Nothing about this seems right.”

That pull tugged and pulled deep in my soul. My heart was beating wildly. Not from fear of going down into the dark basement, but at the thought of not and risking never finding out what this pull was trying to take me too.

“Not yet,” I told Kai. “I have to do this.”

With a new found confidence, I took his hand. Mr. Smith gripped it firmly, a sly smile on his face.

“My dear. Watch your step.”

A deep hissing vibrated in the air, throwing me off. Where was it coming from?

Then I looked at his cane, pressed to the step below us, descending before us. Mr. Smith was using it to balance, gripping it tightly. Almost as tightly as he was gripping my hand. When I stared at the ornamental snake head in his grasp, the jeweled eyes gleame