“Why did you want to show me this?” I asked, unable to tear my gaze away from the show outside the window.
“Because the new year is a turning page. It’s the best time for fresh starts and taking on new challenges. It is both the end and the beginning at the same time. Every person down there has a story, a past and a future, and tonight is the night they’re all most aware of that. Most of them have made resolutions for the upcoming year, promises to do or be better in one way or another.”
“Is that what you’re trying to do?” I glanced over my shoulder at him. “Do and be better?”
“I’m trying to write a new chapter in my life. Maybe this is the year I’ll rewrite the wrongs I’ve committed, when I’ll be able to put the past behind me and return home. New Year’s Eve is my favorite day of the year. It’s hope—pure and bright—before the darkness can come and snatch it away.”
My heart ached for him. I didn’t know much about Roth, but I believed he’d traveled a hard road.
“I can help you,” I whispered. “I can bring you peace even if it’s only for a few minutes.” I held out my hand in offering. I longed to take away Roth’s hurt despite the fact that it would only be temporary.
He shook his head, taking a step back. “I don’t deserve it. Not even for a couple of minutes. Not from you, darling.”
“But—”
Shadows clouded his eyes. “If we stay here too long, we might end up with unexpected company.”
He turned and headed back for the elevator, leaving me wondering what had just happened. I hadn’t meant to offend Roth with my offer, but he certainly seemed upset by it.
I followed him into the elevator. “I’m sorry.”
His brows pinched together. “For what?”
“I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“Laila.” He reached up and cupped my cheek. “You have nothing to apologize for. I’m the one who should be apologizing to you, trust me.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I know. Soon this will all make sense to you, but by then I won’t have the chance to tell you this, so I’m saying it now. I’m so sorry.”
The elevator doors opened before I could respond or ask him for an explanation. The room beyond was shaped like an octagon with doors set in every wall. The ceilings were high, giving the place an effect of grandeur, or maybe that had more to do with the giant chandelier that hung over the center. The wooden walls were carved beautifully, and the floor was made of different kinds of wood to create a pattern of diamonds.
“Wow,” I breathed. The room was so elegant and sophisticated I couldn’t help but admire it.
Beside me Roth shuddered, as if simply being here made his skin crawl.
“What’s wrong?” I asked him.
“This room and I have a complicated relationship.”
I reached for his hand and squeezed lightly, reminding him that he wasn’t alone here.
He didn’t look at me as we headed for one of the doors and then into the dark passage beyond. I could hear our footsteps echoing around us, as if we were walking through a tunnel. Maybe we were. It was so dark I couldn’t see a thing, which was disconcerting. My eyes could see with even the tiniest amount of light. Total darkness was so rare that I’d never been blind before except when I closed my eyes.
I wanted to ask Roth where we were going, but I was afraid to speak in the darkness.
Eventually I felt the air change. The sound of our footsteps echoed differently. I still couldn’t see anything, but I knew we were no longer in a tunnel. The air didn’t feel fresh like it would if we were outside, so my best guess was that we’d entered some sort of cavern.
A sudden crash of metal on metal made me jump. I didn’t have time to recover before lamps flared to life, casting dim light into the room. It was a cavern, big enough to fit a set of stone stairs that led to a ledge ten or fifteen feet up.
I turned back the way we’d come and saw a metal grate covering the entry. Fear lodged in my throat. We were trapped.
“Roth…” I couldn’t get past his name before my throat closed, panic taking over.
Oh God, I didn’t even know where I was right now. I hadn’t thought anything of it when he led me back to the elevators after the fireworks in New York City, but I was pretty sure it was safe to say we weren’t anywhere near New York anymore.
“What’s going on?” I forced out the question I was beginning to think I didn’t want the answer to. I searched Roth’s face, but he was expressionless, as if all the emotions had been sucked out of him.
