Army Of The Winter Court (Skeleton Key) by Skeleton Key, Ali Winters Read Free Book Online

herself up, she reached down to pick her towel up and wrap it around her body once more.
    The black key called her attention. The contrast against the white surface was like night and day. What did the key open? She eyed the bathroom door, it was a skeleton key after all, and there was a small chance that it would work on the doors of this old building. Bringing the key up to the door’s lock, she was amazed to see that it fit perfectly.
    She took a breath and turned the key.  
    It clicked.  
    The distinct sound was of the door unlocking, but how was that possible when it wasn’t locked to begin with? Evvie turned the handle and pulled it open.
    What she saw made her question her sanity and yet… tucking the end of her towel in to secure it against herself, she stepped through.

CHAPTER SIX

    Evvie

    With bare feet, she stepped out onto the icy gravel and though the sharp rocks threatened to cut through her skin, there was no pain. A thin layer of frost coated the blackened world before of her.
    Where am I?
    Evvie turned her face to the dark sky, ominous clouds covered every inch, as a light dusting of snowflakes began to fall. The world around her had a soft glow to it without any visible source, allowing her to see. Scanning the area, she turned slowly in a circle as she fought to keep the rising fear from taking hold.
    Behind her the path extended for as far as she could see. A copse made of charred and blackened trees was to her right, their crimson leaves coated the forest floor in a red blanket, those still clinging to the branches fell in a steady shower as they fluttered slowly to the ground making the world look as though it were bleeding. To her left an open field stood, covered in white flakes, glinting from the frost.
    Facing forward again, Evvie squinted into the distance. A shape loomed ahead where she assumed the path led—a pointed, angular castle shrouded in shadows and thick, ghostly fog. Taking a few steps toward it the rocky ground pressed against her flesh with each step.
    “This has to be a dream… I’d be cold if it weren’t,” she mumbled, wrapping her arms around herself and holding the duck clad towel more securely around her body.
    “Tigers, and lions, and bears…” The chant making its way unbidden past her lips.
    What if there are rabid animals… or worse, what if someone is waiting in the shadows to murder me?
    Her gaze darted from side to side as the beat of her heart drummed against her ribcage. Listening intently, she heard nothing but silence, not so much as a chirp of a bird or insect or the call of any night animals. Even the snow fell, soundless, in the silent, unmoving air.
    It’s so creepy here… She thought.
    Her head pounded.  
    Maybe I should go back to bed and rest … stopping in her tracks, Evvie let out a loud cackle of laughter and smacked her palm against her forehead.  
    I am sleeping! How crazy do I have to be to think I’m awake right now?
    It was turning out to be the same dream as before, but the details were more vivid, more solid. Her feet began to ache from the harsh ground. What was she walking on? Bending over, she scooped up a handful of the gravel and examined it. It looked like… broken glass? It was a wonder that her skin wasn’t sliced open and shredded.
    Dropping the shards, she stepped carefully on to the wilted grass. Instantly the discomfort melted away, soothed by the frozen turf.
    The large mountain range in the distance reared up, casting darkness over the world that sat in its shadow. Her eyes traced paths from the tallest peaks down to where she stood, the shape of the land taking its features from the black and sinister origins that towered over it.
    Boulders of varying sizes lay scattered around the harsh environment, remnants of a landslide from centuries ago. Trees grew with no rhyme or reason between the massive rocks, their gnarled roots forming hollows in the ground as if they were trying to rip it open with their slow and