The Attacker

Emma was aware that the guards had mostly been deployed at the ball. She hadn't gone there. Lazarus had said that he was about to come to her in less than half an hour. Even Olya was not liking it at all, but the four of them had to maintain the façade. 

She had asked the maid to close all the doors and windows. She wanted to draw the curtains, but she didn't. All at once a high-pitched howl came from somewhere near the back garden. She was on the bed. She got up, snatched the shawl from the couch and wrapped it tightly around her. She padded her way to the window to see who that was. It was pretty dark on the outside and all she could see were the burning torches that lit the palace. "Could be a lone wolf…" she mused.