Laurent was awoken by a soft, subtle bell. It kept ringing, nudging at the edges of his consciousness, until he opened his eyes and sat up. A bell. An alarm. Gansey.

Leaping to his feet, Laurent sprinted for his room, fetching a soft black velvet mask in the Italian larva style and a cape to cover his head and shoulders. He took no lamp, navigating carefully through the darkness to find Gansey.

There was only Gansey's voice, coaxing, and only Gansey's footsteps. No echoes of conversation or murmurs. Jittery, Laurent listened and waited for a few minutes as Gansey moved along the corridor, making sure he was alone.

"I'm here," he said at last, quiet in the blackness. "I didn't bring a lamp."