Page 147 of Forsaken Secrets

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Kaiya

Tortured screams surrounded me as I stepped out of the darkness, releasing the bond I'd made.

I opened my eyes. But the cavern was no longer full of chanting cultists. Instead, everywhere I looked, there were ghouls — their bodies twisting, clicking, and popping as they ran around the room.

Behind me, I felt something moving. The dragon statue was changing — its stone skin turning to scales, and when I reached out for its korra, I saw the webbed form from earlier.

Gods. I needed to get Aunt Grace out of here.

Desperately, I searched for a knife or something to break my ropes.

A movement to my left made me freeze.

Ellingsworth stood there, jaw agape, as his body changed. Sir Litsor tugged at the lord's cloak insistently, pointing to the exit, and Lady Ellingsworth stared first at me and then my aunt, eyes venomous.

Aunt Grace?! Her lips were swollen and purple, her chest barely moving. She'd gotten much worse while I was gone. I needed to get her out of here!

I jerked against my restraints. But they wouldn't budge!

Was I to sit here and watch death come for all these people, then?

Something moved against my feet and I looked down, then gasped.

Eli lay there, face swollen and bloody.

How had he gotten here? And why? I'd tried to warn him, to get him to leave town. But of course the reckless lordling hadn't listened!

Gods. Why had they beat him?

Anger filling me, I looked back up at the vicar. That bastard deserved whatever came to him!

Heart aching, I reached out for Eli's korra, desperate to help. He might have lied to me, but that didn't mean I wanted him dead! I reached out a foot and tapped on his shoulder.

He jerked as I made contact, eyes fluttering open slowly, those green depths so very sad.

Eyes wide, he mouthed something. I leaned in, trying to make out the words, but my bindings kept me upright and the surrounding cacophony was too loud to make out whispers.

I watched helplessly as he rolled to the side and lurched to his feet.

Stop! I tried to yell, but the gag blocked all sounds.

Gods. What was he thinking?!

He staggered forwards, and I looked that way in time to see Lady Ellingsworth, lips pinched as she stared at Aunt Grace. A dagger glinted in her hand.

I jerked against my ropes, begging them to break as I watched the dagger let loose. Eli dove in front of it and I stared, helpless, as it embedded itself in his chest.

My chest ached as he staggered back towards me, collapsing at my feet, those green eyes staring at me. Again, he tried to speak, but only blood came out.

I screamed and fought my bindings again, all the anger pouring out of me as I watched his life fade away, helpless to stop it. Lady Ellingsworth just stood there, eyes wide, as she watched something behind me.

Then suddenly my hands were free!

I looked up to see Lynk, face pale and drenched in sweat. He passed me something, and I looked down to see my little dagger and the ropes that had tied me.

He'd cut me loose?

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