Page 354 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

Darkness surrounds me as I look around for a way out of its vast blackness. I know I’m alone this time, the hollow cold etched into my skin like a sharp breeze.

I’m alone, but not for long. This is just another stupid game someone in the Underworld is playing. One I will figure a way out of and then I’ll find my mates.

They would never abandon me.

“Are you sure about that?”

I freeze as the strange male voice echoes around me. “Who’s there?”

I whip around, trying to find the source of the voice, but it’s so dark I can barely see my hand in front of my face.

Reaching out in front of me, I take a hesitant step forward. I keep moving until the voice speaks again.

“Your mates have left you here to rot.”

I don’t recognize the voice. It’s toneless, almost robotic. But it’s obviously part of this illusion. One I won’t be given in to anytime soon.

“They would never leave me.”

“Are you sure?”The voice changes, becoming more human-like, a self-assured tone layered underneath it. But no matter what way he speaks, I don’t ever need to question if my mates will leave me.

“Positive.”

His dark chuckle slithers down my back like an icy finger.

“Liar…”

I glance around looking for a flicker of light but there’s nothing but darkness. I center myself to focus on my powers, trying to pull up anything but I feel nothing. No power, no energy, just…nothing. Like my powers never existed in the first place.

“You’re never going to get out of here, and your mates will move on without you.”The voice changes again, becoming smoother, his confident tone only growing.

I freeze as a seed of doubt creeps in. I know my mates would never leave me, but what happens if I can’t get out of here. What if they’re left to wander the Underworld looking for me for the rest of their lives?

I didn’t want to be stuck here, but I didn’t want them to waste their lives looking for me either.

As soon as the thought forms, I shake it off. No, none of that will happen because I’m not going to let it. I’m not going to be stuck in this place, so worrying about it is pointless.

It’s all just a game. One I have to figure out how to play.

Before I can figure out where to start, my surroundings slightly shift, and the vast darkness lights to deep shades of gray. It’s enough to make out what’s around me. A long room that opens up in every direction with no end in sight.

Where am I?

“Someplace you’ll never escape.”

“Stop trying to get in my head. It won’t work.” Clenching my fists, I whip around trying to find the source of the voice again, but he’s not here. I look up and around before moving forward. But the layout never changes no matter how far I walk.

His dark chuckle grows louder, before his voice slides across my ear in a whisper.

“It’s already started…”

An icy chill runs down my spine at the complete surety in his tone.

But he’s wrong. He’s just trying to mess with me. Once I stay focused—

“Kiarra.”

My heart stutters to a stop, my entire body turning stiff at the sound of my mother’s voice.

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