Page 57 of Lunar Diamonds
I’d rather drown here, my last moments spent watching her struggle to cling to her rotten life as the water took her life.
I would die a happy man knowing she no longer plagued the realm of the living.
Could an illusion kill us?
The water reached my shoulders, picking me off my feet to float. It quickly reached my chin, forcing me to tread water.
The lights died out one by one, darkness spreading across the kitchen.
Zara screamed, the other witches pleading for their lives.
My heart leaped into my throat, my resilience failing. Any moment now, the locks on my emotions would break, setting my phobia free to gouge at my soul.
I don’t want to die in the dark.
I kicked my legs, praying to Hecate to spare me. My head swam with fresh possibilities of a new life, of the freedom I craved. If the goddess found it in her blessed heart to get me out of this, I’d buy her a drink in the afterlife. Years down the line, not now.
The water almost touched the ceiling, testing the limits of my reason. Icy fingers pawed at my sanity, ready to break it, opening the gates for destructive terror.
Alone in the dark.
In the dark.
In the dark.
In the dark.
“Drake?”
Riley’s voice came out of the blue, winding me with a jolt.
Shit. Had that really been him?
“Drake? Can you hear me? It’s Riley.”
Yes. Definitely his warm tones. “Riley?”
“Thank goodness! I’m trying to get you out of there. Crap. Give me a second.”
Almost submerged now, water filling my mouth.
Come on, sacred witch…
Only three lights remained, flickering toward their end.
Come on. Come on. Come on.
My heart was about to pound its way out of my chest.
I’m going to die.
I’m going to die.
I’m going to die in the dark, in the cold and lonely and wet dark where no one?—
“I’ve got it!” Riley cried.
As the lights went out and the water swallowed the air, majestic sapphire eyes cut through the inky blackness. Riley’s face appeared next, his skin glowing like a full moon. The rest of him followed, reaching out to take my bound hands.
