Page 55 of To Dwell in Shadows
“Listen, everyone. The rot is a concern, but fear not.” Asmodeus crossed his arms, grinning. “I know when it will disappear.”
“When?” cried Blight.
Asmodeus cast a proud glance at Sam. “Once we crown the Dark Sovereign.”
Chapter 27
After her humiliating meal with the Council of Legions, Selene had kept a low profile at royal events. She hadn’t even been present when King Asmodeus announced the upcoming competitions to select a royal champion—and for that, she was grateful. He’d made the declaration during a public sparring match between demons of Brutality, and the bloodthirsty cheers alone would have haunted her for days.
The first trial was named Infernal Combat, and while Sam seemed to think it would be a piece of cake, the thought of watching him compete—getting beaten, tortured, or subjected to who knows what kind of indignities—was agonizing.
Sam had been making a conscious effort to spend more time with her, and walking her to the kennels each day had become part of their new routine. That morning, they’d talked about the first trial, and he’d told her she didn’t have to watch it. She could stay curled up with a book in their chambers. Or, if she preferred, Prickles could deliver regular updates so she’d know what was happening without having to witness it firsthand. But Selene wouldn’t hear ofit. Even if she ended up watching the whole thing through her fingers, she was going to be there for Sam.
When they got to the kennels, they found that Ogrin had taken all the dogs out for a training run. Selene felt a pang of disappointment, but after kissing Sam goodbye for the day, she decided to make the most of her time in the library and get more work done.
A few minutes of walking brought her to the library’s arched doors. But as she jogged down the short staircase leading to the entrance, she nearly collided with a spirit. Its wispy paleness stood out starkly in the dark alcove where it hovered.
Selene stepped back, a chill of fear washing over her at being so close to an actual ghost. It seemed oblivious to her presence, and she hurried to enter the library, leaving the spirit to its own business. But when the ghost suddenly began slamming itself against the wall, Selene couldn’t look away.
She watched as it floated back, then hurled itself forward with breathtaking force to collide with the stone wall. Then the spirit did it again. And again. Over and over, relentless and mechanical, as if trapped in a loop.
The figure appeared to be a woman, dressed in a 1920s-style drop-waist dress. Her mouth was stretched wide in a silent scream, her agony almost palpable. Selene watched, transfixed, as the ghost repeated the ritual. She wondered what had prompted such desperation.
Each collision became more forceful. More tortured. The impact didn’t make a sound, but it made Selene flinch each time.
Finally, she couldn’t bear it. She held up her palms and said, “Stop it, stop it! Please!”
Instantly, the spirit paused, just before she made contact with the wall. Slowly, she turned her face toward Selene and blinked. It was dark in the alcove, but the confusion on her faint features was clear. When they locked eyes, a voice rang out in Selene’s mind.
I can hear you.
The words sounded faraway, like an old gramophone recording,but the diction was clear. The disorienting sensation made Selene take an unsteady step back. Just as she was about to question if she had actually heard anything, the voice came again:
Can you hear me?
Hello? Miss?
Once again, the words echoed in Selene’s mind, bypassing her ears entirely.
She nodded earnestly, rubbing her arms to chase away the goosebumps prickling her skin. Concentrating on the strange presence before her, she deliberately formed the thought:Yes, can you hear me?Then she mentally pushed the words outward, projecting them with just the force of her mind.
But the spirit didn’t react. She continued to look at Selene with an achingly hopeful expression. Selene tried again, practically shouting the words in her thoughts:Can you hear me?
Still nothing.
Selene took a tentative step closer to try a different approach.
“Can you hear me?” she asked aloud, her words slicing through the silence between them.
Both watched as a thin tendril of shadow curled out from Selene’s mouth, then darted toward the spirit. It spiraled around the ghost’s head, then her face brightened.
Selene saw the spirit’s lips move, and another shadow zipped from her mouth to toward Selene.
The words—Yes! I hear you!—echoed clearly in her mind.
She gasped, realizing the shadows were carrying their words back and forth.
“Do you need help?” Selene asked.
