Page 96 of Ransomed to the World
Instead of old and decrepit, it teemed with power, practically glowing with life. It was even more gorgeous in all its haunted splendor. She was so distracted that she didn’t see the shadows moving.
Reapers.
Following her instinct, she ducked away from the cloaked figures, hunkering down when they passed a little too close for comfort. Instinct warned her that being found inside the Capitol Building was a bad idea.
No, she needed to find Valen.
He was the key to defeating Daxion.
As she sneaked away from the main building, activity slowed to a stop. The city streets were eerily still, making the magical current appear even more forbidding. Claws skittered along stone, and she whirled to see nothing but more shadows.
Reaching up, she scratched Prem under his chin. “Can you find Valen for me?”
Prem chittered in her ear, which she took as agreement, then leapt to the ground, scampering ahead of her. Annora followed, picking up her pace as he wove in and out of the alleys. As they rounded a corner, it became apparent they were being stalked, and she walked even faster.
The buildings were a maze, and she became completely lost in minutes. Just as she skidded around another corner, a dark shape detached from the wall, its shadow slinking into the middle of the street, growing in size with each passing second.
A growl reverberated along the buildings until it vibrated in her chest. The creature stretched, flesh ripping until the damned thing was as tall as her. It had a humanoid shape, but it was hunched over, the arms abnormally long, the knuckles dragging along the ground. The thing was massive, a combination of ape and panther. Teeth gleamed in the darkness as it bared its fangs. Even from the distance, its hunger beat against her, a craving for flesh and blood so strong that her gut twisted. Just when the creature took a loping step toward her, Prem shot out of the darkness.
“No!” she screamed and charged after the idiot ferret.
Only to stumble to a halt when Prem began to twist, his bones snapping, and he tumbled over himself, growing in size. He morphed and stretched until a giant creature much like a polar bear crossed with an ancient wolf stood in his place.
Prem rose on his hind legs, towering over both of them, letting out a roar that threatened to shatter her eardrums. The other creature skidded to a stop, letting out a frustrated whine before scuttling off into the darkness.
When Prem dropped back down to all fours, Annora could only gawk at his massive size. Even on all fours, he was practically as tall as her, his head coming up to her shoulders. She reached out tentatively, and he snuggled into her fingers until they hit that special spot behind his ear, nearly knocking her off her feet with his affection.
The lights flickered, and she noticed tiny wisps of darkness swirling down the streets. She took a step back, but a quick glance over her shoulder revealed the same fog creeping toward them from that direction as well. Like the air had been let out of him, Prem slowly shrank back to his usual size, then scampered toward her, cowering behind her feet.
She could run, but it would get her nowhere.
She needed to find Valen, or she feared Daxion would win.
Annora braced her legs and waited for an attack, but sensed only darkness.
Darkness that she could control.
The necklace warmed against her skin, and she reached up and gripped it tight. As the fog rolled closer, she braced herself…only to have it move right over her. Like an overly-friendly dog, the darkness gave her a playful lick. Then, with an affectionate huff and nudge, the fog finally rolled past.
Revealing a trio of reapers blocking the alley.
They must have summoned the darkness. When the one in the lead strode toward her, Annora automatically reached out and summoned the daggers Edgar gave her.
The reapers stopped.
“Annora?” A fourth reaper stepped out of the shadows behind them, then pushed back his cowl. “What the hell are you doing here? I told you not to come back.”
“Uncle Valen?” She wanted to throw herself at him, but halted when the trio of reapers stepped protectively between them, hands on their weapons. Ignoring them, she sidestepped so she could face Valen. “I came to ask you for your help. Daxion is planning something, and I can’t stop him alone.”
Valen looked conflicted, then he gave a weary sigh, his face crumbling with fatigue. “What do you need?”
Annora decided not to beat around the bush. They didn’t have time. “Daxion discovered that I’m a bridge.”
“Your mother hid you away to make sure no one learned the truth.” Valen’s shoulders drooped. “I had hoped to take that secret to my grave.”
“You knew?” His betrayal chilled her down to her bones…then another realization plowed into her. “You were watching me long before we met, weren’t you?”
That he didn’t respond to her accusation was even more damning. “Did you know what my other uncle was doing to me?” She could barely get the words out, her throat so tight that speaking was difficult.
