The Return
Page 99

“Stay down, or I will put you down.”
I sucked in a sharp breath at the sound of the guy’s voice. They were Sentinels. They were supposed to be good. Deacon had opened the door… My sore stomach seized as concern for Deacon flooded me. It had been quick and brutal. With the minimal training I’d had, I sure as hell hadn’t been prepared for it. They had taken out Deacon first, slamming his head into the wall with enough force to crack the plaster.
Oh God.
They smelled like death, like the guy back at Radford had. My mind raced. They had to be shades and that meant—
The vehicle rolled to an abrupt stop and my heart seized. I had no idea how long I’d been out, but from what I could tell, it seemed darker than before. I had no idea how in the hell they’d gotten me out of the University and into a car, but we were here.
I already knew who was waiting for me.
Hands landed on my shoulders as several car doors opened. I was yanked out, and my knees cracked off cold, hard ground as I fell forward onto my shaking hands.
The thin nylon pants were nothing against the icy, night air. I was lifted up onto my bare feet—what’d happened to my shoes?— and pushed forward with a rough shove in the back.
“Go,” the man said.
In the dark, I could make out a set of steps that led up to a porch. Trees crowded what appeared to be a cabin. I had a feeling we were still in the Black Hills, or at least I hoped that we were.
There was no way I was going in that cabin.
I only had one chance to get away, so I didn’t stop to think about it. Pushing to the side, I kicked off and started to run, my arms and legs pumping, my eyes trained on the trees. I had no idea where I was running. There were spots of the ground covered in snow. I obviously wasn’t dressed for this, but anything would be better than facing off with what I knew waited for me inside.
I made it a couple of feet before an arm snagged me from behind, lifting me clear off the ground and depositing me in front of the steps again.
Someone laughed as the air froze in my lungs.
The cold burned the soles of my feet as I climbed the steps. I started to look behind me, but the push came again. Anger flared and I tried to turn again, but a sharp point suddenly pressed into the skin under my throat.
“Do not test us,” the voice was a slick whisper in my ear. “Get inside.” When I didn’t reach for the door, the man—the thing— cursed as he grabbed the knob. The hinges groaned as it opened, and a stale scent tinged with metal rushed to greet me as I was shoved inside what appeared to be a mudroom.
The door slammed shut behind me, and I jumped, sucking in a shaky breath. Oh Christ, I was so screwed. Stepping forward, I winced as the boards creaked under my feet.
A single candle placed in the middle of the floor lighted the next room. The small flame flickered, not penetrating the thick shadows seeping out onto the floor.
I folded my arms across my chest, shivering as I inched forward. My breath puffed out in front of me, forming small, misty clouds. Through a narrow hall, I could see another room. A dim light was on in there.
Something somewhere in the room moved, a shuffling of clothing. A moan stopped my heart, halting my slow progression. I turned toward the sound, scanning the darkness. One of the shadows seemed to be thicker. Something lay against the wall in a crumpled heap.
Knowing that this could be a trap, but unable to keep walking forward, I bent down and picked up the thick pillar candle. I held it out in front of me, holding my breath as I moved toward it.
The soft glow of the candle cast a light over the wall and as I lowered the candle, I exhaled roughly.
Oh my God.
Almost dropping the candle, I rushed forward and knelt, pressing my knees into the dirty floor. I reached out with my other hand, hesitating, because… “Erin?”
The broken body on the floor stirred. No part of her that I could see was not bruised or scratched. Her face was swollen, raw-looking, and she appeared to be stuck between her mortal form and that of a furie. Her body was shades of gray and mocha. A wing was twisted over her, shielding her nude body. My chest cracked wide open as I saw the chain around her neck, attached to the wall.
Bile rose in my throat as I placed the candle down beside me. “Erin.”
Her head moved, but her eyes were sealed shut. Cracked lips moved restlessly, punching out two words. “I…failed.”
The flame went out.
My heart stopped.
Tiny hairs all over my body rose, and I opened my mouth, but the scream was cut off as a hand curled around my neck, dragging me to my feet. I immediately went on defense. Reaching behind me, I clutched the thick wrist and tried to twist out of the hold.
A deep, dark laugh rippled through the room like an ominous cloud.
Erin whimpered.
“I think you should give your friend some time to rest. After all, I’ve worked her over hard.”
Horror rose, but fury snapped on its heels, drenching every cell of my body with its red-hot venom. “You son of a bitch!” I shrieked. “You nasty son of—”
He wasn’t holding me any longer. I wasn’t even standing. The next thing I knew I was flying down the narrow hall. My arms flailed, but there was nothing to grab hold of.
My back hit the floor, pushing the air out of my lungs as pain exploded along my back. Stunned, I lay there for a moment, unable to move or to even think.
Two booted feet appeared on either side of my legs and Hyperion bent over me, his expression carved from ice and black eyes absolutely soulless. “You know what I hate more than anything?”