The Raven’s mask catches the red light. Blue eyes pierce through me as he guides my son forward.
“Give him back!” My voice breaks. “Take me instead. Please. PLEASE!”
The door creaks open. Fire spills out.
Jake’s body drags across the ground, pulled by unseen forces. Elijah follows, small steps willing. Trusting.
“Baby, stop! ELIJAH!”
The Raven’s mask turns one last time.
Those blue eyes…
Something warm touches my cheek. Everything vanishes. Black swallows the door, the fire, my son.
I sob, the sound barely a whimper in the void. My heart squeezes so tight I can’t breathe.
But I can’t move. My body won’t respond.
It’s too heavy.
Like being buried alive.
“Shhhh,” a deep voice cuts through the nightmare. Not Jake’s. Not The Raven’s.
“Sleep, Clara. Everything’s okay.”
The warmth spreads. Gentle. Almost… tender.
My eyelids fight to open. Just a sliver.
A massive shadow moves across our room. Moonlight catches on broad shoulders.
The door opens without a sound.
Something tugs at my consciousness. Important.
Those eyes in the nightmare were blue, but the shadow…
The door clicks shut.
I sink back into darkness.
10
Leonid
A few moments ago
If I hold my breath any longer, I’ll be six feet under.
I stand at the door, my hand gripping the handle tighter than necessary.
Poshel na khuy! What the hell are you being such a wuss for? She’s your prisoner, for fuck’s sake. Quit screwing around and get in there!
I turn the lock on the outside of the door, and the heavy bolt slides back with a click.
But my feet freeze just outside the threshold of the door.
