“I keep getting a whiff of something. Sometimes it reeks, sometimes it smells good. It’s like dirt or earth. I smell smoke and herbs. Or a flower, but I don’t know anything about flowers so I couldn’t tell you what kind. There’s alsoa hint of sweetness that reminds me of taverns in Europe during the Middle Ages when they made mead.”
Rorik reaches out and grabs my head, pulling me closer. I have to plant my hands on the table so I don’t fall on top of it.
“Uhhh, what is happening?” Vara asks.
“Shush,” Rory says.
“He did not just shush me,” Vara growls.
“Quiet!” Rory growls back then adds, “Please.”
He closes his eyes and presses his palms to my temples. I can sense him digging around in my head. It’s disturbing and uncomfortable, but if he thinks this will get us closer to finding Farrah, then I’ll suffer through it.
After what feels like hours, but is likely only seconds, Rorik releases me.
“I know who’s helping the hunters. I think I know how to find Farrah.”
Chapter 26 – Farrah
Iwake up and find myself in a hot, dark room.
My eyes flutter, attempting to fight off this groggy feeling, but it’s as if a haze has settled over my vision. My head aches, like pressure is building within.
I'm nauseous, and my mouth is dry as fuck.
The small windows are all covered, but a sliver of light shines through. I’m not sure how long I’ve been passed out, but when I left to meet my father for dinner, the sun hadn’t set. So, either that means it’s still the same day or I’ve been asleep since yesterday.
Maybe it’s a streetlight?
I find a lamp on the bedside table and turn it on. The bright light sends a ripple of pain through my head, so Ihold up my hand to cover my eyes while allowing my vision to adjust.
Forcing myself to sit up, I scan the room. At least it’s not a scary dungeon or some haunted basement.
I mean, I think I’m still in a basement but not a scary haunted one.
The urge to throw up grows, and I spot a glass of water on the table next to the bed where I was dumped. I grab it, all but inhaling the warm liquid. I’m too thirsty to worry about the water being poisoned. If my father and brother wanted me dead, I would be already.
I can’t understand why they captured me like I’m a monster—
Wait.
No.
Deans words before I passed out…
They’ve found out I’m aligned with monsters. They’ve captured me to be used as bait. Because they know the gargoyles will come looking for me.
Fuck.
Shit.
I’m going to puke. I stand and scan the room again, searching for a place to vomit. A bucket in the corner catches my eye, and I run over just in time to spew the contents of my stomach—which isn’t much since I was toonervous about meeting with my father and couldn’t eat the bowl of cereal I poured before leaving the apartment.
It was all a setup.
The pain in my head returns when I stand, and I reach my hand up to feel around my skull. My fingertips graze over a bump on the side.
What the hell? How did I get this? Did they do this to me? My own family?
