“Come on, Hopper, do your thing,” I hear Marigold say, before opening the storage room in front of me.
What’s in there that she needs?Before I can inquire, I’m turned to the right, where there’s only a dead end, when I hear a few clicking noises.
“I love this part,” Serafin whispers as I feel air disperse against my face.
The smell of dust, sulfur, and something like the sea is heavy in the air. Not a well-known combination, but it makes me weary as I remind myself I’m doing this for Rez. I need to know what they gave her. She doesn’t know that I saw it, but I know she was hurt during Level Two. I might not be the most expressive, but I don’t miss much when it comes to the analytical part of my day-to-day life.
“Come on, Levi,” Emer purrs. “We will finally be together.” She nuzzles into my neck, causing my skin to crawl as I clench my jaw.They’re not going to hurt you, Emer is too infatuated with you to do that, I tell myself.But I can’t help feeling a little anxious.
“Was it some kind of poison you gave her?” I ask as I’m led deeper into an area I’ve never been.
Angel’s laughter bounces around the room, indicating we’re in more of a cavern than a small room.
“Don’t worry, Levi, we’ll keep our word. We’ll tell you what she was given,” Emer warns.
“Of course we will, Emer. I can’t help it if it makes me happy, though. It’s no secret that I hate the bitch, and I’m happy about the turn of events.” Angel’s gleeful tone nauseates me as we finally come to a stop. The stench of death permeates the room as I’m turned around and pushed down onto a rickety stool before my blindfold is released.
“Sorry for earlier, baby,” Emer says, kneeling down before me. She pushes back a stray hair that has fallen into my eyes. “But we couldn’t take any chances of having you know where this place is,” she continues, grabbing my chin and focusing my gaze back on her.
“Understandable.” I glare at her.
I’ve always been an understanding gentleman, so the fact that they have to resort to this level isn’t lost on me. Whatever they have planned isn’t noble or legal in our world. I amnot happy.
“Oh, don’t give me that look. I’m here to make things better between us.” She runs her claws down my cheek before getting up and walking out of the light for a moment, so I take the opportunity to survey the room as much as possible.
I got one thing right: I am in a place I’ve never been before. The room is shrouded in darkness, so dark that I can’t tell its size; the flickering candles only let me see various parts of it. Like a few tapestries hanging on the wall depicting the Sulks, demons, the fae rowan tree, and a black magic ritual. From what I can see at my feet, there’s a pentagram etched into the floor, and by the smell of the room, this is where they’ve been practicing their magic. Possibly harvestingbloodmagic. My stomach suddenly rolls at the thought that this has been under the Administration building. How long has it been here? What would my father or the rest of the council think when they find out?
Emer emerges naked from the dark, a large black-and-gold pendant around her neck, swinging between her exposed breasts. I don’t get a good look before it swings, and I see the back, but it has some kind of sigil on it. Knowing the harpies in front of me, it’s not good for either Rez or me.
“Like what you see?” Emer purrs, and bile rises in my throat.
Yep, done looking at the pendant.
“Okay, Emer,” I start, looking at her as if she’s the responsible one in this group. She’s obviously more unhinged if she’s allowing kidnapping to be a part of her arsenal. “I’ve complied. I’m here now. So, unlock the cuffs and tell me what has happened to Rez. I have done what you’ve asked,” I deadpan, cocking an eyebrow.
There’s chuckling behind me, but I don’t dare breathe or take my eyes off of Emer. She fidgets under my piercing gaze for a moment before she turns and picks up a tube of red liquid.
“Here, drink this,” she demands, holding it out to me like I’m not tied.
“What’s in it?”
I need to know what’s in it so I can undo whatever I’m about to swallow. There has to be an antidote if I’m about to ingest something willingly.
“It’s just something to make things right,” Emer hedges.
“Lie,” I call out, and she recoils as if I’ve slapped her. Her voice naturally fluctuated, and her tone sped up, indicating a lie. She lied like it was second nature to her, as if it was like breathing. I wonder how many of her past words were lies.
“I wouldn’t lie to you,” she lies once again.
I roll my eyes and peer up at her, cutting to the point.
“How about you stop lying and just tell me the truth. I’ll drink the damn stuff because I have no choice, but I want to know the ingredients. Say it’s the mage side of me that’s dying to know. Potions are my thing, and learning them is my weakness,” I tell her, spilling my own white lie.
“It’s the demon memory potion, so I don’t know what all is in it, plus Condonial,” she admits, proudly walking closer to me.
Before I have a chance to process what she says, someone yanks my hair, causing me to yelp, and pries my jaw apart, while Emer dumps the warm, smoky liquid down my throat.
‘Levi!’Knots’ voice rings into my head.
