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“Are you listening to me, Karsyn?” Death demands, whirling around to face me. “Because of you, I’m no longer able to get the two shifter girls I wanted. They were to play a crucial part in my plans.”
“And what would those be?” I snap, unable to stop myself. Because of Corbin, I’m learning to stand up for myself. To find the confidence I’ve never had before. “Why those girls? Is it because of your history?”
“What do you know of my past?” Death snarls and closes the distance between us, his nose presses against mine. The foul odor of his breath is making me queasy.
“I know you were once known as a shifter named Victor Wulfsige. You killed my mate’s mother . . .” I don’t get to finish as Death grips ahold of my throat and squeezes, blocking my airway.
“He is not your mate,” he snarls, eyes flashing red. “You belong to me. Will always belong to me. Just as that bitch should have been, but she had to choose another.”
My vision blurs, and in one second and the next, I’m spiraling, my head spinning. Images project inside my head. Images of Death killing Corbin’s mother. Meeting someone who promised him the power to do as he did to the woman. A man known only as Red Cap. I remember the stories my mother once told me of good and evil in this world. Those of the dark forces, some of them being the worst of the worst. Then there’s the ones who are for themselves. There’s never one that’s purely good, they all have an agenda for themselves, but usually, it’s never evil.
To be good, you must stay pure, untainted, and it’s something that only can be done by someone of innocence. Which is why Red Cap came to Death and used his hatred. He wanted the most innocent of them all that was gifted by the Moon Goddess with something so special it needs always to be protected.
My mother once explained to me that everyone had their own beliefs. The gods and goddesses are not just one, they’re everywhere, in every country. Some do not care that they are different and will cause trickery and manipulation to see to having things their way.
Such as what is happening now. Dark magic feeds off the blood of others and strengthens all the more on the night of a blood moon. It might be weeks away still for the blood moon, and the future is ever changing. Nothing is certain except for tonight.
Just as quickly as Death gripped my neck, he released it, breath whooshing in my lungs. “Your powers have grown since I last touched you. I will have to ensure they don’t regress before the blood moon.”
I want to tell him to go to hell, then again, this place is pretty much just that. He lives in such a dark place, I know he’d simply thrive in it.
“We shall work at this, pet, but for now, you must be punished,” Death declares, waving his hands, and instantly, the flickering flames of the torches go dark, and the hissing sound of Death’s actual pet comes forward, eyes glowing red. I’m not sure what it would be called, as Death himself created the beast. It only comes out when no light is able to shine upon it. Yet, in the dark, I’ve seen its massive head. “I’ll give you a bit with Jiggath. He won’t kill you as you know, but he’ll ensure you are hurt for betraying me as you have.” Death’s voice fades with him as he vanishes from the room that holds no doors. The only way in and out is through magic, and with my wrists shackled as they are, there’s no way to leave it.
Sucking in a breath, I close my eyes, wishing I could escape this place. I’ve been held here more times than I can count. This beast knows my fear. My tears. My blood.
“Keep calm, baby.” Corbin’s voice filters through my head once again. My breath hitches, knowing he’s experiencing my fear and knows my thoughts as if they were his. Even with the distance between us. “I’m here for you, Karsyn, and I will bring you home. Just hang on a bit longer.”
Jiggath moves closer to me, his feet scoffing across the wet dirt floor.
An idea flows through me, and I know it’s going to be the only way to leave this room before it’s too late.
“Jiggath, do you want to be set free?” I ask the demon. “Do you want to be able to roam free of this place? Of your master?”
“Master? He is no master of mine.” Jiggath snarls animalistically. “I have no master.”
“But you do as long as you’re stuck here in this room. You know this as much as I do,” I retort and take a deep breath. “If you help me, I’ll help you?”
“How can you help Jiggath?” he demands.
“If you break the shackles free of my wrists, I will get us both from this room. We can both be free of him.” I know I shouldn’t set this beast free, but it’s the only way.
“I let you loose, you can vanish as he does.”
“I’m not like Death, Jiggath, I promise you. I won’t leave you here.”
It could be a horrible mistake, but it’s the only one I have at the moment. Earn Jiggath’s trust, his loyalty, and I might survive.“Jiggath, my mate is coming for me. He’s going to kill Death, but we need to get out of here. I can get you out of here. If you break the shackles on my wrists, I will take you with me.”
Jiggath’s blood-red eyes ensnare mine for a long moment as if he were looking into my very soul. “Jiggath will help you,” he finally answers.
“Thank you.” I breathe, relief washing over me.
Slowly, Jiggath uses his claws to remove first one, then the other, and steps away. I lower my arms and hold out my hand to him. “Let’s go.” The instant his hand is in mine, I wish us both out of there, feeling for where Corbin might be. Finding him through my senses, I take us to him, appearing before him.
“Corbin,” I whisper, letting go of Jiggath and dropping to my knees in front of my mate’s massive wolf size.Corbin lets out a grumbling growl and steps closer all but putting me beneath him as he faces off with Jiggath. “Don’t, Corbin,” I utter, sliding my hands upthrough his black fur.
“He hurt my mate.” Corbin snarls through our connection, his teeth bared.
“He let me go, Corbin. I promised to take him with me. So, please don’t.”
