The female steps forward again, this time closer to us.
Her flowy white gown is spotless, and as she walks, no speck of dirt touches her.
Moe’s fingers tighten in the torn fabric at my back.
The newcomer stops just short of my reach and smiles directly at her.
“You are very far from where you belong, little mortal,” she says softly.
Moe swallows, but to her credit her voice remains steady when she answers. “And where exactly is that?”
The female’s smile widens with visible delight.
“Nothere.”
Her gaze travels slowly over Moe again, lingering in a way that makes my skin crawl, before she finally steps back.
“You.” She snaps at me. “Protect her better,” she says, her tone turning cool as winter. “If anything happens to her because of your incompetence, I will beverydispleased.”
My jaw clenches so tightly it aches. If only I could fight her…
“Stay away from my female,” I growl from deep within my throat. Helpless as I am, I will not allow heranywherenear Moe.
She cuts me off with a single look, one full of disdain.
“You misunderstand again,” she says, her eye twitching. “This was not a request for your permission.”
Then she turns and walks away, slowly and gracefully. Without glancing back, she adds: “I will see you again, little mortal.”
One blink of an eye and then she’s gone.
Teleportation?Just who the hell is she, and why is she so interested in Moe?
Silence ensues down in her wake. Neither of us says a word as we continue to cling to each other.
After a few moments, Moe slowly loosens her grip on my shirt. I remain still, staring at the empty space, every muscle in my body drawn taut enough to snap.
“Congratulations! You have survived the Culling,” the voice of the wraith cuts through the damning silence. “You have been awarded one hundred fifty points. Your total is now three hundred points.”
“Nyk,” Moe whispers. “I want to go home.”
“Me, too.”
Somehow, I don’t think it’s going to be that easy, even with these newly gained points.
46
Shadows are everywhere. Pulsing with vitality.
As I replenish some of my energy, I’m surprised to find the world around me looking different: darker yet brighter at the same time.
I walk by and the shadows respond to me, swaying gently toward me, bowing their heads to their master. Particles of energy around me make their presence known before I even see them.
Deaths happen every single moment in Aimaxion. And when one happens, I instinctively know. I only have to look at the sky and see soul particles rise toward the crimson sky.
It takes me half the concentration from before to call forth a few particles and guide them within me.
Two things are clear after we survive the Culling: I now have a whopping three hundred points and the continuous fighting seems to have had an effect on my level.
