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“Cinitta.” I step closer and reach for her. As soon as I make contact with her skin, the fire goes out, and she is back to her true form. “You don’t have to serve him,” I tell her. “He’s lying. The deal with your mother is long dead.”
She pulls my hand away, and the fire bursts back to life.
“That won’t work,” Viper states simply, sounding bored. “But you know what does work?” He snaps his fingers, and pain radiates through me instantly. Every fiber of my being is engulfed in an indescribable agony. I drop to the floor, my hands cooling at the feel of the marble beneath me.
I hear his steps as he comes closer, and I can do nothing to stop what happens next.
“Portals.”
Another snap of his fingers, and I’m falling.
Falling with no end in sight.
* * *
No one has ever come back from a portal. It’s well known that there is no return once you go through one.
I should have expected something like this from Viper. I mean, I did piss him off.But a portal?Asshole.
My back slams into the ground, my head throbbing on contact, and I must remember I need to move.
I don’t know this world.
This world is not mine.
Only a few have the power to open portals. And it seems somehow Viper is now one of those few. Is this the place where everyone goes that disobeyed the queen, or did she just kill them?
I don’t even know for sure.
Another thing, this world is not for Angels or demons. So I can’t even conjure Valefar if I try. Opening my eyes, I look up to see stars, indicating that it’s nighttime. At least, as far as I can tell. My head is throbbing, and I think I kinked something in the back of my neck.
A distant noise becomes louder—it sounds like a bird. But not just a small bird chirping, more like a flock, maybe?
Managing to pull myself up and turn over, I crawl to the nearest tree where I can hide. As soon as I reach it, instant relief floods through me.
We thought that portals went to hell. No one really knew where you went because you just kind of… went.
Sitting with my back to the tree, I take in my surroundings. The stars shine brightly, making everything visible. Trees are everywhere I look, but they aren’t your average trees like the ones seen in Cardia. These have purple and pink flowers blossoming. I rub my eyes to make sure I see correctly, and sure enough, I am. Managing to stand, I turn around. The tree I’m leaning against is also pink and purple, and beneath my feet is lush green grass.
Everything here is so…
… dare I say,beautiful.
This can’t be Hell, can it?
The birds that were chirping before stop. And it seems everything goes quiet, hauntingly so.
The only thing I hear is the gentle sound of water lapping against a shore. Following the sound, I walk past the eye-catching trees and find a lake. Bending down, I go to put my hands in it to wash my face.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
My head shoots up at the sound of the voice, and I stop. Sitting on the other side of the lake is a man who’s dressed in what appears to be an all-black suit. But it’s not your average suit, more like a bodice top with long sleeves, and trousers that are form-fitting, but not quite as tight as a woman’s.
“Why?” I ask.
“This is sacred water. You are not permitted to touch it.” My eyes go wide at his words. He turns away from me and bites into what seems to be an apple. I stare at him, taking in his features. His hair is short, brushed back to perfection, and the color of a deep blue with hints of lighter brown strokes. His features are prominent, and his jaw is impeccably strong.
Dare I say it?
