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I don’t slow. My heart leaps as I approach Rune. I don’t know if he’s going to grab me or let me run by. His crimson gaze doesn’t hold an inch of resentment for me as our eyes connect. I pass him easily, and the second I hit the inner walls of the court I strip my boots off before Arulius can enter.
My socks are wet and my toes instantly freeze against the cold tiles. I tiptoe as quietly as I can toward the torture chamber off to the right.
Arulius crashes in, Rune hot on his heels—apparently invisible still, since Arulius doesn’t notice him. Gods, I need to apologize to him. He’s the best guard ever. Even after I cussed him out like a bitch.
I clear my mind to focus on the plan. I know Rune can see me, but he lingers around Arulius—to keep an eye on him, I’m assuming.
After I’m sure Arulius went down the wrong corridor, I slip into the large, empty torture room. The tiles are still stained with my blood in the center near the drain. A shiver crawls up my spine and I try to shake it out. The moonlight and warm glow from the festival lights trickle in through the floor-to-ceiling windows along the far wall.
Ugh, I hate this place.
I don’t waste any time and swiftly move to try the small door in the corner of the room where I've watched Violet take my blood for months. I’m surprised to find it’s not locked—wow, bold to believe in your guards this much. This is next-level stupid.
I find spiral stairs made of stones as I pass the door. I follow them down until I feel the walls themselves caving in on me. It’s suffocating down here and the scent of blood stings my nose. The walls are wet and it smells moldy down here.
After having nearly three panic attacks in the dark, tight stairs from hell, I make it to another door at the bottom. I push it open slowly, peeking just in case I’m not the only late visitor tonight.
It’s pitch black. I can’t see a fucking thing.
The door creaks silently and stale air pushes past me, smelling of mildew and old stones. My nose wrinkles with the intrusion.
I hold out my hand and focus my aura into my palm. A warm glow lights the room, dim like candlelight. I don’t waste another second as I search for anything that will help me figure out what the hell Violet is doing down here.
There’s nothing out of the ordinary. It’s a creepy, decrepit basement.
Dust is thick along the untouched tables. Items are stored underneath them and empty bottles and rags are spread across the floor. I walk further toward the back until my light touches the far walls, and then stop in front of something with a blanket over it.
My blood chills as I stare down at the small mound before me. Something in my bones is screaming at me—this is it.
I hesitate, but fist my hands at my sides to steady myself. Ihaveto do this.
The blanket isn’t dusty at all, so Violet must be moving it every time we have our sessions. I lift it slowly and clench my teeth as I turn to the side, careful to not let the blanket touch any of the dust around me.
When I glance back, my heart stops.
What the fuck.
A crimson skull and handful of horrid bones rest in a bowl of dark blood.
13
Elodie
Of all the shit I’ve seen, I swear to gods this is byfarthe worst.
It’s bleeding—the skull is fuckingbleedingand thick veins curl around its crimson surface. I can see them pulsing, supplying the long-dead god with blood… but for fuck’s sake, why?
I take a step back, unable to look away, but my insides are screaming at me to run. My throat squeezes as I try to hold back my dinner.
Why is Violet feeding my blood to… whoever this is?
I try to study the skull for any identifying aspects, but the only thing that is remotely unique are the sharp teeth. They’re like shark teeth. I’ve certainly not met a creature here with those features.
All right, got what I came here for, time to get the fuck out.
I toss the blanket back on the disturbing skull-blood soup and spin to leave.
Of. Fucking. Course. Rune is leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. Watching me with that unreadable face he’s so good at keeping. There's no way he saw the skull with me holding the blanket and my body blocking his view. He doesn’t seem to acknowledge what’s behind me either. His eyes are only on me.
