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Orpheus whirls around, his booming voice bouncing off the stone walls, making me cringe.
“Listen closely, children. ‘Rex tenebrarum’ is Latin for king of darkness. Rosario is my ‘tenebris domina’ or ‘lady of darkness.’ We are the rulers of our world, known as the Divinity of the Chosen Ones.”
I stare at him like he’s insane, but he’s undeterred by it as he continues.
“I don’t believe in the traditional god and devil nonsense. I believe inmyself. I don’t follow any religion or government. I provide for and take care of my chosen ones…” He extends his black leather gloved hand, gesturing to the cloaked men behind us. “These men are my circulus interiorem, or inner circle. Each one is responsible for territory, ruling over the people in those areas. And I rule them, just like I ruleyou.”
Clapping his hands together, Orpheus relishes in the attention he’s receiving before he spreads them wide. “Come, my sacrifices and followers. It is time for the first ritual.”
Sacrifices?
Terror throbs inside my chest, as though someone plunged a knife through it. I bend, gasping for air. Chase’s bound hands fumble for mine, squeezing them tightly. “It’s okay, angel. Just breathe.”
Breathe? How can I when I’m the one responsible for this mess?I snuck out and went to Alex’s party, knowing he would chase me. I grabbed the steering wheel, wrecking my brother’s car. I started the entire chain of events that led to this horrific moment.
Tonight, we will die because ofme.
21
CHASE
I’m trying hard to hide my nervousness as we walk along the stone passageways. The skulls affixed to the walls haunt me. I swear their vacant eye sockets reflect pity and a warning in them.Get her out of here before you become like us.
My mind races, searching for any opportunity or advantage. But our restraints and the massive psychopaths surrounding us are insurmountable obstacles.
It’s silent as we walk along the long, dungeon-like hallway. My gaze absorbs our surroundings like a sponge.Are we underground?No sounds from the outside world penetrate the thick walls. The damp atmosphere lends to the eerie feeling permeating the air, piercing the heavy robe that cloaks my shoulders, chilling me to the bone.
I glance down at Mackenzie, my heart stuttering in my chest. I hate the forlorn expression that transformed her face after Orpheus’s speech. I know his words scared the hell out of her, as they did me. Especially when he called us his sacrifices.
I failed her. Our escape attempt was a bust.Regret knots the pit of my stomach. My lungs won’t fill with enough air.
As we make a turn down yet another hallway, Mackenzie’s eyes lock with mine. I’m caught off guard by the regret and remorse in them “Why are you looking at me like that, angel?”
Tears shimmer in her eyes as the flickering candles cast shades of orange and blue on her pale skin. “This is my f-fault, C-Chase.”
My brows draw in as I stare at her in bewilderment. “Your fault?”
“Y-Yes.” She swallows hard, averting her eyes. “We wouldn’t be h-here if it wasn’t for me. The p-party… the a-accident in the woods. My f-fault.”
“Kenz.” Seriousness lines my voice, making it gruff. “Life is unpredictable. You didnotcause this. Just because you snuck out to a party, knowing I’d follow…” I grin at her bewildered expression. “I’m not dense, Kenz. I knew something was up. You were far too nervous at dinner, repeatedly dropping things because your hands were shaking. When you disappeared inside your room, I figured you were up to something.”
“But you let me go?”
“Nah.” I grin at her, amazed that she can pull a smile out of me, even in the darkest of circumstances. “I didn’t let you go.” I swallow hard, realizing the truth in my words.I’m incapable of ever letting her go.“I allowed you to get a head start before I chased you.”
“Chase.” My name on her lips is breathy. It swirls through me and eases the tension swimming through my veins, especially when she makes another confession. “Thanks for coming after me. You had me worried you wouldn’t show up.”
I grin, echoing the words I said to her recently. “Don’t try running, Mackenzie. I’m not going to let you get away.”
A shiver rolls through her body, the areas of exposed skin by her neck pebbling with goosebumps. “You better not.”
My smile stretches wide for the first time in hours. Maybe days. “Trust me, angel. You’renevergetting away from me.” I wrap my pinkie around hers. “Where you go, I go.”
The cool night air hits our faces as we step into the darkness permeating the outside world. In unison, Mackenzie and I suck in huge breaths of fresh air, holding it deep inside our lungs before we exhale. My eyes scan the darkness, adjusting to it as we’re led along a well-worn path.
My gaze lifts to the bright orange harvest moon in the sky as we traipse along the edge of the darkened forest. The trees shake back and forth from the light wind blowing around us, a warning something hellish is about to be unleashed.
A shiver courses down my spine as Mackenzie and I walk so closely that our shoulders and arms are nearly melded together. I glance down at her, watching as she nervously bites her lip. She’s lightly rubbing her hands back and forth, as though she’s trying to get some circulation flowing in them. Our bindings are heavy and tight, restricting the blood flow to our hands.
