Sold AS The alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 71 : The Dead City

I could barely catch my breath as I realized the entire city was still here and clearly full of people and life.

There was something off about the way the lights had turned on.

I could see into the streets of the city but I couldn't see any actual people.

Sure, lights were coming on all over the place, but where were the people? Initially, I thought the lights meant there were people still here in Myrel.

But where were they? Why weren't they coming out of the buildings to see what was going on? Ashudder ran through me when an eerie thought occurred to me.

Were there people at all? Maybe these lights were just responding to my presence like motion-sensored lights that came on when someone walked in front of them.

Had we discovered a dead city that still reacted when someone showed up? For some reason, that creeped me out in a whole different way.

I kept staring up at the lights as they came on, and that was exactly how Abe found me, dragging Jared along behind him.

Jared was a little pale, but he wasn't screaming in pain anymore.

His power had been contained, though it seemed like he was weak.

I couldn't tell if he was conscious...

his eyes were closed and his breathing was heavy and labored.

I knelt down next to him and put my hand on his forehead.

He didn't have a fever but his skin felt a little cold and clammy.

What had happened to him in the cave? Why had he lost control like that? What had caused him all that pain? "Eliza, we have a problem,"

Abe said.

He stood over me and Jared, his shadow swallowing us as more lights came on behind him.

Slowly, I stood up and pointed to the city above us.

Abe turned around and tilted his head back, looking at the city above us.

I heard him gasp and a strange look crossed his face.

"Okay, we've got two problems..."

Jared shuddered and opened his eyes.

Panting, he jumped to his feet.

"Hey.It's alright, we got you," I said, touching his shoulder.

Jared's eyes whipped around wildly.

Those big, beautiful, captivating orbs were so restless and unsettled.

I rubbed his arm comfortingly and finally, his eyes settled on me.

"Eliza.What...what happened?" He creased his brow.

"Don't you remember what happened in the cave?" I arched my eyebrow.

Jared had really scared me.I hadn't gotten around to doing what the vision of Draven had told me to do to help him.But he seemed recovered now...except for not being able to remember.He shook his head.

"No."

He pointed to all the lights, tilting his head back.

"What's going on up there?"

How could he not remember? He'd been in so much pain, screaming bloody murder.Maybe it was better that he didn't remember.I followed Jared's finger and saw he was pointing to the terrace above our heads where there were shadowy figures moving around.

Were they ghosts? Were they just shadows? At this angle and in this light, it was hard to tell.

"As I was saying, we've got a few problems," Abe jumped in again.

l opened my mouth to reply.

Crunch.

Crunch.

around in the

the shadows, a woman

slowly and gracefully, like she

the hem of

but against her tanned skin and dark hair, it glowed ethereally, making her

willing to

beckoning us with her

above a whisper and yet firm enough to hear over the cascading waterfall nearby.I swallowed and stepped

doing?" Jared asked, grabbing my

her," I pointed

who she is or what she wants.We

feel like

heads here," Abe

Great.

were both ganging

me, please," I begged, widening my eyes

he

was trying to be protective, but I couldn't let that interfere with every

This was important.

this to

"Come, come, my children..."

spine as the woman spoke again, that same otherworldly voice

was something

the sense that I'd seen her before, but I knew I'd remember

chill me to the bone.I'd definitely remember that...Before Abe and Jared could protest more, I turned around and followed " the woman.The ledge we were on led to a path that angled up to the city.The strange

going to take any chances, not until I knew more about her and why she was so

Abel walked

practically feel the tension coming off

both

to one of the roads into the

the buildings were ancient W] and carved with incredibly intricate

of years to carve

we passed, lights flicked

anyone

windows were covered and I couldn't see

really seen shadows on the terrace, or was that a figment of my ; imagination? We approached a large, well-lit building with a fountain out front : splashing sparkling water droplets in

air filled

the building we approached, and I could hear the song

I glanced at

the same

that music

led us up a large, wide stone staircase into the

a ballroom with

the largest room I'd

a matching floor, it was a very

orchestra music thrummed and echoed off the marble

was something else

shadows moved around

swirled and flew

sight of pointed legs and outstretched arms as the mist took

I realized

turned to Jared

"They're ghosts..."

"Ghosts?"

asked, arching an

how Abe hadn't been able

hallucinating again or having some kind of waking dream? "We

Abe assured.

dancing.It is very beautiful

hanging my

came up behind me and put a comforting

it made me sad to

were or

heart clenched

dancing to an orchestra playing

woman who led us here turned

the ballroom, I

I took a

same eye color as me, and there