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

shadows,

walked slowly and gracefully, like she was floating

out under the hem of her white, flowy, cotton

and dark hair, it glowed ethereally,

point, I was willing to believe anything

she said, beckoning

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

are you doing?" Jared asked, grabbing

to follow her,"

is or what she wants.We can't just follow her,"

just feel like I'm supposed

heads here," Abe added, standing shoulder to shoulder

Great.

they were both ganging

me, please," I begged, widening my

and he cast his

to be protective, but I couldn't

This was important.

was doing this to

"Come, come, my children..."

ran down my spine as the woman spoke again, that same otherworldly voice prickling the hairs on the back of my

something familiar

that I'd seen her before, but I knew I'd remember meeting

alone was enough to 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

to take any chances, not

and Abel walked close

could practically feel the tension coming

both on

got to one of

buildings were ancient W] and carved with incredibly intricate stone columns and

have taken hundreds of years to carve

building we passed,

anyone turning on

the windows were covered and I couldn't see anyone I moving around

this mysterious woman? Had I 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

the air filled

we

glanced

was the same song from

recognize that

up a large,

a

huge, the largest room I'd ever

with a matching floor, it was a very

thrummed and echoed off

something else in the

moved

swirled and flew around

of pointed legs and outstretched arms as the mist took

moment, I

turned to Jared

"They're ghosts..."

"Ghosts?"

arching an

gurgle.I remembered how Abe hadn't been

I hallucinating again or having some kind of waking

Abe assured.

is very beautiful and...little

hanging

and put a comforting hand on my

why it made me sad

who they were or

my heart clenched

about ghosts dancing to an orchestra

led us here

bright light of the ballroom, I could finally see her

took a half step

me, and there were other similarities