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.

of us whipped around in the direction of the

shadows, a woman

like she was

toes peaked out under the hem of her white, flowy,

elaborate, but against her tanned skin and dark hair, it glowed ethereally, making her seem like an

I was willing

me," she said, beckoning us

an echo resonating off the walls, barely above a whisper and yet firm enough to hear over the

doing?" Jared asked, grabbing my

us to follow her,"

don't know who she is or what she wants.We can't just follow

don't know...I just feel like I'm supposed to

on, Eliza, we're already in way over our heads

Great.

they were both ganging up

me, please," I begged,

and he cast his eyes

how he got when he was trying to be protective, but I couldn't

This was important.

this to

"Come, come, my children..."

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

was something familiar

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

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 woman was already on

but I wasn't going to take any chances, not until I knew more about her

and Abel walked

the tension coming off

were both on high

one of the roads

W] and carved with incredibly intricate stone columns

years to

passed, lights flicked

anyone turning on the

windows were covered and I couldn't see anyone

anyone else there other than 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

the air filled

the building we approached, and I

I glanced at

the same song from

that music

large,

in a ballroom

largest room I'd ever been

matching floor,

thrummed and echoed off the

was something else in the room

moved

and flew around

of pointed legs and outstretched arms as the mist took form and then became mist

I realized they

turned to Jared

"They're ghosts..."

"Ghosts?"

arching

panic making my stomach gurgle.I remembered how Abe hadn't been able to see

having some kind

Abe assured.

dancing.It is very beautiful and...little

sighed, hanging

behind me and put a comforting hand on

know why it made me sad to see dancing

who they were

heart

about ghosts dancing to

the woman who led

the ballroom, I could

a half

eye color as me, and there were other similarities