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.

whipped around in the direction

the shadows, a

slowly and gracefully, like she was floating across

the hem of her white,

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

willing to believe

said, beckoning us with her

was distant and soft, like an echo resonating off the walls, barely above a whisper and yet firm enough

are you doing?" Jared

follow her,"

she is or what she

feel like I'm supposed

way over our heads here," Abe added,

Great.

were both ganging up on

begged,

he cast

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

This was important.

this to

"Come, come, my children..."

that same otherworldly voice prickling

was something familiar about

that I'd seen her before, but I knew 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 woman was already on the path.I followed

any chances, not until I

and Abel walked close

practically feel the tension coming

were both on

one of the roads

ancient W] and carved with incredibly intricate stone

taken hundreds of years to carve all those

building we passed, lights

anyone turning on

of the windows were covered and I couldn't see anyone I

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 front : splashing sparkling

the air filled

playing inside the building we approached, and I could

glanced

the same song from the

recognize that

up a large, wide stone

a ballroom with

the largest

a matching floor, it was a

music thrummed and echoed off the marble

was something else in

shadows moved around

and flew

legs and outstretched arms as

I realized they

turned to

"They're ghosts..."

"Ghosts?"

asked, arching

making my stomach gurgle.I remembered how Abe hadn't been able to see my vision of Draven in the

some

Abe assured.

very

hanging my

came up behind me and put a comforting hand on my

didn't know why it made me sad

were or what had happened to

heart clenched

ghosts dancing to an orchestra playing an old

who led us here turned

ballroom, I could finally see her

a half step

same eye color as me,