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.

us whipped around in the direction of

shadows, a woman

walked slowly and gracefully, like she

her toes peaked out under the hem of her white,

dark hair, it glowed ethereally, making her

point, I was willing to

said, beckoning us

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

are you doing?" Jared asked, grabbing

her," I pointed

she is or what

like

heads here," Abe

Great.

both

I begged, widening

he cast his eyes

knew how he got when he was trying to be protective, but I couldn't let that interfere with every lead we

This was important.

doing this to help

"Come, come, my children..."

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

something familiar about

before, but I

remember that...Before Abe and Jared could protest more, I turned around and followed " the woman.The ledge

any chances, not until I knew more about her and why she was

and Abel walked

the tension coming off of

both on high

one of

and carved with incredibly intricate

must have taken hundreds of years to carve all

we passed, lights flicked

anyone

were covered and I couldn't see anyone

a figment of my ;

the air filled

the building we approached, and I could hear

I glanced at

song was the same song from the

that

large,

in a ballroom with cathedral

the largest room I'd ever

with a matching floor, it was a very elegant

orchestra music thrummed and echoed off

something else in the room

shadows moved around

swirled and flew around in intricate

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

I realized

turned to Jared

"They're ghosts..."

"Ghosts?"

asked, arching an

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

some kind of waking

Abe assured.

very

sighed, hanging my

me and put a comforting hand

it made me sad to see dancing

who they were or what had

heart clenched

about ghosts dancing to an orchestra playing an old

the woman who led us here

light of the ballroom,

I took a half step

had the same eye color as me, and there were