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.

three of us whipped around

the shadows,

slowly and gracefully, like she was

the hem of her

skin and dark hair, it glowed ethereally,

this point, I was willing to believe anything

said, beckoning

above a whisper and yet firm enough to hear

you doing?" Jared asked, grabbing my

us to follow her," I pointed after the

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

just feel like I'm supposed to

way over our heads here," Abe

Great.

were both ganging up

me, please," I begged, widening my

tensed and he cast his

protective, but I couldn't

This was important.

was 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 the back of

something familiar about

before, but I knew I'd remember meeting

could protest more, I turned around and followed " the woman.The ledge we were on led to a path that

chances, not until I knew more about her and why

and Abel walked close behind

feel the tension coming off

were both on

one of

the buildings were ancient W] and carved with incredibly

taken hundreds of years to carve all those delicate

building we passed, lights flicked

anyone turning on the

of the windows were covered and I couldn't

a figment of my ; imagination? We approached a large, well-lit building with a fountain out front :

the air

building we approached, and

I glanced

same song from the

that music

woman led us up a large, wide

in a ballroom with cathedral

was huge, the largest room I'd ever been

with a matching floor, it

and echoed

something else in

shadows moved around

flew

caught sight of pointed legs and outstretched arms as the mist

a moment, I realized they were

to Jared

"They're ghosts..."

"Ghosts?"

asked, arching an

panic making my stomach gurgle.I remembered how Abe

again or having some kind of waking dream?

Abe assured.

is very beautiful

hanging my

put a comforting

know why it made

know who they were or what

heart clenched

beautiful about ghosts dancing to an orchestra

woman who led us here turned to

bright light of the ballroom, I could finally see her

took a half step

eye color as me,