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

the shadows, a

slowly and gracefully, like she was floating

under the hem of her white, flowy,

wasn't elaborate, but against her tanned skin and dark hair, it glowed ethereally, making her seem like an otherworldly

this point, I was willing

said, beckoning us with

yet firm enough to hear over the cascading waterfall nearby.I swallowed and stepped toward her, my feet acting on

you doing?"

told us to follow her," I pointed

don't know who she is or what she

feel like I'm supposed

heads here," Abe added, standing shoulder to

Great.

they were both ganging

I begged, widening

jaw tensed and he cast his

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

This was important.

this to help

"Come, come, my children..."

the woman spoke again, that same otherworldly voice prickling

was something familiar about

shake the sense that I'd seen her before, but

the woman.The ledge we were

chances, not until I knew more about her

walked

practically feel the tension coming off of

were both on high

got to one of

carved with incredibly intricate stone columns

years to carve all

we passed,

anyone

the windows were covered and I

anyone else there other than this mysterious woman? Had I really seen shadows on the terrace, or was that a figment of my

air filled with

orchestra was playing inside the building we approached, and I

glanced

the same

recognize that

us up a large, wide stone staircase into the

ourselves in a

the largest room I'd ever been

matching floor,

orchestra music thrummed and echoed off the

something else in

moved

and flew around in intricate

caught sight of pointed legs and outstretched arms as the mist took

moment, I realized

to Jared and

"They're ghosts..."

"Ghosts?"

arching

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

I hallucinating again or having some

Abe assured.

dancing.It is very beautiful

sighed, hanging

me and put a comforting hand

know why it made

were or what

heart

was something tragically beautiful about ghosts dancing

who led us here turned to

of the ballroom, I could finally see her features

I took a

me, and there were other similarities between