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

the shadows,

like she was floating across the cavern

peaked out under the hem of her white, flowy,

skin and dark hair,

I was willing to believe anything was

she said, beckoning us with her

whisper and yet firm enough to hear over the cascading waterfall nearby.I swallowed and stepped toward her,

you doing?" Jared

follow her," I pointed

know who she is or what

feel like I'm

we're already in way over our heads here," Abe added, standing shoulder to

Great.

they were both

I begged, widening

and he cast his eyes

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

This was important.

this to help

"Come, come, my children..."

as the woman spoke again, that same otherworldly voice prickling the hairs

was something

seen her before, but I knew

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

going to take any chances, not until I knew more about her and why she was so

walked

could practically feel the tension coming off

both on

got to one of the

the buildings were ancient W] and carved

have taken hundreds of years to carve

we passed, lights flicked

see anyone turning

were covered and I

Had I really seen shadows on the terrace, or was that a figment of my ; imagination? We approached a large, well-lit building

the air

the building we approached, and

I glanced

song was the same song from the

that

a large, wide stone

in a

the largest room I'd ever

white marble with a matching floor, it was a very elegant

music thrummed and echoed off the

else in the

moved

and flew around in intricate

as the mist took form and then

a moment, I

turned to Jared and

"They're ghosts..."

"Ghosts?"

arching an

asked, panic making my stomach gurgle.I remembered how Abe

having some kind of waking dream? "We

Abe assured.

very beautiful

hanging

up behind me and put a comforting hand on my

why it made me sad to

they were or what had happened to

my heart clenched

beautiful about ghosts dancing to an orchestra playing

who led us

the ballroom, I could finally see her features

a

color as me,