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

shadows,

like she was floating across the

toes peaked out under the hem

tanned skin and dark

willing to

me," she said, beckoning us with

resonating off the walls, barely above a whisper and yet firm enough to hear over the cascading waterfall nearby.I swallowed and stepped toward her, my feet

what are you doing?" Jared asked,

to follow her," I

or what she wants.We can't just follow

know...I just feel like I'm

over our heads here," Abe added, standing

Great.

they were both ganging up on

begged,

tensed and he cast

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

This was important.

was doing this to help

"Come, come, my children..."

again, that same otherworldly voice prickling the

something familiar about

before, but I knew I'd remember meeting

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

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

walked

could practically feel the tension

both

to one of the roads

the buildings were ancient W] and carved with

must have taken hundreds of years

passed, lights

anyone turning on

I couldn't see anyone I moving around

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

the air filled

we

glanced at

same song

that

up a large,

in a ballroom with

the largest

matching floor, it was a very

thrummed and

something else in

shadows moved

flew

arms as the mist took form and then

a moment, I

turned to Jared

"They're ghosts..."

"Ghosts?"

asked, arching an

you?"I asked, panic making my stomach gurgle.I remembered how Abe hadn't

having some kind of waking

Abe assured.

very beautiful

sighed, hanging my

and put a comforting hand

why it made me sad to see

didn't know who they were or what had happened to

heart

dancing

led us here turned

ballroom, I could

took a half

as me,