darkness and hiding in its cocoon, I’m terrified to even breathe for fear that even that disruption will make my defenses crumble.
Knees shaking, I’m worried I’m going to crash into Delta or Medley while terrified that the two of them just soaked up every ounce of his mind control. Are they fighting as hard as I am? Are they winning?
And if not, how the hell do we have any chance of beating this demon and making it out of this alive?
Finally, Morax steps away from us, like a looming cloud blowing away and letting in a tiny shard of sunlight. He turns to Vudu. “Bring them to the antechamber so Shateel can prepare them. We have a slaughter to get to.”
21
After being stuck in the dungeon for so long, never leaving the enclosure of the bars, it’s strange to pass through the dungeon door. I feel like I’m going to get tackled and thrown back in the cage any minute, even though I’m under Morax’s orders.
I want to look back at Toreon, soak in one more fortifying glance before I’m led to possibly my death, but I can’t risk it. I can’t let Morax get the slightest clue that maybe his power isn’t sinking in, and I’m also still actively fighting to keep it out of my head.
Shateel leads the way, walking us out of the dungeon like good little ducklings as we pass through a short stone corridor that breaks off in three different directions. There’s a single lantern doing barely anything to shove away the greedy shadows, but the migraine hammering at my head is grateful for the lack of light.
Shateel takes a left, and my sisters and I follow behind her. I desperately want to look over my shoulder at Medley to see if she’s okay, but it’s so dark in here, I don’t know if I’d even be able to get a good look at her. I know I need to bide my time, but it feels half impossible. I don’t know what any of us are walking into. Will I be alone? Are they faking the compulsion too? Are we completely screwed?
Something touches my hand, and it’s so unexpected, and the movement so surreptitious, that I nearly shriek in surprised alarm. I manage to flinch only slightly, keeping the rest of my reactions to a minimum. I look down and discover that Delta has reached back to snag my hand, her arm stretched behind her, hidden by her bright purple wing. Her fingers hook around mine, and she gives me a welcome, and throat-clenching, squeeze of comfort.
My heart simultaneously races and skips as realization dawns. She’s still here. Morax’s power didn’t take her mind over. She’s fighting it.
Relief slams through me, and I squeeze her hand back before I mimic her move. Shifting my wing slightly so I can reach behind me, I’m able to snag Medley’s finger as her arm swings at her side. She pauses as soon as I make contact, and for a second, I worry that I’m wrong, that Morax got to her, but then she grips my hand and squeezes back.
Thank Heaven and Hell, they’re here with me. I’m not alone.
When we near the end of the corridor, I regretfully let go of my sister’s hands. I wish we didn’t have to lose our connection, but at least I feel better knowing that their minds are their own and that not all hope has been lost.
Exiting the narrow corridor, we spill out into what I’m guessing is the antechamber. I’m not at all surprised to see a pair of guards standing near the back door, their bodies large, but not nearly the size of Vudu, with red skin and horns for hair, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords.
This room isn’t as big as the dungeon, but there’s a fireplace at the far wall, and the space is made of the same rough, cold stone. Someone obviously dragged some items in here recently though, because there are pieces completely out of place.
A wooden vanity, complete with cosmetics and perfume bottles, a hanging rack full of dresses, and a large tin tub sitting in front of the fire.
“Strip,” Shateel says without fanfare as she points to the tub. “Get in and scrub yourselves.” Her eyes land on me and her nose wrinkles. “Oh, curse the Morningstar, you’re positively filthy,” she says, casting a disgusted look over my body. She lets out a long-suffering sigh. “I’ll have to send for