down a dirt path.
“Please, why are you doing this?”
“You would never understand! Humans are so small-minded when it comes to the important things in life. Your brain can’t comprehend the grand things I’m planning for this world.”
Leila snorted. “Grand? You’re planning to destroy humanity. There’s nothing grand about that.”
He tugged at her arm, yanking her toward him. “You have no idea what I’m planning. This will be a brave new world with an order that gets things done, not your stupid little democracies that fight among each other. Your idiotic political parties that can’t agree on anything. No! My new order will make things right.”
“You mean tyranny.”
“Call it what you will, but only a strong ruler with absolute power can make a difference. You’re just too brainwashed to see that.”
“It will never work,” she spat.
He slapped the back of his hand over her cheek, whipping her head to the side.
“Enough. You’re just a human. I told you you wouldn’t understand.”
Then he turned and dragged her with him.
As they hiked down the mountain and through the forest that surrounded it, Leila couldn’t help but think about the mistakes she’d made. Had she not lied to Aiden about the data in the pendant, this might never have happened. He would have had no reason to go after the demons to get it back and would have been at the compound to protect her instead.
But there was no use crying over spilled milk. The damage was done; now all she could do was put an end to it. No help was coming. By the time Aiden even noticed her disappearance, she would already be in the clutches of the demons. How long would she be able to fight against their mental influence? Or would they torture her physically this time to get what they wanted? Would they hurt her so much that she would give away the secret in the pendant only so they would stop?
She shuddered at the thought. She had promised Aiden and herself that she wouldn’t betray him, but could she actually keep this promise? Was she strong enough?
The longer they walked through the woods, the grimmer her mood turned. She had to face the facts: she was a coward when it came to physical and mental pain, and the demons would apply both to get what they wanted from her. She would crack. It was only a matter of time.
A silent sob worked itself up from her gut into her throat. She clamped her mouth shut so it couldn’t escape. She had to be brave.
The hike through the forest took over an hour. When they cleared it, they reached what looked like a deserted parking lot, if she could trust her eyes. The sun had set during their march, and it was now pitch black. Out in the countryside were no street lights, and only the stars provided the tiniest of illumination on the moonless night.
Undeterred, Finlay pushed her forward where a hut of some sort stood out against the darkness. A faint light on its outside illuminated a board. As her captor dragged her past it, she quickly tried to read the notice. All she could catch was Mercer Caverns and a list of times and prices. Frantically, she searched her memory. Somewhere she’d heard that name before. She knew she’d never been here before, but at the same time the name sounded familiar.
But she had no time to think about it further, her feet so tired by now that she stumbled more than walked as Finlay led her past what seemed like an entrance, then wedged himself between two bushes and pulled her with him. Branches swiped her, getting caught in her jacket. She heard a ripping sound as he pulled her into the thick without stopping. Then one branch grazed her face, making her cry out, its ends catching in her hair, tangling it. She jolted backwards.
“Don’t stop!” he ordered and dragged her with him.
She felt strands of her hair being ripped from her scalp, driving tears into her eyes. But she didn’t dare cry out again.
A moment later, what sounded like an old rickety wooden door was opened, and she was shoved inside. Behind her, Finlay bolted it. A strong musty smell greeted her, and the residual warmth that had held off the cold of the night while they were outside had disappeared. It was noticeably colder in here, almost as if she’d stepped into a refrigerator. Before her was a dark void—no light penetrated.
When