A Crown Of Shadows And Secrets - Sloane Murphy Page 0,67
bare my teeth as I smile when she hisses. She grabs an empty glass, dripping her blood into it before handing it to me. I cut my own palm and let my blood mix with hers in the glass before handing it back. She murmurs something indecipherable and the blood catches fire, and I feel the power from the bond sweep across the room.
“It is done.”
So it turns out the Pits are exactly what they sound like.
A giant circular stone building with five levels, each level just an open platform looking down to the center, where six electrified cages hold more bloodshed than a little. Even the ground is a reddish-brown, no doubt from the amount of blood spilt here.
When Luna walks in the entire place goes silent, the fighters still, the only sound a hum from the cages and then a cheer goes up, a roar so loud my ears ring. Of course they love her. I look around and I realize once again, that like ninety percent of the people here are women. The few men scattered about are chained up, like pets. My stomach threatens to empty itself as I take it all in, them leashed, being dragged around on their knees. It’s fucking awful.
It’s then I realize, I’ve not seen many souls on this level. Not like on the others. I tuck the thought away for later, because right now, I have to think about nothing but winning. Killing whoever it is that meets me in the cage, getting my guys back, and then finding out where the fuck Fallon is. A vision of cutting off Archer’s dick for all of this bullshit jumps into my mind, and I grin. I know I look crazy, but I really don't give a fuck right now.
I follow Luna through the Pit, it takes so long because every single person in here wants to kiss her ass. It takes every piece of strength I have to keep my eyes from rolling at the fake ass flattery being flung at her, and the amount of joy it seems to bring her. It must be lonely, no wonder she wants my guys. I paint the look of indifference back on my face and stick reasonably close to her as she heads towards the cages.
By the time we reach them, the cages are empty except for two people dismantling the inner metal walls.
I guess I'm going to be putting on a show.
Awesome.
“The fight board has been cleared for you,” she says, turning back to face me, pure glee on her face.
“But of course,” I say, keeping the air of cold indifference. If they can't get a read on me, it has to work in my favor.
“I thought someone of your... status... would enjoy such a thing.” I shrug at her words. I don't particularly enjoy fighting with an audience, but it’s not enough to throw me off. I reach for the warrior inside of me, the one I keep caged away unless necessary, but I'm not willing to risk the lives of my guys.
They're mine.
This psycho bitch isn't getting them, not even over my dead body.
“Who am I fighting?” I ask rolling my shoulders, and slipping off the leather jacket revealing the leather outfit I donned back in Callie’s tavern. It might have made the guys eyes roll out of their head, but it was practical as well as hot as fuck. I had so many blades concealed on my body, hidden, doubling as armor in certain places. Whoever crafted this was a fucking genius.
I wore it for another reason though, my Angel mark, and my Hunters mark are very much on display. Just a reminder that I am not one of them, and that I will show no mercy to anyone that crosses me. If this level didn't lock down on Luna's death, I'd have slit her throat at breakfast.
“Rowan!” Luna calls out, and the room quiets again as a hooded figure moves towards us. She's about my height, but bigger in build. A scar down her face, through her eyebrow and down her cheek caught my eye as she shrugged out of the hooded robe.
She looks me up and down, and I raise an eyebrow. She looks human, but then, so do most of the Demons here. She turns to a black mist in front of my eyes, reappearing in the cage in the blink of an eye.