The surprise on her face is quickly masked as she nods, not questioning what I’m hiding. She’s the only one I trust.
Picking out a random male, I say, “You.” He looks at me when I point. “Find out how we were freed, who helped, and learn their motives. Meet back here as a rendezvous point, and I’ll decide if you’re ready to join camp based on the information you provide.”
He vanishes without a word, and I look up as the sky thunders. In fact, we all look up.
When the first trickle of rain hits my face, another hot tear is dragged out of me.
I haven’t felt the rain in more centuries than I can count. I haven’t felt water or tasted it in too long.
My mouth opens, and the first drop of wetness has my body desperate for more. So much more.
When my eyes close so I can simply feel sensation, I expect to see the blonde on her eighteenth birthday, the loop restarting.
Instead, I see her inside the cabin, her body still limp and pale but mending as her chest rises and falls steadily.
Instinct demands I go to her, but I wrestle for control, finding it easier without her being physically in front of me.
When my eyes open, I feel them burn, and I stare over at the cabin.
For just a second, a fraction of a moment too long, I understand why my brother faltered. Understand why he wasn’t strong enough to resist. And that makes me hate him a little more.
As the rain starts to drizzle, I move back to one more person as Simone comes running up.
“One of our guys knows the perfect place to go,” she tells me.
“Have him lead the way,” I tell her.
I wait until everyone disappears, and Kya finally leaves the cabin unattended. I’ve already put an intrusion spell on the place, so no one is getting in, but I don’t even want anyone to see her.
Just as Kya starts to follow, I grab her arm. “Remember that picture I had you draw two years ago? The one of the man in my head?”
She frowns. “Yes...the one I sketched for you while you instructed me.”
Kya was a child when she came to the rings. Drawing kept her from forgetting she was a child, and she got good at it.
“Find him,” I tell her.
“Of course. Who is he? Is he part of the rings?” she asks, simply curious.
“No,” is all I say at first.
There was never any sound to my dreams. I’ve never heard her voice. I only know her name because of the minimal lip reading I was able to do with the blurry images that seem to be sharpening now that I’ve touched her.
His image was always sharp enough, and I memorized every feature of him while he put his fucking hands all over her.
“He’s just someone I want to kill before anyone else gets the chance,” I add before disappearing.
I was weak and docile the first time I was in this world.
They’re not ready for the monster they created.
Chapter 1
Now…
SLADE
“Fucking find him!” I shout at Kya, who winces as she looks away.