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Terror shot through me. I tried to move, but I was still pinned to the floor by an unseen crushing force. The pressure on my ribs increased to an unbearable degree. I couldnt breathe. Dread surged through me and shot up my spine like ice. I sucked in a small gasp of air, trying to get to Collin when his consciousness brushed my mind.
Ivy. A tear rolled down his cheek, as he gazed at me.
Collin, I thought I could save you. I thought. . . . A warm trail of tears spilled from my eyes and I couldnt stop them. They pooled on the ground, under my face turning the dirt to mud.
Suddenly, a screech filled the air and a single grackle flew into the room. A demon that I didnt notice before jerked me upright and hauled me away like a rag doll. Tears streamed down my face, but my limp body was no longer under my command. The demons talons cut into my flesh, as he lifted me over his shoulder.
"Kreturus is ready for you, again, Ivy Taylor. This is the last time, so there is no more use having trash lying around. " The demon whistled one sharp note.
The black grackle swooped past me, and slowly landed in front of Collins unmoving face. It let out an ear piercing shriek, as its razor sharp bill parted. I watched in helpless horror as it cocked its head, and fixated its cold black eyes on Collin, slowly moving toward his face. Collins steady blue gaze ignored the bird, and locked eyes with me until the grackles black feathers obstructed his view. With one swift movement the bird darted its shining head straight down. Collins voice cried out as the beak sliced through his eye.
The demon stopped before leaving the room. His voice rasped deep from his chest, "Watch Ivy Taylor. Watch the pain you created. " Tears welled up in my eyes, as I tried to turn away. The demons fingers grasped my skull and forced me to watch as the bird pecked at Collins eyes until there was nothing left but bloody sockets. Sobs shook my body as I dry heaved onto the creatures back.
He laughed saying, "This is your fault. All of it. Remember that as Kreturus takes you as his bride. Remember you could have prevented this fools fate. But you chose not to. "
A scream ripped from my throat as my chest felt like it was torn in half. My back arched in a quick movement, and the demon dissipated into black mist, and the vision ended.
The sound of a shrieking scream filled my ears before I realized that it belonged to me. My back arched as I shot up off the cave floor and slammed into Eric. He staggered backward, and sat down hard. I shut my mouth, trying to swallow the rancid fear that was making my heart explode. Gasping, I finally slowed my breathing and got control over myself. Shannon sat next to me, with an odd expression on her face. Eric was across from me, where he sat with a bloody nose.
Shannon spoke first, "What was that? What happened, Ivy? It was like a vision, but. . . it wasnt. "
Wide eyed, I stared at her, too horrified to speak. I bit my bottom lip until I tasted my own blood. Erics voice made my head dart in his direction. He held a handkerchief to his nose, and dabbed as the last of his nosebleed stopped. The white cloth, covered in crimson made my pulse shoot higher. My breaths came in fast shallow pants, as I clawed backwards into the dirt. I had to leave. I had to get away. I didnt know what I just saw, but my body was telling me to run. Run now!
"Ivy," Eric reached for me, but I shook him off. Wide-eyed, and shaking, I backed away from him. Nothing he said registered. The only thing I could hear was my heart pounding in my ears. The only thing I could see was the look on Collins face as the bird. . .
Terror shot through me in a relentless wave, and at the same moment Eric threw his arms around me. I screamed, and kicked trying to break away from him. His soft voice slowly broke through my panic, "Ivy. Calm down. Breathe. Youre all right, Ivy. Youre all right. " He repeated the words over and over again until the fight went out of me and I hung limp in his arms. He lowered me back to the ground and sat next to me. Shannon approached slowly, but wouldnt come closer.
My eyes stung and my face was damp. I wiped at the tears with the back of my hand. When I finally collected myself enough to sound sane, I asked, "What happened to me?" I couldnt look up at Eric. From the look on Shannons face, it wasnt good.
Erics hand rested on my shoulder, but I couldnt look at him. "I dont know. You fell asleep, like you were having a vision. But you started writhing, and screaming. It was like something was crushing you. Shannon and I couldnt do anything. We couldnt wake you up or call you back. I dumped the rest of my water on you hoping it would work and reset things, but it had no effect. " He paused. "Eventually, you stopped struggling. That was when it got weird. "
I looked up, "What do you mean?" His face revealed nothing of how he felt about the last few minutes, but Shannons spoke with utter certainty. Her green eyes were wide, and her sun kissed skin was white.
She said, "Your mark burned on your skin. It was like someone lit it on fire. Then the color started to shift, and glowed bright red. As soon as that happened, black mist circled your body and you began to fade. It was like the mist was taking you. "
I shook my head, clutching my face. "This cant be happening. It cant be. The visions were the only Martis ability I had. It cant be gone. It cant turn into this! I dont even know what that was! And what I saw, where I went. . . " I couldnt finish. Tears streamed down my face as my throat tightened.
Eric spoke after a few moments. "Your shadow is back. Thats a good sign. " He tilted his head looking at me.
My eyebrows arched in confusion, "What?"
"It disappeared with the mist," he said. "Shadows are tied to the living. Valefar and demons dont have them. Valefar manifest shadows on the surface to hide themselves and blend in, but its fake. Being stripped of your shadow is part of the curse of the Valefar. They tried to take you in this vision. I dont know how Kreturus did it, but he must know he can. How did you come back? After your mark burned, your shadow faded and your body began to dissipate. You were nearly gone. How did you get back?"
My eyes burned as I stared at him. This was too much. I couldnt take another step. I couldnt risk that happening to Collin. How did I think I could save him? I was risking everyones lives. Sobs choked me as they tried to bubble up my throat, but I swallowed them whole refusing to cry. Crying couldnt help me now. Nothing could.
Shannons slight hand touched my shoulder, making me jerk. "What did you see?" It was such a simple question, but there was no way I could answer. When I tried to draw the words to my lips, the sorrow in my chest sucked them back down. Eventually, I just shook my head at her. "Ivy, we cant help you if we dont know what you saw. Come on. Tell us. Anything. " Her pale face pleaded.
I swallowed hard. My voice was faint, "Theres no way out. The prophecy comes true. Collin is tortured and dies. And there is nothing I can do to stop it. " Hysteria crept up my throat, choking me, as tears stung my eyes. "Cant you see? This was all for nothing! I risked everything and it wont matter in the end! It didnt matter at all. Its as if this was all planned and I walked straight into it. " Eric and Shannon stood next to one another watching me. It felt like I was shattering and the tiny pieces that were left of me were being blown away. Every inch of my body stung as grief dug its nails further into my stomach. I smiled weakly at Shannon. "You were right all along. I wasnt supposed to come here. You said thered be this guy and hed damn us all. You said Id do horrible things because of him. And here I am, Shan. Standing in the Underworld, throwing away everyone I cared about to save one person. One person whos already been tortured and beaten beyond recognition. . . because of me. "
Shannons mouth fell opened. I waited for her to say something that matched the shocked expression on her face. But she said nothing. When Erics face contorted into the same expression, I knew they werent looking at me anymore. Something was behind me. Warm breath cascaded over my shoulder, lifting my hair in the process. Neither Eric nor Shannon said a word. They remained perfectly still. I closed my eyes and knew what it was before I opened them again.
The dragon.
It had to be.
That thing was following me the entire time Id been down here. I just didnt know what to do if it was really that close. When I opened my eyes I swallowed hard. The enormous maw filled with rows of pointed teeth loomed inches from my face. The dragons red eye was the size of a tractor tire, and fixated on me.
My body shook as I rose slowly, and stepped away from it. One step, then two. When it jerked its head, I stopped moving and stared at it, waiting for it to attack. I locked my jaw to keep from screaming out in fear. I stared. The dragons eye was like a human eye, but held much more detail. Shades of crimson and scarlet mingled together making the beasts iris have a jewel-like appearance. Gleaming black scales surrounded its eyes in intricate patterns that I hadnt seen from further away. I stood there transfixed, waiting for it to act. I was certain this beast was hunting me, either for itself or for Kreturus. The dragon breathed slowly, creating a warm breeze that washed over me. Its breath didnt have the rancid scent that flooded from the demons mouths. Instead it was slightly sweet, and had the faint scent of rain during a hot summer storm.
A massive paw slid forward, but the red eye didnt stray from my face. Eric started toward me, but the beast turned its head quickly, snapping at him. He froze where he was and didnt move. When the dragon turned back to me it lowered its head onto its paw, and appeared content to just watch me. I looked at Eric, not knowing what to do. Not knowing what it wanted. If it was going to kill me or carry me off, I thought it would have done so already. But it just sat there, looking at me. Its tail swooshed suddenly, and it felt like I was looking at an overgrown cat in reptile form.
"Eric. . . " I whispered, "whats it doing?" My body was starting to spasm from being so tense for so long. I tried to relax, but couldnt. The tension was making me twitch uncontrollably. The dragon saw the tiny erratic movements, but didnt move.
"Im not sure, Ivy. Thats Kreturus dragon, right?" I nodded. It had to be. "I would have thought he was here to do something, but it seems content just looking at you. " Erics voice rose as he spoke. The dragon turned its head and growled at him. Erics voice dropped to a whisper, "Can you walk away from it, slowly?"
The dragons scaly lips parted and a thin beam of glowing red flame shot towards Eric. He jumped out of the way, and stopped speaking.
I shrieked when the fire poured over its lips. The dragon responded by closing its mouth, and looking back at me. Its eyes glittered in the darkness. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to stop shivering. Biting my lip, I took a small step backwards. When the dragon didnt react, I took another. The entire time, my pulse raced at an ungodly rate and I was covered in sweat. I repeated one tiny step after another, all the time watching the enormous beast as I stepped away. The dragon didnt move. It didnt chase us. It just watched. When we were far enough away, I turned my back to it, but kept looking over my shoulder as we walked away.
"Kreturus. He knows were here, doesnt he?" I asked them both.
Shannons face showed her uncertainty. "I dont see how he couldnt. Not if thats his pet. "