Chapter 5

Chapter

Five

KEIR

Everything was black.I was sitting on the ground with my hands secured by my sides. I couldn’t feel anything like a rope or handcuffs, but I couldn’t move.

It was hot. A dry heat like in Las Vegas, but even more intense. There was no sound to help me figure out where I was or why I was there. Was I in a coma? Had I gotten a shock in the mortuary and was now unconscious?

An odd sound caught my attention. “Hello? Is anyone there?” There was a slight flicker of light in front of me. Someone, or something, was kneeling about three feet away.

“Where am I?”

“Aw, now, you’re just fine at the moment. What comes next remains to be seen.” I heard a slight southern drawl, but the voice wasn’t one I knew. I sensed a threat in the tone, which was a bit disconcerting.

“What do you want? My fiancé won’t be happy about this.” I tried to make my voice strong, but there was no doubt I was petrified.

“Yeah? Should I be afraid, sugah?” The maniacal laugh that followed sent chills down my spine.

“Who are you?”

Silence.

Then another voice whispered in the dark, “You can’t kill him. That’s not the deal we made with the prince.”

“Aw, now, I can make him wish he was dead, can’t I? Otherwise, where’s the fun for me?”

“It would disturb the balance in the universe, and our enemies would know he was missing immediately. The goddess would be very displeased with us. But…we can have a little fun, though. How about we shuffle the deck?”

“Hello! Help me! Someone help me!” I couldn’t stop shouting. “Where am I?”

More silence.