Chapter 34

Chapter Thirty-Four

The tormented screams pierced the silence in a never-ending cycle. Derek turned his head to the side and squeezed his eyes closed against reverberations of terror and agony so great they skimmed over his body like fingers seeking to grab hold.

" Derek !"

He tried to get back to the dream where he was with Kora and his pain was gone. She had vanished the moment the screams began. Where was she? He ached for her. It was a soul-deep yearning.

But he knew where Kora was. She hunted for Villette . And he wasn't there to help her.

" DEREK !!"

Merrill's voice perforated the shrieks. He focused on Merrill until the screaming dimmed and then fell away.

" That's it. Concentrate on me, " Merrill said.

Derek tried, but the pain soon intruded. His attention kept shifting. Each time, the screams rose again.

" Open your eyes!" Merrill shouted. " Derek , open your goddamn eyes!"

It was as if Merrill's voice snapped him awake. His eyes flew open to stare up at the rock ceiling that towered above him. He could see it now.

" Look at me."

Derek rolled his head toward Merrill , who remained chained to the wall. He was breathing hard, and his hair was tangled and damp with sweat. " What happened?"

" You happened."

Derek frowned. " Explain ."

" You tell me."

" I can't. I don't know what you're talking about."

Merrill blew out a harsh breath and dropped his head back against the stone wall. " You passed out and almost immediately began screaming."

Those bellows he'd heard had come from him ? Derek shook his head. That couldn't be right. He swallowed and felt the rawness of his throat.

" You kept saying there were too many. That they were in pain. That they were begging you for help."

" Who ?" Derek asked.

" I asked, but you didna hear me. Or couldna answer."

Derek met Merrill's gaze. " But you figured it out."

Merrill was silent for a moment before nodding. " Look at the walls."

It was the last thing Derek wanted to do, but he found his gaze lifting above Merrill . His eyesight wasn't what it usually was, but at least things weren't fuzzy now. He was able to make out the marks scored into the rock—the kind left by dragon talons.

" The scratches are everywhere," Merrill said.

" Where are the dragons?"

" No ' here. No ' anymore."

Derek tried to sit up, and pain slammed into him. " I don't understand."

" Long ago, an elder in my clan told me about one of the rarest dragon abilities. He said it was one no one ever wanted."

" Why ?"

Merrill released a breath. When he spoke next, his words were barely discernable. " Those unique few could see and hear the dead."

" That isn't me. I've never seen or heard any dead."

" Have you been in this place before?"

Derek clenched his teeth. " Not that I recall. My memories have been wiped, though."

" They're trying to talk to you. Listen . They have something to say."

" I can't." Not if it caused him to scream. " Why are you talking to me in my head. Villette is gone."

" Aye , but we are no' alone." Merrill glanced past Derek .

He rolled his head to the other side and stared into the darkness. That's when he heard the unmistakable sound of breathing. Derek made out the shape of a dragon's head, but it wasn't just any dragon. It was the amethyst he and Merrill had both fought and killed.

" How is he still alive? I killed him. You killed him."

Merrill grunted. " Without question. But he's here and alive."

" Could there be more than one?"

" No ' with that scar on its side. The one I fought had it."

Derek briefly closed his eyes but then turned his head and looked at Merrill . " Villette must have done something to make sure he doesn't stay dead. What now? It isn't as if you can get free, and I'm not healing because of the damn poison."

" Listen to the dead."

" I already told you I can't."

" You were," Merrill insisted. " Whatever they said or showed you caused you great distress."

" Which means I don't need to see or hear it again." Nor did he want to remember any of it. The very thought of such an ability seemed wrong. Why would anyone need to communicate with the dead? They were already gone and passed into another life.

Unless they were like the amethyst.

Derek lifted his head and looked down at his chest. Even that simple movement stole his breath. His body tried to heal, but whatever Villette had concocted ensured that it would deliver the most debilitating agony while also refusing to allow his body to heal. She wanted him weak and hurt. And that didn't bode well for anyone.

" You were given that gift for a reason," Merrill said.

" What about yours?" Derek interrupted. " What is your ability? Why can't you use that?"

" I'm no' sure a beam of searing light will help at this juncture."

" It might remove your chains."

Merrill shifted his weight from one foot to the other. " Already tried. It did nothing but burn my skin."

" Then we're fucked."