27. Twenty-Seven

I’ve always hated porting.

But with the tether slicing into my wrist and the sun beating against my skull, I wasn’t sure if the sensation was from the former or the latter.

It was that morning in the Under Cloud all over again, but only this time, Atreyis wasn’t there. He would never understand why I didn’t fight this, why I offered myself like a lamb to slaughter.

When you are on the run like I was, it’s only a matter of time before the chasm swallows you. The force of its vortex constantly tugged at my heels, and I was helpless against its pull.

That—and I couldn’t allow Atreyis to be caught in it.

I cared too much.

The demon, Aryn, took me to foreign territory. He didn’t bother to blind me; I couldn’t see. The only sense that was still intact was my smell. And nothing about this place was familiar—sulfur laced with stone, hellfire.

Perhaps I’d finally been dragged to hell.

My limbs wouldn’t work, and my head hung forward. Four demons accompanied Aryn to retrieve me and an Ogre, the same that attacked Alora. I had no doubt it was the Ogre’s blood that poisoned her.

It was a vicious thing, and I willed it from her bloodstream just before it took her life.

The very act is what caused this tirade of irrational behavior.

It was why I fought with him. Why all I wanted to do was fuck and feed off him. And this demon wanted me to do it again. To use that power again.

It was apparent to me now that Atreyis brought about the death of his loved one. Who? Why? I didn’t know. But there was deep-seated animosity between them. And now I knew why Atreyis didn’t speak of his curse. It was painfully obvious. The worst part was that I wasn’t entirely sure if I could break it.

Demons were not quite gods but weren’t like the rest of the races. They were in limbo in between, abiding by their own rules and power systems.

“Atreyis,” I muttered. I’m not sure why. He wasn’t here. Just saying his name grounded me because what was coming next would surely break me.

The sun”s effects wore off at some point, and I could take in my surroundings. It looked like a living room, with several couches and a few end tables. I was seated in the center, strapped to it by leathers. It was hard to think—to breathe.

The tether was unbearable. Voices flooded my ears a few moments later, speaking to me.

“Take… it… off,” I croaked.

“Wouldn’t you like that?” A familiar voice said from behind me. Where did I know it from?

“You did well. Make sure Atreyis stays down.” Another said.

“What… are you going to do with him?” the first asked, the sound muted, as if several blankets wrapped around her mouth.

“Do I pay you to ask questions? Or to do what I tell you to? Remember what is at stake.”

Consciousness was hard to maintain. There was something different about this tether. It was modified in a way I hadn’t experienced before, as if my very soul had been siphoned into it. Using the last of my strength, I lifted my elbow to rip the leather strap restraining me. Then, a firm hand slammed it back down.

“Be still, Nova Born. Once I have what I need, they can have your remains.”