Page 20 (1/2)

My breath hitched as I caught sight of a circular crater in the center of the rooed translucent walls, its endless depth, the glitter of stars beyond… It brought back so many memories, I was stunned into silence for several moments

The flicker of electricity returned all around us

I gasped If this meant that Annora’s influence over the castle had returned, I hoped that the others had ripped Derek’s hand

We leapt into the abyss

All was a blur as we hurtled doard I could barely gasp for breath, the force pulling us doard sucking the air fros

As we reached the other side, I landed in a heap on a stone floor Derek stirred a few feet away froeon Only this wasn’t as cold as the one in Caleb’s island

Noere back in the world of supernaturals A place I’d sworn I’d never venture again after the ordeal we’d gone through retrieving Ben

I spotted an oak door in the corner of the room and Derek and I rushed over to it It was locked, so Derek had no choice but to rip it froes, despite the noise

We crept up a set of narrow stairs and reached as clearly a kitchen High-ceilinged and dark, the room was surrounded by steel counters upon which lay an array of black cauldrons, carving knives and other sharp-looking utensils The scent of burnt blood lingered in the air Human blood

I shuddered "Where do we start?" I whispered to Derek

"If Anna’s here," he replied, still scanning the roo kept with other hueon, or rooain If this kitchen is where human blood is prepared, it would make sense for the hu to the far corner of the room We hurried over and looked down at another trap door

Unbolting it, I lifted open the hatch It creaked open and the smell of hot human blood emanated from the hole

We descended the steps and found ourselves standing inside a dungeon filled with humans trapped behind bars Waves of screams echoed around the walls I rushed to sla that the noise hadn’t already been heard

We split and ran about the dungeon, scanning each of the cells for any signs of Anna

"We’re not going to hurt you," Derek hissed "We’re looking for a pregnant woman Have any of you seen her?"

They hushed a little, but looked at us blankly