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In the afternoon, I’d go on a run, Seth not too far behind me. We’d sprint through the outskirts of town at our inhuman speed, increasing the pace day by day. I needed to continue to build my endurance, as well as nailing the frail attempt of escape if I were caught off guard by a Demon or two.
We would spend most of the day together, from sunup to sundown. Being around him to that level, I felt more at ease. But it didn’t last long. Prickles of fear began to gnaw at the edges of my stomach. We were nearing the blood moon. The final countdown. And I was getting restless.
We all were.
My phone had beeped as Seth and I returned to his house after our midday run. I tapped my screen to unlock it while I snagged a toaster pastry off the kitchen counter, leaning against it as I tore the wrapper open. I swiped through my messages, most being automated spam texts, until I saw one from Libby. I paused, my thumb hovering. Biting into the pastry, I tapped on the message and opened it.
Hey, I need your help with something. Can you help me?
I texted back, tapping away with my thumb, my other hand occupied with my snackage. Seth and Josh chatted about our training session from the morning. I zoned them out, not wanting to relive the embarrassment of tripping over my own feet after I finally took Seth down.
Yeah, I’ll grab the guys and we’ll head your way. Where do we need to meet you?
Oh! No, just you please. It’s a surprise and I don’t want to ruin it. :)
Oh, okay. No problem, my lips are sealed.
She texted me the address and I copied it into the GPS on my phone as I sloshed down the rest of my pastry with some much-needed water and headed back toward the front door, grabbing my keys off the counter.
“Where are you going, Rin?” Seth asked while I passed him, popping a handful of nuts into his mouth.
“Libby needs help with something. Girls only! I’ll see you guys later.” I called over my shoulder, waving my fingers as I shut the door behind me, bouncing down the steps and beelining for my car.
The GPS had me winding through town and to the other side of campus. I pulled up to a small apartment complex, a little security gate at the front of the building. I parked in a spot marked for visitors, beeped my car locked, and walked up to thegate. A security guard posted at the entrance asked my reason for visiting and I gave him Libby’s name; he waved me in.
Talk about a safe spot. Damn.
I hiked up the three flights of steps to the top floor, winded, and skimmed the hallway for apartment three-oh-nine. For as often and as far as I ran, I could not stand trudging up stairs. The silver-plated numbers shimmered from the bright hallway light. I lightly rapped my hand on the cherry oak door, and it swung open; the space beyond, completely doused in darkness. I stiffened, a knot forming in my stomach.
This…this doesn’t seem right.
I drew one of my daggers and crept over the threshold, suddenly grateful that I recently heeded Seth and Josh’s advice and kept my twin blades on me at all times.
“Libby?” I called into the pitch-black room. I heard rustling further in. I felt a switch as I ran my hand along the wall to my right and flipped it on.
And there in the center of the ivory carpet lay Libby, unconscious, her torso twisted and blood trickling from the top of her head.
The door clicked shut behind me as an eerie laugh sent ice through my veins, chilling me to my core.
“Well, we meet again, Erin Snow.”
“Erebus.” I growled.
Chapter forty-two
Erin
I jolted awake. My chest heaving, sweat slicked my forehead. I frantically searched the room around me, searching for any sign of Libby.
I blinked, the space coming into focus.
“What?” A wave of confusion struck me. I fumbled out of bed, rummaging for my phone and pulled up my GPS history. Nothing. The last thing in there was from a few weeks prior. My brows furrowed.
What the hell?
When did I fall asleep?
I clamped my eyes shut and counted to ten before opening them again. I was in the spare room at Seth’s. A baggy shirt wrinkled and covering my torso, hung off of me. I felt along my thighs, neither straps nor harnesses still fastened around them. I shoved my hand under my mattress, anxiously feeling around for my daggers or sword.
