On Death’s Door (Shadow of Death #1)

Chapter One

Audrey

L ifting a hand to my head, I groan. Blinking against the lights above my head, I turn to my side to realize I’m lying on a concrete floor.

What the hell happened?

Where the hell am I?

Pushing myself to my knees, I look around to find myself in an unfamiliar room, surrounded by people I don’t know.

The room is fairly large, with concrete walls and lit only by what appear to be magic orbs of light. There’s a small stage in front of where I’ve woken, and there seem to be no doors. There are zero decorations and nothing that gives any hints to where we might be.

What the hell kind of place is this?

What’s the last thing I remember?

Thinking back, I realize my entire memory is blank. All I remember is that my name is Audrey Maddox, and I’m twenty-eight years old.

Taking stock of myself, I realize I’m uninjured except for the throbbing in my head. That makes me feel a little better. The black skinny jeans that are ripped across the thighs and knees, along with the tight, black tank top, and heeled combat boots, feel familiar. When I lean forward, my long red hair swings over my shoulder and into my face. Pushing it back, I rub my temples as I try to remember anything before this moment in time. All I get for my endeavors is more pain racing through my head.

Panic rushes through me as I glance around at the others in the room, who all look just as confused as I do. Maybe one of them remembers more than me? Maybe they know where the hell we are? I guess there’s only one way to find out, isn’t there?

“Hey,” I call to the blonde girl next to me. “Do you know where we are?”

She shakes her head, her curls bouncing as her bright blue eyes go wide. “I have no idea. I don’t know how I got here. I don’t remember anything except my name.”

“Same. I’m Audrey, by the way.” I push to my feet, offering her my hand. Now that I’m standing, I realize she’s much shorter than me. Probably closer to five feet tall, whereas I’m five-foot-eight before I put on heels. Hmmm, another bit of knowledge about myself that I just seem to know.

“Diana,” she says after a moment of hesitation, shaking her head. “Should we see if anyone else knows anything?”

Glancing around, I shrug. “I don’t think it can hurt—even if just one person remembers something, it could give us an idea.”

Diana nods. “Should we split up? There are a lot of people here.”

“Sounds good. Meet you back here? I’d say in a certain amount of time, but there doesn’t seem to be a clock.”

“Let’s just make our rounds and meet back here when we can.”

I nod, the two of us heading in separate directions. I don’t keep track of how many people I speak to, but it has to be close to a hundred. There are men and women, but no children, making me feel better. They all seem to be predominantly supernatural creatures, though many, like myself, can pass as human.

Wait.

How do I know that?

Like I seemed to just know my name, I know I’m a witch. Between talking with others, I try to draw on my power, but something seems to be blocking it.

I don’t even know what I can do, but I can feel the magic beneath my skin rushing through me. There just doesn’t seem to be an outlet for it, causing me to frown.

Eventually, I make my way back to the spot where I woke up to find Diana already waiting for me. “Any luck?”

“No. You?” At the shake of my head, Diana sighs. “Did you notice most of them are supernaturals?”

“I did, and that’s what made me realize I’m a witch. Though, I can’t seem to access my magic. I can feel it, but I can’t seem to use it.”

Diana nods. “I’m a banshee, and I can’t seem to make my cry work. Maybe no one here is going to die in the next twenty-four hours, but usually it can be anyone in the vicinity. I’m powerful enough that if anyone in the state is going to die today, I can call on my cry. I just don’t understand. It’s weird.”

It really is odd. I know there are spells that can be used to block supernatural abilities—though I have no idea how I know that; the knowledge coming out of nowhere—but that doesn’t feel right. I would be able to feel it if there was spelling surrounding us, or at least I think I would. It’s hard to say for sure since I have no idea where any of this knowledge is coming from.

Suddenly, Diana jumps and lets out a screech as she points behind me. Frowning, I turn to find four people lying on the floor, all unconscious.

“What the hell? They weren’t there a moment ago.”

Diana shakes her head. “No, they just appeared out of nowhere. Just poof and they were here. What is this place?”

“I have no idea, but it’s definitely freaking me the fuck out.” How many others appeared like these four? Did all of us just appear out of thin air, unconscious? How is this happening? Why is it happening?

I don’t think I’m someone that freaks out easily, but right now, I’m freaking the fuck out. What mess have I found myself in now?

A loud, deep chime sounds out in the room, echoing off the walls and has me grasping my head as pain radiates through it.

Another chime sounds, somehow louder, and I feel it resonate inside of me.

Then another chime and another until there have been twelve, followed by a silence that is almost deafening.

Shaking my head, I glance around once more to see everyone now conscious and standing. I guess those chimes would have woken even the dead, so I’m not surprised.

What I am surprised by are the shadowy figures that appear on stage, seeming to float out of the shadows themselves.

What the fuck.