Chapter 24 Jules
Jules
The hub is much quieter than before.
My boot soles click softly on the massive stone floor, the sound swallowed by the vast circular chamber. The air feels cooler here—hushed—like even the rounded walls are holding their breath.
I look around but to my relief, I don’t see The Magistrate.
That towering black-skinned figure with the glowing silver eyes—the one who radiated menace so heavy it made my knees weak—is nowhere in sight. The hub feels…emptier without him, though the silence is its own kind of threat.
I let out a shaky breath. Okay, good. This is good. I’m out and that gives me the chance to actually look around some.
The gates curve around the far wall like the spokes of a massive wheel, each one different, each one its own doorway to another world. I pass the Gilded Warrens again, their golden lattice glittering with diamonds. The Briar Court, still thick with curling green vines and huge, neon flowers.
And then—the one I didn’t notice before when Whistler was dragging me through.
The Savage Den.
I slow my pace, staring.
The gate is made of raw iron bars twisted into snarling shapes—wolves…
bears…lions… All of them with bared teeth.
Thick chains coil across the surface, their links glowing faintly as though heated from within.
Scratches gouge the stone floor before the gates, as though something with long claws dragged across it again and again.
Even the air feels different here. It smells faintly of musk and fur—a wild, earthy tang that makes the hair on my arms and the back of my neck stand up.
My stomach flips.
“Well,” I mutter under my breath. “I think I can guess who lives there.”
It has to be Shifters and Werewolves—or whatever the Shadow Realm version is. I’ve read enough paranormal romance in Book Club to know the signs. But a trip to Shifterville is not on my travel itinerary tonight.
I turn back toward the hub’s center. The Nocturne Gates stand tall, right in the middle, the plainest of the lot—stone and iron with their torches casting a steady light.
That’s my target. If I can get those doors open—if I can walk back down that endless hallway—maybe, just maybe, I’ll find my way back to my crappy little apartment and my cat.
Mr. Mittens. God, I miss him so bad it hurts. Poor baby—I know he must be missing me too. I’m so glad I made sure his automatic feeder and water dish were filled last night. But when was the last time I cleaned the litter box? I really need to get back to him.
I take a step forward…and stop.
Because suddenly the air changes. It feels heavy and cold—like the oxygen’s been sucked out of the vast room.
A shadow falls across me, so long I’m completely swallowed by it.
My pulse spikes. Slowly, dread pooling in my gut, I turn my head…and see him.
The Magistrate.
Shit. Shit, shit, shit!
He’s even bigger up close. His skin is black as polished stone, his silver eyes glowing like moons. Power radiates off him in waves, pressing down on me until I can hardly breathe. His expression is unreadable, but I feel his attention pinning me like a bug on a board.
Does he know who I am? What I am? Can he tell I’m human and I don’t belong in the Shadow Realm?
Terror spikes through me. Oh God, I have to get out of here—away from him!
No time to think—no time to plan. All I can do is run.
I bolt for the nearest gate. My soles slap the stone, my cloak flying out behind me. The carved letters above it gleam gold: The Carnal Bazaar.
My heart slams against my ribs. It’s not my first choice—not even my last. But it’s close, and I don’t dare look back.
I slap my hand against the iron, praying I don’t need to fumble through another rhyme or blood sacrifice.
Let me in—just let me in! I plead silently
To my surprise, the gates swing open at once.
Relief nearly knocks me over. I stumble through, not even caring where this new path leads. Anything’s better than that silver-eyed giant bearing down on me.
The moment I’m inside, the gates creak shut. The sound echoes like a coffin lid closing.
Wait…that doesn’t sound right. And this whole place—it doesn’t feel right.
Suddenly I’m sick with worry—did I do the right thing? Should I have run to another gate instead?
I whirl around but it’s too late—the Magistrate is gone…the hub is gone…and the gates are sealed.