Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Karsyn
“You have been rather foolish, my pet,” Death remarks, running a hand along my bruised cheek.
From the moment I returned, Death has done nothing but enjoy tormenting me.
I’ve only had to endure it for so long. I know this, but it doesn’t erase the pain he’s inflicting or the fear threatening to choke me.
Death has yet to learn of my pregnancy. It’s too early for him to realize this.
I mean, it’s only just happened, but all the same, it did, and I need to keep him from finding out.
Corbin will come for me, the bond we share will ensure he does so.
It has to. I’m counting on it to save me and our child.
“Do you have any idea what you’ve done by leaving the way you did? The hardship you’ve caused me?” Death demands and paces in front of me.
I knew what I was doing escaping him. I might not have wanted to admit it to myself at the time, but I knew deep down. I was running to my mate . . . changing the future and ensuring what I only dreamed of. I did that, and now I can only hope it was the right decision.
Death can no longer get Sage and Jazmine.
They are protected. The gifts they now have are known and will be protected.
Those two little girls are unique, more so than anyone realizes, still, the monster needs to be killed.
Only one person can kill him, my mate. I can give him my strength, make sure he will be able to defeat the demon he’ll face and come out alive.
“I’m coming for you, Syn.” I suck in a breath as his voice filters through my head. It’s all I can do to keep from breathing out a sigh of relief. Nothing sounds so sweet as hearing his voice in my head.
“Are you listening to me, Karsyn?” Death demands, whirling around to face me. “Because of you, I’m no longer able to get the two shifter girls I wanted. They were to play a crucial part in my plans.”
“And what would those be?” I snap, unable to stop myself. Because of Corbin, I’m learning to stand up for myself. To find the confidence I’ve never had before. “Why those girls? Is it because of your history?”
“What do you know of my past?” Death snarls and closes the distance between us, his nose presses against mine. The foul odor of his breath is making me queasy.
“I know you were once known as a shifter named Victor Wulfsige. You killed my mate’s mother . . .” I don’t get to finish as Death grips ahold of my throat and squeezes, blocking my airway.
“He is not your mate,” he snarls, eyes flashing red. “You belong to me. Will always belong to me. Just as that bitch should have been, but she had to choose another.”
My vision blurs, and in one second and the next, I’m spiraling, my head spinning.
Images project inside my head. Images of Death killing Corbin’s mother.
Meeting someone who promised him the power to do as he did to the woman.
A man known only as Red Cap. I remember the stories my mother once told me of good and evil in this world.
Those of the dark forces, some of them being the worst of the worst. Then there’s the ones who are for themselves.
There’s never one that’s purely good, they all have an agenda for themselves, but usually, it’s never evil.
To be good, you must stay pure, untainted, and it’s something that only can be done by someone of innocence. Which is why Red Cap came to Death and used his hatred. He wanted the most innocent of them all that was gifted by the Moon Goddess with something so special it needs always to be protected.
My mother once explained to me that everyone had their own beliefs. The gods and goddesses are not just one, they’re everywhere, in every country. Some do not care that they are different and will cause trickery and manipulation to see to having things their way.
Such as what is happening now. Dark magic feeds off the blood of others and strengthens all the more on the night of a blood moon. It might be weeks away still for the blood moon, and the future is ever changing. Nothing is certain except for tonight.
Just as quickly as Death gripped my neck, he released it, breath whooshing in my lungs. “Your powers have grown since I last touched you. I will have to ensure they don’t regress before the blood moon.”
I want to tell him to go to hell, then again, this place is pretty much just that. He lives in such a dark place, I know he’d simply thrive in it.
“We shall work at this, pet, but for now, you must be punished,” Death declares, waving his hands, and instantly, the flickering flames of the torches go dark, and the hissing sound of Death’s actual pet comes forward, eyes glowing red.
I’m not sure what it would be called, as Death himself created the beast. It only comes out when no light is able to shine upon it.
Yet, in the dark, I’ve seen its massive head.
“I’ll give you a bit with Jiggath. He won’t kill you as you know, but he’ll ensure you are hurt for betraying me as you have.
” Death’s voice fades with him as he vanishes from the room that holds no doors.
The only way in and out is through magic, and with my wrists shackled as they are, there’s no way to leave it.
Sucking in a breath, I close my eyes, wishing I could escape this place. I’ve been held here more times than I can count. This beast knows my fear. My tears. My blood.
“Keep calm, baby.” Corbin’s voice filters through my head once again. My breath hitches, knowing he’s experiencing my fear and knows my thoughts as if they were his. Even with the distance between us. “I’m here for you, Karsyn, and I will bring you home. Just hang on a bit longer.”
Jiggath moves closer to me, his feet scoffing across the wet dirt floor.
An idea flows through me, and I know it’s going to be the only way to leave this room before it’s too late.
“Jiggath, do you want to be set free?” I ask the demon. “Do you want to be able to roam free of this place? Of your master?”
“Master? He is no master of mine.” Jiggath snarls animalistically. “I have no master.”
“But you do as long as you’re stuck here in this room. You know this as much as I do,” I retort and take a deep breath. “If you help me, I’ll help you?”
“How can you help Jiggath?” he demands.
“If you break the shackles free of my wrists, I will get us both from this room. We can both be free of him.” I know I shouldn’t set this beast free, but it’s the only way.
“I let you loose, you can vanish as he does.”
“I’m not like Death, Jiggath, I promise you. I won’t leave you here.”
It could be a horrible mistake, but it’s the only one I have at the moment.
Earn Jiggath’s trust, his loyalty, and I might survive.
“Jiggath, my mate is coming for me. He’s going to kill Death, but we need to get out of here.
I can get you out of here. If you break the shackles on my wrists, I will take you with me. ”
Jiggath’s blood-red eyes ensnare mine for a long moment as if he were looking into my very soul. “Jiggath will help you,” he finally answers.
“Thank you.” I breathe, relief washing over me.
Slowly, Jiggath uses his claws to remove first one, then the other, and steps away.
I lower my arms and hold out my hand to him.
“Let’s go.” The instant his hand is in mine, I wish us both out of there, feeling for where Corbin might be.
Finding him through my senses, I take us to him, appearing before him.
“Corbin,” I whisper, letting go of Jiggath and dropping to my knees in front of my mate’s massive wolf size. Corbin lets out a grumbling growl and steps closer all but putting me beneath him as he faces off with Jiggath. “Don’t, Corbin,” I utter, sliding my hands up through his black fur.
“He hurt my mate.” Corbin snarls through our connection, his teeth bared.
“He let me go, Corbin. I promised to take him with me. So, please don’t.”
“Jiggath will not hurt Karsyn,” Jiggath announces, stepping back. “Jiggath only did what told because of spell cast.”
I open my mouth to say something only to squeal in fear as a fireball hits Jiggath causing him to burst into flames.
No. My mind shouts.
Corbin moves, blocking me from view, but there was no keeping me from hearing or smelling the horrendous sight of Jiggath burning. Tears stream down my face, and it’s all I can do to keep from spiraling. I know it, and I’m sure Corbin does as well.
What happens next comes at me in no more than a blur.
Blood witches coming out of the woodwork, attacking those around.
Corbin launches himself at Death, who has also shifted into a beast nearly the same size as my mate.
If not for the stench that lingers on Death wherever he goes, I’d never know it was him.
Glancing around my surroundings, I take in how the shifters who follow Corbin seem to be fighting to keep the blood witches away from me.
But they keep coming, blasting fireballs and energy bolts that are powerful enough to kill.
One of the bolts hits Dane, and his yelp rings in my ears.
Needing to help however I can, I connect with the earth, using it as a conduit to send my strength to not only Corbin but his brothers as well.
I can’t allow them to die because of me.
I’ll protect them in the only way I know how.
Energy hums through my body, my feet come off the ground, and a bright light explodes around me right before everything goes dark.
Howls of misery barely penetrate the darkness.