Into the Darkness (Darkness #1)(25)

I barely felt the gentle shove into the dark corridor. The door banged shut, pitching me into total darkness. Still I stared and blinked, half confused how I could possibly be this turned on without bursting into flames. More, what the hell was this feeling that hated a separation from him, no matter how short, no matter how dire?

“I have absolutely lost my mind. There is no other explanation.”

Taking a deep breath, my chest glowed warm, making the magic along the walls flash into color. I followed dumbly, my mind not in the present, still focusing on the non-man that tugged at my soul like he owned it.

When I stepped into the rectangle room, after nearly falling down two flights of stairs, I had no recollection of getting there. I was burning with lust, but freezing with that strange presence like I felt in the alleyway only a few nights ago. Or was it last night? I was losing time along with sanity.

I sat on the leather couch, watching the colors swirl around the room, wondering how many there were and how long this would take, when suddenly the air wrenched with a bang.

“What the—“

BOOM!

The walls shook.

What the hell is happening out there?

The colors in the room started to swirl madly, looking like the cartoon, Alice in Wonderland, on acid.

BOOM!

I paced, not liking to be caged up and safe, while a fight raged. Call me crazy—or just plain stupid—but I wanted to join the ranks and push back. That same feeling that always loved the thrill of high speed sung in me now, wanting action.

Then another thought struck me. Where was Jared? Why wasn’t he in here?

In another flash of thought, I knew why. He was just a human, whereas I was a special kind of freak. In the land of insanity, where normal is mundane, Jared didn’t rank nearly as high. Which meant, he was lying somewhere, hurt and afraid, completely forgotten about.

I was running before I knew which way I should go.

I burst out into chaos. Moving bodies were everywhere, clashing and fighting, flashes of light gleaming off colored blades, hacking and slashing. Women fought right alongside the men, faces aggressive, stabbing and slicing.

I had no idea which people represented my side. Or if I even had a side.

I weaved in and out of the large beings, hardly noticed, dodging and feinting with each butt pucker of warning. I allowed my sixth sense to lead, no idea where I was headed, just knowing that I needed to steer clear of the flying metal and somehow get to Jared.

Thank God these non-people didn’t use guns—I wasn’t lucky enough to effectively dodge stray bullets!

I sneaked through another room, having to weave through fewer numbers of fighting people—I could tell which warriors belonged to the house a little easier in this room on account of some were still naked—and let myself into a brightly lit space. Most of the house thus far had dimly lit, or hardly lit, rooms. This was the first with glaring bulbs and I found myself shielding my eyes for a minute while I adjusted.

Jared lay in a bed in the corner, huddled up and hugging his knees, clothed in a loose sheet. His eyes were wild and hair a mess. It looked like he was having the worst day of his life. And I was the reason for it.

Guilt would have to wait until tomorrow.

I darted after him as another colossal BOOM shook the foundation.

“C’mon Jared, let’s get to safety!” I yelled over the noise.

BOOM!

“What’s happening?” Jaded asked in a small voice.

“Weird magic things, I think.” I moved a shade and peered outside through the window.

Something with glowing purple eyes looked back.

“Oh crap!” I dropped the shade as if it was on fire. “Jared we’ve gotta go!”

“Home?”

“No—I don’t know. Wait…maybe! Yes, home!”

Being that these people were predators worried about their territory, and I knew a thing or two about that since I was an avid fan of the Discovery Channel, I figured that this fight was the equivalent of one lion trying to kill the other lion and claim its mark. Only on a larger scale.

Even if I was wrong, this had nothing to do with me, and I didn’t see any reason to hang out any longer than I had to.

I grabbed Jared and helped him to his feet. He gingerly waddled after me, and I didn’t want to think why that was. He would need a blast of Forgetful Juice, but he’d need to be alive to get it, so first order of business was to get the hell outta here!

We made it halfway through the room when the window exploded. Glass sprayed the floor, nearly reaching us with its sharp and deadly blast. We turned slowly, mouths open, fear blossoming, as glowing purple eyes stared at me through the ragged shade hanging loosely in the jagged glass window.

“Oh shit!” I swore, feeling that feeling again. The one I felt before. Where my body started to flush, then heat, prickles sticking my arms, chest and head like acupuncture, awakening my senses. That substance in my middle blossomed, expanding, filling every inch of my body. My skin felt like it turned translucent, faster this time than the last, joy and ecstasy giving me a buoyancy unlike anything I have ever felt. I could have been flying, my feet soaring through the clouds. My laughter, pure and clean, bubbled up, drowning me. No man-made drug could possibly relate.

Purple eyes sparked. “I can promise you great rewards.” The voice was disembodied, echoing in my mind, louder than thunder. Subtle. Curling into my ears with finesse. Stroking my brain and hugging that power blossoming in my chest.