Free Predestined by Abbi Glines Page A

It’s my job, Dankmar.
You understand about doing your job, don’t you?”
    “Don’t play games with me. I want
answers now. I need to get to Pagan. I don’t have time for
this.”
    She giggled and icy fear gripped
me.
    “Too late,” she said in a sing-song
voice before she vanished.
    Not wanting to believe the truth
hammering in my head, I broke into a run down the hallway Pagan had
run to only a few minutes ago. There was no sign of her. I threw
open the back door and the parking lot was full of empty cars.
Nothing. Closing my eyes I searched for her soul. And for the first
time since I met her I was unable to hear it.
    “NOOOOOOO!”

 
     
     
     
     

Chapter Eight
     
    Pagan
     
    My eyes were so heavy. I couldn’t
remember why. I fought to open them but nothing. Where was I? What
had I done? Where was Dank? Why wouldn’t my eyes open?
    “Shhhh, it’s okay Pagan. Don’t get
all worked up. I’ve got you.”
    Leif’s voice. Why was Leif
here?
    “Leif?”
    Abnormally warm fingers brushed
hair from my face and I shivered as goosebumps covered my body.
They weren’t from pleasure.
    “Yes, I’m here,” he murmured and
continued playing with my hair.
    “Where am I? Why can’t I open my
eyes?” the panic in my voice was evident.
    “You’re with me for now. Where you
belong. Where you’ve always belonged. You’ve been mine since the
moment I chose you when we were both just children. And as for your
eyes they’ll open soon enough. Your human body had difficulty
dealing with the travel and for that I’m sorry.”
    Nothing he said made any
sense.
    “I don’t understand.”
    “Just rest. You’ll feel better
soon.”
    I used every ounce of strength in
my body fighting endlessly to open my eyes. But nothing happened.
Everything remained dark. Until, exhausted, I slipped away into the
darkness.

    Blinking slowly, I stared up at
what appeared to be black chiffon. Studying it in confusion I
realized it was draped over the bed I was laying in. Turning my
head to take in my surroundings I noticed the room was illuminated
by a faint orange glow. I pushed up on my elbows and wondered if
this was real or if I was dreaming. Candles covered the room and
flickered causing light to dance across the ceiling. The walls were
made of stone yet the room was elaborately decorated with silver
candelabras and a crystal chandelier. I had to be dreaming. Shaking
my head to clear it, I swung my feet over the side of the bed
noticing for the first time the black silk sheets I’d been sleeping
on. Like the other parts of the room the massive iron bed frame
looked out of place in a room with stone walls. Where was I
supposed to be and how had I conjured this place up?
    I sat there studying the small
flames in front of me and focused on what I could remember: I’d
been at Dank’s concert, There had been a girl... a mean girl. A
girl Dank had taken up for. Oh, I’d run and Leif had found
me.
    Gasping, I jumped up and spun
around looking for a door. This wasn’t a dream. I needed to get out
of here. Something wasn’t right. Leif had taken me away. Drugged
me. Why did I have to be such a drama queen and run away? Before I
could work myself into a complete tizzy, the stone wall to the left
of the bed began to move and a hidden door swung open.
    Leif walked into the room dressed
in his usual jeans and polo shirt. He looked so normal. He looked
like a high school quarterback. His blond hair was perfectly messy
as if it had been styled to look untouched. The blue eyes I’d once
trusted sparkled as they met mine. It was so hard to believe he was
evil.
    “You’re awake,” he appeared pleased
by this as he closed the door behind him.
    “Where are we?”
    Leif held out his hands and
grinned, “My place. You like it?”
    I didn’t break eye contact with
him. This wasn’t the answer I was looking for and he knew
it.
    “Why am I here Leif?”
    He smirked and lifted one eyebrow.
This wasn’t an expression I was familiar with.