Page 79 of A Shadow of Betrayal

I frown and try to think back to what Creed had told me about his brother. I remember him telling me he had died during the Demon attack on their way to the Castle, but I swear he had said his brother's name was Archer. But it's what's under the names that cause true fear to set in. In bright red letters, the word Deceased is scrawled on the paper, along with the names of at least ten more men.

“This doesn't make sense. But if they're dead…” I look at the Regalis names again. “Who the hell is here?” I whisper to the room just as the door of Lennox’s office opens, making me jump in surprise.

“Lennox, have you seen…” Elaine trails off when she sees me, her brown eyes flicking from me to the box I have in my hands and then back to me. “Meyer,” she whispers as she slowly steps fully into the office and closes the door. Her richly colored burgundy dress rustles as she moves, the pleats in her skirt perfectly pressed, her dark hair set to perfection. She looks like royalty. Always perfectly dressed and never loud or outspoken… but when she reaches behind her, the loud slick of the lock flicking into place… it makes cold chills run up my arms, and my stomach drops to my feet.

No, no, no, no… please let this be a bad dream. Not Elaine.

“What are you looking at, dear?” she asks, words cautious as she takes a step toward me. I slowly release the box and take a step back, my hand moving to my Kalis. I watch as Elaine tilts her head to the side, tracking my movement with terrifying accuracy. Jordan's warning of Theo's mother comes racing back at that moment; I swallow hard, watching her closely.

I don't answer her, my tongue suddenly feeling lodged in my throat as Elaine draws closer, her eyes moving from me to the drawing of the church. I can tell when she reads my name on the paper, and her reaction is all that I need to know I can't trust her. “Oh, Meyer. You shouldn't go snooping through things that aren’t yours,” she whispers, closing her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger.

“Why is my name on the paper? And what happened to those men?” I ask, pointing a trembling finger at the papers in front of me, my voice barely a whisper as Elaine takes another step forward. I draw my Kalis, and Elaine stops, putting her hands in the air and arching a delicate brow.

“You… Meyer. No, it's not like that. They need you, yes,” she said with a tip of her head. “And I tried to tell Lennox to talk to you before performing the blood sacrifice, but I–”

“Sacrifice?” I shout, shaking my head.

“Wait, no!” Elaine shouts over me, but I shake my head. Valen was right. I can't trust anyone. I move to walk around Elaine, but she reaches into the billowing sleeve of her burgundy gown and draws out her own blade.

“I’m sorry, Meyer. I don't want to do this. But you have to stay here until Lennox can explain everything to you. I only have part of the information. Lennox was careful to keep things hidden from Laurant, but if you would only see that the Demons aren't what you think. They are good! It’s the Umbra Hunters that are—” she tries to explain, but my mind only locks onto one thing, making my eyes widen in horror.

“You're helping the Demons?!”

“Meyer, please!” Elaine shouts back, her jaw tightening in frustration as I shake my head.

“They are not good! I would fucking know! I have the damn scars on my back and years of nightmares to prove it! How could you betray everyone like that? Is Lennox helping you?” I ask, my mind reeling. Nothing makes any sense. “Is Creed?”

“I-I don't have all the details. But you know that the Seniorem is corrupt. Lennox told me you saw the human,” Elaine snaps, the blade in her hand raised up in front of her as I slowly move closer, looking for a way to the door.

“You’re right. I do know that. But I also know that Demons are evil, soulless bastards that don't deserve to exist! Now move, Elaine,” I snarl, holding my blade up and making her curse.

“I can’t,” she whispers. “Don’t make me do this, dear. Please. I’m not the bad guy here,” she begs.

“If you're not the bad guy, then let me leave,” I challenge, watching her blade closely as it falls the slightest amount.

“Meyer, please just listen to me,” she whispers, and I shake my head, holding my breath as she lets her hand holding the tiny silver knife fall to her side. “They will come after you.”

“They can try,” I say determinedly. Valen gave me a safe place to run to. Maybe, if I can get there, I can lay low for a bit and come back for him. After a long, drawn-out moment, Elaine moves to the side and nods.

“Good luck Meyer. You're going to need it. But when they give chase… when he finds you. Don't say I didn't warn you.” Her words cause a shiver at the thought of the Regalis brothers hunting me down. Neither of us has to say who the ‘he’ is that she is referring to. I know Lennox will try to find me; but as long as I can get to the house Valen told me about before he can find me, then I’ll be safe. Grandpa had our passports made up the year before his death. He wanted to go on a cruise or something but got sick and couldn’t. All I need to do is get back to Idaho and get my passport out of the gun safe, and run as fast as I can.

I move cautiously toward the door, keeping my Kalis in front of me. Then I flick the lock on the door, giving Elaine one last look before I throw it open and run. I don’t take the time to stop in the Regalis bunkrooms, unsure if Elaine will try to chase me down. Instead, I run through the Barracks, earning several puzzled looks from a few Rangers that are sitting in the common room, then dash into the snow and toward the door of the Castle. My head hurts from being magically knocked out, then hitting it on the desk, plus all the information I’m still trying to puzzle out. I grimace and press my palm to my forehead as I make it into the Castle and down the many flights of steps.

I want to find Jordan and Theo and ask them to come with me. To warn them of what’s happening, but I know it won’t be safe for them to come. I run up to the massive double wooden doors of the Castle, which have already been shut for the night, and yank on one with all my strength until it cracks open. I slip out into the dark courtyard, my breaths fogging in front of me as I rush down the frozen steps, tossing fearful looks over my shoulder, waiting for Elaine to show up and stop me before I can make my escape.

I pick up my pace, running for the barn, tossing panicked looks over my shoulder the entire time… Not paying attention to where I’m going.

“Umph!”

The air knocks out of me as I run into something solid… something that shouldn't be there. Looking up, I gasp when I find the uncovered face of Razar Regalis. His eyes pitch black as his hands wrap tight around my arms, keeping me in place when I try to step back from him. His beautiful features are clear for me to see, but it's the terrifying amount of blood dripping from his hair and face that has me cringing away.

“Razar…” I say breathlessly. “Let me go.” I look around the cold dark courtyard, searching for some help but finding no one.

“Where to?” he asks, his voice rougher than normal. I don’t answer. Instead, I watch as Razar’s head twitches to the side, his eyes soulless pools of death. “Where are you going?” he repeats, an animalistic growl vibrating through his chest. My breath freezes in my lungs as Razar chuckles darkly, the light of the moon reflecting off his unnaturally sharp teeth.

“You're one of them,” I whisper, realization dawning as a wicked grin plays across his perfect lips.

“I’m what?” he asks, his fingers clutching my arms so tightly, they feel like claws.

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