Page 37 of The Fallen

?“What do you want from me?”

?“You are the only one who can free me. I have been waiting on you for a long time, you see. You have the blood I seek; the blood that will free me from these chains. Once you do this for me, you will have a seat next to me when I rule the world.”

?“And if I don't do this?”

?The mans face turned evil, his expression grim. He scratched his chin before speaking again. “If you require incentive, I can give you that.”

?He turned his head and Marie followed his gaze. A light shimmered on the other side of the cave. She stepped closer to see what it was. Two people lie in the dirt, chained as well. The woman had long, black hair that was covering her face. Her white dress was tattered and she had no shoes on.

?The guy was unconscious, his head facing the back of the cave. His shirt was ripped in the back, showing a long cut down his spine, he was bleeding profusely. Marie gasped as she scanned them both closely. The woman had a dark circle, with three squiggly lines coming from it, on her ankle. Just like the one her mom showed her. It was her brand.

?“Mom! Dad!” she yelled and ran toward them. The image faded and the cave went dark again. She still couldn't make any fire and it was frustrating her.

?“What did you do to them?” she yelled into the dark.

?The man appeared again. “Oh no, that wasn't me. My children did that. But it will be worse if you don't do what I want. I mean, you have so much to lose, but even more to gain; it's one of life's cruel jokes, I guess. I'm going to rise with or without you, but this way it won't take me another millennia. And you get to have your parents back and a nice seat next to me as my queen. I'm giving you the world on a silver platter.”

?“But at what cost? People will get hurt and I know it.”

?“Yes, that is a possibility, but its people you don't even know. And those angel friends of yours, what do you owe them? You haven't been an angel for long. Your world is amongst the humans. If you want, I'll spare Brenton, too. He can be our little pet.”

?“If you think I'm going to help you escape, you're sadly mistaken,” she yelled.

?“Awe Marie, I really wish you would reconsider,” he said and the image flashed in front of her again.

?Her mom was looking around in a daze. She struggled against the restraints and the chains glowed every time, sending a seizure through her body.

?“Mom,” Marie yelled out again.

?Her mom heard her and searched around until she spotted Marie. Marie was crying uncontrollably.

?“Baby don't listen to him. You don't have to do...” the image faded again.

?“What's it going to be Marie?”

?Marie paced the cave enraged.

?“I know, you need time to think about it. I understand. I'm graciously giving you a week to come find me or I will come and get you. The answer is in your surroundings. After that, I will scalp mommy and daddy and still have plenty of time to come up with a way to torture you,” he smiled again and it sent chills up Marie's spine. “Now, it's time to wake up my dear.”

?Marie woke up to a dark room, drenched in sweat. She made fire in one hand and looked around the room.

?She mentally tried to reach out to her mom, but there was a block. She got up and found her cell phone. She tried calling her mom and dad's phone, but they both kept going straight to voicemail. It was real.

?There was a knock on the door and Brenton walked in followed by her uncle. Both of them had a look of concern on their faces. They probably already knew. She burst out crying and Brenton was there to comfort her.

Chapter Twenty Four

?“I was blocked from the dream, but I know your mom and dad are in trouble. What happened?” Brenton asked.

?Marie recounted the dream while Brenton and her uncle listened intently. She felt so helpless as she told them about her mom and dad being chained, the cut on her dad's back, her mom being zapped every time she moved. It was horrible.

?Her uncle was in deep thought as he walked the length of the room and back. Brenton sat next to her mentally reaching out to someone. She couldn't see, there was too much on her mind. She had to figure out a way to get her parents back without freeing whoever that man was.

?“You said the guy was bound with chains, had a body of a goat, and a blindfold over his eyes?” her uncle asked.

?Marie nodded.

?“Azazel.”

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