Page 171 of Living Legend

The doors on the opposite side of the room opened with a screech. The sound of wood on stone resounded through the room. I heard stomping feet and the sound of someone hauled along with them. A sentry pulled out one of the empty chairs and slid it to one side of the room, so all of us could see it.

My mind was scrambling for answers when I saw who the sentries were carrying in. They dragged him along, since he could hardly walk on his own to the chair. He looked almost relieved to be able to sit, even if the situation was dire. They threw him in the chair, and he tried to straighten in the armchair, but his body wouldn't let him, so slumping against one of the armrests would have to do. He took in shallow breaths as he gazed along the room, but when he got to me, it was like he was seeing a ghost.

"Jonah," I said, the words leaving my lips in as much confusion as I could muster.

He wasn't the bad guy, unless he was taking this whole thing to an entirely new level. I glanced at Natalia, whose eyes started to glass over a bit as if she could cry at any minute, but like the regal figure she was, she held them in.

Jonah opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. He took in more breaths that looked like they hurt. There were scratches on his face and burn marks on his hands. His clothes looked like they had been ripped, and there were patches of blood in various places. He was alive. That's what mattered.

Jonah wasn't the problem. It looked like someone had a problemwithJonah.

"What does she want from me?" Dani yelled, looking around the room.

No one answered her. They all seemed to be waiting for something. Someone.

A male sentry with a buzzcut, the one who burned her neck, came up from behind her chair and yanked her head back by her hair. "Just wait and see, pretty girl."

My blood boiled, and I didn't know if it was the way he was touching her, how he talked to her, or what. She shook her head to get out of his grasp and he just pulled her hair harder. He leaned down to her ear but whispered loud enough for us to hear. "You cooperate and I won't have to burn that pretty neck of yours again." He shoved her head forward and stepped back. I could see the movements in Dani's jaw, telling me she was grinding her teeth together.

"Maybe she'll even let your friends live," the sentry who had slapped Reese in the face added, patting Elise on the head. She growled and snapped her teeth at him. "But I doubt it."

"None of us understand any of this. Are we meant to just be a part of this without any understanding?" Natalia asked, squaring her shoulders. Even from here, I could see her crown tattoo trying to glow, trying to regain its strength.

Click, click, click.

The sound of heels on the stone floor had us all looking in the direction of the distinct noise. I caught Reese's hazel eyes side-eyeing me, and I mirrored the look back. Jonah narrowed his eyes at the doorway and wrapped his fingers around the chair's armrest, as if he knew what he would be anticipating. My heart beat in an unsteady rhythm as I waited.

Click, click, click.

"Oh, but sweetheart, the mystery is the best part," a female voice rang out through the stone. I knew that voice. I'd heard it before.

Natalia stiffened as theclick, clickof heels got closer. She started to shake her head as if she needed to get the voice out but it wouldn't let her go. "No."

I racked my mind, the throbbing thankfully subsiding.

I heard it today before I got knocked out.

I heard it when I went back in time, that female with the cloak who had fucked with our portal to the human world.

I heard it…

In Oculus.

Isabel

Blonde hair swished as she entered the room, leaning against the threshold. She placed her hands in the pockets of her pants and smiled. It was a lazy smile, but confidence and deceit hid behind it. She narrowed her eyes at Natalia and that lazy smile turned into one of mischief. “Aw, why so sad, sweetheart? Are you upset you couldn’t figure it out?” Her tone was mocking and sarcastic.

“I knew I didn’t fucking like her,” Elise barked.

Isabel cut her eyes to Elise. “I’m not very fond of you either, I can assure you.”

“Who are you?” Reese asked, huffing in a breath.

“Natalia’s traitorous fucking girlfriend,” Elise snapped. “Told you you were shit out of luck with her.”

Reese opened his mouth, but nothing came out. When he started to speak, Natalia beat him to it.

“Why?” Natalia asked in a small voice.

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