Page 121 of The Sacred and the Tormented

She should creep right back up those stairs, find a different route, but Arianna couldn’t turn away, not when hermagic was begging her to move faster. It promised that whatever she sought waited right at the other end of this hall.

Arianna crept through the gloom, staying close to one of the walls. As her feet scraped across bits of dirt and unknown debris, Arianna found herself thankful she’d stolen someone’s shoes, even if they were a bit too large.

Something crunched just ahead and cold dread swept through her like a biting winter wind. She paused to listen, then crossed to the other side of the hall. Whatever it was resided in the cell just ahead.

Rustling, then the sound of something tearing had Arianna cringing. She shuffled forward, bent slightly to make herself smaller, then peered around the edge of the wall.

A thick muscled frame stood hunched over near the rear of the cell. Tufts of black fur jutted out at awkward angles. It stood on all fours like a giant dog. Its head pulled back again and she heard the distinct sound of bones crunching between its massive jaws.

Bile rose in her throat when she glimpsed a limp hand laying in the straw.

Now she understood exactly why Conall had wanted to rescue the prisoners. If they weren’t experimented on, they were used for fodder. Arianna hoped the victims had been brought in dead. She doubted Vairik would be so merciful.

Arianna had encountered a similar creature when the Dark Fae had attacked the village, back when she’d been standing beside—beside—she shook her head. This one looked even bigger. It was at least six times her size with enough muscle to rip her to shreds with little effort.

Arianna looked past the cell. It was only a matter of time before the beast finished its meal, then went searching for the next. Her eyes traveled to the open door. The latch appearedintact. If she moved fast, she could close it and trap the creature inside long enough for her to sprint down the hall.

She craned her neck to listen, hoping the other cells were empty. Maybe Vairik had summoned them to attack another innocent village. Her fists clenched. She needed to destroy them, but she needed to get to Vairik first.

Perhaps that was where her magic was leading her. It seemed to hate the High Lord more than she did. Arianna recalled the conversation she’d had with Vairik in his study. What had he called her magic? Laoise?

Arianna returned her attention to the door as another crunch resounded through the silent space. She prayed the beast wouldn’t be very agile with a full stomach.

Arianna loosed a quiet breath, then moved, sprinting on nearly silent feet. She grabbed the door and yanked, slamming her full body weight against it. The hinges let out a shrill shriek that had the creature spinning to face her. It charged without hesitation. Arianna grabbed the latch and dropped it into place right as the beast slammed against the thick door with a resounding thud.

Arianna fell back, landing on the dirty floor as she watched it relentlessly pound against the door over and over again.

The iron bent inward and Arianna staggered to her feet before sprinting down the hall. It roared after her, it’s fury sending a spike of fear straight down her spine.

She didn’t slow and passed cell after empty cell as she kept running. The hall split, but her magic urged her left and Arianna followed it, squinting in the dark. No cells here, just a long corridor with the same barely lit sconces.

Something prickled against the back of her mind and Arianna skidded to an abrupt halt. She cursed beneath her breath and searched for any signs of a glamour. The crackswere still on the walls and the sconces hadn’t changed. Had she entered some sort of barrier?

Arianna growled into the gloom, searching for anyone who might be hiding in the shadows. Her magic reacted too, coating the area around her feet. It crawled up the walls, forming thick, jagged spears of ice.

She kept moving, following the guide of her magic one step at a time.

Click. Click. Click.

The hair rose on the back of Arianna’s neck. She pressed herself against the damp wall and stared down the hall from where she’d come.

Click. Click. Click.

A shadow grew along the floor and Arianna’s heart beat faster. A low growl echoed off the walls, then the creature from the cell prowled around the corner, pausing and turning its head as if it knew exactly where she’d gone.

Click. Click. Click.

Arianna’s heart sank as another appeared beside it, standing twice as tall as the first. The broken doors suddenly made sense.

Arianna didn’t move, hoping beyond hope that they might not see her in the shadows. But the larger one sniffed the air then something dropped from its mouth. Whatever it was slapped against the stone floor. She shuddered.

The larger of the two sank back on its haunches then barreled straight for her. Arianna’s magic exploded.

A shield of thick ice covered the entirety of the hall and she shoved it forward, hoping it might knock the creatures back. The large beast burst through the thickened glass with little effort, sending shards flying in every direction.

Arianna sent ice skimming along the floor, and the beast slipped, slamming its massive head on the ground beforescrambling to its feet. The smaller one chased it, followed by several others that’d just appeared.

She quickly formed several large spears, launched them at the creatures, then ran in the opposite direction as fast as her legs could carry her. Arianna kept freezing the ground in her wake and her magic shot out from the walls in thick jagged spikes. She prayed they would slow the creatures down.

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