Page 106 of Dark Shadow of Guilt

Remi searched the cabin, finding male and female duds in the closet and a bunch of shit on a dresser. Makeup. Lotion. A brush with strands of dark hair in it. Not the Mind Rat’s. So, Praevus and a female had stayed here.

Then there was more. Cuffs were attached to the bedposts. Remi leaned over to sniff the sheets. Madeline. Her scent was faint. It had been a long time, but she’d been here.

Outside he was about to path the Feard when he heard a soft whimper. Traipsing through the underbrush, he found the source. A female, moans coming from the mouth on her nearly decapped head. Given her coloring, she was likely the source of the dark hair in the brush.

He crouched beside her, a hand to her bloody neck. “Serita? What happened?”

Her eyes widened, but all she rasped was, “Help.”

Decapitation, or even near decapitation, was a painful recovery for an Immortal. Most opted for extinction rather than to go through the process. How Luce had endured was a mystery.

Remi telepathed the OC. This was his territory.

What’s Serita’s role in all this?was the boss’s response.

I think this was her cabin. Praevus was extincted here. Looks like he’d been squatting for a while.

Will she speak to you?

Remi glanced toward the body parts.A lot of pain.

Get answers if you can. Then give her a choice.

Once the OC’s voice was gone from his head, Remi asked, “Serita, what do you want?”

She moaned, her eyes pleading. “E-e-extinct.”

“If you give me what I want. Tell me about the human.”

“Mine. Praevus did this. Took her.”

Remi said, “I need more than that.”

Her voice was so weak, he leaned close to her lips. “Mine. From Malacour. Rebel leader. Angor.”

Malacour. The bar manager and trustee. “He can’t leave this dimension. Who was the Immortal who delivered the human to him?”

Her words came in breathless starts and stops. “Don’t. Know.”

“What else?”

“No. Thing.” Serita’s lids slid closed. With such a severe injury, she could be out for hours or centuries. He opted to grant her request, believing he’d learned all he would. Remi unsheathed his sword, severed the strip of skin connecting her neck and head, and said, “May my blade bring you peace.”

Done,he pathed to the OC.Malacour’s who we want.

Some bodies ashed faster than others. Serita’s had already begun.

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