Page 85 of Of Mercury and Mist

All I could do was hope Samuel wouldn’t make another pass at me and try to figure out how to survive the Second Realm.

As much as I hurt, the deep sweltering pain in my soul nearly taking my breath away, I tried to concentrate on the adventure of exploring a whole new world. All kinds of amazing things awaited me, I was certain, and if they didn’t help me heal, they’d help me grow.

* * *

Bright light hadme blinking as I shoved the covers from my shoulders. It took me several seconds to remember where I was. While I was adjusting, a black shadow out of the corner of my swooped in, blocking my vision, before quickly darting away. When I flung my arm out, I was met with dead air.

I sat up, swiveling my head but I didn’t see a thing.Shadowpeople,echoed in my head. The things you thought you caught sight of but could never pinpoint as you spaced out while going about your day. Supposedly, they were demonic entities, and I’d never had one so close to me though I wasn’t unfamiliar with thinking I saw something and nothing being there.

I’d just woken up and my heart was racing already.

Oh yeah, that’s right—I’m in Hell.

“Fuck,” I said out loud, dragging my hands down my face and rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.

My feet found my slippers and I padded around the bed when I felt my hair stir. It was as if someone had lifted a clump of my hair. I whirled around and was faced with empty space. My skin prickled, the feeling of being observed trickling down my spine.

“Hello?” I called out.

No answer.

My hair billowed around my neck, and I ran for the bathroom, locking the door behind me before I backed away. Something brushed against the wood, and I knew then, it wasn’t my imagination.

There’d been something in the room with me.

“Ashley?” I heard Samuel’s voice, and my shoulders slumped in relief. “Are you hungry?”

“Yes,” I raised my voice. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Mandy will bring you to the dining room when you’re ready.”

“Thank you.”

After I showered and prepared myself for the day, I dressed in the Second Realm’s version of leggings and a shirt. They were a thicker material than I was used to, but also softer. The fabric felt like suede, but I had the distinct feeling it wasn’t. I wasn’t sure why I thought that; it couldn’t be explained. Maybe the extra elasticity?

Mandy was waiting for me outside the bedroom, with her hands clasped at her waist.

“Good morning,” I greeted her. When I closed the door behind me, I heard something fall to the floor on the other side and quickly glanced backward. “What was that?”

“Don't bother,” Mandy said. I let go of the knob reluctantly, unconvinced.

I really wanted to know who my roommate—or roommates, were. “I swear someone was in my room.”

“Wraiths. They’re everywhere. Behave yourself and you don’t have to worry. They’re just curious,” she stated, all business. She was not going to go out of her way to make me comfortable, that was for sure.

Wringing my hands, I asked, “What do you mean? It's not like I’m going to trash the room, and I’d like some privacy if I’m going to be staying in there.”

“This is all temporary. Stop dawdling. You don’t keep Lord Samuel waiting.”

“Lord?”

I’d thought the shadow in the guest room was my imagination but the eyes that tracked my movements from the paintings on the wall most certainly were not. Scurrying after Mandy, I was practically breathing down her neck.

A hand reached out of the painting, snatching one of my curls. “Ahh,” I gasped, tearing it away.

Mandy chuckled under her breath. “Yes,Lord. Stay away from the walls.”

She didn’t have to tell me twice. “Lord of what?”

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