Page 181 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

“Malik. It’s Kiarra?” I try again to see if I can break through to him, to remember me, but his dead stare tells me nothing.

He tilts his head, narrowing his eyes on me as if I’m now his newest threat. He takes a step closer, a snarl on his face and glint of violence in his eyes.

My stomach drops just as he reaches out to me.

“MALIK!” I shout. Something inside me expands and settles when I do. It’s like a switch is flipped as I focus on the demon.

“Stop.” My voice doesn’t sound the same. It’s deeper, more controlled, and commanding.

Malik’s demon stops as if frozen to the spot.

My heart races in my chest as adrenaline pumps through me. The energy slithers above the surface, as if also awaiting my command.

I pull it up and the sliver of power grows. But even with this new ability, I am still trapped and don’t know how to use it to escape.

Malik is still in the same spot. The door behind him is bent in half, giving me an idea. Focusing on Malik, I concentrate on the energy running through me and grab hold of it.

“Release me,” I tell him.

Instantly, he takes a step forward, grabbing one strap with both hands and pulls.

Instead of questioning it, I allow hope to spread in my chest just as the metal strap starts to bend.

A deep growl echoes as he pulls harder, the metal a lot thicker than the one on the door. The ban stretches slightly, but just as it’s about to reach its limits and snap, Malik’s demon stops as if shocked.What the…

He begins to shake like he’s being electrocuted. His whole body convulses in place. His purple eyes roll to the back of his head as he lets go of the straps and drops to the ground, out of my sight.

A couple of moments later, I hear a groan.

“Damn,” a familiar voice says. “What the…” The voice was definitely the same one as my neighbor.

“Malik?”

Malik stumbles up, his eyes widening when he sees me. He’s not as tall as his demon side, but still towers over me. His lilac skin is now a golden brown, and dark hair now replaces his purple mohawk horn, while soft brown eyes are in place of his purple ones.

“Kiarra?” He quickly glances behind him before turning back to me and the bands, frowning the more he stares.

“Are you going to help me out or just continue to stare?” I ask him. Confused as to why he’s stalling.

Malik glances over his shoulder again. “The guards will have called in back up by now.”

It hits me, understanding why he paused. Trying to get me out would stall his getaway.

“You should get out of here then, while you can,” I tell him. I’d figure a way out myself.

Malik releases a harsh breath. “Not an option.”

I frown, not understanding him. The door behind him was bent open, and he isn’t strapped down to anything stopping him from leaving.

“But you’re free… aren’t you?” I ask him, wondering if King had also tied him to this place like he had me in the hotel.

He shakes his head. “I can’t leave… even if I want to. It’s better I stay here,” he says like he believes every word. “But—”

Thumps and shouts sound out, getting closer. “Looks like the guards have arrived.” Malik rolls his eyes just as they surround us.

“You know the drill.” A guard sneers just as Malik places his hands behind his head. It surprises me that he gives in so easily and that he’s not even trying to fight back.

The guard making all the demands nods his head to the others. They grab Malik, shoving him against the wall while tying his hands behind his back.

---