Page 59 of Gambling with Time

I thought it could be possible. Alastor was part of the reason I left, that feeling of not belonging. But it had all been manufactured. A way to push us into the places they wanted us in.

I sighed. Swinging my gaze up and down the street, I paused when I caught sight of what looked to be a demon hidden behind a tree. I turned to face the figure, and it was gone as if my eyes were playing tricks on me.

Alastor’s palm landed on my shoulder, making me jump, and I glanced at him. “Everything okay?”

With a nod, I redirected my attention toward the door, attempting to dismiss the unsettling thoughts that had gripped my mind. I reassured myself that it was merely my imagination toying with my senses. The dance of shadows cast by the swaying leaves of the trees had conjured illusions, tricking my eyes into perceiving figures that held no substance. It was a mere mirage, a fleeting trick of the light that had momentarily deceived me.

“Yeah. I just thought I saw something.”

He looked in the direction I had been staring and tried to see what I had. With a shake of his head, he turned back to me. “Nothing there.”

He was right, obviously. A deep sigh lifted my chest, and I turned to follow him into the dimly lit house.

The wooden floors were bare and stripped of any polish. The walls had peeling paint, interspersed with gouging holes. Discarded bottles littered the front room, and a smell of decay filled the air as we moved deeper into the small bungalow. A tiny bedroom in the back held a thin mattress covered by an equally thin sheet that looked like it had seen better days. Trash was strewn about and a flashlight lay next to the bed.

Someone stayed in this house. A squatter most likely. Did they know about the portal in the basement?

We were silent except for our breaths as we cleared the house as if we were professionals. As we passed through the kitchen, the shards of glass from the broken window crunched under our feet. Even more trash littered the counters, and a random roll of duct tape lay in the mess; it looked like someone had used it to attempt to fix the now-broken window.

Sam kept her hand wrapped around her dagger, ready to pull it free. While Cerberus and my shadows practically clung to her.

“We didn’t check the upstairs,” I said.

Raiden nodded at me, and I hesitated only a moment before I turned back to go check. My gaze ran over Samantha one last time; I doubted anything could reach her if it tried. Besides, she would have the others with her.

The floorboards creaked beneath my feet as I went up the steps to check the small loft bedroom. It was in disarray like the rest of the house, but there were strange symbols drawn on the wall. When I approached to get a better look, they shimmered with magic, glowing a burning red.

“Trap! It’s a trap!” I yelled as I twisted to go back down to the others. I wasn’t sure what those hieroglyphics meant, but they were definitely burned into the wall by the God.

A roar filled my ears, and I wasn’t entirely sure if it came from downstairs or if it was just the blood rushing through me drowning everything else out. My hearing was muffled, and I felt light-headed. I stumbled on the steps, tumbling down into a sprawling heap in the hallway. Fuck.

Springing to my feet, I shook off the aches from actually falling down a flight of steps and ran for the kitchen to reach the basement steps. “Trap!” The word punched from me, cut off as I caught sight of a monster.

My heart raced as the monster turned toward me. Standing before me was a chilling amalgamation of lion, crocodile, and hippopotamus. It struck terror into the very depths of my being. It roared again, proving it hadn’t been my ears. Its massive body exuded an air of menace, with rippling muscles that hinted at its immense power. My shadows were with Samantha, and I scrambled back away from the stalking beast. Its mouth opened, releasing a loud hiss.

The crocodile’s head, with sharp teeth, scaly hide, and piercing eyes, emitted a predatory aura that sent shivers down my spine. Rows of razor-sharp teeth lined the gaping maw, ready to devour me whole.

The lion’s body, with powerful and sleek muscles draped over its monstrous frame, accentuating its intimidating presence. Its powerful limbs, ended in sharp-tipped claws, hinting at the swiftness and brutality with which it could strike.

The half-hippopotamus back end with the large feet that looked as if they could stomp you into the ground if you got too close. The mere sight of this ferocious monster filled me with an overwhelming sense of dread.

Now would be a great time for my shadows to come save me.

The very floor rumbled as the beast came for me. I let loose a scream that Bellamy and Alastor would tease me for. My eyes squeezed shut as I hit the wall behind me. This was how I died. The fact I never planned to die at all was beside the point, I had a feeling this monster could tear my soul from my body.

A loud growl followed another roar, making me peel my eyes open to see my demise, but this time, the sound came from Cerberus as he jumped onto the hybrid's back, my shadows with him. Relief, sweet and pure, filled me as I caught sight of the others on the other side of the room.

My shadows tore at the beast as Taila, my shadow snake, put herself between us, ready to defend me to the death. The alligator's mouth snapped open and shut attempting to get the hellhound. Then Samantha lunged onto its back, her arms wrapping around its gaping maw, and she forced the mouth shut.

“Tape,” she said, holding on as the monster whipped her around like a rag-doll attempting to get her off.

Bellamy tossed her the roll, and she managed to wrap it around the snout, sealing the mouth shut. It was too soon to breathe a sigh of relief though because it still had the massive back feet stomping around, and the lion’s claws cut through the air trying to get the duct tape off.

Samantha lost her grip and landed hard on the glass covered floor. Rolling out of the way of the back legs, she lunged easily to her feet. She shot me a grin like this was the most fun she’d had in months. The crazy light in her eyes matched Bellamy’s as they both turned their attention to the beast.

Raiden and Alastor joined in, while I watched. It was what I always did, my shadows fought, and I did nothing. When Alastor only had his ‘flower power,’ I didn’t feel like such an odd man out, but now it was evident I didn’t add substance to the group and was a liability.

The truth pierced me straight through the heart as I stood as still as a fucking statue. Even Tyler would be more helpful right now than I was.

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