Home > Infernal (Shadow Guild : Hades & Persephone #1)(6)

Infernal (Shadow Guild : Hades & Persephone #1)(6)
Author: Linsey Hall

“You can’t escape me in my world.” His voice rolled over me once more.

I turned, heart pounding.

He loomed in front of me, ten feet away. One arm was outstretched, dark magic swirling around his black-gloved hand.

He was moving the bookshelves.

A black bat swooped down from the ceiling, headed right for his head. He flicked his hand, and the creature tumbled through the air, shooting away.

“I’m not going to stop trying.” No way in hell would I just cave and do what he said. I stepped backward. He flicked his gloved hand toward my legs, and they stopped moving. Panic flared. I tried to jerk them away from the ground, but I was glued solid.

“I’m not going to hurt you.” His voice was low and rough.

I scoffed and pointed all around, indicating the haunting library that moved at his command. “What does this look like to you? Because to me, it looks like kidnapping.”

Something flickered in his eyes, but his lack of humanity made it impossible to decipher. It was like staring at a beautiful, animate statue.

Or a god.

I swallowed hard, wishing I could run.

“Come, we will go.” He turned and strode toward an enormous set of black doors on the far side of the library.

The dark mist that had surrounded him earlier wafted back to me, twisting around my ankles. I rose a few inches, then drifted across the ground, following him.

My heart thundered in my ears as I struggled against his control. It was invisible, but inescapable. Ahead of me, he moved with easy grace.

The doors in front of him swung open soundlessly, and he strode through. I followed, dragged against my will, stopping next to him at the top of a massive flight of stairs that descended into a dark city.

Whoa.

I barely managed to keep the word to myself.

I stood on top of the world. The library steps rose several stories above the walled city, at the same level as a huge castle several miles away. A wide avenue connected the library to the castle, with the city spread out around it.

The buildings were fantastic creations of black stone and glass, glinting under the flame red sky of dusk. The stone itself was carved in swoops and swirls, while the glass gleamed like water.

Like Guild City, a towering wall surrounded the town, a dark shadow of my own home. On the other side of the circular wall, the world fell away.

It was all built on top of a mountain. In the distance across the flat planes, forests and oceans and lakes dotted the landscape.

Yet all of it was so dark. So devoid of life.

At least, the green kind that I could use for my power. The forests were my only hope, and they were far away, so far away that I couldn’t tell if they were alive.

“What is this place?” I asked, horrified, and oddly delighted all at once. The fear and hatred still bubbled beneath the surface, but it was impossible not to feel wonder at the sight of this strange, beautiful world.

“My home.” There wasn’t the slightest hint of emotion in his voice. I’d bet my left leg he felt none at all.

The sky flared bright red, as if the setting sun were saying farewell. The entire sky appeared lit with flame. I raised a brow, skeptical. “In hell?”

He shrugged. “If you like. Now come.”

He strode toward the stairs. They were steep to accommodate the high hill upon which the library sat, and he took them two at a time.

I followed, floating down beside him, straight as a pole despite the vicious fight I tried to put up. My muscles strained and burned as I tried to break free.

“What is your damned magic?” I demanded.

He didn’t answer.

I looked over. The brilliant orange glow in the sky lit him in shades of gold, casting him in a nearly angelic light that made a bitter laugh escape me.

He was darkness personified.

As we neared the street level, a golden crown appeared, encircling his brow. It speared down toward his nose, mimicking ancient armor that I’d seen in books and on statues.

A warrior king.

Of course he was the ruler here.

Hell, he’d rule any place he set foot in.

I turned toward the city street, spotting people emerging from businesses and houses. Most were dressed in shades of black or gray, though their clothes appeared to be from many time periods. Awe filled their eyes as they looked at the bastard next to me.

He’d donned the crown for their benefit, I realized, though he didn’t seem terribly pleased by their worship. In fact, he didn’t spare them so much as a glance.

In the shadows of the building, I caught sight of glowing golden eyes, low to the ground. I squinted. Feral wolves, their lips pulled back in a snarl. I could hear their growls from here.

“The night wolves stalk the streets. They are the children of Cerberus,” he said. “If you try to run, they will find you.”

I swallowed hard. Well, shit.

Cerberus, the famous three-headed dog from Greek myth, must be guarding the main gate, wherever that was.

I wanted to look away from the beasts but couldn’t make myself. They seemed to congregate around the library, sticking to the deepest shadows. Or maybe they congregated around the monster who had kidnapped me.

At the bottom of the stairs, he flicked his hand. A whinny sounded, and a horse appeared out of thin air.

I flinched.

The term horse was a bit generous.

The beast was proportioned like his master—enormous and insanely muscled. Though its gleaming coat was black, red flames flicked over ebony. The same fire glinted in its eyes, and if it lifted its lip, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see fangs.

I tried to step back, but the dark king’s magic bound me tight.

“I’m not getting on that thing,” I said.

“You are.”

I fought to step back once more, and this time, the magical bindings broke. Balance offset, I landed on my ass.

Ouch.

I scrambled upright, ready to run, but he caught me around the waist and lifted me onto the stallion. He launched himself onto the tremendous beast in a seamless, graceful movement, seating himself behind me.

The man was solid as a rock. He wrapped an arm corded with muscle around my waist and pulled me against his cold chest. His body gave off no heat, and the magic that had nearly bowled me over earlier today threatened to take my breath. It was dizzying to be so close to him.

“It won’t be long.” He spoke low against my ear, and I shivered.

Long until what?

Before I could ask, the horse took off down the avenue, headed for the imposing castle at the other end. There were no other vehicles in the road, though people drifted out of their houses to watch our progress.

Their eyes burned into me.

Would I find any help from them, or were they his allies?

From the mix of adoration and fear in their eyes . . .

Probably not.

Lightning struck overhead, cutting through the red sky. Beneath me, the horse pounded down the street. My heartbeat raced in tandem with our journey, fear a constant friend.

As we passed the center of town, I spotted an open city square on the right. Within the center, bodies hung by their feet, skin flayed from their backs.

Horrified, I stared.

They were still alive.

I stiffened in horror, and my captor shifted to give me a better view.

“You’re a monster,” I whispered.

“This is hell. Hell is full of monsters.”

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