“Are you comfortable?” Omi asked.

Holding his red-topped scepter, he stood before me in the middle of what looked like an Ancient Greek room. Thick pillars in the corners supported the high ceiling, torches attached to them, illuminating the interior with dancing shadows. I could see openings on the sandy walls behind some of those pillars. A rolled up tapestry hung from two pillars. The beige floor was rough, and there were several Persian rugs of orange and reddish tones spread throughout. The chaise I sat on looked like something out of Ancient Egypt with hieroglyphs carved along its simple wood, and the green cushion felt more like barbed wire.

I glanced to the cuffs made of bright red light around my wrists. Comfortable? Who cared about comfortable when I was panicking on the inside? I was somewhere in the world with the god of war, demons were probably outside the door, and I was sure Imha was close by. The only hope I was holding on to was the fact that I was here alone, my family had escaped the demons. I didn’t know what would happen to them or how they would survive, but at least now they had a chance.

Tears stung my eyes. I didn’t want to cry in front of Omi, or anyone else, but I couldn’t help it. I honestly wasn’t afraid of dying, but I was afraid of suffering before dying. And every time I thought about my family, I wanted to cry more. I would never see them again—not for many years, until they died from old age, I hoped, and met me on the other side. I would miss them so much … At least I would have Troy in heaven with me.

Wait. Heaven? Or maybe it was the underworld.

A couple of tears rolled down my face.

Omi leaned over me and brushed his rough hand across my cheek. “Don’t cry, beautiful. This will be over soon.”

I flinched. If he noticed, he didn’t show it.

My mind reeled at his words. What would be over soon? My life? This confinement?

“Where is she?” her voice echoed through the room before I could see her.

The flames of the torches grew brighter as she stepped between two pillars and strode to me. Her white dress hugged her perfect form, and the floating skirt belonged on a catwalk. Her black hair went down to her knees, and like Ceris’s it looked like it had a life of its own. Her skin was too white; it was almost translucent, which was creepy when paired with her black eyes and red lips.

She had her scepter—a long crystal stave, topped by a orb emanating purple light—in her right hand.

Her eyes met mine, and my stomach dropped to my feet. Something like a whimper escaped my throat.

Oh, God. I was in the same room as Imha, the goddess of chaos, the one responsible for our dark world and everything else going on with it.

Omi gestured to me. “This is Nadine Sterling.”

With an evil smile, Imha halted before me. “Nadine, it’s an honor to finally meet you.”

I stared at her. I had never felt this small and helpless in all my life.

Omi paced behind Imha. “She hasn’t said a single word since I found her.”

If I had the choice, I wouldn’t say a single word until they killed me.

Imha narrowed her eyes. “I thought you said her aura was stronger than this. Are you sure this is the girl helping Ceris?”

“Y-yes,” Omi stuttered.

So fast I missed most of the movement, Imha whipped around and loomed over Omi. “Are you sure?”

He raised his chin and looked into her eyes. “Yes, Imha. I’m sure. Her aura isn’t as strong, but I know it’s her.”

“Yes, I can feel her aura. Not too strong but different. And powerful.”

What did she mean?

“Very,” Omi muttered.

Imha paraded over to me. A chair matching my chaise appeared behind her, and she sat down. Her evil smile twisted her lips.

“Nadine, you will tell me all about Ceris. What is she planning, where is she hiding, what are you helping her with?” She tilted her head. “How do you help her? I mean, you’re a mortal. Your aura is a bit stronger than most mortals, but still you’re only a mortal. Why would Ceris need your help? With what?”

Pressing my lips into a thin line, I turned my head away.

Her cold fingers clutched my chin, and, using her power, she pulled my head toward her. “No, no, no. Don’t be difficult, Nadine, because I can be more difficult than you’ll ever be, and I guarantee you, you’ll regret it.” Her nails pricked my skin for a brief moment before she let go of me. “Tell me everything you know about Ceris.”

I held her gaze, hoping the fear and panic weren’t clear in my eyes.

With a loud growl, Imha slapped my face, making sure her nails scratched my skin.

A gasp robbed me of air as my head whipped to the side, and I almost fell off the chaise. Pain exploded on my cheek and spread through my face. I brought my shackled hands to my face, careful not to touch the red light anywhere other than my wrist, since it burned, and cradled my cheek.

God, this hurt!

Imha shot to her feet. “If you won’t collaborate with me, I have no reason to treat you well.”

Imha treating someone well? Was that a joke?

A purple energy ball sprang to life around the orb of her scepter. Before I could understand what she was doing, Imha pointed the scepter at me, flinging the ball.

I leaned back in a failed attempt of running from it, but the bolt burst on my chest. I gasped as a wave of dizziness and pain assaulted me. My vision darkened, and my muscles went slack. I blinked, trying to clear my vision, to clear my head, but it was like drowning. I paddled, trying to stay above water.

I slid off the chaise and everything went dark.

* * *

I was awake, but my eyes refused to open. My muscles were too stiff and rusty; my head was dizzy. Feet shuffled near me, muffled voices spoke, and growls and flaps echoed.

Growls and flaps?

My eyes shot open, and I sat up on the chaise lounge. The red cuffs still held my wrists together. Imha and Omi stood beside the rolled up rug, muttering what sounded like harsh words, and demons—holy shit, four drooling demons—stood around me, their eyes on me. One of them knocked its stave on the ground. At once, Imha and Omi stopped talking and looked at me.

“Nadine, you’re awake,” Imha said, approaching me with her evil smile. “Are you ready to talk now?”

I met her gaze, but I didn’t say one damned word.

“She’s still playing dumb?” Omi asked.

“She’s playing,” Imha said, looking at me. “But she’s not dumb.” She conjured another purple bolt, and I flinched. “I’ll repeat my question. Are you ready to talk now?”

Omi muttered some more, then reached for the rolled up rug. He tapped it with his scepter, and it magically opened, reaching the floor. The tapestry—a brownish world map—was large, almost as large as five or six men standing side by side.

However, the size wasn’t what caught my attention. What caught my attention was the fact that certain points on the map, at least two dozen, shone brightly. I squinted, trying to make sense of it. Cathedral Rock was one of those points. As was Stonehenge, the pyramids in Egypt, and many other known places. The white lights blinked and then shifted. What the hell?

The ball of energy in Imha’s hand died out, and she looked from me to the map and back to me. “What do you see?”

For a second, panic surged up. I willed my face to look as emotionless as I could and averted my eyes.

Omi turned his back to the map. “What happened?”

Imha didn’t answer. However, the smile on her face wasn’t only evil, but the kind of smile that said I know what you saw.

The lights blinked and shifted once more. When they settled, they expanded and I could see them better. They weren’t only lights, but also symbols, though I couldn’t exactly make them out.

Then the symbols danced around the map again. I fought the urge to look at them, but I couldn’t resist. I could feel them. I stared at the symbols and tried to make sense of it. I noticed a couple of symbols moved along with the others, but they always came back to the same places.

Her creepy smile widened, and I turned my head away, forcing my eyes to focus on a crack in the stone floor. She muttered something to Omi, making his smile grow wide too.

Oh, God.

His eyes fixed on me, and he strolled forward, halting a few feet from the chaise.

“Nadine, tell us where Ceris is,” he said.

I remained quiet because saying “I don’t know” would be just as bad.

Omi pointed his scepter at me. “Last chance to see a nice version of me. Where is Ceris?”

Swallowing my fear, I raised my chin and met his gaze, without saying a single word.

“So be it,” he said.

A red stream surged from the orb of his scepter. My muscles locked as it traveled to me. The red light twisted around me like an unending snake. Panic filled my chest, and I fought the urge to scream. The red snake curled around my arms, around the cuffs, and lifted my arms above my head, pulling me up. Up and away from the chaise. Pain shot from my wrists, and I whimpered as the snake stretched me in the air. It was like there was a rope holding me up by my wrists, and it hurt.

Omi seemed amused. “Where is Ceris?”

I whimpered because honestly I couldn’t hold on without screaming a bit, but I still didn’t say anything. I wouldn’t say anything.

Omi looked at the four demons standing guard and gestured to me.

Baring their teeth, the demons attacked.

One of them raised its claws and swiped at me. I screamed, making Omi laugh while Imha looked bored.

Taking turns, the demons played with me as if I were a piñata. They clawed my legs, pushed me back, and twisted me around, causing more pain in my wrists.

After a few minutes, Omi raised his hand and they stopped.

He looked up at me. “Where is Ceris?”

I kept my gaze on my torn clothes. Blood trickled down my numb legs.

Shrugging, Omi walked away, and the demons growled, resuming their game.

* * *

I opened my eyes and recognized everything about this place and situation in less than a second.

I was in a dark, chilly, tiny room with gray stone walls and no windows. A cell in a dungeon. A thin strip of light coming from a torch illuminated the place.

My arms ached. I looked up. Metal chains wrapped around my wrists. My clothes hung in tatters, and when I moved, my back scratched painfully against a rough wall.

Just like the vision I had three months ago.

Imha walked into the room, her head high, holding her scepter. A black cloud followed her. I shuddered.

“Hello, Nadine,” she said, an evil smile over her red lips. “How are you?”

I bit my lip as bile rose from my stomach. Oh, God, that vision. The torture vision. I had joked about it with Victor and Micah.

Approaching me, Imha tsked. “It is polite to answer questions addressed to you. Didn’t your mother teach you good manners? You don’t want me to call my friends, do you?” she asked, still smiling. “Be a nice girl and tell me everything I want to know.”

I remembered this part. In my vision, I had asked her, “What do you want to know?” but this time, I knew what she wanted to know.

I grimaced but kept my mouth shut. I would change this vision. I didn’t know how, but I would.

Imha laughed like an evil queen in a fairy tale, sending goose bumps over my skin. “Still playing the mute one, are we?” Her laugh died, and her eyes became hard. “Tell me everything, and I will end your suffering.”

Suffering was a big fear of mine, but loyalty was one of my best traits. I wouldn’t crack. Even if she spent ten years torturing me, I wouldn’t crack.

“If you tell me about Ceris and her plans, I promise your death will be quick and clean.” Imha came closer until her face was inches from mine, her eyes sparkling with pure vice. “On the other hand, if you keep up with this silence game, I promise you, you will regret ever being born.” She kissed my cheek.

No, no, no. I braced myself as her icy lips touched my skin, cracking it, drying it out. The withering spread, sending searing pain through my face until it reached my throat, making me gasp and choke.

I tried to inhale the air that would save me, but it was in vain. The parching spread down to my lungs and chest. The world spun, and the room became even darker. Blood trickled from my wrists as I struggled against the cuffs, and my legs went numb.

Imha sent a purple bolt from her scepter to my chest. The bolt hurt as if it had opened my flesh and crushed my organs. I tried to yell but couldn’t. However, a few seconds later—although it seemed like decades—the power of the bolt spread, and the drying sensation left me. I took a deep breath, not caring that my body weight dangled from my bloody wrists. I didn’t have any strength left, not even to look at Imha while she laughed.

“That is just the beginning,” she said, sauntering toward the dungeon door. With her back to me she added, “I’ll give you a while longer. Choose wisely.”

She left. The door closed behind her, leaving me in total darkness. Despite myself, I cried.