a false sense of safety, once everything was in place.
But Kayla was cringing now, aware that something was wrong…straining to regain control from the dream. Failing. Because Sarah’s mind was dutifully pushing the nightmare toward its predesigned end…
The Raven screamed in denial. His wings spread.
Bare tree limbs swayed.
The gun fired.
A scream ripped through the night .
“No!”
Sarah bolted from her prone position. Upright. Blind. The tug of tubes and embedded wires bit into her arms. Her chest. Her face and scalp.
“Daddy!”
She’d killed him. Her father had been dead forever. But in her shadow dreams she killed him again. Over and over. And this time, she’d taken another life, too.
“Oh, God,” she sobbed. She’d killed him. She’d killed Kayla. She was Death now, just like they wanted.
“Damn it, take her down!” demanded the voice that had refused to let her go.
Sarah’s Raven.
The voice that had called into her darkness and pulled her mind back. Then he’d made her dream. Told her itwas the only way. Her only chance to live again. He’d promised to teach her. Train her. Give her the strength she’d never had before. Make sure she stayed free of the darkness forever.
“What the hell…” He was muttering. But she couldn’t focus on the words. “…doing awake!”
His voice wasn’t echoing through her mind, she realized. He was above her this time, beyond the nightmare. She recoiled. Panicked. Grasped for the clarity that came only with her simulations. But her host was gone. The gentle spirit the Raven had taught her to link with. Kayla was dead. There was nothing out there for Sarah to immerse herself in. Nothing to see, to feel, that wasn’t her own mind or the Raven’s. And she’d never trust him again.
No host. No Maddie. No dreams. Because…
God! I’m awake!
Sarah fought against the arms forcing her down.
“Secure her leads,” the Raven commanded. “Reset audio stimuli.”
Her ears were covered.
The sound of wind and storm and haunted rustling returned. Weakness stole through her veins as the drugs took hold. But their pull was weaker than before. Or was she growing stronger? Was that even possible? She’d been dreaming for so long. Forever. Believing it would free her. Believing the Raven. Performing on command. Meanwhile, she’d been trained to kill, too. To become Death.
She shuddered, nightmarish screams haunting her.
“Reset, Alpha,” the Raven whispered into her ear. Into her mind. Her programming lured her into a resting state, and in her mind she saw the Raven spread his black wings. She heard the wind howling through rustling, skeletal branches.
“Reset to zero,” he insisted.
Zero — Dream protocol complete.
Time to rest, until the Raven was ready for her to dream again. Maybe another dream of death. A dream she would find a way to control next time. Because for a moment just now, she’d been beyond anyone’s reach. And whatever it took, she would find her way back to that place.
They called her Alpha. The beginning of their plans. But one day very soon, she would be the end. Even if she had to disappear back into the darkness to make sure the nightmares stopped. But this time she wouldn’t be going alone.
This time, Death would be taking the Raven with her.
C HAPTER T EN
Do you want to be locked up for the rest of your life, just like Sarah?
Jarred joined Maddie on the couch as his question visibly shook her. He was holding his breath, he realized. Willing Maddie to try. To keep fighting whatever was consuming her.
The serenity of her apartment finally registered. Muted colors of pure white and soothing blues surrounded them. Every edge was softened by pillows or billowing fabric. A full moon shined its ethereal light through opaque sheers. This place was more than Maddie’s home. Her apartment was a protective cocoon for a battered healer. Somewhere to recharge after the day’s fighting was done. This was Maddie’s
But Kayla was cringing now, aware that something was wrong…straining to regain control from the dream. Failing. Because Sarah’s mind was dutifully pushing the nightmare toward its predesigned end…
The Raven screamed in denial. His wings spread.
Bare tree limbs swayed.
The gun fired.
A scream ripped through the night .
“No!”
Sarah bolted from her prone position. Upright. Blind. The tug of tubes and embedded wires bit into her arms. Her chest. Her face and scalp.
“Daddy!”
She’d killed him. Her father had been dead forever. But in her shadow dreams she killed him again. Over and over. And this time, she’d taken another life, too.
“Oh, God,” she sobbed. She’d killed him. She’d killed Kayla. She was Death now, just like they wanted.
“Damn it, take her down!” demanded the voice that had refused to let her go.
Sarah’s Raven.
The voice that had called into her darkness and pulled her mind back. Then he’d made her dream. Told her itwas the only way. Her only chance to live again. He’d promised to teach her. Train her. Give her the strength she’d never had before. Make sure she stayed free of the darkness forever.
“What the hell…” He was muttering. But she couldn’t focus on the words. “…doing awake!”
His voice wasn’t echoing through her mind, she realized. He was above her this time, beyond the nightmare. She recoiled. Panicked. Grasped for the clarity that came only with her simulations. But her host was gone. The gentle spirit the Raven had taught her to link with. Kayla was dead. There was nothing out there for Sarah to immerse herself in. Nothing to see, to feel, that wasn’t her own mind or the Raven’s. And she’d never trust him again.
No host. No Maddie. No dreams. Because…
God! I’m awake!
Sarah fought against the arms forcing her down.
“Secure her leads,” the Raven commanded. “Reset audio stimuli.”
Her ears were covered.
The sound of wind and storm and haunted rustling returned. Weakness stole through her veins as the drugs took hold. But their pull was weaker than before. Or was she growing stronger? Was that even possible? She’d been dreaming for so long. Forever. Believing it would free her. Believing the Raven. Performing on command. Meanwhile, she’d been trained to kill, too. To become Death.
She shuddered, nightmarish screams haunting her.
“Reset, Alpha,” the Raven whispered into her ear. Into her mind. Her programming lured her into a resting state, and in her mind she saw the Raven spread his black wings. She heard the wind howling through rustling, skeletal branches.
“Reset to zero,” he insisted.
Zero — Dream protocol complete.
Time to rest, until the Raven was ready for her to dream again. Maybe another dream of death. A dream she would find a way to control next time. Because for a moment just now, she’d been beyond anyone’s reach. And whatever it took, she would find her way back to that place.
They called her Alpha. The beginning of their plans. But one day very soon, she would be the end. Even if she had to disappear back into the darkness to make sure the nightmares stopped. But this time she wouldn’t be going alone.
This time, Death would be taking the Raven with her.
C HAPTER T EN
Do you want to be locked up for the rest of your life, just like Sarah?
Jarred joined Maddie on the couch as his question visibly shook her. He was holding his breath, he realized. Willing Maddie to try. To keep fighting whatever was consuming her.
The serenity of her apartment finally registered. Muted colors of pure white and soothing blues surrounded them. Every edge was softened by pillows or billowing fabric. A full moon shined its ethereal light through opaque sheers. This place was more than Maddie’s home. Her apartment was a protective cocoon for a battered healer. Somewhere to recharge after the day’s fighting was done. This was Maddie’s
Similar Books
