Page 27 of Into the Abyss
“This place is lies and shadows.”
Erin jerked on her hands as she tried tofree them to batter herself again, but I wouldn’t let her go. Whenshe lifted her head, her eyes were more dazed than when she firstran into us. I felt her grip on reality loosening as the Abyssworked its way deeper into her mind.
“Whatarewe?” sheshouted in my face.
“We arehere!” I yelled back at her,uncertain of what else to do. “Youare here with us. Listento me, Erin. Hear what I’m saying to you.”
“Erin,” she murmured and licked her lips asclarity slipped back into her eyes. “I am Erin, and you are…?”
“Magnus. You know me.”
“I know you. I know we are trees.”
“Trees?” Her mind was jumping too fast forme to keep up with her.
“Yes, trees, that is what we are.”
It took me a minute to comprehend trees wasthe answer to her last riddle. “Yes, trees.”
“Unless it’s a calamut tree, and then theycanmove.” Her forehead furrowed, and she bowed her head.“Calamut trees, I remember them now.”
“Those trees came from Hell,” I said.
“Yes. They did. You came from Hell too.Death also came to Earth from Hell.”
“Death has always been on Earth.”
“Not on horseback,” she murmured. “Now,Death rides.”
I realized she was talking about Death thehorseman and not actually dying.
“Erin?” Lifting her head, she blinked atme.
Recognition lit her eyes. “Magnus.”
I grinned at her. “Yes.”
She smiled back at me before vanishing.
“What? No!” I grasped at the empty air in afailed attempt to grab for her. Rage vibrated my body when Iwhirled on Amalia. “Whathappened?”
Amalia gawked at me before looking at thespace where Erin had stood. Her gaze traveled over the rock wallsbefore returning to me. “She’s not here.”
“No shit.” I regretted the hostile words assoon as they left my mouth. This was not her doing.
Amalia recoiled before her eyes narrowed anddeepened to a livid, red hue. “I mean she’snotin theAbyss.”
“Not in the Abyss?”
“Yes. Is that too difficult for you tocomprehend?”
I glared at her, and she glared back.
“Are you saying she’s free of this place?” Iinquired.
“Well aren’t you the cleverest of demons!”she retorted and crossed her arms over her chest.
The motion pulled the material taut over herbreasts. Some of my annoyance ebbed when my gaze fastened hungrilyon them. Despite my frustration with this place and her kind, thesight stirred me. We were supposed to be doing something, but all Icould think about was drawing her nipple into my mouth and feastingon it.
