Page 21 of Eternal Surrender

“What can I do?” I offered, though it didn’t seem to convince any of them.

Catherine’s frown deepened. “Don’t get in the way.”

I responded with a careful silence.

“You don’t have our permission to leave here,” said Catherine

I stepped toward Jacob. “Where is Paradom?”

“Don’t approach him,” he said.

I asked bitterly. “Give me some sense of hope. Where will you find him?”

“King’s Cross, beneath the tube station,” Jacob answered. “Paradom’s been seen there on more than one occasion. He moves around.”

“Once Lucas has the scrolls, you’ll let me know?” I asked, scrutinizing Jacob’s face for reassurance.

“Of course,” Jacob said.

I shook my head in frustration. “So that’s it?

“Circumstances have changed,” Catherine said coldly.

Jacob wagged his chin. “The needs of the many. . . you know how it goes.”

“I don’t think he should leave here,” Alex said.

Catherine rolled her eyes. “Alex, remember who we’re dealing with.”

I stretched the tension out of my hands, but it didn’t help.

I felt it deep within, a troubling familiarity, a conflict—as if his thoughts had bled into mine, or mine into his. I grew defensive, anger rising toward those I had once met with nothing but compassion. Whatever I was before, I was not that anymore.

“You’re trapped in your own personal hell, Orpheus,” Catherine said. “Ironic, don’t you think?”

Chapter Five

Waiting patiently on King’s Cross’s tube station platform, I watched the other passengers disappear out of sight. The ground rumbled as the train pulled away; the air forced out from the tunnel billowed my coat.

It doesn’t have to be this way, uttered my conscience, entertaining the same idea I’d ruminated over since yesterday when I’d left the Mount. Death is a reasonable alternative to being stuck in this body.

Ah, but the possibilities, came that quiet musing of my ego.

As soon as everyone had deserted the platform, I leaped onto the track and flew along it, listening out for any noise that might hint at a lurking nightwalker.

Something crunched beneath my feet, and I cringed at the sight of scattered fine animal bones.

Following the trail of skeletons, the apparent remains of rodents led me to a faded red doorway hanging off its hinges. Easing my way through, I sensed someone watching me, though glancing back, I saw no one. Spreading out before me was a long service corridor about five feet in width, running the full length of the track.

A blur of movement shifted just up ahead—man-shaped, but too fast to focus on. Then it scrambled away in the opposite direction, scurrying upside down along the arched ceiling.

I bolted after it, whatever it was, trying to keep up with the creature that was picking up speed, its claws scraping the brickwork and sending dust flying.

Closing in again I flew through the hole right behind it, landing straight back onto the same track I’d just come from, blinded by a train’s headlights speeding right at me.

Barely missing the first carriage, I darted upward and clung to the jagged bricks above, my coat flapping wildly, deafened by the screeches of metal on metal. The train rocketed beneath, down the pitch-black track.

When the last carriage finally passed, I flung myself toward the left side of the track, hoping to avoid repeating that same mistake.