The rest of the group appeared to have things under control, and I could no longer fight my desperate desire to find Carrow.
I raced from the hall, heart pounding. The main passage outside of the dungeons was full of red cloaks. Half of them poured blood from grievous wounds. They shouldn’t be able to stay upright, but their abilities defied the laws of nature.
I reached for one and tore his head off, viciousness surging through me. Blood spurted, coating my arm and shoulder, but I didn’t care. I tossed the two pieces away like the refuse they were and went for another. I had no idea if they could rise again without their heads, but it was worth a shot.
I moved quickly, embracing my vampire speed as I searched for Carrow. All around, battle raged. The witches shot colorful bursts of magic—green banshee blasts, blue stunner spells, pink pain shockers.
Overhead, the ceiling was partially transparent like the rest of the temple. Lightning struck from the sky; Eve sending blasts down at the cult members as they attacked.
There was so much chaos and bloodshed that it felt like Anat had achieved her will, after all.
No.
We would stop this. We had to.
Finished with the red cloaks, I sprinted away, drawn by Carrow. I could almost feel her, that pull that was so uniquely her. Though our bond was still broken, the memories that had returned strengthened our connection.
Finally, I sprinted into an enormous room with a tall statue on one side. At its base, a golden-haired woman pressed her hand to the statue.
“Carrow!” I shouted her name just as she disappeared.
Gone.
Carrow
The ether spun me through space and spat me out in an eerily empty field. Smoke crawled along the ground, and a diffuse light emanated from the sky. It was dusk here, the dim light creepy as it illuminated several skeletal trees.
A shiver raced down my spine as I spun.
“Hello?” Where the hell was I?
Behind me, I spotted a woman. She was about fifty yards away, walking closer with a graceful, powerful stride. Her form flickered, alternately covered in blood, or dressed in pure white robes. The robed version of her was beautiful—shockingly so.
The bloody version of her . . .
That was terrifying. Her long dark hair was replaced by a matted, crimson mess, and her body—entirely naked—was coated in slick, red blood.
Smoke rolled along the ground in front of her, bringing with it the sound of war and an adrenaline rush that made me shake. Terror shot through me, followed by calm. The feelings alternated, so fast that it made my stomach turn. I nearly fell to my knees and vomited.
It felt just like the visions I’d had, only stronger.
I forced myself to stay upright.
As she approached, I realized that she spent more time in her gruesome form, the beautiful white-robed woman rarely appearing.
Shit. That couldn’t be good.
She was only ten feet away, so close that her power felt like it could crush me from all around. I bowed, instinct driving me. “Goddess Anat.”
She inspected me for a long moment, her form temporarily beautiful and clean, white robe gleaming. “Finally, you’ve come to end this farce.”
Thunder echoed in her voice, making my bones shake. “Farce?”
“The people who have taken my will and twisted it”
Thank fates, maybe she would be reasonable. “I’m here to stop them.”
“Good.” Her form flickered red, and she lunged for me, claws outstretched.