The aroma of freshly cooked dinner filled the air as I joined Lucy and Justin at the dining table. I tried to push aside my troubling thoughts and immerse myself in the lively conversation and laughter going between the duo. They were talking about some vacation.I wondered why. We had just arrived for college. A vacation now wasn’t necessary. But I still listened as I dipped my fork into the spaghetti filled plate.For a while, it worked-pushing down my concerns. The company of my friends provided a temporary respite from the weight of my own worries.Lucy, always the social butterfly, animatedly recounted a funny incident from a few hours ago while I and her had walked by one area of the school grounds, causing Justin to burst into laughter.The sound was like music to my ears, a temporary respite from the darkness that had consumed my thoughts.I listened intently, grateful for the distraction that their conversations provided.Justin, the overachiever, spoke passionately about his

Kaden awoke with a heavy heart, his mind burdened by the recent events that had unfolded.The kidnapping of Liam's wife weighed heavily on him, and the worry for his friend's well-being gnawed at his insides. He knew he couldn't stand idly by while his friend suffered in silence.With determination, Kaden rose from his bed and quickly got ready for the day. As he made his way downstairs, the atmosphere in his home felt somber, filled with an air of sadness and uncertainty.He found Lent, sitting in the living room, his eyes distant and lost in thought.Approaching Lent, Kaden placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Hey, how are you holding up?" He asked softly, his voice filled with genuine concern.Lent looked up, his eyes filled with a mixture of pain and exhaustion. "I don't know, Kaden," He replied, his voice barely a whisper. "It feels like our whole world has been turned upside down. I can't believe she's gone."Kaden sat down beside Lent, offering a comforting presence. "I under

Elina winced at Damonq’s tone. It was a lash, and part of her felt she deserved it. Maybe she should have told Tensel, but then she wasn't certain. She hadn't made the connection between the pipeline and the lake. She had the underground city, but not the lake. She hadn't realized the extent of Darkness’s empire beneath the ground.I was a child when I accidentally discovered the kelp forest. It was a wonderland to a child without a home. A place I could escape. I dreamt of it as often as possible. When I first discovered the pipeline, I ignored it. Then I followed it. I had uncovered the catacombs, the dead suspended beneath the sea, in long rows of clear chambers beneath the pipes. It was something out of a horror film. I was around ten or eleven. I wasn't certain it was real.Sivamet. Just that one word of endearment. All the anger was gone from his voice, leaving it a purring caress.She loved the sound of his voice and the way it brushed over her skin, on the inside of her mind,

Elina knew Tensel wouldn't abandon San Diego, but once he knew what he was really up against, with the information she could provide, maybe they could find Darkness and plan an attack.She wouldn't be able to fight with the hunters, but she would at least feel as if she'd contributed something. She'd brought Damonq with her rather than tell him, so that there would be no question whether or not she was crazy and just having nightmares.She had taken him to the deep but thin ribbon of water beneath the ground that fed the lake Tensel’s compound bordered.She turned to swim back toward the main artery underground. As she turned, Damonq suddenly caught her by the arm and thrust her behind him. To her horror, a shark, mouth open wide, snapped at him, catching his upper arm, spinning around and streaking through the water with him. At once blood turned the murky water red, so Elina, rushing after them, swam through a red tunnel.She didn't dare end the dream with one of Darkness’s creatu

The breeze stirred the leaves on the ground, throwing them playfully into the air. Dirt, cement and debris were piled high in the alley just behind the deserted building. The entire block of empty stores looked like a ghost town. The slight breeze used the alley as a private playground, lightly touching the debris, rifling through it. The wind slipped across the dirty glass of the windows, as if peering in, looking to see what state the shops were left in when people abandoned their businesses.Damonq circled one way, using the breeze to carry him where he wanted to go. Sandu and Ferro moved around the outside of the buildings from the main street, each searching for signs of demon activity. Andor took the roof. The hunters were traveling in packs, spreading out through the city, following the underground map Elina had laid out for them. She'd given it to Damonq, leaving it in his mind after she'd pulled him into her dream.Tensel and Max stayed in the compound surrounded by the h