Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 119846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
He gestured toward the enormous circular basin of glossy black liquid.
Noelle turned toward it, heart sinking. The pool took up the entire far wall of the “spa” and looked less like a luxury feature and more like an alien tar pit. The surface shimmered faintly under the overhead lights, as though it were breathing.
“Uh…” She stepped forward warily. “What is that stuff?”
“It’s the Rejuvenation Pool, of course,” Lupin said with a wide grin. “It’s the centerpiece of your transformation. Come on now—let’s not be difficult.”
“I… I can’t really swim,” she admitted. “Well—not very well.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. It’s quite shallow,” he said with a dismissive wave. “Come along—your fertility treatments won’t take otherwise.”
“My what?” she demanded, turning her head to look over her shoulder at him. “Wait, what are you talking about? I don’t—”
“In you go!” he interrupted cheerfully—and before she could stop him, he gave her a sharp little shove between the shoulder blades.
Noelle shrieked as she lost her balance.
“Hey, wait! No—”
Her arms windmilled wildly, but it was no use. She stumbled forward and fell face-first into the inky black surface… and immediately discovered that it wasn’t water at all.
The substance enveloped her like warm glue—thick, dense, and heavy.
It smelled faintly of sulfur and metal and something strangely sweet underneath, like decaying fruit.
Noelle’s mind screamed in horror as the alien stuff sucked her in.
Oh God, it’s not water—it’s like oatmeal. No, not even that—like pudding made of tar. What the hell is this?
She broke the surface with a gasp, sputtering and wiping the clinging black goop from her face. It stuck to her skin like melted plastic, oozing down her shoulders and clinging to her hair.
The pool was not shallow. She was standing on tiptoes just to keep her chin above the surface, and she could feel the stuff sucking at her legs like it was alive and it wanted to drag her down again.
“Hey!” she shouted up at Lupin, who was watching from the edge. “What the hell is this? Let me out of here, you hijo de puta!”
“Now, now—just relax,” he said, completely unfazed. “In just a moment the bathing attendant will be along to give your skin an extra treatment—I think you need it.”
“What attendant? What extra treatment?” she sputtered, blinking black goo out of her lashes. “I just want to get out of here!”
The goop had gotten into her mouth—bitter, acrid, like scorched toast and chemicals. She gagged and spit into the muck.
Lupin didn’t answer. Instead, he produced a tiny silver bell from somewhere inside his tunic and gave it a sharp ring.
“Hey now!” he called brightly. “Hurry up—we need an extra rejuvenating skin treatment and the client is already in the tub. Come on!”
Client?! I’m not a client—I’m a prisoner!
Noelle turned slowly in the viscous liquid, heart thudding. Should she try to scramble out? But wouldn’t Lupin just push her in again?
Even if he does, I have to try, she thought.
“Okay, I’m getting out,” she said, and reached for the edge of the pool… just as something slithered around her ankle.
It was slick—like rubber or snake-skin—but strong. Too strong for Noelle to get free, even though she kicked her legs.
“Wha—?” she gasped and then screamed as she was yanked under.
13
BRIGHT
Bright sat cross-legged on the cold metal floor of the cell, his back pressed to the wall, staring out at nothing. His hands rested between his knees, still bound by the silver manacles that pulsed faintly every time he so much as thought about touching Burn.
Across the small cell, Burn was pacing like a caged predator, each stride sharp and rigid. His heavy boots echoed with every step, his jaw was clenched and his fists were flexing as though he wanted to punch the walls.
He’s barely holding it together, Bright thought grimly. Not that I’m doing much better.
He kept glancing toward the door where Lupin had led Noelle away. Something was gnawing at his gut—an unease that wouldn’t settle. The walls felt tighter…the air was colder.
Then Burn stopped. Mid-stride, he froze in place—his broad back tense, shoulders rigid.
“Do you feel that?” he growled, his voice low and dangerous.
Bright lifted his head sharply as the feeling of unease that had been hovering in the back of his mind bloomed into something much darker and sharper.
“I do,” he said, his heart beginning to pound. “Noelle’s in trouble.”
Burn was already moving, charging toward the barred door of the cell. Bright was on his feet in an instant, racing to join him.
The two of them grabbed the bars, rattling them violently. Sparks jumped from the cuffs at their wrists, the metal hissing with warning, but they didn’t care.
“HEY!” Burn bellowed, slamming his fists against the bars. “HEY! LET US THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!”
“We need to see our mate!” Bright shouted, gripping the door hard enough to make his wrists ache. “Let us out—NOW!”