The heavy wooden door had thudded shut behind me, and now the sound of the iron bolt sliding into place felt like a death sentence. I was trapped. The air inside that place was thick and hot, smelling of dried blood, burnt sage, and something sweet and rotting. It made me shiver.
A few small candles flickered on the stone floor, casting long, dancing shadows against the walls. The light seemed weak against the darkness.
I couldn't see him. The room was a circle of darkness, and the silence was so heavy it made my ears ring. But I felt eyes on me. It was like they could see right into my soul.
"Jenna," a voice rumbled. It didn't come from any specific direction. It seemed to come from the floor, the walls, the very air I was breathing. It was deep. "You have finally arrived, child. You s
