pened

is hand on me, sneering like the bastard he

frozen

d, clawed

n't s

oul

ust

s down, lungs burning, knees buckling,

d water. I staggered forward, arms

I hea

eam

see a group of girls poin

ixth

ssroom

s had sh

ke a grotesque gargoyl

aw his body hit the gr

ified. Two girls f

t stood there, trembli

is. He ki

wed me. Pr

him

d against my e

e you c

g up-and found my f

ispered, voice hoarse from shock. "You've taken a life

ian mask gleaming like a death omen under t

write them. And for the rec

tly covered my eyes with his palm

you what a ghost

swallowed my vision. Then he pulled his hand away, and

when I

ough the sunlight-elegant, wrong, ot

a mouth painted red like blood. A voice slither

r Crimson Lord has far m

and stumb

t was th

else could see, adjusting spectral chains wrap

a ghost. That was so

yself acros

wasn't

I'd seen... something. Som

, mouth painted a grotesque red. When he smiled, his blood-colored lips curled

r who claimed my desti

... then why wasn't he afr

Redd

t souls-judge, enforcer,

il of the Dead, the unseen realm where the l

at that entity with

en a s

ure dares to stare

c, locked myself in my room

know-wh

ght s

mmoned by the chime

. Still... formidable in

his voice suddenly flat and dangerous. "If another

rough the lingering ache, and fina

d. "If you're going to destroy me

eartbeat. Then ca

nd death. And yet... they raised

I whispered, tears pricki

a lamb for slaughter. How would I know that

ons

go

was

word, because

n't even

, and power, wrapped

stilled fo

from my cheek and said quietly, "You are my blood-bou

l de

ave immediat

on Sigil Ring at my neck, the one

rather captivating, watching this glow... But nex

d. "Don't make m

en found the ni

atop the ancient altar beneath our family's anc

ring. A bridal token. Left by a creature wh

y strung it around my neck with a thin cord of red silk-a f

ng to place it on my finger. But after his w

as perfect. Too perfect. Once it slid past the j

I knew it came from him.

glow faintly-its luster warm, like wine catching candlelight. Veins of brighter red shimmered beneath the

faded when I l