Curse of Shadows and Light (Demonblood Book 3) by Penelope King

Author:Penelope King [King, Penelope]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: drama, romance, ya, teens, paranormal, angels, demons, fantasy, demonblood
Publisher: Ascension Press
Published: 2013-12-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20. Liora

Torrents of icy water blast around me like I’ve been shot from a gun at the speed of light. Time and space warp together as the water rushes past me… beating, stabbing, poking, punching… in one disorientating, excruciating blur. Is this real? Or am I dead. I can’t think—can’t breathe. How long will this torture last?

Eventually everything slows, and the icy water no longer stings my skin. I have the sensation of being lifted out of the water and into the air, and then being set down on something soft, and very cold.

Everything is quiet. Unnaturally still.

I try to open my eyes, terrified of what I might see. But I can’t. A violent shudder wracks my body, and it suddenly hits me how cold I am. I’m freezing to death. The bitterly frosty air has already sealed my wet lashes together.

A blast of arctic wind hits my skin like hundreds of sharp needles and every nerve in my body screams in agony. Yet I am unable to move.

When I finally manage to open my eyes, I see only blinding white blending into a pale grey sky. There is no color anywhere, and the sun doesn’t bother to share its golden rays. There is no point. The stinging wind gusts again, and I hear a soft groan.

I roll over and see Corrine a few feet away, huddled up in a tight ball.

I try to move, to speak, but nothing happens. Whatever… whoever… brought us here apparently wants us to die in the worst, most painful way. Neither of us will last much longer out here—wherever here is. I just hope the end comes quickly and that Corrine’s suffering isn’t half as bad as mine is.

Corrine moans again, and I try to force my body closer to hers. But no matter how hard I try, I can’t move. I feel frozen from the inside out.

I’m about to give up and accept the inevitable, when a strange warmth starts budding in my stomach and then moves to my chest. The trickling stream of heat quickly spreads and grows, and the rest of my body absorbs it like thirsty tree roots sucking up water. I gasp, as I’m suddenly able to breathe. Gradually I feel my strength begin to return. I scoot over to Corrine and wrap my arms around her, the bare flesh of my arms covering hers. And I hope and pray that my body heat can somehow help keep her alive.

“Corrine,” I whisper. My throat is scratched and raw, as if someone had run a cheese grater over it. I shake her gently. “Corrine, wake up.”

She still doesn’t move. The heat grows stronger and stronger, until now I’m almost too warm. I hold Corrine close and pray that whatever is helping me can help her too.

She trembles, and I tighten my grip, trying to protect her. But I’m a little late for that.

“L-Lee-o-ra-ra,” she finally chatters.

“It’s okay, you’re okay.” I squeeze her tighter. Suddenly I sense a shift… subtle, but there.

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