I look up, squinting against the darkness. When I finally see him, my breath leaves my lungs in a gasp. I scramble backwards until I slam into the wall, shaking my head in disbelief, as I stare at the blond-haired ghost.
I'm dead. Oh fuck. I'm dead and in a different plane.
"You're not dead," he says, seeming to read my mind as the chains rattle around his wrists. He rests his head back against the cold stone as he licks a drop of blood from his lip. "And neither am I."
It takes me a second to even attempt to speak, but when I do, it's hoarse and strained. "I saw you. Bound, shredded, and... and... fucking dead! How—-"
"You saw a changer who looked exactly like me, smelled exactly like me, and even dressed in my clothes. These people are good. They are both genius and stupid. They left behind something as a way to crush all doubt that it might not be me, but it's what they've been looking for."
He lets out a low chuckle, either delirious or amused—I'm not sure. Quite frankly, I'm questioning my damn sanity right now.
"Why—"
"There are things you don't know, Gage. Things about me, about who I am, about what I can do. Ever wonder why I'm so fucking strong? Well, not everyone overlooked it. I should have kept my secret better. Apparently Alyssa and Kane exposed themselves as well. They know everything."
What does he mean about Kane's secret? "They know about Alyssa? You know about Alyssa?"
"I do now. I've overheard chatter through the pipes when I strain real damn hard. The ring leader found out several years ago when a night stalker fed from Alyssa's veins. He lived. Her blood gave him so much strength, and the high he was on almost carried him over the edge. It's also how they figured out about Kane. Because he never hit such a high—he was too strong to be driven to that side of madness."
Kane. Why does he keep mentioning that fucking night stalker?
"What about Kane?" I finally ask, trying to get him to stop hinting and just blurt out whatever it is he has to say.
"You should be more worried about why you're in here."
I swallow hard, still trying to fully grasp the fact that he's here, alive, in front of my fucking face.
"Why am I here?"
He turns to me, letting his sad smile slip free before his jaded words fall out with a heavy blow. "Because someone fucked up, underestimated our little creature goddess. She fucked their plans up real damn good. They can't use me because she'd never believe it's really me. They need you there as a distraction—when they try to kill her again."
