Dark Reincarnation: Nightshade

Chapter 31

                      Alice's POV

    As soon as we stepped into the magic circle, we were blinded by a bright flash of light. A second later I heard an unsettling maniacal laughter. But when my eyes had adjusted all I saw was yet another dark hallway.

   I went to turn and see what Lily had thought of this but I quickly noticed that she wasn't there. Panic instantly set in as flashes of the last dungeon I was in went through my mind. I frantically started looking around and calling for her. I couldn't even feel her mana or aura anywhere either, despite the connection we shared from the contract.

   Thinking about the situation I was in I sat down in the middle of the hallway to try to collect myself. But with the small space, darkness and the stupid ass laughing I could hear, I was finding it kinda difficult.

   Then two things happened next that instantly set my blood on fire. Rather I heard two things. First, a child's pain filled scream that quickly stopped like it was gagged. Second and worst of all, I heard Lily let out a rage filled scream that quickly turned into a pain filled groan.

   I started running down the corridor as multiple scenarios started coming to mind. It took awhile of running before I could finally start to see a bit of light up ahead. I could also now feel Lily's aura but something about it felt off. It didn't feel like it normally does, it felt cold, unfamiliar. As I was thinking about that I finally reached a huge cavern.

   The first thing I noticed was the pungent smell of fresh blood. Directly in the center of the cavern was a raised platform with weird magic runes all over it. As well as most of the children we had come to try and rescue. The fucked up part is that they were clearly used in some kind of demented ritual. The sight of their small lifeless bodies made me want to cry.

   Another bout of stupid laughter drew my attention to the left side of the platform. Standing there looking proud as fuck of himself was what I figured must be a demon. Judging by the horns on his head and the fact that his eyes were pure black. In his right hand he held a chain that lead down to a little girl. She couldn't have been older then like six. Her clothes were all torn and dirty, she had a gag in her mouth and she was clearly crying as she was held up by shackles that were connected to the chain.

   What threw me off the most was the fact that his left hand was glowing red and being held over a kneeling Lily. She looked like she was in pain and her eyes were glowing the same red as the demons hand.

      "Too late girl, the ritual is almost complete. As soon as I spill this brats blood on the platform there will be no stopping it. And as you can clearly see by the state your contracted beast is in, there is no way you could be powerful enough to stop me. Hahahaha."

     'Fuck... What do I do?' I thought to myself as I glanced between Lily and the little girl. What the hell is this idiot trying to do, a ritual that requires this much life essence has to be bad news. And how in the actual fuck did he manage to subdue Lily? She's as strong as I am, if not stronger, so just how? And why didn't he just kill her? He must know that if she breaks free from whatever it is he's doing that she'd rip him apart.

      "By the way you keep looking at your pet, it's obvious what your thinking girl. But don't get your hopes up, she's incapable of breaking free now. I was alerted the moment you stepped inside this dungeon. So I decided to pause my ritual and allow you to get closer. I was getting bored anyway."

            "Explain to me demon, what makes you think that my partner can't break free? She's a pure blood Fenrir, she probably has more power in her little finger then you do all together. I don't know how you were able to subdue her but I doubt you have full control."