Page 17 of Grave Revelations (Prophecies of Angels and Demons #3)

Chapter 16

Sophia

Sophia stumbled back, landing on her butt, and stared up at the woman whose gold eyes were like twin flames flickering in the murky light.

“Who are you?”

The woman glanced down and to her left. Sophia saw her then, the small pale-haired girl she’d seen each day upon arriving, peeking around the woman’s long crimson robes. Elizabeth stepped out from behind her robes and slid her small hand into the woman’s.

“Elizabeth. Who is your friend?” Sophia asked.

Elizabeth turned large round eyes to the woman grasping her hand. “She saved me. She’s like me.”

Sophia glanced between them. They shared no familial resemblance. Where Elizabeth had pale skin with paler hair and bright blue eyes, this woman was tanned, like Sophia, with feline features, hair the color of blood, and the most striking otherworldly golden eyes she’d ever seen.

In some ways, they were like Simon’s, but his yellow eyes were dim by comparison. They stood out, vibrant and alive in a place where everything was drained of color.

Sophia stretched her hand out. “Come here, Elizabeth.” The girl darted nervous glances between the two women, and Sophia was struck once more with the thought that this child couldn’t possibly be the creature who’d ended her life. “Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you. Come sit beside me.”

Elizabeth searched the woman's face, and when she dipped her head, Elizabeth let go and crossed the space to hold Sophia’s outstretched hand. Sophia stood, backing up slowly.

Something about that inhuman dip of her head reminded her of the way the witches in her coven communicated—a nonverbal conversation between members. She continued backing up, and the woman made no move to follow.

When Sophia’s shoulder bumped the mouth of the cave, she looked down at Elizabeth. “I want you to run, okay?” She released Elizabeth’s hand and gave her a little shove into the cave.

The woman laughed. It was musical, reverberating through Sophia’s very soul.

“Elizabeth’s not going anywhere, and neither are you, Sophia. I have a job for you.”

Sophia tensed, preparing to run, but her muscles were frozen, locking her in place. The woman sashayed closer, taking her time. Sophia called for her gift, reaching for the black water sloshing in the river she’d left that morning.

But it was silent, her magic cut off.