Page 80 of Shifter King

That long corridor filled with open doorways came to mind again. Especially the one with the Okalu. Had the brick wall held? Her skin prickled with painful goosebumps. She swallowed hard. "Well, I will just have to avoid it." As long as she could.

The unsettling knowledge that she wouldn’t be able to do so for long intensified.

"Remember, no matter what she tells you, it's…bad. It'll strip away everything and leave just what you are though sometimes it opens up other things. Sometimes more abilities. But usually bad things."

"All right," she said slowly. "I'll try to remember that." It didn't sound like something she would want anyway. Zorna had offered her wine earlier.

"I know it doesn't help much. They'll make you do it anyway, but all the time you put it off, it's better for you."

"Well, I guess I'll have to figure something else out. Maybe a way for both of us to get out."

"No. There isn't time," he said flatly. "They're going to send me to the pit soon. That's for the best. I don't want to drink it again." His shoulders twitched. "When Machat like me drink the psychic wine, we see too much. And then we say too much. We have visions, but we can’t hide them. It's bad. But—I'm glad you're here."

"Why?" She tried to push the tears back. This child had seen horrors he never should have had to endure; she was not going to add to his burden. The knot remained in her throat, making it hard to swallow or breathe.

"Because…this place ends with you. Because of your family." His voice shook, but he smiled a little. "That counts for something. And there's eternity on the other side. Even if it's hard to go there. I don't know how it's all going to end or when. Don't know how long you'll be here. The visions aren't always clear, and it's hard to remember. Sometimes there's fire. Always there's blood. And always it ends and the pit is filled in."

"What is this pit exactly?" she asked.

"Everybody breaks eventually. Psychic wine or torture or whatever. And when we're broken or they don't think they can make us serve any other purpose, they send us there. For whatever. They'll take me soon. And if it weren't for what's coming, they'd send you there too eventually." He reached out his hand. "They told me some things to tell you. My prophecies aren't as good as my mother's or my sister's, but I remember what they said. You need to find a way to remember too. When you drink the wine, it will be bad, but not all of it. And don't let the Okalu in."

"You know about the Okalu?" She blinked, shaking her head. She took his hand and gave it a small squeeze. "Of course you do." She covered her face with her other hand. "Is there anything else I should do?"

"Stay alive?" He smiled a little without showing his teeth. "I'm glad you saved Eskiatlo."

"You knew her?"

He nodded. "She was one of the ones that was always nice to me. Strig and Achi are others." His fingers tightened around hers. "There are lots of good people here too. And lots of hurting ones. You have to remember that too. It's not all as bad as it seems."

He was trying so hard to keep his mind in check. Those pulses of awareness and the pressure of his thoughts were like someone trying to make themselves small because he didn't want to be a burden. There weren't even images coming from him now. He had remarkable self-control, all the more incredible given where he had been forced to live. "And your dad, he's looking for you. He didn't mean to hurt you."

She dropped her gaze, a sharp blade of anger rising within herself. Memories of King Theol flared up. So much of this was because of Vorec, and Theol was the one who had allowed him to have that power. And—no, she wasn't taking this route. Pushing those memories down, she forced a nod. "I know. He was doing what he thought was best."

"Sometimes people make messes even when they try to do good."

She pressed her lips in a tight line. "That's very true."

Can I ask you something?" he whispered, his voice hoarser now.

"Yes."

"It's two things."

"Ask me as many as you like. I don't know if I can do them, but I'll try."

"When your family goes to fill in the pit, will you ask for us to be taken out. Don't let them bury us in there."

She choked but nodded, a few tears breaking free. "Of course. Of course, I won't let them do that." If there was anyone alive in there, they'd get them out too. She dipped her head forward.

"My last thing is selfish."

"What is it?"

"My mother said Neyeb can make good dreams. Can you give me a dream of the outside? Of anywhere outside. During the day. With birds."

She nodded, covering her mouth. "I can try."

He studied her, his expression calm though fear fluttered off him. "You should sleep too if you can. It's going to be very hard."