Page 178 of Their Lethal Pet

“I’m sure Persephone would love to introduce you to your new life here,” the not-so-sane woman says. “Isn’t that right, love?”

“Yes, Mother,” my sister says, causing my brow to furrow even more.

Persephone?

Mother?

What the heck is going on?

“Excellent,” Demeter says, clasping her hands together. “Show her how to make a flower bed as well. I’m sure she’ll want to rest soon.” Her bright blue eyes meet mine, a twinkle shining in their depths. “Welcome home, my darling. May your soul be at peace once more.”

She reaches for my arm to give it a squeeze, and I nearly step backward, but a shock rolls through us both that causes her to stumble away in alarm, her eyes growing wide.

“That’s not possible,” she breathes, looking at her hand and then back at me. “That’s not possible.” She charges forward to grab me again, but the same thing happens and she shrieks with rage.

Serapina immediately jumps to her feet, her expression no longer dreamy.

“No,” Demeter says, her focus going to my belly. “No!”

She lunges for me, only for my sister to jump between us.

Demeter shrieks again, and the ground begins to shake.

What in the?—

A largeboomsounds above as the skycracks.

I gape at it, then jump sideways as a shard of what looks like glass comes tumbling my way from above.

“Alina!” Serapina screams.

She darts in the other direction, her arm going up to shield her as more pieces of sky fall all around us.

I duck around a bush and run toward her, then pull her behind a nearby tree while Demeter’s screeches echo all around us. She’s disappeared, but I canfeelher just as well as I can hear her.

“What the heck is going on?!” I demand.

“I don’t know!” my sister shouts back. “I?—”

The path we were just on moments ago splits wide open, causing both of us to leap backward. The world is trembling all around us.

Flowers are dying.

The sky is crumbling.

The trees… are shifting colors and shapes.

Is this a nightmare?I wonder, spinning around in confusion.It feels so real.

But none of this should be possible.

Darkness swoops in as the sun blinks out of the sky, thegreenery turning black. Serapina clings to me as others scream in the distance. I don’t know who they are, or where they are, but their fear pierces my heart.

Where am I? What is happening?

Alina?Orcus’s voice in my head makes me blink.Alina, where the fuck are you?

Alina!Reaper and Flame say at the same time.Where are you, pet?Reaper inquires as Flame asks,Are you all right, little panther?