KING OF THE UNDERWORLD (Earthbound Book 1)

LOCATION AND TIME UNKNOWN

A cold breeze teases the tendrils of my hair and I frown. Did I forget to close my bedroom window? I remember going out the night before and meeting up with a group of friends. Strangely though, I can’t remember coming home. My room smells odd as well. I take a deep breath and try to identify the refreshing scent that reminds me of the ocean.

With a sigh, I force myself to open my eyes. What the hell? The room is completely dark and it’s obvious I’m not in my own bed. If I put my hand right in front of my face, I wouldn’t be able to see it. Where the hell am I?!

I can tell I’m on a bed of some sort, but the mattress under me is bloody uncomfortable; the springs stabbing me in the back. I reach out with one hand and feel a cold stone wall. Pulling myself into a sitting position, I lean back against it. Immediately upon moving, I feel a steel chain around my wrist. What the fuck is going on?

I tug at it and hear the sound of jangling metal fill the silence in the room. To say I’m frightened would be an understatement, but panicking won’t do me any good. I know my sisters will be looking for me. I allow that thought to calm me slightly.

They won’t give up until they find me. I wonder how long I’ve been here. Hours? Days? It scares me that I don’t know who has taken me or why. I need light so I can see where I am.

“So. You’re finally awake.”

The voice comes out of nowhere, making me jump. The voice is deep and rough, coming from the right of where I’m sitting.

“I was starting to think you were never going to wake up,” the voice says, and I realize he’s moved. It came from in front of me this time.

“You could have given me some kind of warning that I wasn’t alone in here,” I say, trying to keep fear out of my tone and infuse it with some semblance of false bravado.

“Pray tell. How was I supposed to do that?”

I huff, recognizing his logic. Of course he couldn’t have told me while I was asleep and how would he have warned me without scaring me? But the thought of someone else being in the room with me, surrounded by darkness, creeps me out. I ignore his question. He doesn’t expect an answer anyway.

Instead, I throw a litany of questions his way, hoping he knows the answer to at least one of them.

“How long have I been here? How long have you been here? Where is here exactly, and how the hell did I get here?”

A deep rumble of a laugh echoes off the stone walls. Not a happy laugh, though. It sounds… angry.

“If I could tell you all that, little girl, well, I wouldn’t be here.

I decide to ignore the ‘little girl’ comment. For now. “Can you tell me anything?”

“Of course. Though you aren’t going to like it,” He warns me, his voice closer than before. Fuck. What does he mean by that? Should I press him or just leave it alone? Fuck. I need to know whether I want to or not.

“Please just tell me.” I huff.

“You’re in a holding cell of some sort. From what I’ve seen, there’s about twenty of them on this level. I’m not sure if there are more…”

“Do you know who took us? Or why?” I interrupt.

“Yes. I’ve seen who is holding us. You will too, in time.”

I don’t like that there are so many cells. What the fuck is going on here and why are they taking people? What are they doing to them? Who the fuck is they? I realize I just spoke my thoughts aloud.

“Oh, they want Naturals and Humans alike. You’re the fourth…” he trails off as though considering his next words. “Person to be put in here with me.”

I really don’t want to ask, but I can’t help myself. I don’t like where this conversation is going and I have a really bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. “What happened to the other three?” I choke out.

“Oh, they took them away when I… finally finished with them,” he tells me.

A shiver travels down my spine at his words. It feels like fear, but I’m not afraid of him. At least I don’t think I am. His voice is like silk and crushed velvet rolled into one. His words, ‘finished with them,’ reverberate in my mind. Shit. I really don’t like this.

My cellmate is obviously a Natural; a dangerous one at that. I pull my legs into my chest and rest my head on my knees. Why can’t I be stuck in a cell with a normal human or even another witch?

No, fate couldn’t be so kind. I’m afraid I know exactly what he is, and it terrifies me. I really hope I’m not locked in a cell with a vampire.

Who would be crazy enough to abduct and hold a vampire? They’re so strong that even the most powerful Naturals don’t like to cross them. Plus, there’s the whole blood thing. They love it, crave it even. There are humans and Naturals who enjoy giving their blood to vampires. There are even clubs that indulge that kind of kink, one of which I stupidly ended up in.

Clearing my throat, I force myself to ask. “What do you mean, when you were finished with them?”

“What do you think I mean, little girl?” The voice asks from only a few inches away. His breath smells like fresh mint as it caresses across my face and I swear I can feel his lips on my cheek. I shudder uncontrollably.

I’m neck-deeP in trouble and there’s no way out.

I’m totally screwed.