Rebecca

The silence after the demoness vanished pressed heavy against the walls. The red glow had faded into ash gray, but the weight of her words still hung between us like smoke. Maximus had not moved in minutes. He was still kneeling beside the dark pool, his reflection trembling with what little light remained.

I knelt beside him. “We need to get out of here.”

He did not answer. His gaze stayed locked on the surface of the pool as if it might speak ...