"Okay, so no one is here," Deidre stood in the doorway of the cell she'd shared with past-Death and Jared. There was no blood in the air, a sign past-Death hadn't been eaten before leaving the dungeon.

He got his fill of the guards on the floor above. She'd stopped to look too long, drawn by the delicious scent of blood and the eerie, nauseating acknowledgment she had the same ability to disassemble a human body as Jared had.

"I don't know where to start looking. I could search this place forever." Troubled, she moved away from the cell. Past-Death had the advantage of knowing the palace, whereas Deidre was easily lost and running on fumes.

Karma had drifted down the hallway and stood halfway between Deidre's old cell and her own.

"Karma, are you ready to go?" Deidre called as loudly as she dared with a worried look over her shoulder.

The deity's hair had gone straight, a sign Deidre took to mean she was upset. Approaching, Deidre reached out to touch Karma's arm.

"Whatever it is, it's okay," she said. "We'll get out of here together."

"This does not worry me," Karma replied.

"What's wrong then?"

Without replying, Karma turned away and started down the hallway, towards the exit. Deidre followed, concerned as much for her new friend as she was being discovered.

Or being forced into a position where she had to kill again.

"Your friend is not here," Karma observed. "We should leave the palace. Find those seeking you."

Deidre's heart skipped a beat. "Darkyn."

"The Great Imbalance and others."

"They aren't here for me," Deidre said. "But he is. You think we can evade the dealers long enough to reach the forest?"

"Karma isn't sure." The deity studied her. "You are very weak."

"I know." Deidre swallowed hard. "I don't have a choice though, do I?"

Karma shook her head. "And if you die-dead, Death or the Great Imbalance are the only who can raise a soul."

"So we need to find them no matter what." Deidre chewed on her lower lip. "What about my friend? What if she's in trouble or worse?"

Karma rested her hands on Deidre's shoulders, and her hair instantly tightened into spirals. "You are in trouble now. You will not live long enough to help her. We must go to the forest and save your life."

Deidre managed a smile. "Why do people hate you? You're so sweet."

Karma's eyebrows quirked. "I am sweet because you are. I reflect those around me, remember?"

Deidre nodded, not wanting to think about how Karma was going to react when she ran into the Dark One.




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