Change of Darkness (The Change Series Book 3) by Jacinta Jade (best new books to read txt) 📕

the pit, and a yell was the only warning Siray and Baindan had as the middle form was shoved into the hole.

Flailing legs and arms hit the dirt, a male voice cursing soundly as the figure quickly tried to raise himself to his feet.

‘Quick, move,’ Baindan urged Siray, and they both backed farther into one corner while the captive who had already been in the pit rushed to the new male’s side, throwing wary glances at Siray and Baindan as he tried to help the other stand.

‘Don’t touch me!’ screamed the new male, flinching away, right before he observed Siray’s and Baindan’s dark forms in the corner and recoiled a second time, his body moving backwards until he hit the wall halfway along the pit.

The male’s voice was distinctive to Siray, and with a start, she realised it was the arrogant male who had pushed her and Genlie out of his way earlier that day. The same male who had led his unit to defeat against Siray’s.

Herrin had obviously chosen someone who wasn’t performing to his demanding standards.

The strongest survive, thought Siray ironically.

‘Don’t take too long now.’ Raque’s voice made Siray glance up again, though the captain was now barely more than an outline against an ever-darkening sky. ‘The longer you all wait, the weaker you’ll become.’ He chuckled again and whirled away.

Siray thought the other captives, including her remaining friends, would now be dismissed, but further words from Raque drifted to her, although she only managed to catch part of what he said, due to the cool night wind that had begun to whisper past the top of the pit.

‘Well, only a couple of days left … narrow it down to … that will make up … and apply your … can’t have you … can we?’ finished Raque on a cheerful note.

Siray narrowed her brows in confusion, unable to determine any meaning from the mix of words. She glanced up at Baindan. ‘What was that about?’ she whispered.

But Baindan shook his head. ‘I’m not sure.’

So he hadn’t heard all of Raque’s little speech either, then.

The sounds of many moving feet made Siray promptly raise her gaze up to the edges of the pit. She could see darker smudges that she supposed were the heads and shoulders of the guards who had obviously been posted by the low wooden barrier surrounding the rectangular hole. Perhaps the guards have been put there to ensure the other captives don’t try to come to our aid, Siray thought. Which they might have, if Raque hadn’t been so flaming good at his job. Mother take him.

Siray’s face was still tilted upwards when the smell hit her like a smack in the face, and she breathed it in deeply, without thinking. Hot food. That was all it took to set off the clamouring of her body as it became aware that it needed—nay, was owed—nourishment. Her stomach felt like it was hollowing itself out, its depths only now being realised as Siray’s shock at finding herself in the pit wore off. Yet Baindan must have been far hungrier having forfeited his midday meal so he could keep a clear head during their earlier fight against the other unit.

She went to place a comforting hand on her stomach but remembered in time that there were probably two sets of eyes peering down this way, so she placed the hand on her hip instead.

‘We’ve got to work together.’ The murmur wasn’t meant for her or Baindan’s ears, but Siray heard it anyway.

She leaned into Baindan, seeking comfort. She really didn’t want to hear any of the pair’s scheming; it made her automatically think about how they were going to survive this. Yet, while the means were terrible, Raque’s alteration to the rules meant that there was now hope for her and Baindan—hope that they might get out of this together. And then …

She shook her head, pushing the thought away. One thing at a time.

‘What’s the matter?’

Siray looked around at Baindan’s whisper, then realised he’d felt her shake her head. So she told him a half-truth. ‘I’m not sure if I can do it.’

Baindan seemed to know what she meant. ‘I don’t know if I can either. But it’s us or them.’

She shook her head again, terrified of what surviving this hole might turn her into. The image of Melora’s hard, joyless eyes, her face dripping blood as she stepped out from a killing ground of thirty or so captives rose starkly into Siray’s mind. ‘There must be another way.’ Yet even as she said the words, she knew they were empty. What else could they do?

Baindan settled himself more comfortably into his position beside her, one of his hands sliding along the dirt wall behind them to wrap around her waist. ‘Well, they’re not our enemies until they make themselves so,’ he said, the motion of his head letting Siray know he was gazing across the dark pit in the direction of the other pair.

The quiet, almost imperceptible sounds of whispers echoed back across to them.

‘Let’s just see how long that takes,’ Siray replied hoarsely.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

SIRAY FELT LIKE something was tickling her hand, and she tried to brush away whatever it was so she could keep sleeping. She’d been having a lovely dream, and if she could just doze off again … Yet the same soft roughness was now being applied to Siray’s face, and she sat up indignantly, blinking her eyes as she readied herself to abuse whomever it was who had woken her. But as she kept blinking, she became aware that the darkness wasn’t evaporating. Just to check, she waved a hand in front of her face. Yep, I’m awake. Then the previous day came back to her in a flood of memory and feeling. And she realised what the rough, soft thing was.

‘I’m awake, I’m awake,’ she murmured, low enough to know that he could hear her voice even if she almost couldn’t. ‘My turn, huh?’

Another wet lick confirmed her