[Music recommendation: The Weeknd - The Abyss]
.
.
That barrier Gavriel had set up around the cave wasn't nearly as powerful as the one he had erected around Aliana. But it was more than sufficient to keep any human or demon at bay unless they possessed extraordinary power.
The absence of the barrier was enough to tell them everything they needed to know.
Whoever had been behind this had possessed enough power to shatter the barrier protecting it.
As they stepped into the mouth of the cave, it opened into a vast cavern that had been transformed into a home, complete with everything one would need to live there.
But none of it drew their attention.
Instead, their eyes fell upon the woman named Sofia on the floor.
Her body had been mangled beyond recognition, as though someone had taken their time torturing her, tearing her apart limb by limb until she had been reduced to such a gruesome, tattered state.
