by Maya Daniels
I sprint up the path to find them when out of nowhere all three appear above me. Thankfully, someone tackles me because green flames barely miss me. I scramble around, trying to get up so I can fight, but Lucifer presses his body firmly on top of me, not letting me move a muscle. I buck my hips under him to dislodge him with no luck.
“Stop moving and be quiet,” he hisses in my ear and I quit my thrashing.
I raise my eyes to where the three cloaks were earlier and see them turning left and right, probably searching for us. They can’t see we’re sprawled on the ground just a few feet away from them. I’m on my stomach and Lucifer is putting all his weight on me, grinding my hipbones into the dirt. I can only take fast, shallow breaths through my nose or I’ll eat dirt. As we wait, two creatures separate from the group, obviously searching for us, while the third hurries towards the entrance, surely to call for help. We have to stop him.
I push my hips up to get Lucifer off me so I can burn the monster before he calls for help, but instead of him rolling away, the asshole’s erection presses on my ass. What the fuck is wrong with men? It doesn’t matter if they are angels, gods, or humans, they are all alike.
“Get that thing out of my ass, angel, and stop the asshole before he gets help,” I whisper-yell at him.
He doesn’t move, only flicks his wrist and the monster running bursts into dust. It’s comical to see, like in the old movies when they stake a vampire and it instantly turns to ashes. I’m impressed with the power he has for all of two seconds when the reality hits me like a freight train.
I thrash under him again. “Get off me, get off me.” The words are pushed through clenched teeth, and it does the trick because he finally rolls off of me.
I whirl on him, forgetting about the other two creatures that are set on killing us. “You fucking asshole! You could’ve killed them all in less than a minute. There was no need for you to get on top of me.”
“Is that your form of thanks for saving you, witch? Why, you’re very welcome, Alexia, don’t mention it,” he mocks, but I see he is angry.
“I don’t know what your game is, Lucifer, but I’m not playing it,” I tell him stubbornly, crossing my arms over my chest, the lantern still, after everything, clutched in my hand. It’s not that I want to hold on to it. I can’t let go of it. So, here it is, still dangling.
His eyes roam over my head, he flicks a wrist again, and I hear the puff of dust telling me one more monster is gone. That leaves only one to get rid of. A second later, he does the same movement towards my right and the same sound floats around us.
“I can stand here and you can keep killing them,” I point out.
“Let us get in the caves, witch, but be warned. Inside them my powers don’t work. It’s warded to prevent the ones that are held there from using magick.”
“You mean I can’t use fire or water in there?”
“No, you cannot. I had to kill the two at the entrance with a good old-fashioned breaking of the neck.”
“Great. Just what we need. And”—I lift a finger in his face—“wards or not, if you ever get your erection near me again, I’ll set it on fire. Just so you know.”
I storm off after those words and he follows behind, chuckling. I might send a fireball toward his crotch when all this is over, just because he thinks it’s funny to piss me off.
Without waiting for him, I reach the entrance and walk in as if I have every right to be there.
Chapter 13
After walking for a couple of minutes through a tunnel carved inside the mountain, my feet sinking an inch into the sandy ground and only the green, eerie light of the lantern guiding me, I start to wonder how long it will be before I get noticed and how quickly I will be able to find the cells holding all the people I need to get out of here. I hope they’re close to each other. That would be perfect, but I don’t count on it since anytime I’ve ever hoped for something I’m left with disappointment. Don’t get me wrong, I couldn’t care less about my own expectations being met. I’m only worried it’ll cost the life of the people that mean more to me than my own. That’s something Remi has lived with through lifetimes thanks to me. And I was upset with her for being overprotective.
I concentrate on my breath as I walk because I need a calm and focused mind, not one that’s all over the place. That’s the only reason why I silence the mushy part of me that overthinks everything and embrace the primal, cold part of me that walks with the lantern in hand. No emotions, just instinct.
The eerie green glow creates creepy shadows on the rocky walls. Although I can’t hear Lucifer behind me, I can tell he is there. When I peer over my shoulder, his shadow is mixed with the others on the walls.
“I don’t think we will be lucky enough to find them in one place, as much as I’m hoping for it, so we’ll split up if that’s the case,” I whisper, but I know he can hear me.
“I don’t think so,” is all he says back, as if there is no discussion to be had.
Well, he has another thing coming if he thinks he has control of me. I have no problem bolting as soon as we find one of them, then I’ll get the rest while he takes her out. Obviously, I keep my mouth shut and don’t tell him that. I’m also cockier because he said this place is warded so he can’t use his powers. In other words, even if he tries, he can’t read my mind. Eat that, sucker! I speed up my steps.
On the next bend, I finally see more light, which tells me we’re almost at the cells. I move closer to the walls of the tunnel, hoping it’ll give me the advantage in seeing what’s going on there before I step out. Lucifer follows my lead. Hidden in the depths of the tunnel but close enough to scan the open area we’re about to enter, I stop and take note of as many details as I can. It’s huge, and although I can’t see the roof from where I’m standing, the silvery glow mixing with the eerie light means it’s open.
That brings another question to mind: why the hell didn’t we go up there to scout the place? Rajah should’ve taken us there first. I hate it when I have to rely on others to do something, and this is one of the reasons why. There’s no strategy, no looking at the bigger picture. It’s as if they were blinders or something. Most focus on the thing they need to do without considering other options, but it’s too late to worry about that now.
Rows and rows of cells are carved into the walls, one next to the other, and closed with metal bars painted with blood runes that writhe around as if they are alive. As I watch, they move and change shapes. I can’t help but wonder how we are going to open the cells when we find them because from where I’m standing, I don’t see a way.
Taking my eyes off the cells, my gaze jumps around at the cloaked monsters and their position. If I know where they are, it will be easier to predict their movements when the time comes. There are so many of them I think this might be a suicide mission.
Taking a deep breath, I exhale slowly. Lucifer squeezes my forearm in encouragement. I snort. I don’t need reassurance; I’m doing this no matter what.
The middle of the open space is sloped like a dried-out pond, and in the middle of it there’s a post made of wood and metal, just like the bars of the cells. I don’t need to guess what its use is because the dirt around it is dark from blood, old and fresh alike. I shiver. Have they been hurt here? Are they in one of those cells bleeding and in pain while I’m standing here like an idiot staring around? I will find them, no matter what it takes. Then everyone responsible will pay the price for what they have gone through. Oh, Yes! They will pay for everything, and that includes each misplaced hair on their heads.
My heart, still bursting with anger, betrayal, and pain, thumps loudly twice, as if rejoicing at the idea of revenge, before it returns to a normal heartbeat. Turning my head and glancing over my shoulder at Lucifer, I notice he is right behind me, so close I have to tilt my head back to see his face. It takes a second for him to look down at me.
“Ready?” I ask.
He watches me silently for a second, searching for something in m
y eyes, but I show nothing. I stare blankly at him, waiting. He frowns, and I feel my heart thumps two times again. That’s weird. His eyebrows shoot up to his hairline and his eyes widen in surprise. I still wear my poker face, showing nothing. A few more seconds pass before he nods. That’s all I need.
Turning around, I straighten my shoulders, pull the hood of the cloak down over my face as far as it will go, and with sure steps, walk into the open space. It takes me a couple of steps to see clearly thanks to the darkness of the tunnel, but when I can, I notice a cloaked monster moving at my right checking the cells. I figure doing the same is our best option, so I walk closer to the walls, stopping at each cell just like him.
They walk in pairs, one with a lantern and one without, so I wonder if Lucifer knew this and that was why he didn’t get one. My trust in people has gone to shit, so I question everything. My heart does the thump, thump again. Great! I’m going to die of a heart attack just as I find them. That quickens my steps.
I expect sorrow to hit me when I see the occupants of the cells. They are all women, curled on the ground or in a corner, black and blue with caked blood on their bodies and dressed in rags, but all I have is anger and detachment. All my brain accepts at each cell is it’s not them. As I pass more cells, I realize some are occupied with two to four women huddled together. It’s a good sign, but since they must have known I’d come eventually, they’d have to be stupid to put all three together. I’ll still have to search for Faith anyway.
I keep walking with Lucifer’s quiet presence next to me. We near steps carved in stone that lead up to the next level. I head straight for it, getting more anxious that someone will realize who we are before I get to see where my sisters are. Like he can feel my anxiety, Rajah hoots and I look up to see him circling above the opening in the mountain. With one more hoot, he dives in and hovers around a couple of cells opposite me for a few seconds before he bolts out, disappearing from sight.
My heart jumps. I need to go there. Trying not to sprint, I step as fast as I think is acceptable, ignoring the groans, cries, and whispered comforts coming from the cells. Lucifer follows. In almost no time at all, we near where Rajah hovered, so I slow down and stop at the cells two doors down from where I want to go. I hope that if anyone’s watching, they won’t think it’s strange that I stop longer at the two cells I need to check. I linger impatiently, focusing my effort not to fidget. After what seems like forever, I stop at the first of the indicated cells. I am expecting to see the same sight as in the rest, so imagine my surprise when something tries to hit my face. Taking a quick step back to escape it, I bump right into Lucifer. He groans but I pay no attention. I’m staring, wide eyed, at what’s in front of me.
“That’s right, asshole, I’ll rip your face off if you come closer,” Remi says menacingly. “Get the fuck out of here before you end up like your buddy.”
Lucifer snorts. I imagine he is trying not to laugh, but my mouth is still hanging open and it takes me a second to snap out of the shock.
“Remi, stop yelling at me, you’ll get their attention,” I hiss when I get my wits back.
“Alexia?”
“No, it’s Angelina Jolie. Are you disappointed?” I grin at her.
I still can’t believe she almost took my face off with the sharp stone in her hand. Trust Remi to go for the kill.
“Sap, is that you?” I hear the whisper from the cell next to Remi’s.
I give Remi one more glance, which I doubt she sees since the hood covers most of my face, and I move to see Jezzinta. At least Remi is standing, although she has bruises on her from what I can see. When I stand in front of the other cell, my stomach clenches. Jezzinta is sitting next to the bars, her back leaning on the wall. Her hair is matted with dried blood and dirt, her face bruised, and her skin as pale as a ghost. Her legs are stretched in front of her, while Meda is lying curled on the ground with her head in Jezzinta’s lap, both of them breathing shallowly.
“Jez,” I choke, “I’m going to get you out of here.”
“I know, Sap, I need to warn you, though. It’s Derik, sis. He fooled us all. He’s the high priest here,” she says with tears in her green eyes.
“I know. I’ll deal with that later. Let’s get you out of here first.” My chest tightens and I feel the thump, thump again.
“I have to warn you, we’ll need help. We’re not strong enough for anything.”
“That’s fine, Lucifer is with me. How do I open the cells, do you know?”
“I’ll tell you. Let them rest until it’s time,” Remi whispers from the other cell. I look around to see if anyone is paying attention before I move back there.
“Talk fast or I’ll have to do another loop before I come back here,” I tell her.
“Those that carry lanterns cut their arm and touch the runes. It makes the bars go up,” Remi whispers.
“How much noise are we talking about?”
“They don’t make noise.”
“Perfect. Give me the damn weapon you have.” I reach my hand and she places the stone in it.
Without a second thought, I make a large slash on my forearm and shove the cut on the writhing runes. Spikes of vile magick stab my skin and crawl up my arm. I breathe through my nose so as not to make a sound. Luckily the bars start moving so I don’t wait. I move to the next cell and shove my forearm on those, too. The vile feeling intensifies, and I turn to Lucifer to distract myself.
“You need to grab Meda and Jezzinta. They can’t walk on their own.”
“That is not a problem, witch, I just wonder how far we will get,” he says, peering over my head just as the bars raise up. Remi and Faith, to my relief, roll under the bars and stand behind Lucifer before I slowly turn around. It’s too easy, like we’re playing into someone’s hand, but I have no time to doubt. I’ll count my blessings while I still can.
“We need to remove the wards as fast as possible,” Lucifer murmurs as I stare at ten cloaked monsters watching us with interest. I hear shuffling behind me and angle my head to see Lucifer holding Remi and Faith, one in each hand, both dangling unconscious. What the fuck? Jezzinta is already rolling under the rising bars with Meda on her heels, so I look down at them. I don’t know why they are coming out when they can’t fight. Don’t they see they’ll get more hurt?
On her knees, Jezzinta glances up at me. “Don’t hurt us. We’ll walk, we won’t struggle,” she says like she’s afraid of me. “They don’t need to be here.” She points at the ten others standing a few feet away. I finally realize they’re playing along because the cloaked monsters still don’t know who we are. Now what? I don’t even know if these morons talk. It’s eerily quiet, apart from the prisoners here, and I will screw everything up if I say a word.
Rajah swoops out of nowhere without making a sound, grabbing one cloak with his talons and catching the closest one off guard, pulling him off the ledge. The others spring to action, running towards the stairs while throwing green flames at him as he flies up, dodging them like he’s done this a million times. I, too, get animated by grabbing Jezzinta and Meda under their arms and lifting them up. Remi and Faith come next to me and grab one each.
“We’re too weak, plus we can’t use our magick, so we’ll carry them. Kill as many of the fuckers as you can,” Remi says over her shoulder, and I see she’s limping.
“I can’t, Remi, the wards won’t let me.”
“Don’t be a fucking idiot, Sap! You have a lantern,” Jezzinta
whispers.
I want to slap myself. Seriously I can’t be that stupid! I don’t even think of it after seeing the creatures throwing green flames at Rajah. I need to have my head examined. Plus, Lucifer obviously doesn’t know either, judging by his warning earlier. Or did he do it on purpose? Now that’s a chilling thought, one I have no time to examine right now.
“Let’s go. As soon as we exit the cave, Lucifer can open a portal.”
I walk in front of them and Lucifer takes the back. I wish we could go fas
ter, but there’s nothing I can do about it. My blood is boiling just thinking about how hurt they are. I want to kill something—preferably many somethings before we leave. I look up, wondering if going through the top opening is a better plan, but because they are so weak right now, it leaves us with only one option: to go down. We get to the stone steps and move down just as cloaked figures spill in from a tunnel opposite the entrance. We’re so close I can taste it. We have to get out.
As soon as we get to the ground, Lucifer steps between Jezzinta and Meda, grabbing both their forearms almost lifting them off the ground. With Faith and Remi on each side of them, they all run.
I turn, throwing fireballs at the creatures sprinting towards us across the center of the cavern. I can’t access the water element in this realm. It makes sense in a disturbing way, since water is life and everything here reeks of death. To my surprise, the flames are a mixture of red, orange, and yellow with green specks throughout, and when they hit their mark, they explode like fireworks, which is something I didn’t notice earlier when I smoked the guards. Maybe it’s the freaking wards messing with it. Who knows? Who cares? They work. That’s what matters.
I throw one after another while dodging theirs until I turn the bend in the tunnel from where we entered earlier. Then I take off after the others to catch up. We’re almost out of the damn caves. A green fireball hits the wall just behind me, so I duck to avoid the rocks raining over me before turning to see how close they are. We’re almost out and we’ll be screwed if Lucifer doesn’t open the portal fast.
“Open the damn portal, angel, they’re coming!” I yell as they exit the cave a few seconds before me.
As I run out of it, I bump into Lucifer’s back, causing him to take a couple of unbalanced steps with a grunt.
