by Eve Langlais
“Where are we going?”
“You didn’t think I parked our ride on the main road, did you?”
She’d not actually thought much about it. His fault. Somehow. Don’t ask her to explain.
They encountered a strange open spot. Water sat in a circle with a mossy hummock in the middle. He stepped into the water.
“Why wouldn’t you go around?”
“Because this is where we’re going next.”
He heaved, and the hummock lifted. It swung upward on a hinge, revealing a dark circular opening. Grimacing, she stepped in the water, feeling it fill her boots. She could use a new pair. She should have accepted the ones offered to her by Anita at the castle. Pride. She really needed to kick its ass.
He climbed into the hole and began moving down. Reaching the shaft, she glanced in. Darkness. Pure darkness.
She didn’t like it. Didn’t trust it. But he showed no fear. Neither should she.
Swinging her leg over, she felt around with her foot until she felt a rung. “A ladder. How nice. They could have left us a light.”
“Sounding more and more like a lady each day,” was his reply.
Her mouth rounded into an O of surprise. “I do not!”
“Oh no, she huffed, protesting his claim.” His high pitch almost got him kicked in the face.
“I am going to gut you. And it won’t even be my fault. You’re pushing me to it.”
“You’re awfully grumpy,” he remarked.
“Can you blame me? We’re in a dark hole.”
“Not that dark.” The daylight penetrated far enough for her to glance down and see the white gleam of his teeth. “Not yet.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked.
The answer came when the lid to the hole slammed shut.
Chapter 14
Casey didn’t yell. Not like Titan had the first time Roark showed him the tunnels.
They weren’t common knowledge because there was concern they’d be used to launch a sneak attack. He thanked every bone in his body that Theona had never learned of them. Although, even if she had, he’d left pitfalls in place purposely to thwart anyone who tried to navigate the passages.
The door at the bottom of the ladder had a keypad system. Not electric, those could run out of juice or get zapped by the volatile atmosphere. Instead he relied on a puzzle that didn’t allow for errors and needed a little shove of magic to complete.
When the mechanism clicked, he pushed it open and finally wasted a bit of power—his ability not yet fully recovered—by conjuring a ball of light that he flung. The target? A lantern fabricated of battered metal hung on the wall, the bottom filled with fat from a sload. It ignited but wouldn’t remain lit for long. As soon as the chunk of lard liquefied, it would extinguish. But he didn’t need much time.
Casey craned for a peek, not that there was much to see. A wide corridor going into darkness before them, same thing behind.
“So these are the infamous tunnels?” She didn’t seem too impressed. “I thought they’d collapsed.”
“Some of them under the Marsh did. It finally collapsed and flooded some sections before the seals could be dropped to contain it. Many of the branches are impassable now, including the one that used to lead to the Emerald kingdom.” Other tunnels he’d blocked himself. There were things that lived down here. Things that should never get out.
She planted her hands on her hips. “I expected it to be more interesting.”
“It will be. This section is pretty tame. Further in, we might run into some monsters.”
“Really?” Her whole face brightened.
“Yes, really.” He chuckled. “Only you would be excited.”
“I’m not afraid.”
“Then you’re not as smart as I thought,” he riposted.
“And I thought you said we were riding.”
“We are, but I never claimed we’d be traveling above ground. We’ll make better time down here, not to mention we’ll emerge in a place they’re not expecting.”
“Cheater!” she huffed.
“Meaning what?”
“Meaning I’ll never win the bet. How am I supposed to find your gnarly tree underground?” She scowled.
“The gnarly tree is the one on the bluffs. We’re going to the rooted one, which can best be reached via the tunnels. As to finding it…” He pointed down the hall. “Go straight and hook a right. You can’t miss the roots.”
“Seems too easy.”
“Don’t be so sure.” He winked as he palmed a gun.
“Why are you pulling a gun? You never arm yourself. Expecting something?” She appeared eager.
“Maybe.” He twisted a knob on the wall and stepped back, aiming his weapon at the widening hole as a section rolled aside, showing off a bike. “Best to be cautious. We get the occasional spidus trying to make itself a nest.”
Nothing jumped out.
She peered past him. “I only see one ride.”
The storage compartment didn’t have room for another bike. “That one’s mine. There’s another behind the panel beside you.”
He’d transported them here himself and had a heck of a time getting them down the shaft, but it was worth the effort. He didn’t offer to reveal the second bike or check the compartment for creatures. Roark knew enough by now that she’d get peeved if he offered or tried. He respected her independent streak. She took care of herself, and others. Much like he did.
Casey found the lever and twisted it. She held her knives ready as it slid open. He could have sworn she appeared disappointed in the lack of critters, but that didn’t last as she saw the second bike.
“Oh, this is nice,” she purred, running her hand over the frame, causing him to feel a spurt of jealousy.
They had matching rides, the bodies sleek and gray, the wheels rubber that could handle many surfaces and didn’t puncture, the rims lacking spokes. The nose sported a spout, stained with soot from the last time he used it.
“How’s it run?” she asked.
“Water. Meaning it’s noisy. Tanks should already be full, and there are places we’ll have to stop and fill up. Standard controls.” He wheeled his out. “Acceleration, brake, reverse.” He tapped the controls in turn. “Flame thrower.” He squeezed the lever on the handlebar lightly, and a flame shot out. “And if something gets too close to the sides.” He clicked a button and knives shot out of the wheels. “Just keep in mind they can only slice through flesh. Nothing harder or it will get caught and you will flip.”
“Oh, this is a pretty toy,” she murmured, still running her hands over the bike.
If only she’d look at him with half the interest. He glanced away. “We should get going. We’re about to lose our light.”
The lard only held a little lump and would go out in but a moment.
She straddled the bike. “Can you give me a rundown of what we can expect?”
“Tunnel after tunnel, but for our purpose, we’re going straight. Most of the side ones are sealed. Those that aren’t, I don’t recommend. Unless you see me veering, go straight. If you lose me, keeping going and I’ll find you.”
“Why would I lose you?”
The light flickered. “Because shit happens. And in case it does, when you get to the room with the walkway and waterfall, you’re going to want hang to the right-hand side, farthest from the water.”
“Is it dangerous?”
“Only if you get too close. So stick right. When we reach the webs, whoever is in the lead will have to use the flamethrower. If you’re behind me, try to not scorch my ass.”
“Webs as in spiders?” Her nose wrinkled.
“Kind of.” He didn’t elaborate but went on. “Then you’ve got a jump right after the phallus plant.”
“The what?”
Rather than explain, he hurried to finish as the last of the light flickered, triggering the headlamps on the bikes. “When you see the big plant shaped like a dick, get ready to fly. Then, unless
something has moved in, we’ll have smooth sailing for a few hours, although we’ll have to stop to recharge the bikes. Then a hard three-hour ride that will end with a sharp right at a T-intersection. Do not go left, unless you’ve settled your affairs.”
“Anything else?”
He smiled. “May the best rider win.”
“Best?” she repeated as she wheeled the bike into the hall and then twisted to close the compartment. “Don’t make this sound noble. I will cheat if I have to.”
“Then don’t be surprised if maybe I kept back a thing or two.” He winked and slung himself onto the bike. “Starting with, we have probably about five seconds to clear out before the charging bullticore comes to protect his territory.”
“The what?”
“Five, four…”
He knew it was still far enough away, but the noise and light would have roused it. The monster in this section was intentionally left alone just in case someone made it past the first set of locks.
Rather than ask more questions, Casey gunned the bike. The engine immediately growled. A squeal ripped from her as she sped down the hall, and he followed, leaning low, clinging to the handlebars, feeling the exhilarating rush. From behind, he heard a bellow.
Right on cue. But they were gone.
This part of the tunnel proved wide enough for them to ride side by side. A glance to the side showed Casey gripping the handlebars, expression intent. Knowing it would annoy her, he passed her and then waved as he pulled ahead.
The noise of the engine meant he couldn’t hear her, but he felt it. An amused feeling that she let seep past her shields. He didn’t probe further. He barely had any juice left inside him. His recovery was normal but still taking too long. He needed to recharge his internal battery, but he wasn’t in the right place to do that yet.
Casey zipped past him with a rude gesture, and it was on. They rode and raced for hours, taking turns passing each other, until he called a stop. He wanted to ensure they were refreshed before the next stint of their journey.
A ball of light illuminated yet another strategically placed lantern. He got off the bike and stretched.
She joined him with a smirk. “You don’t ride too badly for a city boy.”
At the half-compliment, he snorted. “Isn’t that the equivalent of me saying you’re pretty good for a girl?”
“I am better, actually. Most of the women I know aren’t interested in the things I’ve learned to do.”
“It’s said the ancient humans before the Fall were quite intent on ensuring men and women were equal in all ways.”
“Did they succeed?”
“I don’t know. The Fall hit, and things changed, but my theory is, in the long run, the experiment would have failed. No one is equal because everyone is different.”
“On that we can agree. I like fighting and things that make my adrenaline rush. But others, like Benny and Sally, prefer to take on a nurturing role. It’s not what’s between our legs that defines us, but what’s up here.”
He regarded her, the feeling inside him more than just admiration. “You’re a smart lady.”
She grimaced. “Ugh. You just had to ruin the moment.”
At that, he laughed.
The sleek bikes needed only water to run their engines. The rock basin fed by a trickle that rolled down the wall gave them enough to fill both their tanks. The canisters in their packs would only be used in an emergency.
Once refueling was done, she took off without waiting for him, leaning low and gunning the machine.
A warrior with no fear.
A mind he couldn’t read.
A woman he desired.
Was he doomed to make the same mistakes again?
Chapter 15
Casey gunned the machine, reveling in the strong purr of the engine. The initial need for speed had waned, and they now both rode in tandem, the darkness a deep unrelenting gloom broken only by the beams of light coming from their bikes. Given the light didn’t give them much advance visual notice, she could only hope there weren’t too many things to avoid. More than once she’d caught the glint of eyes and the scurry of a body as something hid.
At one point, she realized the tunnel had lightened. A gradually growing illumination, which turned out to be a vast chamber ringed in a narrow walkway that only allowed them to ride one at a time. He rode ahead of her, waggling the rear of his bike. Since she couldn’t pass, she slowed a touch and glanced across the open space.
The waterfall, true to its name, poured but not in the way gravity usually worked. It flowed upwards, splashing into the ceiling before falling down.
Not what she expected, especially since she saw wriggling bodies in that watery mass. She paused the bike, holding herself upright with one foot on the perforated flooring and looked more closely. Blinked.
She thought she saw…surely not. The shape in the torrent of water arched before it slammed into the ceiling. Visible for a moment was a lithe figure. Something impossible with the upper body of a female— breasts, pendulous and tipped with dark nipples—the lower of a fish. The scales were a glittering blue and matched the hair that whirled and revealed a face of horror. No nose, just two holes, wide staring eyes, and jagged teeth.
Another kind of Deviant, the truly changed kind, that reminded her of a ghoul. It ululated as it plummeted through the water, and she watched, wondering what lay at the bottom. Would the fall kill it?
Move.
The word hit her. A shout not out loud but against the shields in her head.
She frowned and glanced ahead at Roark, who had stopped and eyed her. His lips moved. Danger. He pointed.
Turning, she was in time to see many creatures rising up the reversed fall of water. From the torrent shot harpoons strung with a fibrous rope that pulled taut when it wrapped around the railing.
When the first of things began to swing across, she cursed and gunned the bike. “What the fuck!”
But she didn’t get a reply, as Roark, seeing her move, shot off, and she followed, holding the bike steady on the gangway that suddenly shook as bodies hit it. A glance showed the strange creatures pulling themselves with their arms after her, mouths wide open.
Of more concern were those that flung themselves ahead of her on the walkway, scurrying toward her. A press of a button released the knives in her wheels. She held tight and moved low as they aimed right for the creatures.
The goggles protected her eyes from the gore, but they also left her blind. The bike wobbled as she ripped them down to dangle around her neck. The sudden loss meant she had to squint to see against the air rushing past. The good news being no more monsters in front.
Roark shot into a side tunnel, and she followed. The roar of the water diminished, as did the light as they put space between them and the strange chamber.
Darkness fell but for their lights. She didn’t get an answer about those things until he stopped in a room lit by lichen clinging to the walls.
“Pretty,” she remarked, using the basin of water to rinse her goggles and her face. There wasn’t much she could do about the grime coating her clothes.
“Don’t lick it,” he advised.
“Wasn’t planning to. Care to explain what that was back there?”
“Sharkmers. Nasty critters. It’s why I told you to keep to the right.”
“What you should have said was don’t stop.”
“I thought that was obvious. But since it’s not, for the next little bit, I strongly advise you not to stop. Or slow down.”
They didn’t and went even faster when they came across the giant cock plant. It literally jutted from the floor with a swollen tip and a pair of balls at the base.
The bike soared over the chasm, and she had a moment to wonder what would happen if she fell, before they hit the other side and kept going.
The webs proved the next tricky bit, but their flamethrowers blasted a hole that ignited and expanded enough they could shoot through. She tried not to think t
oo hard about the spiders that came screeching from their cocoon burrows. Especially their strangely human faces.
She let him take the lead until they hit the T-section, where he paused. He sat straddling his bike and pointed to the right.
“Just keep going. Our destination is straight ahead.”
“How far?”
“Not very. But we can’t stay here. Go.” He waved her on.
Only as she passed him did she realize how strange that was. She slowed and gave a quick glance over her shoulder. Saw him sitting on his bike but with his hands stretched wide, a shimmer in the air around him, which only served to highlight the darkness looming behind. The shadow swooped down and enveloped Roark. For a moment her breathing stopped, and her heart stuttered.
What was he doing?
Move. Once more the silent urging came, and while a part of her wanted to return and help, she knew Roark acted to give her time to get past the danger, a menace she didn’t know how to fight.
She fired on the speed, racing through the tunnel alone in a dark that was barely speared by her headlamp. The root that appeared suddenly knocked her from the bike, but she didn’t hit the floor. The tree’s limb made sure of that. It speared down and wrapped around her, dragging her off her ride.
Casey let out a very un-Casey-like squeak.
Her bike engine died, and so did its light. It took her a moment to realize she wasn’t in pure darkness and a moment longer before she heard the sound of another bike.
Roark.
Dangling mid-air, she struggled against the root, only to have it tighten. The squeeze had her freezing, and the tendril loosened slightly. Both her arms were trapped by the lively appendage, meaning she couldn’t even get to a knife and cut it.
The light on his bike came into view before he did. As he neared, he slowed until he was right under her, making her realize the tendril was slowly dragging her higher.
He glanced up and smirked. “Did I forget to mention to watch out for the roots?”