Destiny Series Boxed Set

by Bronwyn Leroux

  “From bad to worse,” Kayla muttered. “We have to go into that geyser to access the tunnel? What if it’s filled with water?”

  When Jaden didn’t answer, Kayla glared at him. But he wasn’t watching her. Engrossed in the tiny geyser, he stared at it until it spouted, then his eyes flew back to the actual geyser on the field behind them, repeating the process over and over. His lips moved, but Kayla couldn’t hear what he was saying. “Jaden?” No response. “Jaden!”

  This time, he held up a hand. Kayla drummed her fingers on her legs. After a few minutes, she rounded on Iri. “Any idea what he’s doing?”

  Iri shook her head. Pointing at Atu, she mouthed, “He’s doing it too.”

  Shocked, Kayla realized Iri was right. Not only was Atu’s head bouncing between the book and the geyser field, his lips moved the same as Jaden’s. Fear snaked through Kayla. Are the boys under some spell?

  She shrieked when Jaden and Atu shouted at the same time. “Three minutes!”

  Kayla’s gaze went to Iri who was just as stupefied. “What’s three minutes?”

  Jaden grinned. “The intervals between eruptions.”

  Wanting to throw something at him, Kayla fumed. “So what? It only proves there’s water in the tunnel. I might be wrong, but that tunnel leads under the field all the way back to the mountain—not a distance I think any of us can hold our breath for. And that’s not accounting for any increases in water temperature along the way!”

  Jaden cocked his head at her before taking her hand. His smile was gentle, his eyes crinkling around the corners in that charming way she loved. Kayla knew she was giving in to his coaxing. She rolled her eyes. “Okay, what am I missing?”

  Jaden pointed at his smart suit, then his aerolator dangling from the hood that hung off to one side. She felt like an idiot. Duh! Sven’s smart suit will protect us from any temperature extremes, and the aerolator can filter air from the water. We won’t have any problems breathing.

  “It would be better if water does fill the tunnel,” Jaden said.

  He lost Kayla again. “Why?”

  “Because there won’t be any spiders.”

  Pouting, Kayla countered. “Not unless Slurpy gave them a way to breathe underwater. Which, knowing him, is possible.”

  Jaden grimaced. “You just had to go there, didn’t you?”

  “Oh, that’s not all I’ve got. While the smart suit may protect most of our body, what about the exposed parts—wrists, hands, ankles, feet, and neck—where the smart suit doesn’t reach?”

  “The lotion we use for the cold can protect from heat too,” Atu interjected.

  Kayla turned. She had forgotten he and Iri were there. “It’s waterproof?”

  Atu nodded.

  “If there are no other obstacles then?” Jaden said, arching an eyebrow.

  Kayla sighed. “I just don’t want us going in there unprepared.”

  Jaden squeezed her hand. “You’re awesome to think of those things. But no matter how many problems we come up with before we go in there, I hate to say there’ll no doubt be at least one thing we didn’t consider.”

  “You’re right,” Kayla conceded.

  “But I did genuinely want to know if there was anything else anyone else,” he glanced at Iri and Atu, “might want to question before we venture in?”

  Silence as they contemplated possibilities. After a few minutes, Jaden said, “I think we’re about as ready as we will ever be. Let’s go tell our gliders the good news.”

  “They won’t like that they can’t come with us,” Kayla murmured.

  Taz ranted as Kayla had expected. Kayla waited the tirade out. It was the only way to deal with Taz when she was like this. Taz would not listen to reason if she thought the chosen course of action was likely to place Kayla in more danger than another option. Taz took a full ten minutes to slow down. Even then, Kayla had to give it another five minutes before she attempted speaking again.

  Putting a hand on Taz’s neck, she gazed into those angry eyes. Those angry, worried eyes. “I care about you too. I don’t plan to leave you in this world without me. If there was another way, a safer way, don’t you think we’d take it?”

  Taz’s eyes shone silver. “You’re sure we can’t use the mountain?”

  Kayla had to explain again about the two parts of the map and how using the mountain had been wrong the first time. There was no way they would risk it a second time. “Even if you think all the spiders are dead, there’s no guarantee some of them didn’t flee when they saw we outnumbered them.”

  Taz drew in a ragged breath. The sigh that escaped was heavy and resigned. “I really wish there was another way.”

  “Believe me, so do I. But the map is showing this is the route we need to take. Since the maps haven’t been wrong so far, we should follow them this time too.” Kayla didn’t add that even though the map showed this was their path, it didn’t mean there wouldn’t be danger. She just had to trust this path posed less danger than any alternatives they might’ve pursued.

  Taz guessed where her head was at. “Be careful.” They were the only words Taz could offer at this point.

  “We will.” Kayla reached up and planted a kiss on the soft fur along Taz’s neck. To say she was astounded when Taz dropped her head and wrapped her neck around Kayla’s shoulders to nuzzle her was an understatement. Kayla smiled and rubbed Taz’s ears. “I know, I’ll miss you just as much. You stay safe too. With the way things go on these missions, we might need a quick extraction at the end.”

  Taz nodded. “I’ll be tracking you with our link. We’ll be close at all times. Pop out of any openings along the way and wave to us if you can.”

  “We’ll do our best.”

  With one last nudge against Kayla’s shoulder, Taz lifted her head. Kayla stepped back and gave what she hoped was a reassuring smile. “See you on the other side.”

  “Make sure you do. Now, I assume you need a ride to that hole?”

  Kayla grinned. “Yes, please.”

  Taz smiled as she took to the air. “I’ll be back.”

  Aerial connecting seconds later, Kayla glanced behind her as the others followed. It was only the four of them. Before summoning their gliders, Jaden had told them he still had that feeling the others should remain in the area. Outside. Not in the tunnel with them. So they had agreed to keep their plans to themselves, their gliders, and Markov.

  Kayla shivered when he confessed he didn’t know why the others had to stay aboveground. Hopefully, nothing lethal would come of it. But the feelings Jaden had rarely yielded positive results. She prayed Taz would be alright.

  Taz glanced at Kayla over her shoulder. “Stop worrying about me.”

  “Like you should stop worrying about me?”

  Taz shook her head and turned her attention back toward the geyser. Minutes later, she dropped Kayla off with more warnings as she departed. Kayla watched her disappear into the sky, hoping it wouldn’t be the last time she saw her glider.

  As she waited for the others to dismount, Kayla observed the other riders and their gliders darting through the air above them, healed of the poisonous effects of the mist. Kayla was beyond glad Markov was leading them. Keeping him here instead of going into the tunnels with them had taken some convincing, but Jaden had conveyed the gravity of the request.

  Markov had eyed him for a long time before nodding his consent, telling them he would keep the air above them safe while they traversed the tunnel. He’d dispensed almost as many warnings as Han and Taz. Now, Markov’s glider lined up next to Taz and Han. If anyone could keep Taz safe, it was Markov.

  A tap on her arm brought her back.

  “Here you go,” Iri said, passing her a tube. “Atu said to cover every piece of exposed skin.”

  Iri rubbed the lotion over her neck. Kayla noticed Jaden and Atu were already doing the same. Taking the tube, Kayla squeezed a little onto her palm and followed their lead.

  It wasn’t long before lotion coated them. Just
as well it feels and smells good. It would’ve been nasty if it was sticky and smelly.

  She was tired of waiting. She wanted to get on with things. Apparently, Jaden did too. “Let’s go,” he said, activating his mask and aerolator. Without another word, he dropped into the hole.

  Kayla’s heart stopped when he did. She froze, expecting the geyser to spit him back out. But it wouldn’t. It had erupted only seconds ago. Kayla stiffened when Iri jumped in after Jaden. When Atu nudged her towards the hole, she still wasn’t ready. She glared at him, unsure whether he could even see her expression past her mask and aerolator.

  “We only have three minutes,” Atu said, prodding her again.

  Here goes nothing, Kayla thought, dropping in. Sudden panic consumed her when she fell into nothing. And fell. And fell. We should’ve checked the drop before we jumped! Are Jaden and Iri okay?

  Chapter Forty-Three

  It was pitch black in the hole. Kayla reached up to activate her goggle’s night vision. Her teeth smashed together, the impact jarring through her as she hit the water. Before she could curse, the water covered her. No discernible heat. Soft hissing from her aerolator. For a moment, she doubted it really would filter breathable air from the water. But then she took a deep breath and found air in the tube.

  Kayla finished activating her night vision. Her limbs jerked in the water when she spotted dark blobs close to her, but it was Jaden and Iri. Her heart stuttered back to its normal rhythm. Jaden gestured, and Kayla turned in time to find Atu right behind her.

  Jaden moved his aerolator aside long enough to speak. “Let’s get to the other end of this tunnel. Keep your eyes peeled for anything unusual.” Popping the aerolator back over his mouth, Jaden turned and swam away.

  It surprised Kaya the comms worked underwater. But considering Sven’s genius and that he’d made the suits and masks to withstand the elements, it would’ve been more unrealistic if the comms hadn’t worked.

  Scanning her surroundings, Kayla followed Jaden and Iri, Atu bringing up the rear. The water was remarkably clear, revealing a symmetrical tunnel. No narrow pieces to get stuck in. Or, at least, not as far as she could see. If they could believe the book’s generated image, it would stay that way.

  Stay that way it did, all the way to the end. There, the tunnel curved upward, its elevation rising steeply as the book had shown. Minutes later, Kayla’s head popped above the water. She remained where she was, studying the space and alert for threats. The others were doing likewise. None of them were eager to rush onward without establishing the associated risks first.

  The tunnel opened into a high cavern; the water ending where it lapped against a rocky shelf. The shelf extended backward, disappearing into blackness beyond—an ominous space at the opposite end.

  Something glinted on Kayla’s left, and she turned her head. The walls sparkled in the dim light, a result of crystals caught in the rock itself. The walls were intriguing. Ribbed, with subtle, smooth curves between hard ridges.

  Kayla spat her aerolator out. “It looks like a giant, sparkly worm burrowed through here and left half its skin behind.”

  Iri giggled, but Kayla’s comment didn’t amuse the boys.

  “Let’s hope it’s long dead,” Jaden muttered, wading forward until he reached the rocky shelf.

  Shrugging at Iri and then pulling a face at the boys’ backs that had Iri giggling again, Kayla followed Jaden out the water. Once Kayla was on the ledge, she realized it was also part of the tunnel; a flat part leading away from the water and deeper into the mountain.

  Iri loped out the water and abruptly stopped next to Kayla, going still. Kayla tensed. “What?”

  Iri sniffed the air. “It’s the same thing I smelled in the tunnel—right before the spiders appeared.”

  Four blades of blue light lit the air instantaneously. They waited, Kayla’s ears straining for any hint of skittering claws. Silence echoed back to them from the darkness beyond. They gave it a few more minutes.

  Jaden spoke, his voice soft. “Waiting here is getting us nowhere. We press on. But slowly. Be alert for spiders overhead.”

  Kayla could’ve done without that last piece of advice. Spiders weren’t her favorite creatures, and Slurpy’s abominations only made her hate them even more She followed Jaden’s lead, behind him this time. No way was Iri going to be protecting his back. If anything attacked Jaden, Kayla wanted the first shot at it.

  Unlike the tunnel higher in this mountain, fallen boulders littered this pathway. Some small, some large, each posing its own danger. Kayla was careful not to twist her ankle on the smaller ones rolling away under her feet even as she checked where she put her fingers when scrambling over the larger ones.

  Their progress was slow. Every little sound had them pausing to listen. Each fallen boulder that blocked their way was a potential threat. They scrutinized every dark space overhead. They’d only been in the tunnel for about fifteen minutes when Iri’s hand shot to Kayla’s shoulder.

  Kayla turned and noticed Iri’s frantic gesture—a chopping motion across her throat. Kayla tapped Jaden’s shoulder. He glanced at her before Iri’s hand motions drew his attention. Iri motioned they should go back the way they’d come.

  Iri only took them back far enough to allow them to whisper. “The smell just got worse. And there’s heat too.”

  Jaden scrubbed a hand over his face. “What do you think the heat means?”

  Iri shivered. “Combined with the smell, maybe a nest?”

  Kayla smothered her shriek. “A nest? You mean spider babies?”

  Iri’s eyes were wide as she nodded. “It’s the only thing I can think of that would generate so much heat.”

  Kayla braced herself. “Well, we’ve come this far. May as well see what the lion’s den holds.”

  Jaden nodded grimly, looking to Iri and Atu for consent before he said, “Let’s be smart about this. Proceed as though they could be around the very next corner. When we find them, if we’re outnumbered, we back up as quietly as we can and call for reinforcements. Okay?”

  When everyone murmured agreement, Jaden led the way. Kayla kept close, not wanting to be too far away in case he stumbled into the nest. None of them knew what to expect. What will a nest look like for these spiders? Eggs in a sling overhead? Trapdoors made of steel threads covering holes stuffed with eggs? Will they even be eggs or a gazillion baby spiders? Kayla shivered, trying to wriggle free of the thought.

  Shaking off her imaginings, Kayla concentrated on what she could control. Keeping quiet. Protecting Jaden’s back. Putting one foot in front of the other. The closer they got, the hotter the air became, until it was almost suffocating.

  Just when Kayla was thinking she couldn’t take it anymore, they rounded a boulder larger than any of the others and almost fainted from the heat. What they saw was unexpected.

  A river of lava crawled across their path, wide enough they couldn’t jump across it. Hot enough Kayla didn’t think either their smart suits or Atu’s lotion would protect them if they tried wading through, assuming it was shallow enough. By the looks of it, it wasn’t. The lava boiled down, carving a path that seemed to reach all the way to the earth’s core.

  Involuntarily, Kayla’s feet stopped. She stared. There was something fascinating about the way the lava flowed. Fiery oranges rolling over cooler yellows, melding with spots white enough to incinerate you before you even knew you’d been burned alive. Now and then, a black rock, glowing red at its edges, would bob to the surface, thrust up by the molten rock flowing over it. It would linger on the surface for a short while, smoking and shrinking until it melted and the deadly river swallowed it.

  Kayla was so riveted by the lava flow, she almost didn’t hear Iri’s shouted warning. At the last second, it registered, and Kayla’s eyes snapped to her surroundings. She wanted to gag. Wanted to scream. Wanted to run. But this was not the time.

  On the other side of the boulder, hundreds of bulbous sacs glowed, a pearlescent mass glued between
the boulder and the wall of the tunnel. If the sacs were still, it would’ve been okay. But they were wiggling and jiggling as tiny spider claws sliced against the thin film keeping them inside. Thousands of teensy spiders began crawling out of the sacs, their millions of beady eyes on the four voyagers.

  Kayla was already reaching for Jaden, trying to pull him back down the tunnel. But he twisted out of her hands, running towards the lava flow instead. Nearing the edge of the scorching river, Jaden turned and grinned at her. Grinned at her! “Are you insane? What are you doing?”

  Jaden pointed to a spot overhead. “Provoking Mama Spider.”

  He didn’t wait for Kayla to answer. Raising his DD, he flicked his wrist, shooting a fatal bolt into the middle of the pearly sacs. Usually, the light accompanying the demise of Slurpy’s creatures was bright enough to make Kayla shield her eyes. Here in this black domain, it was blinding.

  Despite Sven’s dampeners, spots danced in front of Kayla’s eyes. The acrid smoke curling through the air didn’t help. Her eyes watered, and Kayla blinked rapidly. A high whistling sound forced her eyes open and Kayla peered past the dots still blotting her vision. Glimpsing something shiny overhead, she looked up—in time to see the horrid spider perched above the eggs shooting another strand of steel at Jaden.

  Kayla gaped, her gaze flying back to Jaden. But he was dancing around, avoiding the lethal projectiles. Dancing . . . the way he did on the arrowball court. Like he had that day they had first met. Kayla grinned. She knew how good he was at that game. Bounding over to him, she joined in.

  Jaden spared her a quick glance, his grin devilish. “You figured out what I was doing?”

  Kayla grinned, sure her face was just as maniacal as his. “Arrowball won’t be much fun after this.”

  Jaden’s laughter rolled out of him. He flicked another bolt of current at the emerging baby spiders while dodging a steel strand streaking his way. Kayla had time to check where it landed before releasing her own bolt. “Nice going, Jameson. Almost a bullseye.”