by Maya Daniels
"Oh, my God…" her voice sounded horrified and faint.
Spiderwebs as thick as a curtain covered the tunnel in front of her. They were so thick she couldn't see anything through it. Her hands tightened around the wood. She had a feeling she wasn't far from her destination. Well, she hoped she was anyway. A cold sweat washed over her, but she fought the fear with everything she had. She would not cower.
"You are not human, dumbass. You have magic." Swallowing thickly, she tightened her hold on the broken piece of wood, fingers numb from her tight grip. "It's just a spider. You can stomp on it and kill the bugger."
Gingerly, she extended her arm and poked the spiderweb with the sharp, uneven end of the broken wood. When she pulled the stick back, the web stuck to it moved with it. Iris almost dropped it. The spiderweb shimmered as a wave of movement pulled on it, and Iris yanked the stick away. The hole she poked in it swayed in an invisible breeze, the stale stifling air around her proving there was no air flow around here. Not one she could feel in any case.
Fern's fear and anxiety battered her chest, and Iris straightened her shoulders. The sooner this was over, the faster she could find Fern. With that thought in mind, she swung the stick, hacking the web blocking her passage.
"I'll be damned if I let you stand in my way." Teeth clenched, she swung left and right until the stick was coated in the spiderweb and she had enough room to keep moving.
Lifting the lantern in front of her again, Iris took one step. And another. And yet another. Goosebumps covered her entire body when she passed the spiderweb, feeling like ghostly fingers touched her soul. Soon she was moving through the tunnel again, only this part didn't look anything like the first part.
A black, oil-like substance coated the rock, making the tunnel wall shine. She felt the sticky goo trying to take hold of her boots as she walked, but Iris had a feeling that she needed to keep moving. If she stopped, she might not be able to get going again. She sped up. She kept swinging the broken stick at every spiderweb she came across. The disturbance in the webs brought their owners crawling out of cracks in the rocks, making Iris's heart jackhammer in her chest.
"Stay away from me, you creepy little assholes." Her voice wobbled, and soon she was almost jogging, swinging the stick and dodging webs that stretched from one side to the other.
She tripped a few times over what looked like human skulls, but Iris was so focused on getting the hell out of there she thought her fear might be producing hallucinations. It was getting harder and harder to lift her legs to take each step. The oily substance coating and clinging to her boots made her feet heavy. If Iris was not bordering on hysteria to get away from the spiders that looked as big as her head and were increasing in numbers, she might've stopped to examine it. As things were, she pushed harder.
"Not. Today. Fuckers." Each panted word was punctuated with a swing of her stick.
Iris could feel their focus on her back-burning holes at the back of her head for destroying their webs. The tiny clicking noises of their pincers made an eerie sound that magnified as it bounced off the rocks. Pressure started building inside her chest, and for the first time, Iris welcomed the sensation. Her skin felt like it was on fire, making her stumble through spiderwebs that clung to her face and hair, but she kept moving. When the pressure became too much, she didn't stop. A blast of magic burst from her, and a resounding boom made her ears ring. Everything was bathed in shimmering purple for a long, suspended moment. The next, Iris broke out of the tunnel stumbling on the other side.
Whatever she expected to find; this wasn't it.
Her heart was trying to jump out through her throat, but the absurdity of what she saw made her slowly turn around and gape. It looked like a store ripped straight out of a fairytale. Jars and bottles with suspicious content were stacked neatly in holes made in the rocks surrounding the cavern. Figurines of different shapes and sizes were littered amongst them in varying stages of degeneration, from perfect, to cracked, to totally smashed.
Red mist, like dissipating fog, floated around them. It sparkled like glitter, looking both inviting and dangerous at the same time.
“Hello!” Iris called out, wondering if the owner of the voice was there hiding somewhere.
Her voice echoed, and she heard it multiple times coming from the different tunnels sprinkled between the natural shelves on the rocks. Still breathing heavily, her feet moved on their own, leading her to the closest alcove.
A shiver ran down her spine at the pieces of rats and other animals floating in the different colored liquids inside the jars. Bile rose in her throat and her eyes watered from the stench coming from them. Before she turned away, a small inconspicuous statue caught her eye. Iris sucked in a sharp breath and dropped the broken piece of wood. Her hand reached gingerly towards the figure. It looked exactly like the one she had in her ritual room back home. The one of Artemis. But that was impossible since Iris commissioned that piece from a local artist from her imagination. She had never seen it anywhere else, until now.
Slowly, her hand moved between the jars and bottles, careful not to touch anything else. The red mist parted, staying away from her skin, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Her stretched fingers barely grazed the statue.
“THAT’S NOT FOR YOU!” the voice boomed. Iris yanked her hand back, and an embarrassing high-pitched scream ripped from her throat.
“Oh, my God, you fucking asshole!” Gasping, Iris pressed a shaking hand to her chest to stop her heart from breaking her ribcage.
Her head whipped around, looking for the owner of the voice, but no one was there with her. She felt it in her bones that she was the only living being in the cavern. Holding her hand pressed against her chest, she squeezed the pole with the lantern in her other hand and turned away from the alcove with the statue.
“Okay, Iris. Since that moron scared the shit out of you, it means there is something here that is meant for you. You just have to find it.” She moved towards the next alcove closest to her, kicking the broken piece of wood that she dropped earlier.
Iris ignored it, her focus on the items in front of her. More jars and bottles, in better condition than the previous ones and thankfully devoid of animal parts, met her gaze. A couple of broken statues no bigger than the palm of her hand lay between them, but she didn’t feel the need to touch them. After a few moments, Iris moved on. She walked from one alcove to the next, her heart finally slowing down from its previous painfully fast thumps.
She was almost halfway through the cavern when she spotted a golden goblet. Colorful jewels blinked at her, reflecting the sparkle of the red mist swirling around it. Iris looked around first, making sure the asshole didn’t decide to show up, before reaching her hand between the jars. She didn’t get very far this time either.
“THAT’S NOT FOR YOU!” the voice boomed again, making her jump and stumble back.
Grinding her teeth, Iris stomped forward, looking at the rest of the objects from afar. Ever since she’d fallen through that hole in the rock, she’d been spooked enough to last her several lifetimes. She didn’t need the asshole scaring her again. Then she saw a necklace that sat inconspicuously all on its own. The red mist didn’t swirl around it. It floated close to it just like it did around her skin. Without thinking, Iris walked up to it and traced every detail with her gaze.
A simple metal chain was coiled up on the rock. The copper medallion attached to it had engraved swirls that looked more like some alien language than symbols. The longer she looked at it, the more it resembled a map of constellations pressed into the copper. Fainter lines twisted around them in the shape of human DNA. At the center of it sat a stone that she recognized. It covered the walls of the lake cavern. She’d assumed it was quartz. Now, Iris doubted her guess had been correct.
Forgetting all about the voice, the spiders, and everything else around her, she dropped the lantern, not blinking an eye at the loud clatter. Reaching with both hands, her fingers wrapped around the necklace and she picked i
t up. A blast of energy passed through her, and she gasped, but her fingers only tightened on the medallion.
“That was an intelligent choice.” The voice spoke at a reasonable level this time, but Iris ignored it.
“Yeah, a choice,” she said dryly, not looking away from the medallion. “I’m sure you would’ve let me know if it wasn’t right.”
“Isn’t this what you came here to find in the first place?” Curiosity laced the words, and with a lot of effort, Iris looked away from the medallion in her hands.
Her gaze landed on a well-defined sternum. Iris blinked multiple times, her mind unable to react fast enough. Confused, she lifted her head, tracing the bare torso with defined pecs and shoulders as broad as half of her body was long. Square jaw and thick lips quirked at the corners greeted her. A straight nose and sparkling white eyes with multiple black irises made the breath catch in her throat. Silver hair was tied up in a high ponytail, and few bands were wrapped at equal lengths through it. Arms as thick as tree trunks hung loosely at his sides and golden bands wrapped around his forearms.
“Who are you?” Iris said, barely above a whisper. She gulped, panic rising inside her like a tsunami.
He said a beautiful musical word, but it floated through her mind and disappeared before she could grasp it. The man, or whatever it was, looked at her expectantly. Her neck ached from staring up at him, so Iris took a few steps back to see him better without needing a neck brace for the effort. That made him frown.
“English.” Iris dragged the word slowly like he was stupid. “Do you have a name in English?”
“No.” Crossing the tree trunk arms over his chest, he watched her with disapproval.
Not wanting to lose the necklace, Iris looped it around her neck and covered the medallion with her hand when it settled between her breasts. She thrust her arm forward towards him.
“Iris.” She looked pointedly from her outstretched arm to him before lifting an eyebrow.
“What are you doing?” Still looking unhappy, he watched her like she had sprouted another head.
“Introducing myself, what does it look like I’m doing?” She blinked at him. “Don’t they have manners where you come from? Or have you been hanging around with the spiders for too long?”
“You are a strange creature.” Tilting his head, he studied her, so Iris dropped her hand.
“Okay…so…” Taking a deep breath, Iris prepared herself mentally for what she was about to say. “I’m here now, and I need to know the first secret.” Holding her breath, she stared at him unblinking.
Throwing his head back, the asshole laughed, his voice booming all around them. Iris ground her teeth and curled her hands into fists. She needed to get the hell out of there, and she needed to find Fern. Not necessarily in that order. She had no time to waste or a desire to hang out with this guy.
“You think you are worthy, little girl?” The white glow of his eyes intensified while he stared down at her.
“I am of the ancient line! It is my right to know.” Iris was freaking out internally and doing her best not to show it. She hoped that she was telling the truth, as this guy could break her in half one handed. If I die here, I’m going to haunt you for eternity, Ivy, she screamed inside her head.
“That you are.” Nodding twice, he seemed to be debating something.
Iris released the breath she was holding. “I guess Ivy was not full of shit after all. Go figure,” she murmured under her breath.
“What?”
“Never mind.” She waved a hand at him. “I talk to myself sometimes. So, about this secret?” She placed her hands on her hips, hoping she appeared relaxed and not like she was ready to bolt out of there.
“I will give you the secret.” His voice sounded excited, and Iris almost smiled. “After you make a sacrifice.”
Her lips froze and dread pooled in her stomach.
“Now, wait a minute!” Shaking her head, Iris inched away from him. “No one mentioned anything about a sacrifice. And before you say anything else–” Lifting her hand to stop him when he took a breath and opened his mouth, she looked at him boldly. “I’ll be damned if I give anything to you or anyone else just so you can tell me something that I can figure out on my own.”
“You will figure it out on your own?” His expression told Iris that he thought her ridiculous. “So many have given their lives for it, but you’ll find it yourself?”
“Yes!” she snapped at him, still inching away slowly.
“You are but a child. You need my help if you are to take your birthright. Greater men and women have died in their quest with nothing to show for it.”
His words gave her pause. Remembering the story Artemis told her about Lazarus and how he went insane, a shiver shook her body. Her mind spun with everything she knew and all that she didn’t. So many things hung in the air, and everyone was counting on her to do the right thing.
“How many of those before me were from the ancient bloodline?” Iris stopped moving away.
He frowned, confusion clear on his face. “None.”
“Aha!” Excitement bubbled up inside her, and she gave him a bright smile. “I’ll figure it out then. It’s not like you were there my whole life teaching me anything. I figured out my magic, and I’ll crack this bitch open too. Watch me!”
“You will not break that medallion!” His voice boomed so loud, Iris staggered on her feet.
“Yo! Asshole! It’s a figure of speech!” Watching him warily, she expected another burst of yelling, but he stood there, unmoving. “I’m not breaking anything. I meant I’ll figure out how this works. And thanks for pointing out how important the medallion is. I’ll start with that.”
“You will give your blood for binding, or you will not walk out of here alive, little girl.”
“Say what now?” Her anger finally made an appearance, and the medallion pulsed between her breasts, amplifying it. “The only thing I give blood to is my tampon. You don’t look like a tampon to me. So…”
Iris remembered the time she asked Raphael for blood so he could watch her ritual. The vampire had been smart not to agree, and she wasn’t stupid either. Iris had dabbled in blood magic a few times, but the results were always too intense and too binding, so she stayed away from it. If this idiot thought that he would be getting blood from her, he needed to think again.
A sound coming from one of the tunnels got her attention, but she didn’t react. It sounded like feet moving fast in their direction, and Iris prayed that Fern had finally found her. She might not be strong enough physically to fight the asshole glaring at her, but Fern could. That would give her enough time to blast him with magic. There was always safety in numbers.
The pounding footsteps grew louder, there was no mistaking it now. Someone was running in their direction, and her thumb moved from the tip of one finger to the next. The pressure started building in her chest. Iris expected the asshole to become alert, or even ready himself to attack. Instead, a wicked smile stretched his full lips, and his gaze twinkled in excitement.
Her breathing sped up as Iris debated if she should yell at the top of her lungs to alert Fern. The only thing stopping her was that she wasn’t sure that it was her mate coming down that tunnel. If the sleeping Fae had woken up, it could be some of them. Killing them would only help her, so she didn’t want to stand in the way. Iris shifted slightly so she could see the entrance of the tunnel from the corner of her eye while still having a visual on the being standing a few feet from her. His lower body was wrapped around in something that looked more like a shadow than fabric, but she couldn’t focus on it too long. Whoever was coming from that tunnel was almost upon them. Her thumb moved faster, and the pressure in her chest reached a level that made dark spots dance in front of her.
“I never said it had to be your blood,” the being said, softly freezing the blood in her veins a second before a blur of movement burst from the tunnel.
It took a second for Iris to notice the bare chest a
nd the long black hair floating around the face. He moved too fast. Her magic burst from her, the purple dome of protection missing him by an inch. The shimmering power swirled and circled, but it was too late. Dark tendrils shot from the being close to her, slicing at the moving Fae. One of the tendrils pierced his chest, and he dropped on the ground close to her feet, face down.
“FERN!” her scream was deafening, and Iris threw herself over his prone body.
Tears streamed down her face, blurring everything around her, sobs making her body tremble uncontrollably. Iris tried to turn him on his back, so she could at least look at his handsome face. Maybe he is still alive, she tried to lie to herself. Pain like she hadn’t ever known settled like a boulder on her chest, and she gasped for air between sobs.
“You are crying for one of them?” The asshole now standing over her and Fern looked confused. “They are beneath one such as you. His kind was made so we could replenish our power when needed. Nothing more.”
His words stopped the hysteria overtaking Iris. Like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over her, everything stopped. Her sobs disappeared, her body grew still, and all her focus now centered on him. The pain in her chest was still there. But when she stood up and moved away from Fern’s body, that too went away. Her fingers started moving again, and a tune she’d never heard before emerged her lips. Everything around Iris faded into the darkness like someone had turned off a light. The only thing she saw clearly was the creature that had taken the only person that mattered away from her.
When Iris moved, the being lost the confusion it displayed. His forehead scrunched up, and a look of shock and trepidation replaced it. He lifted his arms and turned his palms towards her, but the medallion burned brightly between her breasts. The shadow tendrils he sent her way recoiled from her, sinking back into him faster than Iris could blink.