Ellowyn Found: An MM Vampire Trilogy Omnibus Edition Books 1 - 3

by Kayleigh Sky

  “Lower,” said Rune.

  He skipped over a dark spot, then brought the beam back. “What is that?” A half circle gap in the bottom of the wall. Like something a mouse or rat might make to get under a house. “We can’t get through it.”

  “No, but it’s there. It’s hollow, so it goes somewhere. I said before, this was a mine. They probably made smaller tunnels to move material, for air shafts, escape tun—” Rune cast a glance up and down the portal. “Unless this is the escape tunnel.”

  Camiel pressed closer. “But it’s connected to the portal.”

  “The portal collapsed. Maybe it wasn’t always connected.”

  Isaac gaped, horrified, when Rune crouched and stuck his hand into the hole. “I feel a draft.”

  Isaac played the light near his face. A smile curved Rune’s lips. He stood. “We’re looking for something midway up the wall. A place that’s sealed but not solid rock. We should have brought one of the shovels.”

  “I’ll get one,” said Uriah. “I can move faster alone.”

  Rune nodded. “Go.”

  Isaac moved the flashlight from wall to wall while Rune and Anin brushed their palms over the rock above their heads. White lines splintered across the walls. Streaks of gold clung to the rock like gilded tar.

  “What is that gold stuff?” Isaac asked.

  Rune followed the direction of his gaze. “Minerals.”

  They edged down the portal. The air grew colder, the scents harsher and more astringent, like herbs, all dried and mixed together. Isaac shivered, glad of his coat and his sturdy boots. Would they see houses like the ones in Pomariah? Stores and cafes and libraries?

  “Jessa grew up here?”

  “Jessa grew up in a castle with toys and servants.”

  Isaac’s mind reeled at that. Jesus, what did he know? Suddenly, it seemed he knew nothing. That everything around him was something he’d taken for granted, obvious things, but not all things, not the most important things. He was a dust mote lost in the dark.

  “Sire.”

  Isaac swung with Rune back to Anin who followed them. He brushed over the wall where it was pocked with tiny holes except in a square area about six feet off the ground.

  Isaac stepped closer. “What are those holes?”

  “Ghost shrimp,” said Rune. “You won’t see them in most of the cities, only closer to the surface where the caves and tunnels used to be underwater and turned swampy. The shrimp burrowed into the walls. The holes are trace fossils made thousands of years ago.”

  “But not here.” Anin ran his fingers along the shape of a square. It was indistinguishable from the wall except for the holes.

  “What if it’s solid rock? It could have fused together after all this time.”

  Camiel laughed. “My, you are a cheery young human.”

  “I’m stating the obvious.”

  “And it bites,” Camiel murmured, going to stand beside Anin. “I’m beginning to rethink my adventurous spirit. That’s not a very big space.”

  “You lived in Kolnadia,” said Rune.

  “And didn’t like it.”

  “Why not?” Isaac asked.

  “The ceiling was right over my head, and I was only ten at the time. I remember people ducking. Small spaces and always cramped. And cold, even though it was one of the deepest cities. This is balmy compared to Kolnadia.”

  “Your cities had pretty names,” said Isaac.

  Rune stared at him, a small smile on his lips. “Yes, they did.”

  Isaac sighed and leaned his back against the wall, but it was a few minutes later that Uriah trotted back up to them. Anin moved back and pointed. Without a word, Uriah dropped his pack and a shovel on the floor of the tunnel, swung another shovel into the air, and slammed the tip against the wall. It didn’t sink in, but it didn’t bounce back either.

  Uriah glanced at Rune. “Softer than it looks.”

  Rune nodded. “Yes, it’s sand for the most part. If it’s an offshoot tunnel, they would have only sealed it where it met this one.”

  Anin grabbed the other shovel and joined Uriah. They alternated jamming the shovels into the wall, gouging a divot that slowly began to crumble. Isaac turned to Rune, who stood with his head partially down, his gaze fixed on the space opening in front of him. Isaac wanted to flash the light on him to get a better look, but he kept it pointed toward Uriah and Anin, only shifting closer to Rune until he brushed against him. Rune jerked at Isaac’s touch and frowned at him.

  “Are you okay?” Isaac asked.

  “Of course,” he murmured.

  Maybe it was hard to be home. Isaac didn’t know. He guessed he’d been born in Comity but wasn’t sure. He had no real connections there, and familiarity wasn’t what made a place a home anyway. The manor had gotten close because of Marcus and Asa, but Marcus was gone, and Asa had Zev. That was part of why he’d left Senera Castle. Jessa had Otto. He bit his lip, annoyed at himself. Baby. You don’t have it so bad. It was obvious something was going on between Anin and Camiel, but neither one acted as if there was. Uriah barely tolerated Yair. Poor Yair. He wanted forgiveness.

  Something about that thought made him turn to Rune again. What’s inside of you?

  “We’re through!”

  Isaac whipped his gaze back to Uriah and Anin. Uriah stood on his toes, arm sinking into the open space they’d dug from the wall when Rune lunged over and dragged him back.

  “Careful. I’ll go.”

  Uriah shook his head. “You aren’t expendable, sire. Allow me.”

  “I’ll go,” Anin said.

  Camiel made a choked sound, and his arm jerked in Anin’s direction before he pulled it back, and a look of relief smoothed away the tension in his face. “There’s no danger.”

  Rune narrowed his eyes on him. “How do you know?”

  “I sense danger, but it isn’t here.”

  The minute the last words left his mouth, the ground rumbled and dust filled the air. Isaac gasped, choking, and flung an arm to the wall. Rune grabbed him, dragging him back against his chest. The dust thinned, and the ground settled.

  Camiel cackled. “Well, no danger if we survive.”

  “Fuck,” Uriah muttered, pushing himself away from the wall. “I hate earthquakes.”

  Anin had returned to the opening. Without a word, he gripped the bottom edge and hauled himself inside. Isaac glanced at Rune, whose gaze had gone distant, then pulled away and flashed his light on the spot where Anin had disappeared.

  Camiel leaned against the far wall, hugging his pack. Isaac joined him. “Can you see into the future?”

  He snorted. “Of course not.”

  “So you can’t see yourself with Anin.”

  Even in the dim light the roll of Camiel’s eyes was obvious. “Do I look like a one-vampire vampire?”

  “You look like you’re in love.”

  “Isaac,” said Camiel. “You’re a scrappy little fucker, aren’t you? Do you see a happy ending for yourself? With your king?”

  “You do,” Isaac murmured.

  Though he had no doubt that wasn’t true. He wasn’t going to have a happy ending. But he’d take contentment. He’d take a place in the manor with Rowena and Asa and a job he loved. That was more than he’d ever thought he’d get. It was more than his little room in Comity House. Not everybody had happiness because this was real life. Love didn’t always come the way it was supposed to. His fated had something more, something bigger than Isaac. He was a king with a destiny. Isaac was an ex blood whore. But inside him…

  He gazed back at Rune, who frowned at him from under his brows, the burn of his eyes glowing in the near dark.

  Words formed in Isaac’s head. I won’t stop you.

  No one can.

  And that was it. Destiny. How did a blood whore fit into destiny? He lowered his head, not raising it until Anin jumped back into the tunnel.

  “It drops onto rail tracks. The shaft descends.”

  Rune nodded. “You first. Is
aac, follow him.”

  A moment later, Isaac pushed his pack ahead of him and crawled into blackness.

  38

  Sameal’s Seat

  Unbelievable.

  Actual lights spilled from niches in the walls, and they rode in a train car. It glided downward along a pair of tracks. On level ground, they walked, Anin or Uriah pushing the car ahead of them.

  But the lights…

  They were luminous seawater green. As they descended, Isaac put his flashlight away. Sconces were carved into the walls, most of them dark, the lights long extinguished, but some still glowed. After a while, they stopped to eat, and Isaac wandered off to piss.

  Riding again, they descended at a faster clip, the wheels of the car clacking rhythmically. Rune tipped his head back, gaze on the ceiling speeding by. “We’ll stop and sleep soon.”

  He was smiling. So was Uriah.

  Isaac shrank under the low ceiling. “What time is it?”

  “Six minutes to doomsday,” came Camiel’s sullen mutter.

  Rune glared at him. “I didn’t invite you.”

  Camiel shrugged. “I admit my adventurousness got the better of me this time.”

  “It’s eleven,” Uriah said.

  Isaac’s eyes widened. “At night? We’ve been here for… almost fourteen hours.”

  “Time flies,” said Camiel.

  Uriah chuckled. “Well, we definitely are.”

  The car swung around a curve and gathered more speed. A few minutes later, the track leveled and the car slowed, and they rolled into an open space that had the same look of the maintenance room in the portal: tools hanging from pegs in the walls, coils of chain, empty cubbyholes.

  “Here,” said Rune.

  They climbed from the car, Camiel groaning and stretching, Anin’s gaze lingering for only a moment before he pointed behind them. “I’ll keep watch.”

  Uriah nodded.

  Using his pack for a pillow, Isaac closed his eyes. The ground cushioned him, as soft as a mattress. It emitted a fragrance like herbs or candles, but the air was utterly still. Surprised at the comfort, he opened his eyes and stared at the green rectangle of a narrow window. A weight surrounded him, nothing like open air. Where was he? He stirred as though to sit up when arms wrapped around him and warm lips pressed to the back of his neck.

  I dreamed of you being here with me. Of coming home.

  Home?

  He arched, twisting his neck, and Rune’s lips closed over his. His breath was as sweet as herbs. Isaac wound an arm around his neck and opened to his kiss, letting Rune’s hungry tongue plunge into his mouth. He swallowed, and Rune groaned.

  Yes.

  Isaac pulled his mouth away. I wanted you all my life. I would go with you anywhere.

  You came to me here.

  But where was here?

  Rune rose onto an elbow, and green light filled the space between them. It pushed shadows into the deep places between… furniture. A dresser. A mirror. A chair.

  Where are we?

  Senera Castle. On the lake.

  Rune’s hot body sank on top of him, and Isaac’s breath seeped in a blissful sigh.

  What a strange world. Mysteries and miracles everywhere.

  He dragged Rune down to him, kissing his face until he laughed and tangled his fingers in the long, wavy hair. He bit his lips and wrapped his legs around him. Rune groaned into his mouth again, and Isaac rocked into the finger at his hole. Slick and hot, it slipped inside. A faint panic stirred inside him until he remembered… We’re alone in a room in a castle.

  Rune’s finger tapped his sweet spot, and he jerked and shuddered. Oh god yes.

  No matter what happens, Rune murmured, it’s not because I don’t want you.

  Stop talking.

  The push of Rune’s cock into his hole sent sparks rolling through him like waves of light and fire. Thunder broke in his chest. He gasped and shook until Rune dragged him into his arms and cut off Isaac’s air in his embrace.

  I was afraid to bring you here…

  Isaac’s eyes snapped open as the ground lurched underneath him, and something fell beside him. A hand grabbed the top of his head, and a body covered him.

  “Holy fuck,” said Uriah.

  The ground stilled. Rocky ground, not a mattress. He released a shaky gasp. “What…?”

  “Earthquake.” Rune kissed his ear before pushing up. “Are you okay?”

  Isaac nodded. “Yeah.” He sat up.

  Camiel stood nearby, dusting off his jeans. “I don’t know about any of you, but I’ve had funner wakeup calls.”

  “We don’t need to hear about your exploits,” Uriah snapped.

  “Why not? I’m the king of exploits. I’m thinking of writing a memoir.”

  Anin laughed. “Cammy. You are hopeless.”

  “What?”

  “Looks like we’re walking.” Uriah pointed down the track.

  Rocks and one boulder now sat in the middle of the tunnel. The ceiling gaped as though somebody had scooped out a chunk of it.

  Isaac picked up his bag, and Rune gave him a faint frown. The dream still clung to him, so strangely real. If he ever saw Rune’s home he’d know it. Know where Rune had grown up. Where he’d dreamed of things that never happened. Endured the things that did. As Isaac had. But I’m not afraid.

  Rune’s eyes widened slightly, a smile twitching on his lips before he turned away. “Let’s go.”

  An hour later the tracks twisted and vanished as though sheared off in midair over a sinkhole. On the opposite side, the tunnel made a slow curve past a jagged incision in the wall. Chunks of rock littered the tracks and clung to the lip of the sinkhole. The incision was as wide as a door and emitted a faint gleam. Uriah flashed his light on it.

  “What is that?”

  Rune stepped to the edge of the tracks. “It’s not natural.”

  Isaac peered into the sinkhole. Nothing but blackness met his gaze, but the depth had a weight to it, an oily miasma.

  “This place is cursed,” Camiel said.

  Rune nodded. “Perhaps.”

  “We’re blocked.”

  Uriah’s flashlight played over the boulders and debris that cut off the rest of the tunnel.

  Rune glanced back. “Stay here. I want to see what that light is.”

  Isaac grabbed his arm. “You can’t.”

  Rune smiled. “The ledge is secure.”

  “What are you talking about? It’s a sinkhole.”

  “Let me,” said Anin.

  Camiel rolled his eyes. “Are you crazy? Stop being such a boy scout.”

  Anin chuckled. “I’m an enforcer.”

  But Rune shook his head. “Follow if you wish.”

  Isaac glanced at Uriah and Camiel. “I’m going too.”

  The ledge was as wide as a walkway and solid enough that Isaac’s pulse slowed, the trickle of sweat down his ribs growing cold. He didn’t want to turn back. Turning back meant a delay while they regrouped, and maybe the next time Rune would come up with a way to exclude him. A part of him suspected Rune didn’t need the map and was going on instinct and his memories of a place twisted and strange now. Pain echoed in the vampire’s body and made its way to Isaac’s.

  I will find you in the dark.

  A hollow thump echoed.

  Rune looked back. “It’s a door.”

  And it was open. Made of iron and wedged ajar enough for a dim light to seep through the chink. Rune turned sideways and slipped through. Anin followed him, Isaac behind. The light brightened, shining from thousands of stones in the rock. Isaac caught his breath. “Are those jewels?”

  Rune nodded. “And a lake.”

  He stood on the edge of another hole, this one the size of a football field. Uriah stepped around them and turned his flashlight downward. The beam bounced off rock until it spread over a mirror-like surface.

  Anin pointed in an angle across the hole. “There are steps over there.”

  Camiel snorted. “There are s
teps if you’re a mountain goat.”

  A steep outline of faint depressions inched up the rock face.

  Anin shook his head. “They aren’t natural. Too regular. They were used by people.”

  “This place is cursed,” Camiel said again. “Bad mojo as the humans say.”

  Rune grunted. “It was sealed, so maybe so, but it’s our only way through.”

  “If it goes through.”

  Rune flashed Camiel a smile. “Cheer up, Camiel. This is your adventure.”

  “Hardee har.”

  “It’s a long way down,” said Uriah. “I hope we can get back up if we have to.”

  Camiel snorted again. “Getting back up is my main goal in life.”

  “Cammy,” murmured Anin.

  “Oh, I’m just having some fun.” He sighed. “Who’s first?”

  Uriah stepped forward. “Me, this time.”

  “Cammy and Anin next,” said Rune. “I’ll follow Isaac.”

  The stairs started a quarter of a circle around the edge—a narrow edge, only once dipping deeper into the rock face. Isaac’s heart fluttered like a bird’s. “Is the lake deep?”

  Rune’s presence closed in on him like ropes holding him fast. “I don’t know. Keep your eyes on Anin. I’m right here.”

  The rock shone in the light, inky obsidian, edges pointed in bright silver. The lake didn’t look like a lake. It sank as dark as empty space. The silence was eerie, and Isaac’s ears rang as though desperate for a sound that wasn’t his heart thumping. Something red glowed in a crevice. As burning as eyes. He flashed to that awful moment in Comity House when Mateo lay dying on the floor, and a vampire had pinned Isaac in place with a stare as red as those glowing jewels. He’d been helpless. “Pity I have to drain you.”

  The light bearer.

  He gasped, his foot dropping low onto the first step. Rune grabbed his shoulders. He took another step onto the narrow, shallow steps. The glistening rock, though it appeared damp, gripped the soles of his boots.

  Isaac clasped Rune’s wrists and continued. Two… three… four…

  … fifty-seven… two hundred and seven… two hundred and seventy.

  He stepped onto a ledge that surrounded a lake like a pool surround. Pale white stones were embedded in it. But when Uriah pointed his flashlight on the wall opposite them, Isaac gasped.