Years of ritual served him well. Teacher fell into a trance light enough that he would not be taken unawares, but deep enough to allow the Shamonrae to refuel his depleted reserves. As the power flowed in, he directed a portion once more into his body, washing away the weariness from the fight and banishing the fatigue from his mind.
The silence of the cavern lent itself well to his regeneration. Only his steady breaths marked the passage of time. Bare minutes had passed before he felt capable of continuing. He affixed a small ball of summoned light to a stalactite and stood to examine his surroundings for the first time.
The place appeared to be a natural cavern; streams of water dribbling in sheets down the walls in channels that had been smoothed by the centuries. The water crossed the floor in wide fans of moisture, culminating in many wide pools that were spaced irregularly. Patches of moss and lichen glowing soft blue and green surrounded many of the pools like beaches. Smells of mildew and fungus permeated the air, overwhelming even the stink of the blood that covered Teacher and the crushed bodies of the monsters.
Teacher made his way around the cave, inspecting each crevice as he passed. The drier nooks were free of the glowing plant life. He assumed it was from within these oubliettes that the monsters had issued.
Rylan had passed this way. He could feel a resonance of her passage, but the source of her self was further on, toward the deeper pits. Despite the fact that she was not here, he heaved a sigh of relief. It was easy to imagine her small body pierced and twisted by the things he had slain.
A wisp of clean air touched his face as he followed Rylan’s trail to a fissure that was barely half the width of his own shoulders. The light illuminated rough stone walls on both sides that zigzagged back into the darkness, quickly obscuring what lay beyond.
Teacher summoned the light from the ceiling to a position just behind and above his head and dimmed its radiance to cast light a mere handful of feet ahead of him. He focused his mind and stepped into the narrow pass.
As he worked his way further into the winding crevasse, he became aware of a deep thrum. The falls, he thought, continuing to pick his way carefully forward. The vibration was comforting, in a way. The earth had a steady patience that cared not for him or his intent. He could live, or die screaming, but the stones around him would stand regardless. Now, at least, he could guess as to which direction he traveled, and the increasing vibrations affirmed that he had not stepped outside of time. How dwarves could stand making their homes within the confines of rock, he would never understand.
The wall to his right disappeared after what he thought was yet another bend became an opening to another cavern. He dismissed the softly glowing bulb behind him and waited in the blackness, listening intently.
The thrumming of the falls sounded different here. An occasional plonk of water dripping into a pool was the only other noise that broke the stillness.
As his pupils dilated in the darkness of the cave, he became aware of a light source. Teacher moved quietly to peek around the jagged corner and scan the interior of this next pocket.
The space he entered was roughly the same size and shape of the first cavern. Daylight streamed down through irregular holes in the ceiling, and the sound of the falls emanated from these portals to the world above. Directly across the cave was an opening, much larger than the split of rock face he hid in now. Before him, illuminated by the light, was a glistening mound of what appeared to be webbing. The source of the webbing was not apparent. If more monsters lay in wait for him, he could not discern them, even with his eyes straining.
When he had pushed the limits of his natural senses, Teacher focused his will, manipulating the power within him and probing forward, but he found nothing. If there were creatures here, or other practitioners, they were able to cloak themselves against his searching. The only sign of life was the echo of the falls far above.
Teacher stepped into the open and moved toward the glistening mound.
The hillock of webs was perhaps ten feet long and six wide, with two distinct cylindrical shapes distorting its surface, oriented parallel to each other. Each of the shapes was about the size of a full-grown person.
Teacher stretched forward with his senses to probe along the shapes and flinched in surprise.
The casing webs provided the same lifeless vibe that his shield did while entering Dausos, protecting the living matter inside.
Not food for the monsters, but prisoners, he thought excitedly. Teacher focused his will into a scalpel of power and began carefully slicing away thick strands of webbing that were about the width of his thumb.
The webs seemed to resist him, the negative nature of their emanations blunting his efforts to free the prisoner below. He shifted his focus until his knife of power began to cut away the strands.
The wrappings suddenly parted as if they had been under some force from the inside.
Teacher leapt back with hands raised, ready to rain destruction upon whatever came forth, but only the thrum of the falls disturbed the peace of the grotto. He edged forward and caught his breath in shock. Not the daughter… The mother!
Sacha’s beautiful face was composed, as though she were sleeping, and he could see her breast rising and falling with even breath.
“By Eos,” he whispered in shock. “How can this be?”
Caution forgotten, he scrambled up beside her and reached in to pull her free of the sticky, organic casket. Her presence here could not be a coincidence. Whoever was behind these abductions had to have knowledge of the ancient texts held at the Monastery. Why else would they target her and her child?
A moan escaped Sacha’s lips as he pulled her into a sitting position. Her head lolled from side to side before her eyes began to flutter open. The sapphire-blue eyes of the Moridin family were unfocused and slid from his face.
Teacher sent a tendril of power into his pupil, searching for signs of injury, but finding found none.
Sacha’s eyes blinked several times, and she focused on his face. Her mouth worked soundlessly and she attempted to speak but stopped to swallow audibly before finally croaking out, “Teacher?”
“Yes, my pupil,” he said, still amazed to have found her here. “You are safe now.”
Sacha looked around slowly, confusion still painting her face. “But where am I?”
“Do not concern yourself with that now, my pupil.” Teacher looked over at the other cocoon. “Was there someone with you when you were... taken?”
“I…” She hesitated, but some of the confusion seemed to leave as she knitted her brow in concentration. “I remember. Erik. One of the Basinian emissaries.”
“I see.” He scooped his arms under her legs and shoulders and lifted her from the webbing. “We must leave, quickly.”
“Leave?” she asked, eyes widening. “But what of Erik? He saved my life.”
Teacher shook his head. “I’m sorry, I cannot help him. I hope you can forgive me.” He began walking toward the larger passage, where the sound of the falls drifted into the cave. As she shook her head and protested weakly about Erik, he thought, I hope you can forgive me, for leaving your daughter.
Sacha felt helpless in Teacher’s arms. She wanted to scream at him to stop—to rescue Erik, too, but she had no strength and it was hard to focus. She leaned her head into her mentor’s bare chest and tried to think. His lack of clothing confused her, but in the face of all that had happened it seemed a trivial matter. She could remember being pulled into the jungle and then... this: Teacher picking her up, and now they were leaving. Leaving Erik.
Teacher’s rapid stride stopped suddenly. A voice, low and powerful, cut through her delirium. “Impressive. I had not expected you to find me so soon.”
Sacha lifted her head to look in the direction of the voice. Her eyes had trouble focusing, but even so, she could tell the man standing before them was extremely pale. He wore dark robes that seemed to blend together with the long, black hair that draped over his shoulders. Standing
next to him was a small child, holding his hand.
“Release the girl, conjurer,” Teacher said as he lowered Sacha to the ground. “There is much suffering you have to answer for.”
The pale man’s haunting laugher dragged across the cold chamber. “You mistake me, wizard. I do not practice the art of Shamonrae as you do.”
“Your aberrant use of power is no mystery to me, conjurer,” Teacher said, almost spitting in rage.
Sacha blinked the haziness from her eyes. She had never heard true anger in Teacher’s voice before. It was strange to hear it now. She peered up at him from her position on the floor.
The muscles in his jaw stood out as his teeth ground together. His dark eyes were focused intently on the pale stranger, and his brows had come together in a look of fury.
The pale man shook his head. “It doesn’t matter what you believe me to be. What is relevant is the use I have for you.”
“Let. The child. Go.” Teacher commanded, again focusing on the young girl.
The skin along Sacha’s arms prickled as she felt the power of the Shamonrae flow into Teacher.
The tall, pale man ignored Teacher’s command. “Princess.” He inclined his head to Sacha. “I believe introductions are in order.” In the shadows of the cave, it seemed to her that the whites of his eyes began to fill with shadow as he spoke. “It has been some time, but I’m sure you will recognize your daughter.”
Sacha tore her eyes from the stranger and focused on the little girl standing beside him.
Her hair was raven black and straight like a sheet of silk. Soft features framed her little pink lips and boxy nose. Renee’s face leapt from all of those traits, but then their eyes met, and Sacha saw herself in the crystal blue eyes that shone with fear. Oh, Eos.
Sacha attempted to stand, but her legs betrayed her and she fell heavily to the floor. Tears ran down her face freely as she began to crawl to her daughter. “Rylan.” She gasped as she crawled, “Baby, it’s me. It’s your mother.”
“Sacha!” Teacher yelled.
She didn’t stop moving. Her little girl was right there. So close. She was so, close.
The pale man knelt down and whispered into Rylan’s ear. She shrugged her tiny shoulders under the velvety red gown she wore. The dark-robed stranger released Rylan’s hand and gestured toward Sacha.
Sacha tried to summon the Shamonrae. Desperately, she tried, but she was too weak, her mind too clouded. She wept from frustration and fear but continued to crawl.
Rylan’s first steps were hesitant and she stopped, looking back at the pale man. He nodded to her as he stood. She turned back to Sacha and began to run.
Sacha raised to her knees and embraced Rylan as the little girl crashed into her. She squeezed her daughter, crying out in incoherent joy. “My baby,” she whispered, “I’m so sorry.”
Teacher stepped up beside the pair, his attention still focused on the smiling stranger. “There are consequences for the things you have done.” His hands began to glow bright blue, and tiny veins of electricity danced across his skin.
The pale man spread his hands. “I surrender to your mercy.”
Teacher blinked with surprise. “You wha—”
A sound like shattering glass filled the room, and the dark-robed man was suddenly standing next to their trio. Shards of some previously invisible barrier rained down around them.
Sacha hadn’t seen him cross the intervening space, but now his long, white fingers were wrapped around Teacher’s throat. The face that had seemed alien but impassive had distorted into a mask of pure evil. Fangs several inches long protruded from his mouth, and his eyes had turned completely red.
She gasped and held Rylan closer to her.
“Obey me,” the creature growled.
Teacher choked as the syllables of the words hit him like twin hammers. He jerked twice, and then his struggles ceased. By the time the echoes of that haunting voice had faded, his hands had fallen to his sides. His eyes, so kindly and wise, were now unfocused and stared straight at the robed figure with no hint of resistance remaining.
Sacha felt the Shamonrae drain away from him in a rush. “What have you done?!” she screamed in horror.
The creature did not look away from its study of Teacher when he answered, “Calm yourself. You are scaring the child.”
Sacha looked at her daughter. Rylan did indeed appear to be terrified; her blue eyes were filled with tears and her tiny face was pale. Sacha reflexively stroked her daughter’s hair and spoke softly. “Shhh, baby, it will be all right.”
Will it be? Sacha reeled internally from the casual way this man had overwhelmed her mentor’s mind. Still stroking Rylan’s hair, she closed her eyes and reached for the Shamonrae. If she could just use the power, she might be able to surprise the thing and escape. The power was there, but exhaustion and fear warred against her control and it skittered away from her grasp yet again.
Cursing, she opened her eyes and found the creature squatting just in front of her. Its features had changed and he was once again the pale man she had first seen, except for the eyes. They had gone solid black and stared at her.
Sacha’s breath caught in her throat. “Don’t hurt my child. Please.”
“That is entirely up to you,” it replied. “I require servitude. Obedience.”
She worked her throat, trying to generate enough moisture to speak. “What do you mean?”
“You will do as I ask, in all things.” Its head tilted toward Rylan. “Or your child will suffer the consequences.” The pale thing stood suddenly and backed away but continued to regard her steadily.
The sound of armored boots echoing from the passage drew her attention, and she turned just enough to be able to see the opening. A dozen men wearing the green mail of Basinian soldiers marched into the cavern. They were followed closely by several women who could only be handmaidens. The women were dressed in similar shades. All of them had the same dull-eyed look Teacher still wore. Her mentor now looked at her and Rylan as well, his face slack and uncaring.
Dread crawled up from Sacha’s bowels. “No,” she whispered, shaking her head and edging herself and Rylan away from the women.
“Take the child,” the pale creature commanded. Two of the women moved forward toward Sacha and her huddling daughter.
Rylan’s little hands grasped desperately at Sacha’s clothes. “Mama.”
The first words she had ever heard from her daughter shook Sacha to her very core. Burning fury flashed through her like a raging wildfire. She had endured so much pain the first time her daughter had been taken from her. To face it again… Too much, it was too much. “You,” she snarled through clenched teeth, “will. Not!” She reached for her power again. This time, her will surged like a battering ram and the last remnants of the fractured shield that had stood between her and the Shamonrae shattered to pieces.
Power flowed into her, filling her mind and washing away her exhaustion. Sacha came to her feet, clutching Rylan in her arms. “You will not take my child!” she roared.
The Shamonrae bent to her will. It was easy. It was natural. It was glorious. Power flowed from her in a wave, and two of the handmaidens erupted into flames. They shrieked as they collapsed, but Sacha had moved on. Hurricane flows of the power crashed into the soldiers and remaining women, throwing them like ragdolls into the walls.
The pale creature arched his brow in surprise as his minions died around him. It walked unhurriedly toward her.
Sacha screamed with rage. Torrents of blazing energy erupted in a fan around her. This thing would not take her child. Gathering all of her power, all of her emotion, she released her fury at the monster.
A bolt of lightning, the thickness of a winewood sapling, struck the pale man directly in the chest. The creature flew backward across the room and slammed into the stone wall with such force that cracks spread from his point of impact and loose stones fell to the floor. The creature slid from the wall to land motionless amongst the rubble.
Sacha’s vision blurred and she fell to her knees. Not again! This time, the thought was not for the child, but for losing the Shamonrae in fury. She writhed in the throes of the nausea and pain that wracked her, but she knew it would pass. She reached for Rylan with a trembling hand.
Rylan cried out and lay down beside her, wrapping her little arms around Sacha’s neck.
Sacha tried to speak but she could not. Every inch of her body ached and she fought to stay conscious. If they were to escape, she had to stay awake. At least, she thought, I killed it. She managed to lift her head from the stone floor enough to peer across the cavern.
It was gone.
The dread she had fought off earlier came crashing back. Her stomach rolled with nausea and she pushed Rylan aside before emptying her insides on the floor. Surely it had to be dead. Sacha scrubbed at her eyes with the back of one hand and cast about desperately for the thing’s corpse.
“Perhaps it is time I introduced myself,” the smooth voice of the pale creature echoed, directionless, from the walls of the cavern. “I am Vinnicus, your new master.”
Sacha’s insides twisted again and she would have wept at hearing the voice if not for Rylan. She had to remain strong. Rylan clutched at her and whimpered quietly. Sacha struggled to a sitting position and drew the girl to her breast while scanning the cave for the thing that had named itself Vinnicus.
A shadow beyond one of the beams of light that filtered down from the ceiling resolved itself into the tall, cloaked form. When it stepped into the light, she could see that the black robes were tattered, and the body trailed tendrils of smoke.
Sacha thrust Rylan behind her back. “I will not let you take my child.”
Vinnicus stopped just in front of Sacha. “You have no say in the matter.” His clawed hand reached down and wrapped around her throat.
His grip was cold and hard as iron. The pale fingers dug into her flesh as he lifted her until her toes just barely made contact with the floor. Rylan wailed and reached for her as she was lifted. The stare from those lifeless black eyes would stay in Sacha’s nightmares forever.
Dark Fate: The Gathering (The Dark Fate Chronicles Book 1) Page 48