Discipline (Omega Queen Series Book 1)

by W. J. May

  “What is it?” Evie whispered. It felt dangerous to speak too loudly in such a place, like tempting the fates. “What are you looking for?”

  Asher abandoned his pack and took hers, rifling through it with increased agitation. “The blood from the butcher’s,” he murmured. “I don’t know where we...”

  He trailed into silence, going pale.

  “What’s wrong?” Ellanden was on his feet a second later, sword drawn. “What do you see?”

  The vampire just shook his head, staring in horror into the shadows.

  “We never got the blood from the butcher’s,” he said slowly, running back through every second in his mind. “I paid for a gallon but...”

  ...but the lynch mob returned and we left.

  Evie pushed slowly to her feet, feeling as if the cavern had gone suddenly cold. “How long can you...” She trailed off, unwilling to finish. “I mean, you had some last night—”

  “He had a cup last night,” Ellanden interrupted quietly, staring at his best friend with an expression that was hard to describe. “You said yourself, it wouldn’t be enough...”

  Asher was breathing very quickly, staring into the darkness of the cavern instead of meeting his friends’ eyes. After a few long moments he took a breath then turned back, looking calm.

  “It will be fine. I’ve done this sort of thing before.”

  “When?” Evie demanded, in a voice much higher than her own. “When have you ever gone for this long without blood?”

  “With my father,” he answered calmly. “One of the times we went to visit the vampires, we got caught in a storm and couldn’t find anything for days. It’s difficult but not-not impossible.”

  Difficult but not impossible.

  Hardly reassuring.

  “We could go back,” Ellanden suggested softly. The others looked at him and he held up his hands. “I know what you’re thinking and that’s not why I’m saying it. But we don’t know how long this thing keeps going, and we’ve only been in here for a day. If there was ever a time to double back and get what we need, it’s now. Not tomorrow or the next day. But now.”

  Evie’s eyes shot back to the vampire, making a careful study of his face.

  “What do you think? Honestly, Asher. Because, no offense, it’s not your life you’re risking if you get it wrong. It’s one of ours.”

  ...it’s Ellanden’s.

  Growing up, the children had heard stories about the impossible temptation of the blood of a fae. There had been once or twice that a younger version of Asher had a hard time with it. Times when they were playing and the prince would cut a hand, or scrape a knee. A frightening look would fill the vampire’s eyes as they zeroed in with chilling intensity.

  Each time he’d turned on his heel in the opposite direction.

  But that was over a decade ago. After so many years, the vampire’s control had surpassed even his father’s. He and the prince had learned to fight together, gone on hunts together, spilled blood together many times. It had never been a problem.

  But it might be a problem now.

  Without seeming to think about it, he shot an instinctual look at the fae. His skin was ghostly white in the darkness and the torchlight flickered in his eyes. For a split second, he was on the verge of denying everything and reaffirming he’d be fine. Then Ellanden met his gaze.

  “We should go back,” he said quietly. “I’m sorry, but...we should go back.”

  The others nodded quickly, relieved beyond measure. Truth be told, the fae was no longer the only one who thought it was a bad idea to come into the mine. The further they toiled into the shadows, the more it felt like they’d never be coming back.

  “All right,” Evie agreed, nodding her head quickly and scarfing down the rest of the bread. “Then let’s just pack these things up and—”

  There was a violent rumbling from somewhere beneath her. A tremor so deep in the earth that it shook the rock they were sitting on—sending them flying into the air.

  “Earthquake!” Ellanden shouted. “Get down!”

  No sooner had he spoken than there was a creak above them, and those mighty stalactites hanging from the roof of the cavern began to fall. The princess let out a scream as one crashed to the ground very near to where she was lying, hitting the ground with such force it cracked the stone.

  “Look out!” someone cried.

  Evie couldn’t see who’d spoken through the clouds of dust. She could barely hear them over the deafening roar of rock colliding into rock, as what felt like the entire cavern came down.

  There was another cry and she whipped around, but the instant she turned she was struck across the forehead. She felt herself falling. Felt a rush of air on her face. Then the world went black.

  WHEN THE PRINCESS FINALLY came to, however long later, it was eerily quiet. As if she’d awoken underwater, or someone had cupped their hands over her ears. She breathed slowly, willing herself to come out of it, and eventually managed to pry open her eyes.

  Big mistake.

  If she’d been hoping that a cave collapse would open a hole in the ceiling, letting them climb out of the cavern, or at the very least give them a little light, she was terribly wrong. If anything, the rock seemed to have fused together, creating a sea of darkness where there should have been stars.

  She tried to say something, but her throat felt like she’d swallowed a bucket of dust. She tried to sit up, but it felt like one of those great stalactites was lying on her head. A ripple of panic shot through her and she let out a little whimper. Immediately, a face floated into view.

  “Hey...how are you feeling?”

  She blinked up slowly, recognizing him at once but trying to recall his name.

  “...Asher?”

  His lips twitched in a smile. “I’m afraid so. You were out for a long time, Evie. We were starting to get worried you weren’t going to wake up.”

  We?

  “Ellanden’s okay?” she croaked, trying to shift herself higher. “You’re okay?”

  Cool hands caught her immediately and carefully lay her back on the ground.

  “Hey, hey—easy. That’s a nasty cut you’ve got on your head.” He brushed back her messy hair, trailing his fingers gently across her face. “We’re both fine. Just some cuts and bruises.”

  It was coming back to her now. The rocks crashing into one another. The ground shaking beneath her feet. Something had smashed into her head. But after that?

  You were out for a long time...

  She looked up suddenly, wondering why they were still under ground.

  “What happened? How come we’re not—”

  “The tunnel is sealed shut,” Asher said quietly. “We tried moving the rock for a few hours, but there was no way to get through. We decided to keep moving forward instead.”

  The princess lifted her head a few inches, staring around at the shadowy pillars of rock. It wasn’t any place that she recognized; though, admittedly, it all looked pretty much the same.

  “How long was I out?” she asked, leaning her full weight into his arms as he helped lift her to an upright position. The world swayed dizzily and she held onto his hand. “A few hours—”

  “Two days.”

  Her mouth fell open as she stared up at him.

  “Two days?!”

  A strange expression flickered across his face as his fingers tightened around her own. “Like I said,” he answered softly, “we were afraid you weren’t going to wake up.”

  She absorbed this for a moment, then tensed with a start. “What happened to your hands?”

  Even in the flickering torchlight, she saw the blood smeared across his knuckles. Judging by the bruises on his fingers, she’d be surprised if he didn’t have a few breaks.

  He glanced down, then shook his head quickly. “Nothing. Now, I know you probably don’t feel thirsty, but you need to drink—”

  “Evie?!”

  There was a movement in the shadows, and the next thing the pri
ncess knew Ellanden was flying towards her, pale as a sheet, dark shadows under each eye.

  “You’re awake!”

  Before she could pull in a breath, he was embracing her—knees planted on the stone as he gathered her up in his arms. His eyes closed as he tightened his grip, burying his face in her hair.

  “I thought we lost you,” he murmured, gripping the back of her head. “I thought you were never going to open your eyes.”

  Her body went limp as she tried to keep up, watching each of her best friends be overcome with two days’ worth of desperate emotion, while in her mind only a few moments had passed.

  When he finally released her, she forced a tight smile.

  “Well, you were right...we should never have come to the mine.”

  She expected a laugh, or at the very least a condescending smile—but the fae just stared at her with those same haunted eyes. Eyes that had been deprived of daylight for too long.

  “We’re going to find a way out of this,” he vowed. “You have my word.”

  A little chill ran up her spine and she nodded quickly, wondering just how dire their situation had become. Then Asher returned with a flask of water, giving his throat an awkward clearing.

  The fae moved aside immediately, resettling himself on Evie’s other side.

  “On that note—were you able to find anything?” Asher asked stiffly.

  Ellanden shook his head, looking abruptly tired. “Nothing. Each trail just ends or loops back to this same cavern.”

  “Even the one that—”

  “Yeah, I checked that one first.”

  Evie stared between them, growing more confused with each pass. Something strange was going on. The two men were avoiding each other’s eyes, even when they were speaking to one another. And at no point did they allow themselves to come closer than an arm’s length away.

  “Is everything okay?” she asked weakly.

  “Fine,” Ellanden answered immediately, leaning down to press a soft kiss to her forehead. “I don’t want you worrying about anything, all right? Just drink as much of that water as you can.”

  She again lifted the canteen to her lips, guided by Asher’s helping hand.

  “But shouldn’t we be saving it—”

  “Don’t worry about it,” the fae stressed again, flashing a tight smile. “You’ve skipped out on your rations for two days, remember? We’re ahead of the game.”

  She nodded quickly, doing her best to choke it down as an awkward silence fell over the camp. After a few uncomfortable moments, Asher suddenly got to his feet.

  “I’m going to double back the way we came, see if there’s anything we missed.” He paused a moment, then offered the canteen to the fae. “Could you...?”

  “Yes. Of course.”

  Ellanden took it just as awkwardly, snatching it with such speed it blew back the princess’ hair before leaning down beside her with that same reassuring smile. She gazed up at him, dizzy and confused, then opened her mouth to say goodbye to Asher—but the vampire was already gone.

  “What’s going on with you two?” she said directly, studying the fae’s dark eyes. “And don’t tell me it’s nothing. I’m concussed, not stupid.”

  He stroked her hair again, gazing down with a smile. “Sweetheart, you’re both.”

  She shoved away his hand with a grin, feeling her strength starting to return. “I’m serious—tell me.”

  His smile faltered for a split second as he held up the canteen.

  “Asher and I are fine. We’ve just been worried about you—that’s all.”

  She refused the water, staring at him with an appraising eye. “Did you two get into a fight? Is that what happened to his hands?”

  “His hands?” Ellanden stared a second in confusion, then his face cleared as he remembered the blood. “Oh, no. Not at all. His hands broke when he was digging you out.”

  THAT WAS THE LAST TIME the two friends spoke for a while. Evie was still having trouble making complete sentences, and Ellanden seemed to have nothing to say. Every now and then he’d glance wistfully at the ceiling of the cave, almost like he could see the forest waiting on the other side. Then he’d sigh quietly and turn his eyes away, staring into the endless chasm beyond.

  Every now and then he’d lift the canteen, forcing her to take another drink. Every now and then he’d dig around in his pack before he emerged with a strip of dried meat or a biscuit.

  She felt quite sure that she had to be eating his share as well, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer. If ever she tried to refuse, he’d simply pry open her mouth and stick it inside.

  After what seemed like an eternity, Asher finally returned.

  “You were right,” he said shortly. “Everything leads back to the cave.”

  A flash of impatience shot through the fae’s eyes.

  “Like I said.”

  “What leads back to the cave?” Evie asked, hoisting herself higher. “What are you guys talking about—where have you been all day?”

  Asher smiled sadly. “It’s actually night. Or at least, we think it is. It’s hard to keep track down here.”

  The princess raised her eyebrows expectantly. “That’s fascinating. Now what—”

  “We’ve been walking in a straight line for two days,” Ellanden interrupted, “but we came to a sort of...impasse when we reached this cavern. Since then, we’ve been checking all the trails that lead in or out—seeing if there’s a different way forward.”

  Evie nodded slowly, glancing between them. “And there’s not?”

  The men actually exchanged a quick look before Asher shook his head in defeat.

  “Everything just leads back here.”

  She nodded again as the fog in her mind started to clear.

  “So what’s this big impasse?” she asked briskly. “Is it another cave-in? More rocks?”

  The man stiffened at the same time, looking abruptly uncomfortable. Neither one looked willing to answer the question, but Ellanden was sitting closer and she yanked on his hair.

  “Stop treating me like I’m a child! I got hit over the head—that’s all. And I’m awake now, so for seven hells could someone please tell me what’s going on!”

  He paused, then glanced at Asher—who nodded slowly.

  “The tunnel that goes forward isn’t full of rocks...it’s full of bones.”

  Chapter 15

  There aren’t too many things you can say with a thousand skeletons lying in your path.

  The princess lifted the torch at the tunnel’s entrance, staring in silence. When the boys had first told her what they’d found, she’d thought it was a good thing. It wasn’t like the tunnel was blocked, or broken, or otherwise unpassable. There were just bones. They could walk around bones.

  But now, staring into the tunnel, she was beginning to think they were right.

  “There isn’t another way?” she asked quietly. “Any other way?”

  Ellanden shook his head slowly, looking decidedly grim.

  “Everything else leads to this spot. We have to go through if we want to keep moving forward.” He hesitated for a moment. “And after the cave-in, there’s no going back.”

  Evie sucked in a silent breath, trying not to look at any particular skeleton too long.

  What could have killed them all? It wasn’t as if there’d been another earthquake. The floor of the tunnel was smooth and clear of debris. It wasn’t as if they’d simply starved, because until very recently there had been a clear path to the outside world not very far away.

  It was as if they’d all simply lay down and died.

  “Maybe they couldn’t breathe,” Asher said quietly. “The air’s already weak down here. So many people fighting for what oxygen there was...maybe they just asphyxiated.”

  Evie was hopeful, though Ellanden didn’t look convinced.

  “The tunnel was clear until two days ago. Wouldn’t that have been enough?”

  The vampire opened his mouth to answer, then merely s
hook his head.

  “I don’t know.”

  With every passing second, their resolve was getting weaker. And with every passing second, they were running out of water and food. With the same burst of courage that had propelled her down into the tunnels in the first place, the princess took a wavering step forward.

  “Well come on, then. You guys can’t let me go all by myself.”

  With more than a little hesitation the three friends slowly made their way into the tunnel, moving at a glacial speed as they tried desperately to avoid stepping on anyone’s bones. Most of them looked like they’d been around for hundreds of years, but some of them were depressingly new. A few minutes in, Evie spotted a bit of clothing still attached to the chest of one. A little further down, another was still clutching a blade—the handle was fused between his fingers.

  That doesn’t look like asphyxiation. That looks like the bad end of a fight.

  The friends tried to keep moving, tried to avoid looking at anything straight on, but it was impossible. And the worst part wasn’t the skeletons themselves. It was their expression.

  Terror. Pure terror.

  Their hands were lifted in front of them. Their jaws were wide open. If the princess closed her eyes, she imagined she could hear the screams.

  “I can’t do this.” She said the words before she even thought them, lifting a trembling hand to cover her mouth. “I’m going to be sick.”

  Asher glanced over in concern but Ellanden swept her off her feet a moment later, carrying her lightly in his arms. Her cheeks flushed with shame, but she didn’t have the strength to face it on her own. Instead she buried her face in his shoulder, listening to the crunch beneath his shoes.

  They went on like that for another hour before the tunnel suddenly widened and the bones vanished completely. The air smelled different down here. And it was a few degrees warmer, as if they were steadily moving closer to some distant source of heat.