by Maya Daniels
“I don’t know what your game is, Lucifer, but I’m not playing it,” I tell him stubbornly, crossing my arms over my chest with the lantern still, after everything, clutched in my hand. It’s not that I want to hold on to it. I can’t let go of it. So, here it is, still dangling. He looks over my head, flicks a wrist and I hear the puff of dust telling me one more monster is gone. That leaves only one to get rid of. A second later, he flicks his wrist again to my right and comes another puff sound.
“I can stand here and you can keep killing them,” I point out.
“Let us get in the caves, witch, but be warned, inside them, my powers don’t work. It’s warded to prevent the ones that are held there from using magick.”
“You mean I can’t use fire or water in there?”
“No, you cannot. I had to kill the two at the entrance with good old-fashioned breaking of the neck.”
“Great! Just what we need. And!!” I lift a finger in his face, “Wards or not, if you ever get your erection near me again, I’ll set it on fire! Just so you know.”
I storm down after those words and he follows behind, chuckling. I might send a fireball toward his crotch when all this is over, just because he thinks it’s funny to piss me off. Without waiting for him, I reach the entrance and walk in as if I have every right to be there.
13
After walking for a couple of minutes through a tunnel carved inside the mountain, with my feet sinking an inch into the sandy ground and with only the green eerie light of the lantern guiding me, I start to wonder how long will it be before I get noticed and how quickly will I be able to find the cells holding all the people I need to get out of here? I hope they’re close to each other. That would be perfect, but I don’t count on it, since throughout life, I’ve learned that every time I hope or expect something, I get disappointed. Don’t get me wrong. I couldn’t care less about my own expectations being met. I’m worried it’ll cost the life of the people that mean more to me than my own life. That’s something Remi has lived with through lifetimes thanks to me, and I was getting upset with her for being overprotective.
I concentrate on my breath as I walk because I need a calm and focused mind, not one that’s all over the place. That’s the only reason why I silence the mushy part of me that overthinks everything and I embrace the primal and cold part of me that walks with the lantern in hand. No emotions, just instinct. The eerie green glow creates creepy shadows on the rocky walls around me. Although I can’t hear Lucifer behind me I can feel him there, and looking back I can see his shadow mixing with the others on the walls.
“I don’t think we will be lucky enough to find them in one place, as much as I’m hoping for it, so we’ll split up if that’s the case,” I whisper, but I know he can hear me.
“I don’t think so,” is all he whispers back, as if there is no discussion to be had.
Well, he has another think coming if he thinks he has control of me. I have no problem bolting as soon as we find one of them so I can find the rest while he’s getting her out. Obviously, I keep my mouth shut and don’t tell him that. I’m also cockier because he said this place is warded so he can’t use his powers. In other words, even if he tries, he can’t read my mind. Eat that, sucker! I speed up my steps.
On the next bend I finally see more light, which tells me we’re almost at the cells, so I move closer to the walls of the tunnel, hoping it’ll give me the advantage in seeing what’s going on there before I step out. Lucifer follows my lead. Hidden in the depths of the tunnel, but close enough to look at the open area we’re about to enter, I stop and try to note as many details as I can. It’s huge, and although I can’t see the roof from where I’m standing, the silvery glow mixing with the eerie light means it’s open.
That brings another question to mind. Why the hell didn’t we go up there first to scout out the place? Rajah should’ve taken us there first. I hate it when I have to rely on others to do something, and this is one of the reasons why. No strategy or looking at the bigger picture, like they wear blinders. Most focus on the thing they need to do without considering other options. Too late to worry now. Rows and rows of cells are carved into the walls, one next to the other, and closed with metal bars painted with blood runes that look like they are alive. As I watch, they move, changing shapes and I can’t help but wonder how we are going to open the cells when we find them. I don’t see openings anywhere. Taking my eyes off the cells, I look around at where the cloaked monsters are positioned. If I know where they are, it will be easier to predict their movements when the time comes. There are so many of them here, I’m starting to think this might be a suicide mission. Taking a deep breath, I exhale very slowly. Lucifer squeezes my forearm gently in encouragement. I snort. I don’t need reassurance; I’m doing this no matter what. The middle of the open space is sloped like a dried-out pond, and in the middle of it there’s a post made out of wood and metal, just like the bars of the cells. I don’t need to guess what its use is, because the dirt around it is dark from blood, old and fresh alike. I shiver. Have they been hurt here? Are they in one of those cells bleeding and in pain while I’m standing here like an idiot looking around? I will find them, no matter what it takes. Then everyone responsible will pay the price for what they have gone through. Oh, Yes! They will pay very slowly, including for each misplaced hair on their heads. I feel my heart, still filled with all the anger, betrayal, and pain, thump loudly twice, as if rejoicing at the idea of revenge, before it returns to a normal heartbeat. I turn my head and look over my shoulder at Lucifer. He is so close behind me, I have to tilt my head back to look at him. It takes a second for him to look down at me.
“Ready?” I ask.
He watches me silently for a second, searching for something in my eyes, but I show nothing. I stare blankly back at him, waiting. He frowns slightly and I feel my heart thump twice loudly again. That’s weird. His eyebrows shoot up to his hairline and his eyes widen in surprise. I wonder if he heard that. I still have my poker face that shows nothing. A few more seconds pass and then he nods. That’s all I need. Turning around, I straighten my shoulders, pull the hood of the cloak down over my face as far as it will go and with sure steps, walk into the open space. It takes me a couple of steps to have clear eyesight, thanks to the darkness of the tunnel, but when it does, I notice to my right a cloaked monster walking around, checking the cells. I figure doing the same is our best option, so I start walking closer to the walls and stopping at each cell just like him. They walk in pairs, one with a lantern and one without, so I wonder if Lucifer knew this and that was why he didn’t get one. My trust in people went to shit, as I’m sure is obvious, so I question everything. My heart does the ‘thump, thump’ again. Great! I’m going to die of a heart attack just as I find them. That quickens my steps.
I expect to feel sorrow when I see the occupants of the cells. They are all women, curled up on the ground or in a corner, black and blue with caked blood on their bodies and dressed in rags, but I feel anger and detachment. All my brain accepts at each cell is it’s not them. As I pass more cells, I realize some are occupied with two to four women huddled together. It’s a good sign, but since they must have known I’d come eventually, they’d have to be stupid to put all three together. I’ll still have to look for Faith anyway. I keep walking with Lucifer’s quiet presence next to me. We near steps carved in stone that lead up to the next level of cells and I head straight for it. I get more anxious as time ticks by that someone will realize who we are before I get to see where my sisters are. Like he can feel my anxiety, Rajah hoots and I look up to see him circling above the opening in the mountain. With one more hoot he dives in and hovers around a couple of cells opposite me for a few seconds, before he bolts out of there and is disappears from sight. My heart jumps. I need to go there. Trying not to sprint there, I walk as fast as I think is acceptable, ignoring the groans, cries, and whispered comforts coming from the cells. Lucifer follows. In almost no time at all, we near where Rajah hov
ered so I slow down and stop first at the cells two doors down from where I want to go. I hope that if anyone’s watching, they won’t think it’s strange that I stop longer at the two cells that I need to check. I linger impatiently, focusing my effort not to fidget. After what seems like forever, I stop at the first of the indicated cells. I was expecting to see the same sight as in the rest, so you can imagine my surprise when something tries to hit my face and I take a quick step back to escape it, bumping right into Lucifer. He groans but I pay no attention. I’m staring, wide eyed, at what’s in front of me.
“That’s right, asshole, I’ll rip your face off if you come closer,” Remi says menacingly. “Get the fuck out of here before you end up like your buddy.”
Lucifer snorts. I imagine he is trying not to laugh, but my mouth is still hanging open and it takes me a second to snap out of the shock.
“Remi, stop yelling at me, you’ll get their attention,” I hiss when I get my wits back.
“Alexia?”
“No, Angelina Jolie. Are you disappointed?” I grin at her.
I still can’t believe she almost took my face off with the sharp stone in her hand. Trust Remi to go for the kill.
“Sap, is that you?” I hear the whisper from the cell next to Remi’s.
I give Remi one more look, which I doubt she saw since the
hood covers most of my face, and I walk over to see Jezzinta. At least Remi is standing, although she has bruises on her, from what I could see. When I step in front of the other cell, my stomach clenches. Jezzinta is sitting next to the bars with her back leaning on the wall. Her hair is matted with dried blood and dirt, her face is bruised and her skin is pale as a ghost. Her legs are stretched out in front of her and Meda is lying curled on the ground with her head in Jezzinta’s lap. Both of them are breathing shallowly.
“Jez,” I choke, “I’m going to get you out of here.”
“I know, Sap, I need to warn you, though. It’s Derik, sis. He fooled us all. He’s the high priest here,” she says with tears in her green eyes.
“I know. I’ll deal with that later. Let’s get you out of here.” My chest tightens and I feel the ‘thump, thump’ again.
“I have to warn you, we’ll need help. We’re not strong enough for anything.”
“That’s fine, Lucifer is with me. How do I open the cells, do you know?”
“I’ll tell you. Let them rest until it’s time,” Remi whispers from the other cell. I look around to see if anyone is looking before I move back there.
“Talk fast or I’ll have to do another loop before I come back here,” I tell her.
“Those that carry lanterns cut their arm and touch the runes. It makes the bars go up,” Remi whispers.
“How much noise are we talking about?”
“They don’t make noise.”
“Perfect. Give me the damn weapon you have.” I reach my hand and she places the stone in it.
Without a second thought, I make a large slash on my forearm and I shove the cut on the writhing runes. Spikes of vile magick stab my skin and I feel it crawling up my arm. I breathe through my nose so as not to make a sound. Luckily the bars start moving, so I don’t wait. I move to the next cell and shove my forearm on those bars, too. The vile feeling intensifies, and I turn to Lucifer to I distract myself.
“You need to grab Meda and Jezzinta. They can’t walk on their own.”
“That is not a problem, witch, I just wonder how far we will get,” he says, looking over my head just as the bars start moving up. I see Remi and Faith, to my relief, roll under the bars and stand behind Lucifer before I slowly turn around. It feels too easy, like we’re playing into someone’s hand, but I have no time to doubt. I’ll count my blessings while I still can.
“We need to remove the wards as fast as possible,” Lucifer murmurs just as I stare at ten cloaked monsters looking at us with interest. I hear shuffling behind me and I turn my head to see Lucifer holding Remi and Faith one in each hand and they dangle, unconscious. What the fuck? I feel Jezzinta rolling with Meda at my feet so I look down at them. I don’t know why they are coming out when they can’t fight. Don’t they see they’ll get more hurt? Jezzinta is on her knees and looks up at me.
“Don’t hurt us. We’ll walk, we won’t struggle,” she says like she’s afraid of me. “They don’t need to be here.” She points at the ten others standing a few feet away. I finally realize they’re playing along because the cloaked monsters still don’t know who we are. Now what? I don’t even know if these morons talk. It’s eerily quiet apart from the prisoners here, and I can screw us all up if I say a word. Rajah swoops out of nowhere without making a sound and grabs one cloak with his talons, catching the closest one off guard, pulling him off the ledge. The others spring to action and run towards the stairs while throwing green flames at him as he flies up, dodging them like he’s done this a million times. I, too, spring into action by grabbing Jezzinta and Meda under their arms and lift them up. Remi and Faith come next to me and grab one each.
“We’re too weak, plus we can’t use our magick, so we’ll carry them. Kill as many of the fuckers as you can,” Remi says over her shoulder and I see she’s limping.
“I can’t, Remi, the wards won’t let me.”
“Don’t be a fucking idiot, Sap! You have a lantern,” Jezzinta
whispers.
I want to slap myself. Seriously I can’t be that stupid! I didn’t even think of it after seeing the creatures throwing green flames at Rajah. I need to have -my head examined. Plus, obviously, Lucifer didn’t know either, judging by his warning earlier. Or did he do it on purpose? Now that’s a chilling thought, one I have no time to examine right now.
“Let’s go. As soon as we exit the cave, Lucifer can open a portal.”
I walk in front of them and Lucifer takes the back. I wish we could walk faster, but there’s nothing I can do about it. My blood is boiling just thinking about how hurt they are. I want to kill something—preferably many somethings before we leave. I look up, wondering if going through the top opening is a better option but knowing all of them are weak right now leaves us with only one option, going down. We get to the stone steps and start walking down just as cloaked figures start spilling in from a tunnel opposite the entrance. We’re so close I can taste it. We have to get out. As soon as we get to the ground, Lucifer steps between Jezzinta and Meda and grabs both their forearms, almost lifting them off the ground, and with Faith and Remi on each side of them, they all start running.
I turn around and start throwing fireballs at the creatures running towards us across the center of the cavern. I can’t access the water element in this realm. It makes sense in a disturbing way, since water is life and everything here reeks of death. To my surprise, the flames are a mixture of red, orange, and yellow with green specks throughout it, and when they hit their mark, they explode like fireworks. I didn’t notice that earlier when I smoked the guards. Maybe it’s the freaking wards messing with it. Who knows? Who cares? They work. I throw one after another while dodging theirs until I turn the bend in the tunnel from where we entered earlier. Then I take off after the others to catch up. We’re almost out of the damn caves. A green fireball hits the wall just behind me, so I duck, avoiding the rocks raining all over me, and turn around to see how close they are. We’re almost out and we’ll be screwed if Lucifer doesn’t open the portal fast.
“Open the damn portal, angel, they’re coming!” I yell as they exit the cave a few seconds before me.
As I run out of it, I bump into Lucifer’s back, causing him to take a couple of unbalanced steps with a grunt.
“What the fuck, move!” I snap before I see movement in front of them. Turning around, I gather as much fire as I can and like a flamethrower, I launch a big blast of it into the tunnel. I smile grimly as I hear their screams. Good! If I die, I’ll take as many as I can with me. I straighten my back and slowly walk around to stand next to Remi. Now I see what they see.
“Ah,
how lovely. All of us together just like old times,” Derik says cheerfully. Behind him, like a kite connected with an energy cord, Tiamat writhes in the air. I narrow my eyes and realize it’s an apparition. So she’s not really here but she’s somehow attached to him. Taking a deep breath, I take a few steps so that I’m standing in front of everyone. If he has a problem, it’s with me, not them. As I take the couple of steps, I feel like a weight has been lifted off me. Fuck! The wards. He stopped Lucifer two steps before he could use his power, that asshole. Well I’m about to fix that little problem. Just give me a minute. Smiling what must be an evil smile, judging by the widening of Derik’s eyes, I slowly start walking towards him. Let’s do this!
14
“How lovely of you to come greet us, Derik. I almost thought you rude for not saying hi,” I say, pouting like a child. I really should try acting, this one is an Oscar winner, I’m sure of it.
“Don’t move a step, Lucifer, or I’ll kill them all before you make it out of the wards. Nice little trick, isn’t it?” he says, looking over my shoulder, and my blood boils.
“Oy, asshole, I was talking to you. After everything, have the decency to look at me and answer back,” I snap at him and he smiles. Okay, more like baring of teeth than a smile, but whatever. His palms are forming eerie green flames as I watch. Well, shit!
“Oh, I’ll look at you, alright. There’s plenty of time for that, Alexia.”
“Hmmmm…I’m not so sure about that, but whatever you say,” I shrug. I’ll either kill him or die. I have no intention of spending more time than necessary here.
“Why? Are you in a rush to destroy the potions? How did that work out for ya, by the way?”
I hear the glee in his voice and breathe through my nose to keep myself under control.