AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Roots? But there’s nothing growing around here but weeds.” Zoe glanced at the snow-covered brambles in confusion, before the tracker bleeped once more. “This way!”
Together, they raced across the gardens, before they approached a vast wall of thorny vines. Zoe marveled at the strange sight, as the vines towered before her, entwined like giant serpents that blocked her path. Like everything in the Underworld, they lay deadened and frozen beneath the snow, their once-green tendrils now hardened like stone. And yet, that same strange golden glow gently shimmered from the darkness within, casting the space in a soft, magical light. Zoe approached the vines curiously, until she spotted an archway built within the vast tendrils.
“Is this…” Zoe stepped through the archway, until multiple paths branched out before her. “A maze?”
“It sure is!” Spooks turned himself upside-down and shot her a grin. “And in the center, you’ll find the greatest treasure in the Underworld. Race you there!”
At once, the poltergeist took off, and dived through the solid vines in a puff of blue smoke. Zoe cursed as he disappeared, and looked at the network of paths constructed within the tangle of thorny vines. She might not share Spooks’ sense of adventure, but according to her tracker, something powerful lurked in the center of the maze. And if her hunch was correct, it might just be the very thing to save her career.
She picked a path at random, using her tracker to guide her to where the signal grew strongest. She ventured deeper into the maze, following the twists and turns until a shrill blast pulled her to attention. She glanced at her phone in surprise as its signal returned, only to groan at the caller ID that flashed on the screen.
“Swindleton?” Zoe spoke through gritted teeth as she traipsed through the maze. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
“I thought you might want to congratulate me for making the deal of the century.” Swindleton’s nasal voice cut through to Zoe like nails on a chalkboard. “There’s enough energy beneath Spring Valley to meet our quota for the entire year. It’s all everyone is talking about–”
“That was my deal, Swindleton!”
“You might have discovered Spring Valley, but it took a certain kind of sales pitch to get those deeds. A particular act of persuasion–”
“You mean you lied.”
“Zoe, you insult me. Some people’s prejudices against Chthonic Power Solutions will always stand in the way of progress. And so, sometimes, it’s in everyone’s best interests to be economical with the truth.” Zoe’s grip tightened on her phone as she sensed Swindleton’s sneering smile. “A little white lie about what we intend to do with the land goes a long way. The owners of Spring Valley were all too eager to sell up when I told them about the orphanage I intended to open…”
“And what do you think will happen when Mr. Gravesend’s drilling machines turn up, and they discover that you plan on mining every inch of their land instead?” Zoe shook her head in despair. “You’re despicable.”
“No, I’m exactly what this company needs. You might have a talent for discovering where Chthonic Power Solutions should set its sights, but you’ve never had the gall to pull off a deal like this.” Swindleton spoke once more, his voice laced with derision. “And that’s why they’ll name me as Mr. Gravesend’s successor.”
Zoe’s jaw clenched with fury. “We’ll see about that.”
But despite her anger, Zoe knew, deep down, that he was right. She might have spent years working her way up at the organization, but she’d always fallen short in sealing the deal. And while Swindleton had eagerly sold his soul to the company, something had always held her back.
“No need to worry, Zoe. I’ll still make sure there’s a place for you at Chthonic Power Solutions. Perhaps as my assistant?” Swindleton guffawed at his own joke. “I better go. I need to measure up the furniture for my new office…”
“That office isn’t yours yet!” Zoe swore under her breath as the line went dead. “That good-for-nothing weasel…”
She stomped through the maze, irritation fueling her every step. As her anger grew into a furious inferno, Mr. Gravesend’s warning echoed in her mind.
If you want this promotion, then you must do everything in your power to prove yourself to the company. Why, you should be willing to sell your very soul for the betterment of our cause.
Zoe’s hands balled into fists as she marched deeper into the garden. All her life, she’d stuck to doing what she thought was right. She’d worked hard, she’d valued honesty and integrity, she’d played by the rules of the game. But it had gotten her nowhere. And if she didn’t find a way to beat Swindleton, she would lose everything.
Zoe came to an abrupt stop as she reached a dead-end, where the vines towered above her. A pair of wrought-iron gates loomed before her, built into the wall of vines, and frozen in place by layers of thick ice. She glanced at her tracker, to see it bleep sharply, the lines nearing their peak.
“Well, I guess I’ve reached the center of the maze. But these gates aren’t going to budge any time soon…” Zoe glanced at an ornate keyhole forged into the center of the gate. “At least not without the right key.”
She looked in surprise as a golden glow filled the keyhole, until a shimmering light fluttered through to greet her. Zoe watched as the mote of light danced through the air like a firefly, before it landed on the tip of her tracker. Her device bleeped instantaneously, the readings reaching near-impossible levels.
“What on earth? I’ve never seen anything like this.” Zoe studied the readings in bewilderment, before she returned her gaze to the strange light, and the gate beyond. “If you’re anything to go by, then whatever is in there would have enough power to keep Chthonic Power Solutions in business for centuries.”
She studied the strange light, uncertain if it was even alive, and chewed her lip as she gazed at the readings once more. She recalled Shadow’s warning, forbidding her from taking anything from his kingdom. And yet, she knew this strange light presented her the opportunity of a lifetime. An opportunity she couldn’t afford to waste.
Zoe rummaged in her satchel, before she pulled out a container. She carefully guided the small light into it, and closed the lid.
“Well, you seem happy enough inside there. That is, if you’re even alive…” Zoe poked some air holes in the container lid, just in case. “Let’s just keep this secret between you and me, huh? I don’t need that grumpy overlord of the Underworld to find out about this just yet…”
“What exactly don’t you want me to find out?” Zoe gasped as a voice reverberated from the darkness, until Shadow stepped from the gloom. “And for the record, I’m not grumpy. I’m brooding. Now, what have you got there?”
“It’s nothing, I…” Zoe desperately tried to push the container to the bottom of her satchel. “I was just taking in the sights with Spooks.”
