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Vincent may not have thought much about it, but I had nearly memorized that damned map Dianna wanted so badly. I had explored many of the areas on it, hoping to find a clue that would lead me to Nev, and one of those damned tunnels went right under Pamyel.
“Look where the world opens.” Drake’s dying words played over in my head.
Blood thrummed in my ears, my heart kicking in a gallop. I had to leave. Now.
Marissa continued to speak, but my focus was on the room. Imogen laughed playfully with a mortal, her hand grazing his arm. I had seen her, Cameron, and Xavier enter the main hall a few minutes ago, and I knew they had probably raided Vincent’s whiskey cabinet. Cameron was dancing with some blonde. I could just see the top of his head and his hand holding his glass, the familiar silver rings on his fingers catching the light.
I nodded once more at Marissa as she prattled on, rubbing behind my ear as I listened, but my focus remained on finding the others. A few seconds passed before I spotted Xavier’s dreaded mohawk. His laughter boomed through the room, the force of it rocking him back.
Now was my chance.
I gulped the last of my drink, glancing toward Vincent and Samkiel again. Vincent was forcing Samkiel into yet another engaging conversation with another set of ambassadors who fawned all over him.
“If you’ll excuse me,” I said to Marissa.
Marissa smiled back and nodded politely before turning on her heel and heading toward another small crowd of mortals.
I tried to move casually but as quickly as possible, not wanting to draw any attention as I made my way to the nearest exit. I waved and smiled at a few mortals but kept going. If I was going to make it out before anyone suspected anything, I needed to do it fast.
With one last look over my shoulder to ensure Samkiel’s back was to me, I snuck out of the room. I ran for the elevator as soon as I was through the doorway.
Inside my room, I stripped off the suit and tie before slipping on some black pants, a shirt, and a matching zip-up hoodie. I grabbed my phone off the circular glowing pad by the nightstand, having left it in my room to charge. The screen lit up, and I looked down to check the time. Neverra’s and my face stared back at me, and my heart threatened to rupture. She smiled and leaned in close, her face squished against mine. It was one of our many lunch dates. Nothing special about it except I was with her. How many times had I lain awake just staring at the screen as if I could summon her back through it by sheer will alone? I’d have given my own life just to see her happy, see her smiling again.
I put my phone in my pocket before pulling my hood up. I raised my hand and studied the Mark of Dhihsin. The act had become almost a compulsion. It remained, which meant she did too, and that was all the hope I needed.
“I will find you. I swear it.”
* * *
Snow still fell, even in Pamyel. I couldn’t tell if it was from the weather change or Samkiel finally unleashing his hold on his emotions. Regardless, the icy cold powder covered everything. I walked through the vacant town, the only light from the few street lights still working. Marissa was right. It was a ghost town. No lights flickered in the abandoned homes. It was silent but for the tiny creatures scavenging for food. I reached down to check my phone once more. The cavern entrance was up ahead, just past a half-built building. Brightly colored tape flapped in the frigid breeze, circling the large fences that contained the area and kept people out.
Lifting the tape, I ducked beneath it and approached the fence. A chill ran up my spine, and I paused. I spun, the rings on my fingers thrumming in anticipation. No one lurked nearby, and the only heartbeat I heard seemed to come from a small animal scurrying through the bushes. I shrugged, settling my nerves before turning back and lifting my hand. Blue power poured from my palm, melting the edge of the fence. I called the light back and walked toward the cavern entrance.
Lights bounced as two vehicles approached. I dropped into a crouch, my feet skidding on the small rocks. The tires crunched as they came to a stop nearby. Fuck, had The Hand followed me? I ducked behind the building and looked around. I didn’t see or feel any of my brethren or Samkiel.
I leaned around the corner and saw several large trucks. People were filing out of the back, but the way they moved was all wrong. Then the smell reached me. Oh gods, the smell. I knew that smell. Once you have experienced it, you never forget it. I didn’t know how it was possible, but these people were not alive anymore. They were moving, but they were dead.
I kept low, covering my nose with my hand to smother the smell, and watched. Each person carried what, at first, I thought were random pieces of metal and junk, but as I looked closer, I realized they had objects made of iron. Slowly rising, I moved around the building, keeping out of sight. If they were moving iron, it stood to reason that they were part of Kaden’s legion and could lead me to Nev.
I watched as they walked fearlessly into the black maw of the cavern. After the last one disappeared, I waited two minutes and moved. I stayed as low as possible, concentrating on containing my power within. It was a trick Samkiel had taught us so we could sneak up on unsuspecting opponents. With a deep breath and a prayer to the old gods, I stepped into the hole.
I stayed close to the wall, not daring to use the blue flame to light my way. I could see even with the pitch blackness, just not as well as if I had a hint of light, but the sound of their footsteps was easy to follow as they descended deeper into the smothering darkness. The smell was overwhelming in the close confines of the cavern. How long had these people been dead?
Water dripped from the stalactite tips, and the deeper I went, the hotter it became until it felt like I was walking through a tropical storm. We walked for what seemed like days before the cave finally split into two tunnels. They dropped steeply, leaving what looked like a sheer cliff between the two. I stayed near the wall, watching the people split, some going left and others right. I crept closer, carefully testing each step, and peered over the edge. Both paths led to the same place.
The cavern below was not natural, obviously carved out of solid stone and filled with rows and rows of iron pots, old kitchen appliances, and thick metal bars. Not even a hint of light reached this deep, but the dead formed a semi-circle and stared at the massive pile as if waiting for something or someone. Tiny rocks fell from my boots as I stopped at the edge, but those below didn’t move or make a sound. They gave no sign they could hear me or were aware of anything around them. They stayed absolutely still, their heads bent at an odd angle like they were listening.
This could be just the lead we needed and another step closer to finding Nev. I had to return to the surface, where I had a signal. I had to tell Samkiel and the others. Stepping back from the ledge, I turned and froze. Twin red eyes glared at me from the hollowed-out darkness. I tried to summon a blade, but she was too quick. A hand wrapped around my throat, and she shoved me hard enough against the wall to crack it. My back scraped against the stone as she dragged me up with barely any effort. I grabbed her small wrist and squeezed.
“Hello, handsome,” Dianna purred. “I’m so glad you’re here. I’m starving.” Her fangs descended, and she lunged forward, plunging them into my neck.
Thirty-Nine
Logan
Dianna leaned her head back, my blood coating her fangs. She licked her lips, her grip tightening on my neck. “Where are the others?”
“I’m alone,” I choked out.
