Page 2 of What Beats Within the Tunnels

The chamber is magnificent. The polished obsidian floor sprawls before me, reflecting the flickering candlelight that swathes the chamber in an otherworldly glow. In the main room, a collection of robust leather chairs encircle a low table, the surface carved with an array of mythical beings. A grand archway offers a glimpse into the adjoining bedroom. Shrouded in a curtain of darkness, the heavy drapes create an aura of intimacy and secrecy. At the room’s heart is a giant four-post bed, the four posts carved into faces of creatures that would cause the average person to have nightmares.

The chamber’s atmosphere is heavy and potent, the scent of burning candles intermingling with aromatic incense. The air is stifling, void of windows to usher in sunlight or a breath of the world above, amplifying a palpable undercurrent of danger.

“Sit. No one will disturb us in my private quarters.” Drew settles into one of the leather chairs, and reluctantly I find a seat opposite her.

Drew’s crimson eyes find mine, and her unwavering eye contact makes my palms clammy. The silence between us draws on, and I refuse to let her unsettle me. Drawing in a deep breath, I grapple with my racing thoughts. I need her help if I’m going to get through the final ceremony and unlock the bridge to Zomea. Time is getting away from me, and I need to get Chepi back, not to mention the threat of the key consuming me if I don’t unlock the bridge in time. I’d hoped Drew would break the silence, but her demeanor reveals nothing. I wonder if her silent stare is some kind of strategy to unnerve me. I have to admit it’s working. I work at keeping my expression impassive as I evaluate my choices. I decide I’m going to be honest with her and ask for her help. I don’t trust this woman, but I’m running out of options and time.

“I came here because I need your help. I am the conduit to unlocking a bridge to Zomea, and there is a final ritual I must perform here in your realm.”

I shift uncomfortably in my seat, making a concerted effort to cloak my trepidation.

Her eyebrow arches in curiosity. “What do you require of me?”

“During the blood moon, I must consume the blood of a Lamia who willingly sacrifices her life for the cause. I realize this sounds crazy, but once the bridge is unlocked traversal between the realms and Zomea should be possible. The sacrifice could come right back to life—in theory.”

I steady my voice to mask the nerves gnawing away at my insides. I cannot let her know about the powerful relic my family was after. With any luck, she isn’t already aware of it. It’s best if that secret died with my mother and Samael.

Drew nods slowly, her eyes reflecting the calculations taking place behind them. “What will you do once you have access to Zomea?”

I don’t want to unveil everything to her, but some truths can’t hurt in trying to gain her trust. “My pet—my best friend really, Chepi—he was murdered, and I need to get him back from Zomea. Also, there’s the possibility that if I fail to unlock the bridge by the next blood moon the key will destroy me.”

Drew inclines forward, every movement elegant, her eyes a furnace of intensity. “What do you know about the War of the Realms?”

“The War of the Realms, what does that have to do with helping me?” I sit up straighter, taken aback by her question.

“It has to do with why I will help you.” A slight curve tugs at her lips, probably because my face is that of utter relief hearing she is willing to help me.

“Okay, I don’t know much about the war, only what Nyx told me. A group of Sorcerers set out to unlock Zomea, not a bridge but Zomea itself, and once unlocked it tore Eguina apart. He said volcanoes erupted, and the feral sea split the land, forming Nighthold and Cloudrum. My father was the one who finally closed Zomea, and over time the realms were formed as we see them today.”

In the back of my mind, I wonder if Nyx was even telling me the truth about the war. Maybe his version of it.

“I was born long before the war. I am much older than most can recall, and I remember a time many have forgotten. Do you know why the Sorcerers sought to unlock Zomea?”

“No, I don’t. As far as I know, all the history books mentioning the war have been destroyed or concealed.” I can feel my heart beating faster in my chest.

“Before the war, darkness began to loom over Eguina. Not tangible, but it was something one could feel. Changes were subtle at first. Some plants and trees started dying, creatures that were not regularly seen started to multiply, and Monstrauths and Spider Wraiths wreaked havoc. Some Lamias died before their time, and rumors of Fae magic weakening spread. Lycans were not always able to shift at will, and many died trying to protect their homes from the monsters that infiltrated the lands.”

Drew looks away, her brows furrowed, and I wonder what memory she’s reliving. I think about the Monstrauths and Spider Wraiths Nyx and I had to face, and goosebumps spread across my skin. We assumed Samael was resurrecting the Monstrauths, but who was doing it back then way before he was born?

Before I can fall into a full-blown spiral of conspiracies, Drew starts to speak again.

“A group of Sorcerers set out to unlock Zomea because they believed Eguina was dying and the fuel for all life and death—all magic—lies within Zomea.”

“Was this ever proven? Why then did opening Zomea destroy the lands even more. My father had to close it to save everyone and preserve what was left of Eguina.” I brush my hair out of my face, trying to wrap my mind around what she’s suggesting.

“I’m not saying your father didn’t save us. He did, Lyra. I don’t know how he was able to close Zomea, but by closing it the storms settled, the monsters receded, and the realms healed. But those of us who are old enough to remember the war and the things that happened before can feel them now. I feel a darkness again settling over the lands, and it’s not Samael. I’ve seen trees and foliage die for no reason. The monsters that once receded are starting to show up again across the realms, and I don’t think it’s a mere coincidence.”

“What are you saying exactly, another war is coming?” I ask, leaning in closer.

“I’m saying Eguina is dying. Something is wrong, and I think the answer to restoring order is in Zomea. The one person who knows more about Zomea than anyone else is your father, and I’d like a word with him. If Zomea had not been unlocked before, I don’t know what would have happened, but I don’t have a good feeling about it and am far too old not to trust my gut. I’m going to help you because I’m worried we are on borrowed time, not just you but all of us. I want you to help me figure out why.”

“Okay,” I muster, absorbing her tale. I’ve been so focused on stopping Samael and figuring out the ceremony that I didn’t notice a larger threat. Could Eguina really be dying?

“I know this is a lot to take in, and the blood moon is in four nights. Tomorrow, we can start preparations. For now, I’ll have Soren show you to your room so you can get cleaned up and rest.”

Drew promised we’d have a conversation tomorrow, leaving me isolated in the chamber that Soren had arranged for my stay. The silent walk to the room and his wordless departure upon closing the door on me amplified my solitude. Testing the door, I found it unlocked, a small relief in the grand scheme of things. Now I’m perched on the edge of the bed, surveying my new quarters. The ascent of a few flights of stairs to reach this room brought me closer to the surface, making me feel slightly better, but my confinement is still disorienting.

A windowless room beneath the ground makes it hard to even know what time it is.