Page 7 of What Beats Within the Tunnels

I go on to learn about the Luminary Council. All the most powerful beings of the time had to come together to defeat the dark Sorcerer. The Luminary Council was born out of necessity, but its formation was not without challenges. Personal agendas, different perspectives, and ancient grudges threatened to unravel their delicate alliance. However, their unwavering commitment to the greater good prevailed, overcoming their differences and binding them in a common purpose, to eradicate dark magic from Eguina and kill the dark Sorcerer.

The council knew that only by pooling their collective forces, drawing upon their noble virtues, and synchronizing their abilities could they stand a chance against the dark Sorcerer’s might. Together, they were a radiant force that pushed back the encroaching darkness, reclaiming the balance that had been disrupted.

At least that’s how the book reads. It sounds to me like they killed the dark Sorcerer and then murdered a bunch of innocent Sorcerers who had dark magic but weren’t doing anything nefarious. How have I never heard of this council before? It seems like something every Sorceress should be taught. Why did Drew give me this? She must suspect I may inherit dark magic. Why else would she think I should read a book about a dark Sorcerer and a council of murderers? How could she suspect unless Nyx told her something? I don’t think he would do that, but he’s the only one I’ve ever spoken to about my fears of inheriting dark magic on my nineteenth birthday.

I think Drew knows far more than she’s leading on and might be more clever than I’ve given her credit for. I want to read more, but I need to get ready for dinner. Drew and I have more to discuss than I thought.

Proceeding to the bathroom, I untangle my wavy hair, throwing it over my shoulder. Taking a deep breath, I don the gown, the silk hugging my curves until it flares out below my hips, cascading to the floor. My reflection in the mirror leaves me speechless, looking every bit a queen adorned in such a stunning ensemble.

Delicately, I perch on the bed’s edge, mindful not to crumple the dress, and reach for the book again. As I revisit its pages, my free hand idly massages Chepi, scratching his back in rhythm with my reading.

Usually a Sorcerer needs to cast spells or preform rituals. I’ve never heard of a Sorcerer who can bend the elements. That is usually something only the more powerful Fae can do, and not to the extent the book speaks of. And for the bending of shadows, I look around the room, unsettled by the idea that a person could hide in the darkness of the shadows, let alone bend them to their will.

The sudden knock at the door catches me off guard, causing me to leap to my feet and Chepi to take to the air. That book really has a way of pulling me in. I tuck it safely under my pillow and glance at myself in the mirror one last time. I’m surprised Soren hasn’t barged in like he normally does. The thought makes me slow my steps as I approach the door.

Opening the door, I find myself face-to-face with…Colton. He possesses a frustrating allure. There’s an undeniable magnetism to his chiseled frame, sandy blond hair, and those piercing emerald eyes that seem to challenge and beckon all at once—undeniable and annoying.

“You...” I draw out the word with disdain in my voice.

“If it isn’t little Miss Stardust. Come now, Lyra. Is that any way to greet the man who came all this way to help you? Not to mention the gift you’re wearing.” Colton eyes me up and down. He brought me this dress, disgusting.

“I didn’t ask you to come here, and I don’t want your help or your gifts,” I retort sharply, pushing past him and heading into the empty hallway.

“Well, if you don’t like it, feel free to take it off.”

“Very funny.” I start walking down the hall toward the stairs, I slow my pace when it hits me that I have no idea where I’m going for dinner, fuck. I can hear Colton catching up behind me. “Come on, Lyra. What’s got you so upset? I didn’t give you the stardust to drink. Besides, I already helped you once, don’t you recall?”

“I’m not upset. I just don’t like you.” He may have given me one of Callum’s journals, but I don’t know what his goal was. “I don’t know if I would consider that helping me.”

“I don’t see Nikki boy around, so I’d say it was a push in the right direction, my dark enchantress.”

I crash to a halt, turning around to face him, “Shh, don’t call me that. As a matter of fact, don’t call me anything, and don’t talk about Nyx,” I say in a hushed voice, not that anyone is around to hear me. The last thing I need is rumors swirling in the hive about me inheriting dark magic.

“Sounds like I struck a nerve. Which part exactly? Nikki not being here to protect you or the part about your dark magic?”

“I don’t have dark magic, and for your information I told Nyx to leave. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must be attending dinner.”

“Precisely why I’m here to escort you,” he says with a wink. I roll my eyes but take the elbow he offers me. I do need someone to show me the way to dinner, and walking all these flights in heels is risky for me without an arm to hold on to.

I look over at Chepi, and he’s just flying next to us, amused as ever by this awkwardness, I’m sure. He always has been able to understand me. I’m not sure how exactly, but we’ve always been able to communicate. We traverse down at least ten flights of stairs before we finally turn down a corridor. Colton stays silent next to me the entire time, so he must know what’s good for him. As we reach the end of the hall, I pause and give Chepi a meaningful look, silently communicating the need for him to stay close to me tonight. He responds with a wag of his tail, and I turn my attention to the large double doors in front of us. With an assertive stride, Colton moves ahead, pushing them open to unveil a spectacle that steals my breath.

The initial wave that strikes me is an intoxicating melody, an otherworldly symphony plucked from a lyre, which suffuses the room and weaves an additional layer of mystique into the ambience. The chamber extends in all its grandeur, a dining room befitting of this giant hive.

At the heart of the room sits an imposing table crafted from ebony wood, its surface decorated with delicate candelabras. Chairs with lofty backs and lavish cushions surround it, populated by Lamias and mortals engaged in vivacious chatter and laughter.

However, my gaze is involuntarily drawn upward toward the ceiling, where a series of ornate cages swing, each inhabited by a man garbed in leather executing acrobatic feats with the grace of a seasoned performer. The synchronized twists and turns of their bodies, flowing seamlessly with the rhythm of the enchanting music, create a mesmerizing sight.

“Do you need me to pick your jaw up off the floor, or are you going to be alright?” Colton chuckles next to me, and I snap my mouth closed. “You’re more sheltered than I thought, little enchantress.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize watching half-naked men dance in cages was a common occurrence, my mistake.” I turn my attention away from the dancers and back to surveying the room.

“It’s one of my favorite pastimes,” Colton whispers, brushing past me, and I can’t help the smirk that crosses my face. Lamia women and mostly mortal men dressed in their finest attire congregate around these aerial performances in clusters, some entranced but others immersed in their conversations. Colton approaches one of the smaller clusters and speaks with Drew.

I’m about to join them when a low voice jars me from behind.

“Nice to see you on two feet again,” says a broad, fit woman with blonde hair pulled back into a tight bun, her fiery red eyes looking me up and down.

“Excuse me?” I reply, unsure how to react to that comment.