Page 76 of What Beats Within the Tunnels

“Choose what? I don’t understand!” I exclaim, irritation seeping through.

“You stand apart from your predecessors. Your willpower is unmatched. Choose wisely, and you’ll harness the darkness in unprecedented ways. Yet, a wrong choice will lead the darkness to consume you—and doom all.”

Grasping for understanding, I press on, “Is this about Nyx? Should I be with him? Can his light save me?” As I seek answers, the figure recedes. Desperation propels me forward as I chase after her.

“Only one holds the light that can save you. Yet, remember…darkness is drawn to darkness and will seek to change you,” she says before dissolving into the void.

Suddenly, I’m back in the tent, seated across from the seer. Her previously iridescent eyes now appear clouded, seemingly exhausted by our shared experience. Breathless, we sever our linked hands.

“What the fuck was that? Why must everything be so cryptic?” I shout, my voice warbling.

“Visions are never clear, and they are not always certain,” she says, wiping her brow. “Lyra, you are at the heart of a great shift. Tread carefully. Ryella does not appear to just anyone.”

Regaining my composure, I face her defiantly. “How do you know? Ryella—do you mean the Goddess of Shadows?”

Her response is serene, “I possess vast knowledge, young one. Indeed, Ryella, the Goddess of Shadows and Darkness, whose shadows you unknowingly bear. I see them now beneath your skin, waiting to be released.” I glance down at myself, half expecting a revelation, but nothing appears amiss. When I raise my eyes to the seer, she has vanished.

I quickly exit the tent. It feels like I spent an eternity inside, but it might have only been a few minutes. The remnants of the encounter leave my head spinning. As I approach the cobblestone street where I left Colton at the potions shop, I spot him, Nyx, and Drew deep in conversation. The moment they notice my approach, their chatter fades, giving me the sense they were discussing something they’d rather I not hear.

“We were about to come looking for you,” Drew remarks, her eyes narrowing on me as if trying to decipher my recent experience.

“Let’s head to a nearby tavern. I believe we could all use a drink,” Nyx suggests, leading the way.

Colton hangs back to walk beside me, a few steps behind the others. “Are you okay? For a moment, I felt our connection, then it vanished. I couldn’t feel the tether at all. I didn’t want to alarm Nyx, since you’ve been insistent on keeping it a secret, but then the connection returned.” He scans my face with concern, wrapping an arm around my waist for comfort.

“It’s nothing. I’m fine. I’ll fill you in later when we’re alone,” I reply, not ready to discuss it in such a public space. He nods in understanding, and we follow the others to the tavern.

We reach the tavern, and a large sign outside reads, “The Crystal Chalice,” then just below that it reads, “Known for our magical performances and drinks that play tricks on the senses.” Interesting. Once inside, I glance around the dimly lit room. There are tables everywhere and a stage on either side of the long room. A few women dance on one stage, minimally clothed in garments made of purple smoke.

On the other stage, there’s a man playing a musical instrument. I’m not sure what it is, but the sound is upbeat and pleasant enough. A few people dance in front of the stage, swaying with the music and holding cocktails in their hands. Nyx walks straight to the long bar and pulls out a stool, motioning for me to sit at it instead of trying to get a table. I take a seat, and he takes the one to my left. Colton takes the seat to my right, and Drew sits on the other side of him.

The bartender, a tall male with silver-blue hair cascading down in waves, moves gracefully from one end of the bar to the other, conjuring drinks as much as pouring them. Wisps of smoke swirl around some glasses, while others glow softly in the dim light, illuminating the faces of their drinkers.

“I’ve heard of this place,” Drew says, leaning over to speak to Colton. Her eyes follow the movements of one of the smoke-clad dancers, fascinated. “They say the concoctions here can let you taste the stars or relive a fond memory.”

Nyx beckons the bartender over, sharing a few words in hushed tones. The bartender nods, disappearing momentarily, only to return with a tray bearing four drinks. They all glow red, and I’m half afraid to drink it.

“Don’t worry. It’s supposed to make you feel good for a couple of hours. We could all use a break. Isn’t that why we’re here?” Nyx says, pushing a glass to each of us. I take mine, trusting Nyx wouldn’t give me anything that would harm me, and Colton and Drew take theirs too. I’m kind of surprised at how trusting they are being, but then again they probably don’t care and want to have a good time.

“To new adventures,” Nyx toasts, lifting his glass.

“And to defying prophecies,” Colton adds whispering in my ear.

The four of us clink our glasses, and the atmosphere momentarily lightens, the weight of our journey temporarily forgotten in this little tavern.

Drew speaks up, “I think I’ll find some entertainment for the rest of the evening. I’ll see you all at breakfast.” She heads over to one of the female dancers she’d been exchanging glances with.

Colton orders another round of drinks for us, as we’d drained our first ones rather quickly. “This time, it’s a sweet ale,” he assures me. “It doesn’t have any altering effects.”

I sip my drink, the rhythm of the music captivating me. I suspect the first drink Nyx got us might have already started to take effect — I feel elated and can’t seem to keep still. Though I’m not typically one to dance in public, I’m compelled to move to the beat. Seeing many already dancing in front of the stage, I decide to join. Grasping my drink, I weave through the crowd, ignoring the surprised expressions of Nyx and Colton as I rise from my seat. Finishing the ale, I place the empty glass on a nearby table, preferring my hands to be free.

Surrendering to the music, I let my hips sway and my hands trail through my hair and down my body, reveling in how good I feel in this moment. When I glance back at our spot, I notice Colton still at the bar, but Nyx is nowhere in sight.

“Looking for me?” Nyx whispers into my ear from behind. His hand wraps around my waist, and he spins me to face him.

“Yes,” I reply, caught in his gaze.

“Dance with me,” he urges, drawing me close. I let him lead, our bodies moving in harmony to the music.