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"Stay close," I said. Alastor looked over at me, cocking his head to one side, and I nodded that she was ok.
We resumed our descent. I stayed by Sariel’s side, partly to reassure her, and partly because it just felt so damn good to take care of her.
A few metres deeper, and we switched on our dive lights. They didn’t reveal much, but in the small circles they lit up, we caught sight of the wall in front of us - a huge expanse of white crystals glittering in the torchlight. Some formed incredible twisted sculptures that appeared suddenly out of the darkness, giving us all a bit of a jump.
Alastor paused, looking at the glow of the screen he held. “I think we need to be about ten metres that way,” his voice crackled over the intercom. “And another five down maybe. The scan is showing that we’re close and the images Lily is sending me is showing a dark space on the wall.” I glanced in the direction he’d pointed and could just about make out a faint glow in the darkness that would be the camera.
“Got you,” I said. “You ok there, Sariel?”
“I’m good, Theo, thank you.” I wasn’t sure whether it was the environment, or because I helped her before, or maybe just the intercom, but for a moment, she sounded a little soft and vulnerable, almost human. My heart lurched in my chest at the thought.
We dropped a little further and were just about to level out when I felt it — the slightest resistance in my breath.
Instinctively, I reached for the regulator in a practised move, twisting the purge valve. But the resistance persisted. Something wasn’t right. A stream of bubbles escaped as I exhaled more forcefully. Not good.
I signalled to Alastor and Sariel, drawing a flat hand across my throat—the universal dive sign for a problem with air, not wanting to waste oxygen on speaking. They were at my side in a few seconds.
I reached for my alternate air source, the octopus regulator dangling at my side, but as I purged it, the same issue arose. The fine sediment of the Dead Sea must have infiltrated my equipment.
Keeping calm was paramount—I knew that panic was the diver's greatest enemy. My training kicked in. I signalled to Alastor, making the sign for sharing air, and he was quick to respond, offering his octopus regulator. I took a tentative breath from the alternate air source, and relief washed over me as the airflow was crisp and steady. We locked eyes, his gaze steady and reassuring.
As I breathed off Alastor's tank, I began to work on my primary regulator, remembering the training drills I'd practised so many times before. I detached it from the mouthpiece, examining it for obvious blockages, giving it a few shakes to dislodge any particles. Then, I cautiously retested it, and to my relief, the airflow returned to normal. A few more cautious breaths, and I nodded at him. All good.
We set back off, heading across the cliff face to the left.
“Al-as…” Lily’s voice crackled over the intercom, and we paused. Alastor had asked her to keep off the intercom unless there was a problem, and her voice was cracked and distorted.
“Cam… not respond… return… proceed?”
Alastor frowned. “All clear down here,” he said loudly and clearly. “I think the camera’s struggling with the water,” he said, looking over at me. “I’m going to call it for today. Even if we found something today, we wouldn’t have enough time for a decent exploration anyway.”
I nodded. “Good call. Let’s head back and resume another time. Sariel, you good to ascend?”
She nodded, and we made our way back to the surface.
Chapter Fourteen
SARIEL
To everyone’s frustration, it was another three days before we were able to return to the dive site. An uncommon bout of windy weather had the visibility in the water at less than two metres and Alastor, although grumpy about it, refused to endanger any of the team by diving in those conditions. We spent the time going over the scans and Cole’s drone footage, as well as pitching in with the shifter security teams, sweeping for hellions. Although a few had shown up later at night a couple of times, they had been in smaller groups of three or four and were easily dispatched. I’d also found spending time with the humanarchaeologists rather interesting, with Dr Taylor enjoying telling us all about his research.
Evenings were mainly spent at the wolf camp as we now called it. When Lily wasn’t off with her shifter fling, she spent her time teaching me how to apply makeup - a crucial skill according to her - but we also spent a lot of time chatting and just hanging out. I’d always thought it was a complete waste of time when one could be training, but I found myself relaxing and laughing in her company. When she was off with her shifter, I found myself spending more time with the guys on my team. Euriel had said I needed to get to know people, and I was doing my best, though I was sure at times it came out like some kind of interview as I tried to show interest in their lives.
Alastor wasn’t exactly the talkative type, and I hadn’t spent a lot of time around him. The physical effect he had on me made me nervous, and although I was attracted to Theo, he didn’t make me feel out of control like Alastor did. Theo was fun and made me laugh. His silliness was confusing to me, but I was starting to understand him more. Carlisle and Cole were more distant, but friendly enough, and I was almost sorry when early on the fourth day, Cole reported the visibility was good and we had a go for the next dive.
This time, the descent was eventless, and we had more time to explore along the cliff wall. I was feeling more confident, and Theo was amazingly supportive, always checking in on me. It felt strange having someone do that, but I secretly admitted to myself that I liked it.
The first day turned up nothing, but on the second day, Alastor called us over the intercom. We’d spread out scanning the surface of the underwater cliff, and as we moved towards his floating form, I gasped. There it was. Not just a cave entrance, an actual doorway carved out of the cliff face, with columns and everything. Any detail had long been lost under a couple ofmillennia of salt crystals, but it was unmistakable. Alastor had found the entrance to the lost city of Sodom.
“Ok guys, looks like we found what we were looking for,” Alastor’s voice crackled over the intercom. “Let’s head inside a little way and see where it leads.”
I fought the urge to take a deep breath in anticipation and followed him into the gaping black space between the salt encrusted pillars. The narrow beam of Alastor's torch cut through the murky water ahead, and I switched mine off, not needing a second light. Behind me, Theo did the same.
Alastor led the way cautiously but steadily, the light from his torch revealing the rugged beauty of our submerged trail. Salt crystals glittered on the walls, reflecting the torchlight and casting a strange pale glow around us. I saw Alastor regularly checking his dive computer and his watch too as we swam deeper into the tunnel, and the sight reassured me. I’d had major doubts about his leadership abilities, but I’d had to admit, so far, he’d done a pretty good job. I was starting to change my mind about the giant hellhound. I just wished he didn’t affect me so much. His very presence seemed to spark irritation and cause unwanted feelings within my body. Feelings an angel had no business feeling. As did Theo.
I thought back to my moment of panic as we swam over the edge of that cliff. I’d been fine descending and making our way through this incredible alien world. I’d remembered all my training, and had felt confident, but then the ground had dropped out from under us leaving only darkness and all rational thought had seemed to leave my head. It wasn’t even as though I was afraid of heights. I adored flying, and underwater you couldn’t fall anyway. It was more that sudden appearance of a colossal darkness that felt as though it was going to consume me. I shuddered at the memory of that feeling. It had gripped me like a vice, and panic had taken over.
It was utterly unacceptable, I told myself. To be undone by panic, to show such a crack in my armour in front of Theo and Alastor... It was mortifying. A leader should be steadfast, unshakeable and show no fear. Yet there I was, moments earlier, gasping for breath and clawing for composure. Theo’s steadying hand had been both a lifeline and a burning brand of shame that still ate away at my insides. Not only had he had to calm me down and restore my sanity, but Alastor had seen and heard it all, and I really hated the idea of appearing weak in front of him especially. My mind raced with thoughts of inadequacy, of failing to meet the expectations I had set for myself as a leader. How on earth was I going to prove I could lead a team if I fell apart like that? I needed to get myself together, and I needed to focus.
