“I agree,” Corson said.
“What about Bale?” Lix asked.
“She’ll find the way out,” Corson said, but I saw the apprehension in his eyes when he glanced over his shoulder. “But we have to go; the fire and minotaur are getting closer.”
I hesitated before turning to my right. I hated leaving Bale behind, she’d run into the fire for us, but if we didn’t get out of here, the humans would die. We hadn’t come this far only to lose half our number now.
While we jogged down an open corridor, I followed our movements through the labyrinth in the mirror overhead. The mirror effect was confusing, but we had to be right as winding our way through the hedges, we got closer to the exit. I tried not to use my fire, but whenever we encountered a dead end, I burned my way through it.
The minotaur stayed away from the flames, but it was gaining on us. With a sinking heart, I realized breaking free of the labyrinth didn’t guarantee us freedom from the creature.
“What do we do if it follows us out of the maze?” Wren asked.
That was a damn good question as fighting it had proven to be useless already.
“We’ll deal with it if the time comes,” Corson said.
I appreciated him sayingif, but I suspected the beast would be hot on our heels when we reached the other cave.
“One more row to go,” I said as we skidded around a corner and came face-to-face with the last bushes separating us from freedom.
Resting my hands on the hedge, I willed the fire forth and watched as it spread from my palms to my hands. That awful keening started up again as the bushes fell away to reveal the tunnel leading out of the labyrinth.
I couldn’t recall a time I’d ever been so excited or apprehensive as I raced out of the hedges and toward what I hoped was freedom and not another trap.
* * *
Hawk
I kept close to Aisling’s side as we ran through the tunnel. The fire encircling her wrists was the only source of illumination in the cave. The flames bouncing off the rock walls and stony floor cast shadows all around us as our feet pounded across the ground.
Though the air was fresher here than in the labyrinth, the smoke choking it made breathing more difficult as it wafted past us in thick plumes. After the searing heat of the fire, the cooler air of the cave was a welcome balm against my blistered skin. The humans were suffering far worse than any of the demons, and I didn’t know how much longer they could go on.
A flutter of wings drew my attention to the ceiling as I waited for a bunch of bats to break free and swoop down at us, but there were no bats. Instead, Caim soared overhead before turning and sweeping back towards us.
“The horsemen are coming!” he shouted as he flew overhead before turning and coming back. “The horsemen are coming! The horsemen are coming!”
“He’s the fucking Paul Revere of angels,” I snapped.
We’d just broken free of the labyrinth, we had no idea if we’d evaded the minotaur, and now the fucking horsemen were back. What else could go wrong?
I probably shouldn’t ask the question; since the gateway opened, I’d learned anything could go wrong, and it often did.
“Where are they?” Corson demanded.
Caim landed in front of Aisling. She skidded to a halt to keep from plowing into the angel and bent over to rest her hands on her knees. Stopping beside her, I placed my hand on her back as her breaths wheezed in and out. Her exhaustion beat against me, but when her eyes met mine, I saw the determination in them.
“They were headed for the town,” Caim said.
“So they could be trapped in the town?” Wren asked.
“They could, but it’s doubtful,” Caim said. “The smoke will probably draw them here like it drew me. It’s how I found you.”
“Shit,” Corson muttered.
“We have no choice; we have to keep going,” Lix said.
“Caim, can you see if you can find Bale?” Corson asked. “She’s still in the labyrinth behind us. The flames won’t hurt her, but she has to get out before the minotaur finds her.”
