I walked on, splashing through puddles. I hoped the ceiling wasn’t this low throughout the entire passage, or my back and shoulders would be aching in no time from all the bending.
I frowned as a sound reached me. Echoes of hissing. It didn’t seem like that of an animal.
Please don’t be an animal.
The ground started to tremble once more. Stumbling, I placed a hand on a statue, wrinkling my nose at the feel of the scabby mold there. Okay, these quakes could get annoying fast.
The moment the ground stopped heaving, I was on the move. I couldn’t help but wince at the level of noise I made. There was nothing I could do, though; nowhere to step that wasn’t covered in dust and debris.
Soon, I came upon the source of the mysterious hissing. Not an animal. Not even close.
Ropes of hot steam were sporadically bursting out of holes in the ground.
What in the hell?
Clenching my jaw, I inwardly swore. I wouldn’t be able to skirt the obstacle. The cluster of holes spanned the width of the passage. I watched the holes carefully for long minutes, timing the eruptions of steam; trying to spot a pattern. There were none. The bursts were completely random.
I was just going to have to make a run for it and hope for the best.
What a great plan.
Nervousness pounding through my blood, I absently fisted my free hand, grunting as my nails stabbed my sore palm through the cloth still wrapped around it. Relaxing my hand, I blew out a breath and took off.
Several hisses sounded. Steam blazed right up the entirety of my left side, singeing cloth and flesh.Fucking ow.
Passing the holes, I stumbled to a halt, squeezing my eyes shut at the horrendous searing burn; my moonlight sparks blowing out. Every part of my side from my ankle to my scalp felt like it was on fire. My ear … Gods, my ear. It throbbed so badly it felt double its true size, but I didn’t dare touch it.
Totally. Freaking. Loathed this place.
Everything about it was the opposite of humane.
I couldn’t help but think of Talon; couldn’t help but wonder if he’d experienced these scalding burns as a little boy; if maybe his injuries had been even worse.
I stood still as I waited for the worst of the pain to pass. It didn’t come close to subsiding. It continued to blaze and pulse and make my eyes well up.
Dabbing at my tears with the corner of my sleeve, I once more called to my power to break up the darkness. Two more circuits. I had two more left after this one was done. That thought was enough to get me moving again.
It hurt so much to walk; made my scorched flesh feel like it was being stretched and scalded all over again. I tried to think past it, knowing that I needed to stay sharp.
Edging around a coffin that blocked my path, I pulled a face. I really hoped these coffins and sarcophagi were empty, but I wouldn’t put it past the Sovereigns to do something sadistic like trap the bodies of people who’d upset them here.
A rumble built in the air as the ground shook again. I plastered a hand on the wall to steady myself, barely avoiding an urn that toppled to the floor and shattered. A new crack zigzagged along the ground, and debris rained down and pattered my skull.Fuck.
My pretty sparks again winked out as I flung my free arm over my head protectively; gritting my teeth at the bang and scrape of stone against my scalp. The sensations werenothingcompared to the feel of the pebbles drumming on my singed skin.
I couldn’t bite back a cry. Couldn’t even find it in me to panic that it would lead the minotaur right to me. The pain stole my focus so completely.
I felt tears trickle down my face. Felt stinging patches of my scalp become warm and wet. Great. More wounds.
A muffled scream rang out.
My eyes snapped open, and my breath snagged in my throat. It had come from somewhere behind me—nottooclose, but not far enough away for my liking.
Panic punched my lungs. I produced yet more sparks and hurried onwards,hatingevery noise I made.
Busy flapping a hand at a moth that fluttered near my face, I almost didn’t see the wide fissure in the ground in front of me. Inwardly calling myself an idiot, I hopped over the crack.
Annoyance bit at me as I saw that the ceiling was becoming lower the further I walked. I ducked under a particularly low point, shuddering as I felt the stroke of a cobweb.
