“Six. Now be quiet. I’m thinking!”
Imsel joined Ava, Casimir standing right behind her. The rest of the group had huddled behind them in an attempt to avoid the imminent danger, but the metal barbs went all the way to the edge of the room.
“The spikes are getting longer!” Jareth yelled.
“Shit,” someone said.
“What about the deadliest creature?” Imsel suggested.
“Yes. Okay. Least deadly on the left?”
Imsel nodded. “So the cat, then the scorpion, then the Jarouki’i.”
Ava placed the cat in the left depression. As she was about to place the scorpion, she paused and shook her head. Quickly she held out her other hand. “Give me the other one.”
“But the scorpion goes next,” a soldier said.
“Trust me.”
Casimir glanced up to find the spikes only a couple feet away. His heart sped up, his palms began to sweat, and he couldn’t help but picture them all being impaled if they didn’t get through this door. “Hurry!”
Imsel handed her the Jarouki’i and Ava placed it second, then the scorpion last. The room shuddered and a hidden door rolled away in front of them.
“Go!” Casimir shouted.
Because the ceiling wasn’t stopping and it was almost upon them. Raine shoved Ava in front of him as he led the way withMaeryn, protecting their princess to Casimir’s relief. Casimir stayed behind, ensuring everyone made it, as he crouched lower and lower.
Now on his hands and knees, when the last soldier entered the doorway, Casimir scrambled behind him, pulling his leg in seconds before a spike almost brushed the sole of his boot.
43
Ava slumped against the wall of the passageway, out of breath and heart still racing. Iron torches cast a faint eerie glow in the dark space, shadows from their party dancing along the walls.
“Cas?” she cried, panicked, unable to see him in the crowded space.
“I’m here!” he called. “We all made it.”
“Good,” she breathed. “That’s good.”
“Let’s never do that again,” Raine said across from her.
“We’ll remain here for a few moments to catch our breath,” Casimir said.
“Ava,” Raine said. “How did you know the tiny monster was the deadliest? Shouldn’t it have been the giant one we fought?”
“It was a wild guess, but I based it off what I was taught out in the field when we would journey to the wilderness to study different species. They always warned us of the smallest dangers. Insects, snakes, or spiders. Because they hide so easily, and you can get stung or bitten without even realizing it.”
“Ah. I suppose that makes sense. Deadly things come in small packages and all that.” He nudged Maeryn. “Kind of likeyou.” She let out a quiet laugh. Raine scanned the tunnel, his eyes landing on Jareth. “New rule. Jareth doesn’t get to do any more puzzles.”
“Agreed,” everyone said.
“Neither does Raine,” said Casimir.
Raine grinned. “I agree with that too.”
Jareth scowled. Ava caught his eye and he looked away. Still on edge from her panic attack earlier, her irritation with him was growing by the minute. His impulsive attempt at the puzzle could have gotten them killed.
“It’s time to keep going,” Casimir finally broke the silence.
