Ava opened her mouth to volunteer, but Casimir squeezed her hip. “Save your magic.”
Raine stepped forward. “I’ll do it.”
Maeryn looked between Jareth and Casimir, her eyes settling on the former. “Jareth,” she barked. “It’s time for you to contribute.”
Grumbling, he joined them.
The five fae moved as one, approaching the circular door. The symbols were etched into the stone, forming a circle where channels led from each emblem, spiraling until they joined in a central divot carved into the rock.
“On three,” Imsel said. When they reached three, each fae pressed their hand on their respective kingdom’s image.
A couple of them gasped. Raine cursed under his breath.Imsel was stoic. Jareth looked furious, as if he’d rather be anywhere else than standing in between Raine and Gisela.
“Feed it your magic,” Maeryn urged.
Several of them closed their eyes, concentrating. It wasn’t long before Maeryn was panting, a bead of sweat dripping down her brow. Raine had a pained look on his face. Gisela swayed, Imsel subtly catching her with their unoccupied hand, placing it at her back in encouragement.
“This is very unpleasant,” Raine said through gritted teeth.
After a couple of minutes, each channel filled with magic, moving toward the empty indentation in the center. A green vine, bright orange and yellow lava, white starlight, sparkling ice, and minuscule stones.
Jareth let out a pained groan.
The magic writhed as it moved through the conduits, merging into the circle. The moment the magics touched each other, there was a flash of bright light and everyone at the door collapsed.
“Are you all okay?” Casimir stepped forward.
Raine shivered, gasping as he tried to catch his breath.
Maeryn was on all fours, her tunic drenched in sweat. “It took almost everything,” she croaked.
A rumble echoed in the cavern, followed by scraping. The door rolled to the side, revealing a chamber. Everyone got to their feet, the weaker ones leaning on the others for support, and walked forward.
The room was dark, its smooth walls and ceiling the same stone as the rest of the larger chamber. But it was imbued with thousands of the crystalline swirls, their bright glow illuminating an iron box in the center of the space.
A tomb.
The lid on the ground had dozens of symbols carved into it; symbols Casimir couldn’t read as they appeared to be in some ancient language. The insides of the casket had deep gouges…asif its prisoner had fought and scratched, desperate to escape. Casimir shivered at the thought.
“So, this was where he was locked away?” Ava whispered from beside him.
“For centuries…” someone said.
“No wonder he’s so angry,” Raine murmured.
A faint hissing came from behind them, above them, below them. It was everywhere, growing louder by the moment. Casimir’s hand moved to his sword as he scanned the room. A dense fog poured in through hidden cracks in the rock.
“Someone, retrieve a crystal,” he said. “We need to leave. Now.”
A soldier used his dagger to chip away at a crystal on the wall, barely avoiding the hazard. The ominous mist brushed the top of his hand and he shouted, pulling back. “It burned me!”
“Hurry,” Casimir urged the soldier. “Everyone else, back in the other chamber.”
Another soldier joined the first, moving to a different crystal as they tried to avoid the poisonous haze, using their weapons to pry it loose.
Casmir left the room, joining the rest of the team. But the larger chamber was filling with the burning cloud as well. And it was closing in fast. “It’s time to make the portal, love,” he said, trying to remain calm.
“Alright,” she replied, setting down the crutches and kneeling.
