Page 57 of What Beats Within the Tunnels

“Soren’s fine. He’ll be pleased to hear of your concern,” she replies, a touch of warmth in her gaze. But it quickly shifts, her eyes hardening with a seriousness that makes my heart race. “My realm stands, for now. However, I believe we’re in the calm before the storm.”

“Is it true what Soren shared, that the creatures are drawn to the bridge?” Colton interjects.

“It seems so,” Drew acknowledges. “But before I delve into the details of my visit, I need to know everything you both discovered in Zomea. You were away for quite a while.”

Colton and I exchange glances, wondering where best to start. We then take turns narrating our experiences from the past few months: my intensive training in Zomea, the dire state of that land and our growing concerns that Eguina might soon follow suit, the significance of the Gholioth blood needing to be extracted from me after I awaken my dark magic to restore balance to Zomea and in turn Eguina. And of course we share our tether with her too, but we stress its confidentiality, insisting Drew is the only other we’ve shared it with so far and trust her to keep it so.

Drew listens intently, nodding occasionally, taking in every detail but her face remaining stoic. “I knew Lyra’s dark magic would play a pivotal role in all of this. However, I fear we might not have the luxury to wait until your nineteenth birthday,” Drew says, her posture straightening with emphasis.

“What do you mean?” Colton inquires.

“I mean, there exists a method to awaken Lyra’s dark magic before her nineteenth birthday,” Drew begins, and my gaze flits between her and Colton.

“How? And what assures you it’ll succeed?” I ask, eager for answers.

“I’ve witnessed it,” she replies, her tone measured. I murmur, “The echosphere,” drawing her focused gaze onto me.

“Yes, the future is fluid and ever-changing, but I am certain this is one potential future we should seriously consider,” she advises.

“What precisely did you see? What does this entail?” Colton presses her.

Her lips curl in a hint of a smirk. “You might not be thrilled, especially given the scene I encountered when I arrived,” she teases.

“Give us every detail,” I urge, the anxiety building in my stomach.

“To achieve this, you’ll need the Moon Grimoire, your family’s treasured tome,” she states.

“The last I heard, Samael was on its trail. I’m uncertain if he managed to locate it or even where it might be now,” I admit.

“We could return to Tempest Moon, retrace Samael’s steps. If necessary, I can employ Dorian’s abilities to reveal past events, which could provide insights about the grimoire’s whereabouts. But what’s the part you believe we won’t be fond of?” Colton asks, his voice laced with urgency.

“In the glimpses the echosphere granted me, I couldn’t discern your exact location, but it’s dimly lit, perhaps near some body of water. But there’s one thing I’m sure of — you both were in the presence of King Onyx,” Drew elaborates, causing my heart to plummet. Of all people, why him?

“There’s no fucking way we’re aligning ourselves with him,” Colton declares vehemently. I lay my hand on his, attempting to calm him.

“I’m only conveying what I observed to aid your endeavors,” Drew says, leaning back slightly. “My vessel is docked nearby. I can transport all of you to the Sorcerer Realm if you desire. However, you must decide by tomorrow night, for that’s when I set sail,” she says.

“And if we choose to exclude Nyx from the equation?” I question, anxiety evident in my tone.

“That’s certainty an option, but I don’t know what consequences it may cause,” Drew admits. “The vision I received showed both Colton and Onyx present when your dark magic awakens. You’re free to choose inaction, awaiting your birthday. However, that is still months away, and countless lives may be forfeit in the interim. Chaos is set to escalate before any semblance of order is restored.”

My gaze drops to my lap, and almost immediately Chepi leaps up, sensing my anxiety and curling up for comfort.

“We’ll take the night to deliberate and inform you of our decision by tomorrow evening,” Colton states definitively.

Drew nods in understanding. “In that case, I’ll grant you some privacy. Nighthold hasn’t felt my presence in ages. I’ve some personal affairs to tend to.” As she stands, a weighty sigh of vexation escapes from Colton. Drew gracefully makes her way to the exit, and I quickly bid her farewell, wishing I could ask her more questions. She casts me a playful wink, her lips curling into a mischievous smile before she vanishes from our sight.

I pivot to face Colton, curiosity bubbling. “Considering Drew’s inability to channel, how does she move with such swiftness?”

“Lamias, by nature, possess exceptional speed, enabling them to glide over terrain seamlessly. Drew, with her age and immense power, can traverse distances at an astonishing pace. Her inability to channel hardly impedes her,” he says.

“I want your opinion. What do you think we should do?” I say, though a decision has already crystallized in my mind. I need his thoughts to validate it, to know we’re on the same page.

He brushes a strand of hair from my face, his touch gentle, eyes intense. “Whatever path you choose, I’m by your side. If you decide to barricade us here, to revel in each other’s company, indulging in pleasures and waiting for your birthday, I’m all for it.” A sly grin lights up his face as he continues, “In fact, I could easily be persuaded into that.”

I laugh, wishing we could do exactly that forever. He always knows how to make me laugh, even with the prevailing darkness.

I absentmindedly pet Chepi, lost in thought. The widespread destruction in Zomea replays in my mind, alongside visions of the innocent girl, Anya. Her face under the blood moon still jolts me awake at night. The looming threat to Zomea and Eguina, the innocent lives in jeopardy— it all weighs heavily on my heart. My past haunts me, regret and guilt tugging at my soul.