Page 75 of What Beats Within the Tunnels

I snatch the bottle from his grasp, curious.

“What’s this?” I scan the label. Whimsical Whiff: This potion, upon uncapping, exudes a fragrance evoking the inhaler’s most cherished memory.

I arch an eyebrow, challenging him with a playful smirk. “And what would your nose catch, I wonder?”

Colton leans in, his voice a sultry whisper. “You.”

My heart skips, but I prod further, feigning innocence. “A young rose garden? Perhaps honeysuckle in bloom?”

His eyes glow slightly as he shakes his head. “I’d be reminded of your come, intimately intertwined with me.”

A hot flush creeps up my neck, and I steal a glance at the shopkeeper, hoping he’s oblivious to our conversation. Suppressing a laugh, I give Colton a playful shove.

“Insufferable,” I tease.

“Here, this could bring a new twist to the bedroom,” Colton suggests, lobbing a bottle my way, his eyes lighting up. Catching it, I read. Chameleon Concoction: Temporarily alters the drinker’s hair or eye color.

“Very funny,” I retort, playfully throwing it back to him. He chuckles and returns it to its spot on the shelf. “See anything you want?”

I shake my head. “Nothing’s caught my eye.”

Just then, I pause, my attention captured by a familiar bottle. Serenity Soak: One Twilight Use; Empty into Evening Waters. This is what Lili used to pour in my baths when I couldn’t sleep. It always relaxed me, and I used to love how it changed the water’s color.

Gently, I pull out the cork top and breathe in the lavender and vanilla scent. I love that smell. I push the cork back in and place the bottle back on the shelf. Colton watches me. “Do you want that? We can use it later,” he winks.

“No, that’s okay,” I tell him, giggling. Although the idea of getting in a bath with him is definitely appealing.

“Then shall we?” He gestures toward the exit.

Nodding, I head to the door. “I’ll be right out,” he says, pausing at the counter.

Once outside, I’m curious about his purchase, but I resist the urge to peek. Nyx and Drew are nowhere in sight. They’ve likely lost themselves in the magical allure of another shop.

Drawn by an inexplicable feeling, I cruise toward a series of tents by the creek. One in particular nestled closest to the water beckons me. I hesitate, feeling I should wait for Colton. Then I remember our tether. He’ll know where to find me when he’s ready.

The entrance to the tent is decorated with little silver bells that chime melodiously even in the absence of a breeze. Inside, amidst the dim, smoky ambiance, sits an old woman with iridescent eyes. Her face is half-hidden beneath a hood.

“Are you here for a reading?” she inquires. I glance around, momentarily taken aback, ensuring she’s addressing me. “Oh, no, I...”

This doesn’t seem like a typical shop, and there aren’t any items for purchase.

“You should be,” she states with quiet conviction.

“Why is that?” I ask, unsure if she’s a seer or possesses some other ability.

“I recognize the darkness lurking within you. Even now, the shadows sense their kin,” she replies, causing my heart rate to quicken with unease.

“What does a reading entail?” I ask, pushing past the instinctual part of me that urges me to flee the tent.

“Whatever the gods show me, you too will witness. It varies for each person. Sometimes, I see nothing. However, with you, I believe we might glimpse something profound,” she intones. I take a few tentative steps closer. “Please, have a seat,” she beckons, motioning to the chair across the table from her. Despite my apprehension, a compulsion to comply takes over, and I find myself seated. “Your life is entwined with another’s,” she observes. Uncertainty grips me. Is she sensing the tether I share with Colton or alluding to my fated bond with Nyx?

Before I can voice my question, the table vibrates ominously. My eyes dart to hers as they widen in anticipation. “Place your palms flat on the table,” she commands. I hesitate, but then I do as instructed. Her hands cover mine, and abruptly the table morphs into a milky abyss.

We’re pulled forward, plunging into its depths. Overwhelmed by a rising panic, my surroundings blur and darken.

We’re cast into an all-encompassing void. My heart beats wildly, each thud echoing in the engulfing silence. What feels like forever, yet could have been mere seconds, elapses before my eyes acclimate. I’m isolated in the tunnels, as if ensnared by one of my midnight mind visions. Tracing the intricate branches on the walls, I brace for the whispers, but they remain eerily absent.

Instead, the soft rhythm of a heartbeat resonates, heralding the appearance of a shadowy female figure. Though her face remains concealed, her words are clear. “You must choose, Lyra.” It evokes memories of my past encounter in the burning forest.