Page 137 of Thief of Hearts

Chapter Forty-One

Zain ran back to me and I reached for him when he got close, helping him to get behind the rock.

“I think we have to kill the hydra for the door to open,” he said.

I nodded. “Are you ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

“When I call out your name, that means I need you to be prepared to cauterize.”

“Got it.” Then he leaned forward to kiss me quickly.

He looked as if he might say something final, so now I was the one putting a finger over his lips. “We are going to survive this.”

“If you say it, then it must be true.”

I smiled and then ran out from behind the rock, straight toward the hydra. It took all my instincts and ability to avoid the heads that snapped at me, trying to reach me.

Taking out one of my knives, I ran to the side of the hydra and jumped up, using the knife for purchase. The beast again screamed when the knife went into its side and I swung my body up to get onto its back.

The heads couldn’t turn around to get me, something I hadn’t realized before this moment.

“Zain!” I lifted my sword and cut into one of the necks. It was tougher than I would have thought it would be. The hydra screamed and tried to buck me off but wasn’t successful.

I saw Zain run out, but one of the heads dipped and swallowed a mouthful of water and used it to douse the flame.

That was unexpected.

“Go relight it!” I yelled.

He ducked behind the barrier and I hoped he would get it lit quickly. I started slicing into the various necks, preparing them for when I would cut through. The hydra kept screaming, kept trying to get me off. I took out another knife and used it to stabilize myself by sinking it into its back and holding on.

Zain emerged from behind the rock with the torch lit.

This time two heads grabbed water and spit it out. A third head darted forward and grabbed the doused torch out of Zain’s hands, then swallowed it whole.

What now?

The heads moved to the side to give the middle one room, and Zain ran, getting behind a different rock. The acid-head spit and it burned the rock.

I wanted to ask him if he was all right but didn’t want him drawing any attention to himself.

The hydra apparently had had enough and started running full tilt at the wall connected to the upper ledge. I realized it was going to slam into that wall and was hoping to throw me into it.

I yanked my knife out and used it to slide down the far side of the beast, rolling clear before it could toss me.

The entire cavern shuddered when the hydra hit the wall. I sprinted to where Zain was hiding, crouching down next to him.

“New plan?” I asked.

“New plan,” he agreed.

My knife felt sticky and I looked down to see black ichor dropping from my blade. “Is that its blood?”

“Looks like it.”

The hydra came to the edge of where the rock barriers were situated and scream roared.