Page 29 of The Void

Mia had mentioned she’d worked at a coffee shop. She lived in the same apartment complex as Scott had, and he knew firsthand that space in that building was expensive. Besides, the family’s house just outside of Atlanta obviously cost a pretty penny to keep up.

She drove a fancy new car. Had a college education. And from what he could tell, before they’d come here, dressed in the highest of fashion.

The longer he explored the space, the more he realized that each room was separated into millennia time frames, with the oldest being the farthest from the main area. When he walked around the bookcases, he realized those in the great room were most likely from the past thousand years.

When he heard Mia gasp, he rushed to her side to look over her shoulder.

“Did you find something?” he asked.

“It’s all here.” She pointed to the text.

“How to get my abilities back?” he asked, wishing more than ever that he’d had the forethought to study the dead language.

“I haven’t gotten to that part, but…” She glanced up at him. “We’re here.” She pointed. “Us. This.” She motioned around then turned back to the book and slowly talked as she trailed her fingers over the symbols. “How we both came to Kòngbái separately. Me being sent by the three fates, exiled here until I make right what my ancestors messed up.” She stopped and frowned at the pages. “Make things right, it says.” She shook her head and continued. “How you came here, your long trip across the desert in chains, dragged by Proteus, the shape-shifter of sand and sea. How you befriended Jain and gained information from her.” She paused scanning ahead. “Us coming here to the cave.” She pointed and the gasped again. “They even have…that in here.” She waved towards the sofa where they had been naked earlier.

“How?” He frowned, wondering if she was joking with him.

Mia stood suddenly and scanned ahead. Then she slammed the book close.

“What?” He frowned.

Her eyes were huge as she turned to him, shaking her head. “I… we can’t read any more.” She looked like she was going to throw up.

“Why not?” He moved to open the book again, and she stopped him.

“A warning. Stop reading now or your fates will be twisted and forever parted and all will be destroyed,” she said. “No, seriously, stop reading this now, Mia. It said those exact words,” she added with a shiver.

Then she took a deep breath. With a flick of her wrist, she sent the book away. It disappeared silently into the darkness of the cave.

He wanted to rush after it, to see if he could figure out their next move himself, but she stopped him.

“Try shifting,” she said suddenly, crossing her arms over her chest.

“What?” He frowned at her.

She nodded with her head. “Try it.”

He sighed and stood back, then focused. When nothing happened, she moved forward, slowly lifting her arms to circle around his neck. She lifted on her toes, brushed her lips across his.

He lost himself in the kiss. The feeling of her next to him.

“Now try,” she purred as she stepped back.

Without thinking about it, he morphed until his hellhound form and hovered high over her.

When he took this form, all of his senses were heightened. He could smell the fading scent of the sex they’d just had feet away on the sofa. The age of the books and scrolls mixed with the ink and animal hide used to keep the Li’s family history alive.

He could smell fresh rain, sand, trees, and… he stilled. Lifting his nose to the air, he let out a low growl. Someone else was near. They were just outside the cave, as if searching for the entrance. He could smell the frustration. The anger. The slight magic they held.

It was almost like Mia’s but… different somehow.

“Lucas?” Mia asked, glancing over her shoulder. “What is it?”

“Someone’s out there.” He sent the thoughts into her mind. Then he placed his large body between the stranger’s smell and Mia.

“Easy,” she said softly. “No one can enter the cave except a djinn.” She held onto him. “We’d better get back to the city.” With one swipe of her hand, their mess from the day disappeared. “Come on,” she said, frowning at him. “Turn back. I’d hate to explain to anyone why I brought a dog into the city.”

“I’m not a dog.” He growled, baring his teeth to her, which only made her smile bigger. When he shifted back, he took her hand in his. “You’re sure no one else can enter this place?” he asked, looking off towards the scents that he could no longer smell now that he wasn’t in his animal form.