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Rez turned her in the direction of the tunnel and her heart slipped into a new gear. She knew with every fae instinct she possessed, she was heading into Underworld.
Chapter Twelve
The trip through the tunnel took longer than Rez expected, though less than three minutes. Because of Holly’s focus and increased power, he estimated the distance they traveled to be at eight maybe ten miles through barren caves and always moving on an incline. Underworld it would seem was high in the mountains, yet still in a cave system.
The entrance was unguarded probably because of the spell Lanarae had put in place.
Sweet Goddess, Holly murmured within his mind as the three of them stepped into the present.
The tunnel had led into a massive cavern that had been sculpted into a palace of crystal beauty. Rez had never seen so many crystals in one location, of all colors. It must have cost a fortune.
But it was a vile juxtaposition to the sight of at least two dozen realm and human captives, caged within glass enclosures that lined opposite sides of the cavern. Glittering crystals of varying hues, also adorned the enclosures.
Because of decades battling the Invictus, Rez thought he knew the extent of evil his fellow realm persons could inflict on each other. But here was a place so low, so full of the basest pursuits, he wasn’t sure he could take it.
Only the wealthiest of either the Nine Realms or the earth world would be able to afford the merchandise being sold or perhaps auctioned here tonight.
There were even gremlins in a few of the crystal-adorned cages.
Oregis murmured, “So that’s where they go. Sold into slavery. By all the elf-lords in hell –”
Holly leaned closer to Rez. “I don’t know if I can handle what I’m seeing. This is an auction, isn’t it?”
“Looks like it.”
Worse were the well-shod, jewel-emblazoned assholes, with their flutes of champagne and smug smiles, ready to bid.
Applause erupted spontaneously at the opposite end of the sloped space. With hundreds of people present, their small party wouldn’t be noticed. Not even a gremlin perched on Rez’s shoulder incited much interest. This crowd had seen and done it all. Bastards.
“Why is everyone clapping?” Holly asked.
“My guess is the bidding’s about to start.”
When Cruce and Lanarae suddenly appeared on what was a platform at least fifty feet away, he instinctively gripped Holly harder. He felt her draw in a deep calming breath but he sensed her nerves. No amount of meditative breathing was going to help.
So much despair.
Her words inside his head brought his gaze back to the glass cages. She was right. Several of the captives he could see nearby were either slumped with the burden of their situation or had been drugged into a submissive stupor.
He could see a number of them on his left, but the crowd was too thick to allow him a view of the captives on the other side. Of those he could see, none were Isobel.
Degradation was the order of the day since each captive was completely naked. The wealthy would want to know exactly what they were getting.
He hated that Holly had to see any of this. I wish I could take you out of here.
We’ve figured out the general location, so that’s something. But more importantly, we need to find Isobel. I’m hoping like anything she’s not here.
Rez pathed, As a reminder, she has wavy brown hair like mine, light blue eyes, dimple in her chin. But you saw her in the vision, right?
I did. Trust me, I would know her if I saw her.
Good. His heart was in his throat. He didn’t know what he would do if he found Isobel caged up like any of the captives here.
Oregis thumped Rez’s head. “We’ve got four toughs heading our way.”
“I thought we’d have some time.”
Holly remained quiet, though he swore he could hear her heartrate increase.
