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I looked down at Tory. She had finally stilled, but her breathing was still unsteady, and I could feel her heart racing when I checked her pulse.
“How’s she doing?” Wesley asked.
“I think she’s coming out of it. It doesn’t take long, it’s just disturbing to watch. You need to find that door so we can get her out of here.” Wesley walked over to the back wall, carefully stepping over the mummies. I watched him work, running his fingers over the engravings and murmuring to himself. I couldn’t tell if he was reading the inscriptions, talking to himself, or chanting.
Tory shifted slightly in my arms, and I looked down at her face. Her light brown skin seemed paler than usual, and she wore no makeup, but to me she was the most beautiful woman in the world. Despite the amount of hatay that were willing to burst through that door and slay us all, and the thought that we were currently trapped underground with no clear way out, I couldn’t help but send a prayer of thanksgiving to the gods that she was finally back in my arms.
I brushed her hair away from her face, and the touch seemed to calm her, so I did it again, softly running my fingers through her hair. Her breathing softened, and her eyelashes fluttered. Then finally, her eyes opened. When they did, I stared down not into the dark eyes of Lady Victoria Astley-Hawke, but into the golden eyes of the divine creature I loved.
She stared up at me quietly, not saying anything for a moment, then she reached out a shaky hand and caressed my face with the lightest of touches.
“You found me.”
“Of course, my love. We will always find you.”
“Jack, what’s going on? I don’t remember... I can’t think…”
I smiled. “You won’t remember everything yet, but it’ll come to you. Don’t force it. Don’t worry, all is well. We are here to protect you, as we always have been. You have nothing to fear.”
She looked confused, and I didn’t blame her. I wished I could tell her everything, but she had to remember for herself. She’d never believe us if she didn’t.
“Jack… No, that’s not right.” She hesitated. “No, not Jack. Merys?”
I felt the prick of tears in my eyes and a hard lump in my throat that I tried to swallow down. I nodded. “Yes, my queen, I was Merys once. You remember?”
“I remember... remember... Those were memories? Jack, I don’t understand.” She looked frightened and confused. Her normally golden-brown skin was pale, even in the firelight, and I ached for her. I wanted to hold her and take her somewhere warm and comfortable, and let her deal with this revelation slowly, but I couldn’t do that.
“I’m so sorry, Tory, but we have to go now.” I stood, helping her to her feet. She swayed slightly and grabbed onto me, so I slipped my arm around her waist, holding her steady.
She turned back to look at the room beyond, and her eyes fell on the corpse of a hatay that had fallen twenty metres or so from where we stood.
“What the hell is that?” she asked slowly.
“That is one of the hatay, and they are coming for us now. We need to get out of here.”
She looked over to the archway. The chests and furniture had been pulled aside just enough to make a gap big enough for West and Zayn to slip through. We could hear their shouts from the tunnel and occasional gunshots.
“West?”
“West can take care of himself, trust me. The quicker I get you out, the quicker he can leave too, now come on.”
“But—”
“Dammit. For once, Tory, don’t argue or you’ll get us all killed.” I took her hand and pulled her around the sarcophagus to where Wesley still stood gazing at the wall.
“Wesley?” she exclaimed.
He nodded. “I’m so sorry I brought you here. I never would have—”
“We don’t have time, Wes. Do you have that door opened yet?”
“Almost.” He ran his hands over one of the reliefs, murmuring something.
Tory stared at him in shock, the look on her face one of horror and betrayal. I was glad he was facing the wall and didn’t see her expression.
“You’re in on this too?”
He didn’t turn around, instead continuing his work. His voice drifted sadly back to us. “I’m afraid I have only just regained my own memories of who we are, my bright one. Had I known, I never would have brought you here. I never would have put you in so much danger.”
