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“There is a power, something I’ve never felt before ahead of us.”Tsai’s voice came back to me.“I feel if we go, not all of us will return.”
Why did her words feel like a foreshadowing?
Chapter 2
Croygen
Our feet echoed, accompanied by the soft sound of water trailing down the cave walls, tapping on the rocks. The water bled into the cave from the river rushing close by, bubbling up underground streams through the cave. I timed my breaths to the drops of water, focusing on them like sand in an hourglass. Water soothed the anxiety, the nails clawing on the inside of my skin to get out and feel the wind on my face, taste the salty ocean on my lips.
Though something else pulled me forward, a restlessness I couldn’t find the ultimate reason for. Anger, fear, and desperation strangled my lungs. Of course, finding the nectar for AB and Kat drove me forward, but there was something else. It unsettled me, made me feel violent and unhinged, the desire to plow through the rocks, tear them all down.
For her…
A voice nipped in the back of my brain.
No.I shook my head, trying to push away my own thought as it settled in my chest.Fuck no.
Although I couldn’t deny the notion, I felt her. If I reached out, I would be able to find her. Like she was latched on to me, and no matter where I went in this world, I would know where she was in it.
No. No. No. No.That idea had acid swirling in my stomach, terror clamping down on my lungs.
“Bebinn,I’mdy-ing!” Chatter reached my ears from several feet in front of me, the back of Annabeth’s head outlined by my torch. “I mean, I’m on the verge of no return. Look around, I’m already here. In the pits of despair. So don’t I get a final meal? A last wish on a dying sprite’s bed? Is there no compassion in this cruel, cruel world?”
“You had a granola bar ten minutes ago.”
“Exactly!” Sprig’s shape stood up on her shoulder. “And let me say that one was lacking the proper ratio of honey. I feel like I’m withering away.”
“It was a trail mixhoneygranola bar.”
“See, the trail mix took up all the room for more honey,” he whimpered, sagging back on his heels. “I mean, it didn’t even have honey drizzle on top.”
“Hey, fur pelt.” I pointed my beam directly at Sprig’s face, highlighting the tiny monkey on her shoulder. “Shut the hell up.”
“But… I’m gonna die!” He sniffed. “Does no one care?”
“No!” Both Cooper and I said in unison.
The Dark Dweller was directing us; his senses and ability to see in the dark put him as lead, taking us through the pitch-black caves with only our flashlights to guide us.
“Bebinn…”Sprig’s bottom lip stuck out, whining. “I’m dy-ing! And you look like you need nutrients too.”
My light caught AB’s face. Pale, tired, she appeared ready to drop, yet she pushed on without one complaint. It had been hours without a break. Up and down huge boulders, squeezing through small fissures, crossing creeks, scaling rocks. It had to be draining for her.
“You’re right. We should stop and take a break,” I said.
“What?” Sprig’s head darted to me in shock. “Did you say I’m right?”
“Don’t let your pea size brain explode. You’ve been either sleeping, eating, or sitting there complaining.” I motioned to the three of us. “Weneed a break.”
“I got down a few times.”
“To pee in the stream,” I shot back.
“I pooed too!”
Shaking my head, I tugged off my pack, getting food and water out while Cooper started a fire. The massive cavern glowed under the flames, making it feel like a campfire at night. I had no idea what time it was, but Annabeth’s fatigue and the fact she didn’t fight us when we told her to sit while we set up told me we were done for the day.
The need to keep moving nipped at me, like I had restless body syndrome itching at my muscles, almost to the point I couldn’t sit still. Taking out a bottle of whiskey, I downed a gulp, needing to take the edge off.
