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Just like the darkness they’d seen in the labyrinth.
Though the Anasso’s mind had steadily deteriorated over the years, unfortunately he hadn’t lost his strength. Which meant that he’d created widespread chaos and devastation.
“I’m talking about the former Anasso,” she told Ryshi.
“I never crossed paths with him.”
“He went insane drinking tainted blood at the end….” She shook her head in disgust. She didn’t have the words to describe the pathetic creature the once proud vampire had become. “He was horrifying.”
“Greasy with crazy eyes?” Ryshi asked, a cautious hope easing his tense expression.
“Yes,” Sofie assured him. “Plus he spent the last few years of his life in a series of caverns just south of Chicago.”
Ryshi released his breath on a low hiss. “That would explain why I felt drawn to that area.”
Sofie nodded. She’d only visited the caverns a couple of times, but she had been told that they stretched for miles along the banks of the Mississippi river with endless places to hide treasure. It wouldn’t be surprising if the container holding Zena captive was still buried among the previous Anasso’s belongings.
“We should search the caverns. The container was probably left behind when Styx moved into his lair in Chicago.”
He paused, a strange smile touching his lips. “We?”
“Of course. We’re partners, remember?”
His eyes blazed with pleasure, his smoke swirling through the air to wrap around her.
“I like the sound of that.”
“Me too.” Unable to resist the caress of his magic, Sofie started to lean forward only to halt as the floor shuddered beneath them. “Ryshi.”
“I sense it.”
Grabbing her hand, Ryshi leaped to his feet and pulled her close as they watched a hole begin to form in the middle of the floor.
Sofie muttered a curse. She’d been on guard for any hint of the minotaurs, but she hadn’t considered being trapped by the strange darkness.
“We need to get out of here.”
Together they skirted the edge of the rapidly expanding hole, trying to reach the entrance before the entire floor disappeared. They might have escaped if a mist hadn’t suddenly poured out of the hole, wrapping around their ankles and dragging them into the black pit before they realized their danger.
Holding tightly to each other, they tumbled through the endless void that consumed them.
Chapter 20
Levet fell out of the sky like a rock being tossed over the edge of a cliff. Landing on his head, he bounced twice before coming to a halt next to a babbling stream.
“Ouch.”
Grimacing in pain, Levet forced himself to his feet, rubbing his bruised horns. He’d been assured that his skull was the thickest part of his body, but it hadn’t kept his brain from being scrambled by the bone-shattering impact. He could already feel a headache forming. Grumbling in annoyance and imagining the pleasure of giving the stupid minotaur a huge, putrid abscess on the tip of his snout, Levet was distracted as he caught sight of the large figure sprawled on the grass. With a soft cry, he scurried forward to lean over the female who’d stolen his heart.
“Inga!” Her eyes remained closed, and her body didn’t so much as twitch beneath the green muumuu that spread around her like a tidal wave of lime. “Non!” Leaning forward, he yelled directly into her ear. “Inga! Can you hear me?”
There was a grunt, followed by a cough before Inga slowly lifted her lashes to reveal her stunning blue eyes. Mermaid blue.
“How could I not hear you?” she grumbled. “Why are you shouting in my ear?”
“Oh.” Levet’s wings fluttered in relief. “You are awake.”
“Who could sleep through that racket?”
