Page 41 of Truth
He took the rope as I approached and wrapped it around me in a fancy way, before explaining that I need to keep my feet on the wall and slowly go down, keeping one hand on the rope behind me as I lowered. I wasn’t simply afraid of this; I was terrified. But I needed to get it done, we needed to save people and now wasn’t the time to let fear control me.
I positioned myself over the edge of the cliff before Oak leaned in, kissing me hard before he broke away. “You can do this. I’ll be right behind you and Sterling is down there waiting.”
I knew they wouldn’t let me fall. But the feeling of free-falling in the air, depending only on a rope, wasn’t something I was looking forward to. “If Sterling is not down there riding that lion, I’m going to be disappointed.”
“That lion better be riding Sterling. Sterling needs a little less control.”
This made me laugh right before my body heated. The thought of even one of my men being controlled by the others had my body flushing. I had to take some calming breaths to cool my nerves and libido. What the fuck is going on? Maybe it’s the distance? Like I can’t handle having space between myself and the men? I had been with them every single day since the mess in the alley. Even Lenin and Justice, who joined us later, hadn’t parted ways. Maybe we aren’t meant for distance.
I took one look behind me, thankful that the distance from here to the water wasn’t that vast just in case I fell, then I plunged downward, gripping the rope so tight I knew I would have rope burn. Above me, Oak’s eyes never left mine, his body tense, ready to pounce if I needed help.
“I’m going to grab your legs.” Sterling warned when I reached the bottom. It hadn’t taken as long as I had thought it would have.
His arms reached out, wrapping around my legs, and the panic and anxiety I felt as I slowly made my way down the edge of the cliff evaporated. I was safe with him; I was safe with all of them, really. But I hadn’t realized how much I craved the safety of their touch until I was in a dangerous situation without being able to reach for them.
My feet touched the edge of the ledge, before Sterling lifted me over the stone carving and placed me on the solid ground next to him and Michelle. Moments later, Oak’s boots appeared before his legs lowered, and his body swung toward us. He landed next to me, his hand instantly finding my own before he squeezed.
“I don’t see an opening.” Sterling declared.
Oak inhaled deep, “But I sense it.”
“Me too.”
I felt the wall, the stone cold against my palm. A slight vibration thrummed against my hands. I moved my fingers around, searching, listening to the magic as it shifted against my skin. I closed my eyes, channeling Lenin and trying to think what he would tell me to do. I pulled at the faint strings of magic, coaxing it toward me, asking it to use my body as storage, then I followed the strings of magic to the center of the wall.
The pulsing under my hands grew, “Here. It opens here.”
“How?” Oak asked, and I knew he didn’t actually expect an answer, he was merely thinking out loud.
What would Lenin do? Fuck. I didn’t know. The stress of the situation and the dwindling time was making it hard to think, impossible to concentrate. I ran my fingers over the groove of the stone, wishing Oak brought his book. “Do you have the book?”
“No.” I didn’t think so, “We have Lenin now so it’s not nearly as important, anyway.”
True, except we don’t have Lenin with us at the moment, though I wish we did. I could use the support of my gentle giant at my back, lifting me to the unreachable spots if needed. My fingers caught in a groove, the feeling and shape familiar. I closed my eyes, feeling the shape of the groove again. Memorizing it before comparing it with things that I already am familiar with. It took me longer than it should have to make the connection, but when it did, I dragged my necklace off my neck and held it up.
“It’s the key!” I announced, and none of them questioned me when I fumbled around in the dark to locate the groove and shove my necklace inside.
At first, there was no movement at all, and I thought maybe I misjudged it. But it’s not by chance that something of would match so perfectly. I jiggled the stone, snuggling it deeper into the grove. The wall rumbled, the low hum turning it into a violent movement before it slid to the side, exposing a tunnel.
It was dark, so damn dark that I feared stepping into it. I could be trapped. We all could. This could be our last moments breathing real air, and we’ve spent every breath until now taking the oxygen in our lungs for granted. I couldn’t take the first step, though I knew I should. I needed to prove to them I could be a ruler, that I was stronger than Greta thought, as great as the fates expected.
With my lungs full of the sweet air of the outside world, I took a step forward onto the smooth stone flooring. Then another. Until I was standing inside the cave, with my men at my back and my best friend to my side. I swallowed the lump in my throat. Ignoring the chills that ran through my body. Pretended that the aches and pains that shot up my thighs were nothing. Then, I turned around, giving the darkness and unknown my back.
“Michelle, some light please.” It was a demand issued regally and not questioned. Michelle’s palm lit up with a flame, the fire glowing brightly against the blackness that surrounded us. The flames flicked up higher, casting a glow that reached ten feet in front of us.
I straightened my spine, my bones popping before I turned around and shook out my hands. With one final relaxing breath, I descended into the cave, keeping my chin held high and my hands ready, waiting for the moment when I would be forced to call forth the energy from the earth, pulling it into my body, and delivering it to the faces of evil.
Chapter 20
OAK
We were on borrowed time.I had absolutely no question of it. I could sense her pain, her troubles, her fears, but there was nothing I could do to sooth her. We all discussed it while she was binge watching Netflix with Michelle. We all got together without her and addressed what we all knew. What we could smell coating her skin like the most alluring of perfumes. The truth of it was hard to accept, but whether or not we accepted, it would not stop the facts, it wouldn’t halt the fates’ plans.
As for Justice, I think he feared her, still hung up on that one time she controlled him to save my life. But even past the fear, I can see the appreciation and sense the admiration. He wanted her. He may hate that fact, despise her because of it, but it wouldn’t stop it. He knew, we all knew, that when the time came his biology wouldn’t stop him from claiming her, from biting her, from declaring his ownership over her mind and body.
In front of us, she led the way through the dark and I had to fight not to stand in front of her, not to protect her. But she was the leader, our leader, even if she hadn’t realized it just yet, and I would not make her appear weak. She walked tall, her chin held high, and just watching her made my chest swell with pride.
She glanced over her shoulder, her blue eyes sparkling gems in the firelight. “How long do you think this will go on?”