Page 117 of Stealing Embers
Our plan is flimsy at best, but we don’t have much of a choice. After going through what we both know about the situation—which admittedly isn’t a lot—and facing the reality of our situation—we may not make it a full night in the elements, and the twins don’t have the time for us to go back and look for help—our strategy is basically to rush into the main shaft and deal with problems as they come up.
It’s a horrible plan, and we both know it.
There’s a solid chance we won’t make it through the night. I feel it deep down in my bones.
What we are doing is basically a suicide mission. But what choice do we have?
I never really considered I’d go down like this, especially since I hadn’t known the evils that truly existed in the world. So considering that, I’m handling my demise fairly maturely. I manage to only hyperventilate when Steel’s back is turned.
“You’re sure you can’t phase?” I ask for the third time.
His only response is an annoyed glare shot over his shoulder like a bullet. His inability to phase is still a mystery. I haven’t been able to phase either, but that’s not unusual for me.
I would feel a lot better going into this dark tunnel in the spectrum world, flanked by Steel’s lion form.
Steel gives me the all clear sign, and we sprint toward the mine entrance.
My heart is beating so fast the blood rushing through my veins feels supercharged. This is the time I should be seeing bursts of color, but the world is conspicuously steady. I don’t even know where to start on trying to guess what’s keeping us from the spectrum world.
When we make it to the mine opening, and the world is pitched in darkness, I let out a relieved sigh. Something about breaking that invisible barrier allows me to relax. Although it shouldn’t. We are in more immediate danger here than outside, but I feel less exposed in the shadows.
Without speaking, we shuffle along the tunnel.
The dirt crunches beneath my feet, earning me a warning glare from my companion. Wordlessly, he shows me how to cut down the noise by walking heel to toe. After that, the only thing I can hear is my own breathing, and the faint whistle of air blowing outside the tunnel entrance.
No sound comes up from the path in front of us, and that concerns me. If there are Forsaken here, wouldn’t their voices travel in the rocky tunnel?
My concern balloons the longer we continue our slow progression into the abyss.
My imagination runs away from me for a bit, envisioning this trek ending in a melting lake of lava, or a weird government bunker where they experiment on captured Nephilim.
I snap back into reality and realize that not only have I not been on my guard, but I’ve also lost Steel.
Not a speck of light penetrates the passageway. My fingers skim over the rough cut walls of the shaft. Sediment has built up under my short nails, but I don’t dare remove my hand from the only lifeline I have. I’ll be walking completely blind if I do, likely to conk my head on something hard or trip on a divot in the uneven ground.
What scares me now is that I don’t sense Steel anywhere. He can travel this path as quietly as a ghost, but a few minutes ago I’m sure I felt his presence. Now I don’t.
Slowing my steps to a stop, I concentrate on the enclosure around me. Even though it doesn’t make a difference, I close my eyes and strain my hearing, hoping to pick up on even the barest hint of sound from his feet or breaths, but I sense nothing.
That is until something warm covers my mouth.
Chapter Thirty-Five
“Don’t make a sound.”
Steel is so getting throat punched later for freaking me out. I thought my heart was beating hard before. I was wrong. It’s like the organ has been replaced by a bass drum.
I press a palm to my chest, hoping the pressure will calm it.
With his hand still covering my mouth, Steel’s warm breath washes over the shell of my ear and cheek. When he bends forward, his lips brush my earlobe.
Squeezing my eyes, I order my body not to react.
“There’s a split in the tunnels a hundred feet ahead. We’re going to take the path on the left. I hear voices that direction. Stay close and alert.”
Steel’s hand slips away from my face after I nod, and he cautiously brushes past.
I swallow a gasp when he snags my hand, engulfing it with his bear paw.