Page 28 of Unseen Lord

It only took a moment for Pitch to let out a caw that sounded reasonably close.

"See?" Devon said. "The floor is right there. We just can't see it. Drop. I'll be right behind you."

Everything in me said this was a bad idea, but in for a penny, in for a pound, as they say. I didn't actually know who said that or what it meant. Seemed to me if you lost a penny being stupid, you wouldn't want to add a pound to that mistake. But whatever. I was about to throw all my valuables into my mistake.

Those valuables being my bones and internal organs, naturally.

I readied myself, relaxing my muscles and preparing for a combat landing as I'd been taught.

And then, I released my hands and dropped.

Fear swelled up in my chest and I fought the instinct to contract my muscles and stiffen. That would make the impact more painful and dangerous, however far down it was. Instead, I made myself relax. I would roll into the landing, easing my body into it.

Not knowing when I would hit the floor was the hardest part.

I couldn't anticipate until it was already happening.

But instinct and years of training kicked in and I nailed the landing like a pro.

The ball of light had stayed with Devon, so I couldn't see my hand in front of me, let alone what else might be around. I shivered and raised my voice. "All clear. Come on down."

I stepped back so he wouldn't land on me, and hoped I wouldn't walk into something super creepy.

Skeletons would be okay.

As long as they were still dead.

But really, I preferred nothing dead or living.

Devon dropped gracefully in front of me. I could hear him more than see him. But the ball of light joined us and gave some illumination to the depths of the darkness.

"We made it," he said.

"Mmhmm." Like an idiot, I only just then considered how we were going to get out of there. It wasn't too long of a drop. I might be able to jump.

I shrugged. One problem at a time.

"Let's find your family's staff," I said with more enthusiasm than I felt.

Devon sent the light orbiting around us, and as my vision focused, I sucked in a breath. We stood in the middle of more treasure than I'd ever imagined in my life. Gold, jewels, chests overflowing with priceless heirlooms. It was a stunning display of wealth. A pirate's wet dream, to be sure.

Devon seemed unimpressed though. "I don't see the staff," he said, his voice thick with disappointment.

"We've only just begun looking," I said, surprised at his surliness. "Let's keep looking."

It took several hours. That's how big the cavern was. And it wasn't with the main treasure. We finally found it deep inside the underground caverns in its own dank little carved out hole, propped against the dirt wall.

Given its surroundings, it looked unremarkable at best. A wooden staff, simply made, carved inexpertly, with a crystal atop it.

But Devon acted as though his every wish and dream had come true. His eyes widened, and lips parted, and he practically glowed with anticipation.

I reached toward the staff, prepared to pass it to him, but his voice stopped me.

"Don't touch it!" He barked, his voice hard and angry.

I flinched and pulled back, surprised at his tone.

He softened his face at my reaction. "Sorry, it's just. No one has touched it for many years and I kinda wanted to be the first. You know? Since it was my family's?"