Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 123190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
When the cavern lights up, the light bouncing off the crystalline wings of the tiny pixies sleeping in the stalactites, I mutter a quick thanks to the Mother and push forward.
A small tributary flows across the cavern floor, draining out the mouth where I entered. It’s mostly dry now but explains the mud. Ahead, the cavern forks. A glance to the right reveals a wide path toward the forest—probably the easier way to get into this cave than the way I entered. I make a mental note to exit that way. To the left, the cavern continues to wind deeper into the mountain.
As I advance, I watch my steps to dodge the stalagmites. I don’t bother avoiding the water. My boots are as filthy as I am. If the portal is here, Misha must’ve used magic to clean himself off before returning to Castle Craige—or used it to shield his clothes as he moved through the cavern.
The tunnel narrows as it turns and twists deeper into the mountain. I have to walk sideways through the narrowest part, but a full-grown male would have to worm through the wider section at my feet.
Up ahead, on the other side of this narrow tunnel, something red glows.
The portal.
I need to get closer. To know for sure. Not all portals look the same. Some look like doorways and some look like tunnels, but when they’re active, most glow, too full of magic to contain their light.
I shove through the last few feet of narrow tunnel and spill out into a slippery bowl. My feet shoot out from under me and my teeth snap together as I fall to my rear and slide all the way to the bottom of the muddy basin.
The red glowing portal is opposite the tunnel and stretches from floor to the cavern ceiling nearly ten feet above my head. It’s the shape of a cat’s pupil. All I have to do is climb up the other side.
My boots squish in the mud as I fight my way across. The glowing cat eye ripples.
I freeze and look again, watching something move on the other side. Is that a face? Is someone about to come—
The portal rips open.
No. Not a portal.
A bat as tall as this cavern. A cave demon.
The red-eyed beast spots me, and his angry cry echoes off the walls. His wings—bloodred and as glowing and translucent as a magical portal—extend at least twelve feet, nearly hitting the walls on each side.
His eyes meet mine, and I’m frozen. Frozen as my mind shows me images of my body rotting in this festering mud. He will tear me apart. And I will deserve it for waking him up.
I’m dead. I already know I’m dead. I’m sorry, Misha.
The demon scoops his wings back and lunges at me, his serrated teeth snapping only feet in front of my face.
RUN!
The word is a command, shouted in my brain. It doesn’t come from me, but I don’t question it. I conjure a fistful of fire and hurl it right into the demon’s blazing eyes, then turn, fighting against the pull of the mud as I will my legs back to the tunnel.
Behind me, the demon roars. His pained cries threaten to tear apart my eardrums. With every step I take, I slide half a step back down toward the center of the basin, but I keep climbing, keep fighting my way toward that tunnel.
I grab for the ledge, and as my fingers close around it, a massive squelching sounds behind me. He’s coming.
I take hold with the other hand and pull myself up, my hands aching, arms shaking. Up, up—if I can just get my knee on the ledge.
Something wraps around my ankle and in the next breath, I’m yanked back and my jaw slams into the ledge. I taste copper on my tongue. The cave demon has my leg, but I flail and kick until my foot comes free of my boot. I make it back to the ledge, but he’s right there, only a step behind me.
Get out of there!
I pull my blade from between my shoulders. The demon’s big hand swipes at me, long nails cutting deep trenches through my clothes and into my flank. With a scream, I plunge the blade right between his eyes.
He falls, taking my sword with him, and I run to the tunnel, pushing my way through as fast as I can with one boot and gaping wounds in my side.
When the tunnel opens again, I collapse to my hands and knees. All my strength is leaving with the blood seeping out my side. I can’t bring myself to stand again, so I crawl, dragging myself around the turns.
Just as the cavern widens, I drop to the ground, my cheek lying in the mud. My eyes won’t stay open. I’m so tired.