you.”
I don’t like it. I’m not sure what Jason has planned, but if he’s as ticked off as he seems, it’s going to get rough in there.
“I’ll head up the last team,” Wyatt continues, “and make sure no one sneaks up on you.” He holds out his hand, and I take it. “Good luck. Don’t worry. We’ll take care of you.”
I wish I had that kind of optimism. A signal from Wyatt is given and the first two teams enter the building.
I go to Kera and Baun. He’s now wearing a stripped-down version of what he had on earlier. More on the heavy leather side than inflexible steel. It’s far more lightweight and practical for what we’re about to encounter. I wouldn’t mind something similar and I tell him. He smiles and touches both mine and Kera’s shoulders. The next moment we’re decked out in leather and breathable material. I run my hand over the protective steel armbands and pull on the crossing bands that hold my sword against my back. The dark brown pants and ivory shirt fit well, and the leather overshirt is snug without being too tight.
Kera inspects the embellished bronze cuffs on her wrists and shins and the thick belt that wraps around her waist as well as her upper left thigh, where her dagger is now stored along with a few throwing stars. She smiles and brushes her hands along the soft fabric. “It’s similar to one I own. Thank you, Baun.”
She already has an outfit like this? Definitely not a getup for a delicate noble’s daughter. Why did I ever think she couldn’t take care of herself?
I don’t see the point in delaying any longer. The teams have most likely cleared the first couple of rooms by now. “Ready?” I ask.
Kera glances from me to Baun, then stares straight at the Hall of Whispers. “There is no other way?” Doubt and fear seep into her voice.
Baun cocks his head as if he’s eavesdropping on our conversation, and not very subtly. I take her hand and pull her around a corner out of earshot. Her skin is cool, yet slightly damp. I take her face between my hands and tilt it up to mine. “There are three of us and one of him. No way can he win. It’s not possible.”
“Even if he gained his power like Baun said, I don’t understand what he’s doing. Nothing he does makes sense. He’s destroying everything, even himself, because you can’t create something this massive and not cause yourself harm,” she says and motions to the city around us.
He told me what he wanted. Me dead. He wants to go into the human world with a ruthless army he can control and rule them all. “It doesn’t matter why he’s doing this. It will all be over soon. I promise.”
She hugs me, and I hold her tight. We stand there, glued together for a moment before I pull away. “We’re going to be all right.”
“I believe you.” She rises on her tiptoes and kisses me. It’s soft and sweet and drives me crazy. She knows exactly how to move, exactly where to touch me to make me want more. I don’t want this to end, but I know it has to. I step back and hold her at arm’s length and smile. “Where did you learn to kiss like that?”
She smiles back. “You.”
I think I love her even more. I pull her close for one more kiss. Linger, then yank away. That addictive feeling I get when I’m near her is taking over and I can’t allow it. Not now. “We have to go.”
She places her forehead against my chest and sighs. “I know.”
I take her hand and we return to Baun.
The three of us climb the steps to the hall and the massive oak doors. Baun hesitates and says in Wyatt’s direction, “You do know there are men surrounding the area?”
Wyatt and the three men with him turn. An arrow takes out the guy on Wyatt’s left. Everyone takes cover and Wyatt pushes us forward.
We enter the hall and the doors slam shut. I tug, but they don’t budge. On the other side we can hear the muffled shouts of Wyatt and his men. So much for our backs being watched.
Baun puts his hand on my arm, stilling my efforts to open the door. “The best way to help everyone is to find your friend and end this.”
He’s right. Though I hate to admit it.
The foyer splits to the right and left. Kera starts to the right and I stop her. Call me crazy, but I suddenly don’t trust the obvious. “Wyatt says there’s a cheat. We can skip a whole series of traps if we can figure out how to open this wall.” I motion to the wall in front of us covered in little buttons carved like tiny flowers. “Each button has to be pushed in the right order or else there’s an explosion and we all die. Unfortunately, he’s never been able to figure out the code.”
Kera stands back and searches for a pattern the way I do. Baun steps forward, a little too close. He runs his fingers over the tiny flowers. I call him back at the same moment he pushes a button, then another and another. In all, he pushes twelve buttons and the wall slides apart. Only then does my heart start beating again.
“We could have died!” I snap.
“I may be blind,” he says, stepping through the new doorway, “but I can feel what you fail to see.”
I take a deep breath. I don’t know how he did it, but I’m happy he did. It cuts down on a lot of time and energy.
When we enter the room, the wall closes behind us. Directly in front of us are wooden walls. “It’s a maze.” One massive, over-the-top maze. Wyatt didn’t mention this place. I turn to Kera and a piece of thick glass springs up between us. She pounds on it, but it’s solid. I turn to Baun and the same thing happens.
I don’t like it. Jason knows all three of us are here and has managed to separate us. For once, he’s thinking on his feet and adjusting his actions to fit the situation. My science teacher would call that evolution in action. I call it a sick and twisted mind.
The only way out now is to go forward. Alone.
In front of each of us is an entrance to the maze, and beside it is a map tacked to the wall. It shows where I am and the exit. The paper suddenly catches fire, rapidly disintegrating before I can fully study it. I pull it off the wall and try my best to put out the fire. Nothing I do works. I drop it and watch it burn to ash.
Kera’s map is in flames as well. The same is true for Baun’s, though it’s pretty funny, seeing as how he can’t see.
“What’s going on?” his muffled voice asks.
“We’re in a maze,” I yell.
He nods that he understands and takes his staff and taps out the area in front of him.
Kera steps forward. She’s wringing the bottom of her shirt. I’m just as nervous, more for her than me. I put my hand to the glass and she places hers on mine. “It’ll be all right. I’ll see you at the other end.”
She nods and I watch her disappear into the maze. The wood scrolls closed behind her, shutting her off from me. My heart races for a second and all sorts of wild thoughts course through my head. None of them are realistic. The only way I’ll see her again is if I make it through to the other side.
I move closer to the entrance and peek in. The walls and floors are made from the same slatted wood panels. I step through and my panel slides shut.
It’s then I find out it’s a timed event. The paneled floor starts to drop away and I hear it clatter and bounce on its way down. I step quickly, trying to remember the basic direction I need to go. I take a wrong turn and end up in a dead end. Running back, the floor is partially gone on the path I need to take. I back up and run, leap, hit the opposite wall, and push off with my legs. I land and roll forward, bounce to my feet, and sprint ahead. When I get to a change in direction, I wait for the floor to pick the direction for me. It’s a cheat, but Jason isn’t playing fair.
I get to the end of the maze and there isn’t a door. I try and force my way through. I firebomb the hell out of it. Nothing works. I then wait for the floor to catch up, thinking it will open then, but it doesn’t. I jump up and spread my arms and legs, bracing them against the walls as the floor drops away into a gaping hole.
Taking little hops, I maneuver up the wall to the top. I straddle the wall and see Kera. She had the same idea, sort of. While I was spread-eagled, her hands are pressed against one wall and her feet are against the other. There’s no way she’ll be able to grab the top and swing out. I stand on the narrow wall and balance my way over to her.
“Need help?”
She cocks her head to the side and peers up at me. “Please.”
I straddle the wall, grab her arms, and pull her up beside me.
