We sprint towards the light at the end of the tunnel, towards the warm air filtering towards us. I hear the first creature launch itself from the tunnel, slamming into the wall opposite. It recovers quickly, scrabbling to get a grip on the stone floor. More pour out of the gaping hole, and the creatures pile on top of one another in their efforts to chase us. They hiss and bark, clicking their strange teeth together as they run. There's too many to fight, we have no choice but to run to the other portal and hope the creatures won't follow us.
“Hello, little beasties!” Sadal crows from the front. “I missed you!”
The creatures are gaining. I can feel their hot breath on the back of my neck. Suddenly, I hear a sharp cry of pain and fear. I glance back, sweat glistening on my brow. Erzur is on her knees, her elbows gashed and bloody where she fell. I skid to a halt and time slows. If Erzur fell here, I would have no obligation to her. I could have everything I want; her sun soldiers, Alnembra, and Verity. I run my tongue over my lips and meet Erzur’s dark eyes. She lifts a hand, reaching for me.
Suddenly, I see a flash of red streak past me. Verity sprints towards Erzur, moving as swiftly as a Fae. She reaches for the ebony-skinned woman, but the creatures fall on them both. Her scream wrenches me to my senses. My blood runs cold with fear as Verity and Erzur disappear beneath the horde of monsters. They trample the two women, trying to close in on me.
“Verity!” I roar, starting towards her.
A hand wraps around my bicep, tugging me backward. "We have to go," Thal grinds out, dragging me away from the woman I love.
“Let go, she needs help,” I snarl, twisting in his grip.
Thal pulls harder, tearing me away from the oncoming horde and towards the light. “You can’t help them now,” he grunts. “Come on!”
My lips part in a silent cry of pain and fear as I catch a glimpse of Verity’s red cloak through the mass of creatures. I pivot and follow Thal out of the cave. My chest is aching, blood frozen and roaring. I left her. We burst into the sunlight and the creatures hiss, shrinking back into the darkness. They turn, disappearing back into the tunnel as if the two women are prize enough. I bend at the waist, hands on my knees, and stare at a tuft of grass. I left her.
Chapter 8
Verity
I bite my tongue to hold back my screams as the strange creatures hoist me onto their shoulders. The bones of their spines dig into my body, and I force myself to look away from their leathery, almost translucent skin. They chitter back and forth, snapping their teeth together for emphasis. My mind is reeling as the creatures crawl deeper into the tunnels. The light from the exit disappears, leaving me in complete darkness. I widen my eyes, straining to see, but can only make out shapes and shadows in the darkness.
“You fool,” Erzur hisses from beside me. A different set of creatures carries her. “Why did you come back for me? You’re the entire reason we came to this gods-forsaken realm in the first place. And you could have had Altair all to yourself. Stupid girl.”
I open my mouth to retort when one of the creatures growls. I hear a loud, smacking sound and Erzur hisses in pain. The creatures grind their teeth together as if to warn us not to speak anymore. I bite down hard on my tongue again, trying not to remember their skin on mine. It's too soft, too dry, and too flexible. I shudder, Erzur's words echo in my mind. She's right. It would have been wiser to keep running, to follow the cackling Sadal out of the mountain. But the thought of leaving Erzur behind overwhelmed me with guilt. No matter how much a dislike the woman. I couldn't live with myself.
So I ran.
Suddenly, Erzur grunts and the creatures carrying her wail in pain. I turn towards her, watching as shapes in the darkness dart back and forth. I can hear her struggling, hear her fighting tooth and nail to get away from the creatures. They hiss and growl in protest. And then I hear Erzur scream. I hear her body crumple to the ground. I hear limbs and fists pummel down on her. She gasps, wheezing, and I smell the sharp tang of blood. But the creatures keep striking, beating her until I can hardly hear the sound of her wet breathing.
“Erzur?” I ask, voice warbling.
The creatures carrying me lumber forwards again, and I listen as the others collect Erzur from the ground. They drag her behind us, and she hisses in pain each time they pull her over a stone or into the wall. I wonder if they're doing it for fun. My heart beats wildly, fear coursing through me more powerfully than adrenaline. The tunnel grows cold, and the creatures halt. I cover my nose with the cloak as the stench of rotting corpses reaches me. I gasp, crying out when the creatures toss me to the ground.
I curl into the fetal position and listen as they drag Erzur' beside me. She grunts and I hear brief wrestling. Suddenly, cold, clammy hands are on me, roving over my body. I scream and lash out but fall silent as a clawed hand strikes me. My cheek stings and I feel hot blood drip down it. I go still, letting the creatures bind my ankles and wrists. They slink away when they're done, their strange noises fading the further they travel into the tunnels.
I wait a few minutes, gauging the silence. “Erzur?” I whisper.
The warrior-queen rustles beside me. “What?” She asks, her voice wet and thick from the blood.
“Are you okay?” I roll over, scooting my body like a
