“We’re getting closer. The main apparatus should be straight ahead.” We paced past the third engine. I stared up at the massive structure. Something moved on one of the tubes leading up, though it was too dark to see much.
“Do you see that?” I asked.
Maveryck stopped to stare up. “Yes.”
I held my knife tightly as creatures took shape. I counted three, maybe more. They moved like leeches. We’d never defeat that many.
“Run,” Maveryck said.
I followed behind him as we raced past the machine. Howls pierced through the air behind us. In the tunnel ahead, the light grew dim once again. I ran with Maveryck ahead of me. Bloodcurdling shrieks followed. How close were they?
I glanced back briefly. Dozens of red eyes trailed behind us, some closer than I realized.
“Faster,” I shouted.
A looming set of iron-clad doors rose before us. Maveryck blasted out with his magic. The doors burst open. The explosion rocked the ground. I barely managed to stay on my feet. We sprinted past the careening doors.
Maveryck whirled around, sealing the doors closed with his magic, though several creatures made it through.
Greenish pus seeped from the nodules protruding from their flesh-colored scales, dripping on the floor in sickening plops. A fireball shot from Maveryck’s hands, scorching two, though one remained. It was larger than the rest, nearly twice the length of Maveryck’s height, the ridges on its spine more pronounced. It scurried around us in a side-to-side motion, moving quickly.
Maveryck shot a ball of fire at it, but it leapt aside. It reared up at him, razor-sharp teeth aimed for the man’s throat. I sprinted to the beast, my heart pounding. Coming up behind it, I jumped on its back. My knife gripped tightly, I impaled it between its shoulder blades. It shrieked as it spun on me, leaping for my throat, its crimson-tinged eyes wide with bloodlust.
A blue fireball engulfed its body, throwing it aside. The creature’s body hit the wall. The blackened corpse slid to the floor.
I wiped my blade on my tunic, cleaning off the blood. Breathing heavily, I turned to Maveryck.
“That was close. It almost ripped out our throats.”
“Yes, let’s avoid them in the future.”
On the other side of the doors, the creatures’ wails grew louder. Their nails scraped the metal. I hoped they didn’t claw through. Maybe they’d realize we’d killed their companions, and they should just give up already.
One could hope.
I glanced around the room we entered. It was larger than I expected, with a floor that sloped in the center, leading to a lake of dark water. At its center, atop an island, sat the final machine. A purple glow surrounded the clanking metal gears and twisting pipes.
“The stone must be there. The purple glow is caused by unicorn magic.”
“How are we supposed to cross?” I asked, my voice echoing, mingling with the noise.
“I’m not sure. Let’s walk around it. Maybe there’s a bridge somewhere.”
I kept my knife close as we paced the lake’s edge. The air smelled of grease and sulfur. I couldn’t take my eyes off the water’s surface. The dirty liquid was stagnant and black. It moved sluggishly. A film of oil spread across its surface, all the way to the machine at the center.
When we reached the other side, we still hadn’t spotted a way to cross the gulf of black water.
“I’m not swimming,” I said.
“That’s probably a good idea. Perhaps I can create some sort of spell to get us across.”
“You mean make us fly?”
“I can’t make us fly.”
“Float, then?”
“Perhaps.”
He stared in deep concentration at the island’s center. The machine took up most of it, though walkways had been built on its half-dozen levels. Obviously, someone had made it over there if they’d built it with walkways.
“If I do this, it means I’ll be using more of my magic to get us across, then more to bring us back. If we happen to encounter any other creatures, or if I need my magic to help us remove the stone, there’s a chance I won’t have enough energy to get us out of here.”
“But we have to have that stone.”
“True.” He sighed, his gaze seeming to measure the distance between the lake’s edge and the island. “Hold my hand,” he said. “I’ve never attempted anything like this.”
“Just don’t drop us in the sludge.”
His magic wrapped around us in a warm embrace. Its energy stole my breath. Our feet lifted off the ground. I wobbled, feeling as if I would fall. My fingers slipped from Maveryck’s. He grabbed my hand in a strong grip, holding me to him. With our bodies pressed so close, and his magic wrapping me, my heart beat uncontrollably.
I decided I didn’t dislike magic as much as I thought.
His gaze met mine, his irises tinted deep purple. I’d forgotten how his eyes seemed to change color. There were so many little things that had escaped my memory, the way he smelled, his cologne holding a scent of woody amber. The sound of his voice, cultured and commanding attention. The way his hands felt on my skin, as if he meant to hold me and never let go.
The magic waned as we finally made it to the island. We settled on a shore of oil-covered sand. I would have to clean these boots when we were done with this.
“What now?” I asked, looking up at the towering structure of tarnished metal, its purple glow casting bobbing lights on the water surrounding us.
“Now we find the stone.”
I followed him over the sand and up to the structure. We crossed onto a metal walkway that wound its way through the tubes and gears.
“Do you think this will lead us to the stone?” I asked.
“I hope so. But there’s only one way to find out. We’ll have to cross over it.”
I started walking, but he grabbed my hand, gently kissing my knuckles. His sudden show of affection surprised me.
“What was that for?”
“Because
