Oliver’s funnel cloud parted, creating a small opening for me to see through. With one hand, I held the wind steady. With the other, I stretched my hand forward and clenched my fingers into a firm fist.
The troll froze and grunted in surprise. Its huge head whipped back and forth, its thick, rope-like hair swinging around its head. Its dark eyes found me, and its angry gaze dug into me.
A small smile tugged at my lips. I swept my hand around, and the troll floated, following my movements. Its arms and legs flailed like a child, and I swallowed back a laugh. My hand shook from the effort of Pushing something so heavy. Faster, Desi, I coaxed myself. But not too fast. Maintain control.
My hand cut through the air a bit faster and trembled as the troll’s floating body followed the motion. I flung the demon back and forth until its eyes shut, perhaps from dizziness or nausea. Then with a shout, I swiped my hand to the side, slamming the troll against the cave wall. The ground and ceiling rumbled, and small rocks trickled from the impact.
Exhausted, my arms fell limply by my side, and I stumbled backward. My vision darkened. Ripples of vertigo shook me. I raised a hand to my head to steady myself. Blinking several times, I squinted at the troll.
Oliver stood over the creature. The troll groaned weakly and shifted its arms as it tried to rise.
Oliver raised his hand and flexed his fingers. The veins and tendons in his arm popped out as he clenched his fingers into a tight fist.
The cave quaked again. More rocks tumbled from the ceiling and walls. His face red from exertion, Oliver pulled his fist against his chest, his arm trembling.
With a deafening crash, a huge, misshapen boulder burst from the cave wall, creating a large crater. Sweat dripped down Oliver’s face as he pulled the boulder forward and rested it carefully against the troll’s chest.
A feeble wheeze escaped the troll’s mouth as it clawed helplessly at the boulder.
“Do you yield?” Oliver growled. His voice cracked, but the fire in his eyes and the set to his jaw cast a fearsome, dangerous shadow on his face.
The troll’s massive head jerked up and down in a nod.
Oliver flicked his hand, and the boulder rolled off the troll. Knees buckling, Oliver dropped to the ground on all fours, panting as if he’d run a marathon.
My vision cleared, and with slow and steady steps, I crossed the cave to Oliver and the troll, both of whom seemed too weak to rise. I leaned against the cave wall and eyed the massive cavity Oliver had created. Too bad it didn’t open up to a passage or something, I thought. I glanced at Oliver, who was still choking on his breaths, and knew he wasn’t strong enough to bust through the cave wall and get us out. Hopefully, the troll would allow us to leave the training ring, given we’d just bested him.
I approached Oliver and hefted up one of his arms. He pulled on me, and I tried not to sag under his weight. His shoulder touched mine as he leaned against me for support. The musk from his sweat and scent flooded my nose. My cheeks burned and my stomach coiled, but I held onto Oliver’s arm despite the trail of fire that lingered where his skin touched mine.
“May we leave?” Oliver said through heavy breaths.
The troll moaned and slowly rolled over. Climbing to its feet, it exhaled through its nostrils and stared at us with dark, impassive eyes. It jerked its head forward in a stiff nod, like it didn’t want to admit we won.
Sore loser, I thought.
“We need rest,” Oliver said, cutting a glance at me, “and supplies.”
In other words, we need an excuse to stay underground and search for the prisoners, I thought.
The troll nodded again. Its shoulders lifted and sagged with each heavy breath. It pounded a fist against the cave wall, and a tall, gaunt man with a long, black cloak stepped through the wall. A pair of deep red eyes appraised the troll and then fixed on us. His long, sallow fingers were clasped behind his back.
I suppressed a shudder. Oliver’s arm wound around my shoulder, and warmth spread through my body.
“They leave,” the troll grunted, gesturing to us with a meaty hand. “Rest.”
The man inclined his head and politely stretched his hand toward the cave wall he’d stepped through.
Anxiety rose in my throat, but I helped Oliver to the wall. The surface rippled, and we slid through.
Chapter 11
ROCKY WALLS PRESSED in on me. I shifted through like it was a curtain, but it smothered me. I couldn’t breathe, as if someone held a pillow to my face.
Fresh air engulfed me, and I gasped. Staggering forward, I reached blindly for Oliver. His warm hand pressed into mine.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured.
I nodded and opened my eyes. The demon who had Teleported us stood in front of a narrow passageway lit by lanterns, similar to the path we’d traveled with the vampires.
“Do you have lodging?” the man asked, his voice a whisper that made my skin prickle.
Oliver’s eyes slid to mine and back to the demon’s. “No. We’re from America.”
Well, that wasn’t exactly a lie.
The man nodded and blinked slowly, his red eyes disarming. My breath shook as I inhaled deeply to steady my nerves.
He stretched a long, narrow arm to gesture down the tunnel. “Rooms, nourishment, and supplies.” His eyes fixed on Oliver and then me. “Push into the wall when you’re ready to be transported above ground.”
My mouth opened in confusion, but before I could ask for clarification, the demon stepped through the wall and vanished.
Oliver and I glanced at each other. Moans, howls, and growls echoed from the tunnel in front of us. I instinctively drew closer to Oliver.
“Well, I suppose we should try to find an
