Page 24 of Lunar Desires
He was such a mess, his handsome face tainted by blood. He overcompensated every movement, his strides too deliberate and wonky, his breathing practically speaking his hurt.
The sooner we got out of these tunnels, the better.
“Basically, the hand of joy refers to snacks,” he said. “The ringing song a cash register, and the three bit means it’s three miles away.” He chuckled. “There’s not many who can decipher Molly Speak.”
I rubbed the back of my neck, every inch of me tense as hell. “Will she be okay?”
“I hope so. She can hold her own but…” He sighed. “I’ll definitely owe her one. Come on, let’s move.”
According to Drake,these tunnels spread across the city to various exit points, built by Molly’s ancestors out of fear and a need for safety during the Bane of Goblins. A horrible periodof time over two hundred years ago where a mysterious killer murdered too many goblins on the streets of London. No one ever found the killer, the whole period of slaughter still a mystery to this day. The tunnels were carved by goblin magic, along with their skills in engineering and building. Pulled off in complete secrecy, the knowledge was passed around goblin circles to provide safe passage around the city.
“I’m the only non-goblin who knows about them,” Drake said. “And now you.”
I stayed close to him, ready to catch him if he fell. “I’m honored.”
The temperature was cool down here. Not cold, but a pleasant kind of chilliness.
Every few feet, we encountered clusters of Hecate Crystals, often on the ground or between the orange lights fixed to the ceiling.
You found Hecate Crystals everywhere in this world. In a dark place like this, in a field, or even on a roof. Buckingham Palace was home to ten thousand crystals nestled together on its roof, which did look pretty fabulous at night.
Who needed expensive lights when you had a natural light show to please the tourists?
Drake floundered, veering closer to the wall.
Okay. Enough of this. “Let’s rest for a bit.” I spoke with steely insistence.
“Not until we’re out of here.”
Did he not hear the steel part?
He kept going, his steps labored, every breath an effort. His body was clearly aching to the highest heavens, and I wouldn’t be standing for this crap anymore.
I ran ahead, then spun around to block him. “Stop. Right now.”
He did, his shoulders slumping with exhaustion. “Riley, what?—”
I held up a hand. “Take a break, Drake.”
Ha! I’m a poet and I didn’t know it!
He shook his head, wincing as he did. His complexion paler and sickly. He stumbled to the side, reaching out to support himself on the curved wall.
I grabbed him, holding him up. “This isn’t good. You need to rest.”
“If I…” He groaned. “If I sit down, I won’t get back up.”
He wouldn’t get much further, though.
“Are there any markers to say how far we’ve come?”
“On the…on the left wall there should be something to countdown every quarter of a mile. I haven’t…” He leaned forward, pressing his weight into me. “Shit…”
“It’s okay.”
His head dipped. “I haven’t been paying attention. Not sure…not sure if there’s one close by or not.”
“I—”
