Page 88 of Courting War
Together they walked into the cave, their hands locked so as not to lose each other. But honestly, there was a part of Kellyn that just wanted to hold onto Morrigan for more than traveling through a dark passage.
The darkness whispered to them. Dark secrets and promises of gruesome deaths. Things likeYour flesh will melt from your bonesandBe suffocated on shadows, or Kellyn’s favorite,Your insides will drip from your body as hydra acid consumes you.
“Shadow nymphs,” Cecile whispered.
Lovely, little, creepy creatures.
A nymph made from rock and shadow leaned out and whispered in his ear. “The death goddesses’ prophecy and curse comes for you, Kellyn.” Its voice was crooked and buzzing, causingshivers to dance along Kellyn’s spine. “Nefeli’s gift to you is only death.”
The hair on his nape rose, and all his muscles tightened.
It didn’t bode well.
Not at all.
Kellyn swallowed past the lump in his throat. But he couldn’t focus on fear; he had to continue. Cracking his neck, he pushed forward into the darkness. He wasn’t going to let the gods kill him. Not here and not now.
A light glowed in the distance, marking the next stage in his journey.
Stepping out of the dark, he was greeted by a vast cavern. Etched into the walls were statuettes of the pantheon, their eyes following every movement and sound.
Red sunlight shone down from a break in the rocks, highlighting an island at the center. A grand weeping cherry tree graced its rocks, and small steppingstones led to it. Everything in the cave pointed to the center—to the tree.
“Don’t touch the water,” Morrigan said, shifting on her feet. “It’s safe to say that it’s deadly.”
The pool was comprised of vibrant blue water, surrounded by a mixture of greens, yellows, and oranges, and resting on a bed of red rock—creating a rainbow illusion. Magic made the pool, but its beauty was borrowed from nature.
Heat licked the air, radiating up, the temperature far exceeding the boiling point.
Lethal yet bewitching.
“Volcanic hot springs,” Morrigan whispered. “Your flesh would melt from your bones, indeed. Our lovely little shadow nymphs seemed to be warning of how this cavern will try and kill us.”
Emmett snorted. “Wonderful, I’ve always wanted my flesh to melt off.”
“An excruciating death. It would take days for you to die completely. Days in which your nerve endings burn with agony,” Morrigan said lightly, “A charming way to go.”
“Right,” Cecile coughed. “Let’s not fall in then.”
Kellyn grunted and led the way.
One by one, the group jumped and walked across the stones. Emmett still wasn’t steady on his feet, Bella grew to an unnatural size and led him on her back as if she were a horse. Easily, she jumped across the steppingstones and kept him from falling into the boiling waters.
As Kellyn’s feet met the island, a curse-forged voice spoke. “Welcome, Kellyn, to your fate. A dance of letters and War is at stake.” The voice of Nefeli echoed through the cave, bouncing off the waters and rocks, sinking her chilling tone into his bones. “The challenge is simple: spell the words before the beast eats your pretty little priestess.”
Spell?
Kellyn’s throat ran dry, and his limbs grew heavy. Spelling was a requiem of nightmares—where all decaying dreams were formed. In the panic, all Kellyn could think about were silent letters.
What was the point of a silent letter?
Appearance? He genuinely wanted to know. Why spell a word with a silent K? Why?
Language was horrifying.
The ground shook, as did Kellyn’s bones. From the waters climbed a second island with a sand pit cut into a perfect circle—a gladiator arena. A gust of wind blew like a cyclone and refracted Morrigan into the pit. She clutched her knees, the teleportation stirring her stomach.
“Stop refracting me,” she yelled up the ceiling. “You know I hate it.”
