Page 66 of Wind and Water
I wish I could feel as at ease as he seems. I admire how he can be prepared for disaster and remain relaxed at the same time. Maybe it’s his training. However, I’m no soldier, and the notion of spending an eternity in hell has me on edge.
It’s hard to say how much time has passed. We’ve been fed a few times and slept at least four, maybe five times. There’s no change in light other than when the torches guttered out and left us in total darkness.
After a while, one of those creatures came and slipped a new torch into the sconce. Liam thanked it, but it showed no sign that it understood before stomping out of our prison cell.
My bones ache from the hard ground, and I try walking around and stretching while Liam does push-ups, sit-ups, and an assortment of other body-weight exercises. His lack of outward concern is starting to get to me. “How long do you think it’s been?”
He sits up and wraps his arms around his knees. “Seven days.”
“How can you know that?” My voice hides none of my fear or annoyance.
Shrugging, he continues his sit-ups. “I can tell by how often I need to sleep.”
“Good for you. I need daylight and a setting sun. Why is she keeping us here, and why doesn’t she do something? What does she want?” Crossing my arms over my chest, I lean against thewall. My terror on the first day has eased into a mix of boredom and a sustainable level of fear. Maybe we’re to be left here until we die. “And why feed us if she’s going to let us die here?”
Backing up to the wall, he leans back and calmly watches me. “I don’t have all the answers, Wren, but I’m guessing she needs you alive.”
“You constantly being calm and reasonable is starting to infuriate me.” I clench my fists to keep myself aware that the anger rising inside me is unfounded. Still, I want to punch someone, and Liam is the only one here.
“Would you prefer me to fly into a rage?” His jaw ticks. It’s the first sign that any of this is getting to him.
I find that little signal very satisfying. “I think I would. Yes.”
Suddenly, his mind is fully open to mine. His fury, rage, and fear for my life come rushing at me like an out-of-control boulder streaking down a mountainside. The enormity of his feelings batters my mind and emotions with everything he’s been holding in. My knees give out, and I crumple to the floor. I press my back against the rough, hard surface to keep from total collapse. Within Liam, there is no concern for himself. He only cares that I will be hurt or worse. His greatest fear is that he might live without me. Fury and sorrow bombard me.
I shake my head, trying to push his heartbreak aside. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I couldn’t see past your calm exterior.”
The images and emotions pull back.
Liam brushes away a tear that fell to his cheek. Closing his eyes, he takes several long, slow breaths. When he opens those sapphire eyes, the soldier is back in place, and everything else is under control.
Pushing myself to my feet, tears streaming unstoppably down my face, I cross to him and kneel. “Forgive me. I’m an idiot.”
He takes my hands. “No. You’re afraid, which is completely normal. This entire chamber is designed to break you, and I am little help, for which I have no excuse.”
“I should have realized. You followed me into this terrible place, and I’ve been horrible to you.” Maybe this is where I belong if my character is so weak that it can be destroyed in a few days.
A hint of a smile pulls at his lips. “You are too hard on yourself. I’m trained to survive a great many things, and you now know that even I am barely holding on in this place.”
Sitting beside him, I rest my head on his shoulder. “I will do better, Liam.” I pray that I can live up to that vow.
Chapter Sixteen
Liam
Try as I might, none of my magic works in this place. I can’t scry in the water and reach my mother. It’s not possible to blast through these walls. We eat and drink what is brought to us. We bathe to some degree, but without clean clothes, it is almost pointless. The chamber has only one exit; when closed, it is solid rock.
Coire will not offer us a way out, even though I sense the place knows we do not belong here. Much like Domhan strains against the demons when they rise, this place would expel us if it could.
The longer we are here, the quieter Wren becomes. She struggles to believe we can find our way back. I can’t blame her. The evil of the underworld gnaws at anything good. Sitting beside me, she sighs. “Do you think Momma and the others made it to your home?”
I slip my fingers through hers. “Yes. Once we were taken, it’s likely Venora ignored those who traveled with us.”
“You meanIwas taken. You leaped in. It was me she wanted. Though now that she has me, she seems to be leaving me hereto rot.” There is none of the passion I’ve grown accustomed to in her voice.
Wishing I had left her in her world won’t make it true, but I still do. I long for the sweetness and sharp wit of the woman I fell in love with. “We’re still alive, and that has to be enough for now, Wren. She’s feeding us, so she wants something.”
“Is this place what you expected?” Wren picks up a small pebble and turns it in her hand.
