Page 110 of At the Mercy of Midnight
Her free hand curled into a fist and the entire cavern rumbled like they were in the middle of a thunderstorm, rocks and dust tumbled down around them, between them. Veralind cried out as she stumbled back, narrowly avoiding being flattened by fragments of roof. The underground cavern screamed all around them, the noise reverberating.
She watched without remorse as Veralind knocked into a wall behind her at the same moment debris struck her on the forehead and she slumped back.
Amelia felt it ripping through her own bones, arm dropping heavily to her side, eyes drooping.
“Finley,” she said weakly. They both swayed in their attempts to stand upright. “We need to leave.”
“Take the pendant,” Silas murmured, gesturing feebly.
Amelia’s gaze darted to it. Even from a distance, she could feel the thrum of power radiating from it.
“Why?” she asked warily.
“It could be useful.”
Amelia released Silas carefully, before bending to retrieve it. The same affinity flowed into her, the strength of it startling. Without a word, she shoved it into her pocket.
The ground shuddered violently beneath them. They staggered, Silas’ arms coming around her to steady them both.
Amelia broke away and blundered to Demetrius’ motionless body, half-buried in rubble. Veralind slumped nearby against a wall, blood streaking down the side of her face.
Without hesitation, Amelia retrieved the blades from Demetrius, slipping them into her coat.
Her breaths came fast now, exertion catching up to her. Silas stepped to her side, a hand settling at the small of her back.
His touch injected the strength she needed. Gave her focus.
One last thing.
She climbed over broken stone, nearly losing her footing as the floor heaved again, but caught herself before falling. Stopping before Veralind, she crouched.
“What are you doing?” Silas asked, voice strained.
“She wouldn’t have come here without a way to leave again,” Amelia muttered, already rifling through the woman’s pockets.
Her fingers closed over small, clinking items, pulling out Waystone chips. Amelia held them in her open palm.
“Choose one furthest from here,” Silas said, glancing down.
Amelia sifted through the chips.City of Lunarian. Ivory City. Southern Seaside. Lux hold. East Town…
The breath caught in her throat, a plan forming in her mind. Amelia stuffed all the chips into her pocket, keeping one between her fingers, turning to Silas.
“I know where we can go.”
Silas studied her face, the ghost of a smile flickering. Until his eyes drifted to Veralind’s still form, a shadow passing over his expression.
“It’ll all stop once we leave,” Amelia said quickly, sure her magic would dissipate the moment they were gone. “She’ll…be fine.”
Silas shook his head. “It doesn’t matter.” But she saw the truth in his eyes. “Let’s go.”
His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her close. She nodded and pressed the Waystone chip between her fingers, activating the rune etched into its surface. Magic swirled around them, pulling them uncontrollably.
When the dust settled, they were gone.
TWENTY-FIVE
The world twisted and warped around her as the suffocating grip of Waystone travel squeezed.
