Page 255 of Eldritch
“Everything okay?” Zevander asked.
“Yes, of course.” He tipped his head staring back at the door. “Just felt a strange sense that I’ve been here before.”
Brows pulling together, Zevander tugged Maevyth close. “You did say that you stepped through this door.”
“Yeah.” His voice trembled as if he were lost in thought. “Come on.” Kazhimyr took the lead and opened the door. On the other side, was a vast cavern filled with webs that looked vaguely familiar. The sounds of shouts echoed from ahead and Kazhimyr rushed toward them. “Ravezio and Dravien! I lost them earlier!” he shouted over his shoulder.
“Dravien?” Zevander asked. A face flickered through his thoughts—green hair, Elvyniran. “Nockvayne?”
“You know him?” Maevyth asked from behind.
Zevander’s jaw tightened. “Years ago.”
“It’s a long story.” Kazhimyr hastened his strides, swinging his sword at the overhanging webs that reached down from the ceiling. “He helped us get here.”
They finally came upon a stretch of webs where two bodies squirmed and wriggled, caught in the sticky strands. A spider loomed over Ravezio, its fangs bared, poised to bite him, as he spat blood at the creature.
Zevander shifted Maevyth behind him and sent a blast of flames against the creature’s flank. It hissed and shriveled away, its body burning into a charred husk.
“Thank gods they can be killed,” she said at his back.
“Seven fucking hells am I glad to see your pretty face.” Ravezio chuckled, as Zevander burned the webs around him, careful not to singe his friend.
Ravezio dropped to the ground while Kazhimyr worked to cut Dravien loose with his blade.
Zevander glared back at the Elvyniran who watched him, undoubtedly recognizing him, too. The sound of Vaelora’s screams echoed in his head and he clenched his fist around the sword still captured in his palm, biting back the urge to lop his head clean off.
Dravien’s boots hit the ground, and the cavern shuddered with a shriek so loud, the webs swayed overhead.
Zevander turned toward a spider, its leg span on par with Raivox’s wingspan, inching its way down the web.
He backed away slowly, taking in the size of the damned thing.
“What the hell is moving across its back?” Ravezio asked, holding a blade outstretched.
Hundreds of spiders spilled from the larger one’s back onto the web, their bodies a cross between human limbs and carapace.
“Go! Now!” Zevander shouted, spinning on his heel. He hoisted Maevyth over his shoulder and dashed after Ravezio and Dravien toward a staircase ahead. Kazhimyr followed after him, pausing to send a frigid mist over the pursuing creatures.
“Come on!” Zevander ordered, taking two stairs at a time.
They breached the entrance of the tree and Zevander ground to a halt, waiting for Kazhimyr.
Maevyth tapped at his back. “You can put me down! I’m okay to walk.”
Reluctantly, he lowered her to her feet, his eyes anchored on that hole.
Seconds ticked by and Zevander’s patience grew thin.
“Where is he?” Ravezio asked, shifting on his feet, his weapon at the ready.
Kazhimyr’s silvery hair emerged through the cavity as he crawled out of the tree. “Run!”
Behind him, a horde of spiders poured out of the trunk after them, some with human faces and limbs.
A distant roar echoed from ahead.
“Raivox!” Maevyth dashed toward the sound.
