Page 26 of Skyshade
No. They were getting past this creature. She was going to get answers about her fate.
“Get ready to run.” She stepped into the clearing.
Before she could throw the wrapping to the other side as she’d planned to, the creature lunged. It knocked her off her feet in a flash.
One of its thin legs pinned her down, pushing into the center of her chest with surprising strength. It was a wonder it didn’t crack through her ribs. Her head spun. She could smell more blood—likely from her head this time—and the creature began chittering.
It lifted its foot. Only then did she see that there was a mouth at its bottom, rimmed in teeth. It inched toward her head, as if to swallow it. As if to rip her face off and eat everything beneath it.
Before it could get any closer, she cut its leg off with her sword.
The creature seized above her, emitting a high-pitched sound. She rolled out of the way just as another mouth-tipped foot shot down, right where her head had been.
“Go,” she screamed, rubbing a hand along the back of her head, and finding it wet. Yes. Blood. She rubbed it on the walls, then stumbled at the force of the creature slamming against it. It was right behind her. Right behind—
She ran through the tunnel.
It was still right behind her.
It was a split-second decision. She gripped her sword tightly, then dragged it down her calf, tearing her wound open again, coating it in blood. Then, she stopped running. She turned and planted herself in the center of the tunnel. Outstretched her arm just in time—
And watched the creature skewer itself on her blade.
She was panting. Her leg was a fire of pain.
Grim cursed, moving quickly to wrap her opened wound as she twisted her sword, until she was sure the creature was dead. “Climbing is going to be difficult,” he said.
“Good thing we won’t be.” She could see the end of the tunnel from over her shoulder. The crystals above their heads flashed, as if in welcome.
Below them sat a door.
The moment Grim was done wrapping her leg again, she began limping toward it. The pain had faded away. All she felt was the cold rush of relief. She had made it.
The door had no handle. That was fine.
She stepped forward and knocked, slamming her fist against the stone. Her skin broke. Blood coated it.
For moments, nothing happened, and she banged harder. Harder.
It finally opened just a sliver, rattling the cave. Enough room for a single robed individual to step through.
A hood hid their face. The figure turned to her, then Grim, then back. A bony finger peeked from the robe and pointed right at her.
It was clear. Only she would be allowed through. They had expected this. She turned to look at Grim, and he nodded. She could almost sense the words in his intense gaze—he was right outside. He might not have powers here, but he would rip the doors off their hinges and get to her if she needed him.
A few days ago, she would have glared at him, but now...after what they had faced...she nodded back.
The doors closed behind her with a thud she felt in her bones. Inside, hooded figures faced her, in perfect lines. They bowed, their white robes gleaming through the darkness. It was almost as if they had known she would be coming.
It was almost like they had been waiting for her.
Every wall was shimmering black rock. A scattering of the same crystals from before were embedded in the ceiling above.
The hooded figure led her down corridor after corridor, until they turned into a small door, cut into the rock-face room. It promptly closed behind her.
She turned and startled.
A woman appeared from the darkness itself, seated on a slab of rock that hadn’t been there before. Another seat appeared before her. Then, a table between them.
