Page 56 of Hex
As soon as I’m through, it’s gone, leaving me and Slash standing in a very dark cave with no idea where to go from here.
“Psst.” I tap Slash on the shoulder to let him know I’m here, shifting quickly backward because he swings his giant sword around, barely missing my neck. Thank fuck.
“Don’t creep up on a guy gearing up for war, little goddess.” He sheathes his sword and his shoulders visibly relax, dropping a few inches.
“You don’t seem surprised that I’m here.” My voice is a whisper, matching Slash’s tone, because we have no idea how much danger surrounds us.
“I’m surprised it took you so long. Why do you think I waited?” He wags his brows like he knows all…
And I suppose he’s not wrong.
“Well okay then.”
“Sage? Is that you? Really you?”
The voice makes my heart leap in my chest and I look up to where the sound is coming from, only to find a cage hanging from the cave ceiling. A cage holding my chosen…and I will not have that shit. Nope.
I focus on the chains holding it up, picturing the links snapping just as I twitch my hand and…
“Aargh!”
Chapter Nineteen
Hack
Ican feel her.
How is that possible? The itherium should be blocking it all out but I can sense her blood flow and her hitched breaths. The distinct scent that is undeniably her invades my mouth and gives me a shot of newfound adrenaline.
But I can’t see her. Nor can I hear her.
There’s no doubt in my mind that she’s here, somewhere, and my body is buzzing with this new knowledge.
“Trina. I don’t think we know each other, and it’s quite uncommon for spirits to have the ability to show themselves.” Baba Yaga interrupts my train of thought, and with it goes all the sensations associated with Sage.
“Don’t change the subject, you crusty old witch.” Trina’s words are crystal clear, and I have to admit I’m both amused and curious. The fact that I can see her is normal. As the four horsemen, we see spirits and take their souls back to the Great Library. Even our marshalls and lackeys would be able to see her, but not other kyn.
Baba Yaga turns to me with utter shock written across her age-worn features before she narrows her eyes and lifts her head like she’s sniffing out the air.
“Something’s not right.” Her mumbled words coupled with how Trina tries to get my attention with the subtlety of a Labrador puppy tells me something is wrong. Or maybe something isrightif my earlier senses meant anything at all.
“Is that all you’ve got? And here I thought Baba Yaga was the ultimate witch. The one to outshine us all. Turns out, you’re just an old lady with a sketchy past.” Damn, Trina is on fire with the insults, not to mention the venom she throws in for free.
“You dare affront me? You are insignificant with your lack of…” Baba Yaga waves the hand not leaning against her cane as if to dismiss the importance of Trina’s presence. “Well, anything, really.”
Trina swirls around Baba Yaga like a fly that can’t decide where to land. It almost destabilizes Baba, but she lands safely on the chair.
“What is the matter with you? Why are you here?” As Baba screeches out her questions, Trina nods to the side just as she swings around to the back of Baba’s head. Sage’s dear friend and mother figure is trying to tell me something, which means it has to be about my chosen.
Stepping away from the bars of the cage, I open myself up to Sage and fight with everything I have against the itherium trying to diminish my senses. She’s here, of that I have no doubts, but I can’t pinpoint the where.
Just as my frustration begins to hit its peak, I hear my brother inside my mind, overpowering the sounds of bickering between the witches.
You doing all right there, brother?Fuck, I’ve never been more relieved to hear Slash’s voice than I am at this moment.
Yeah, where are you? Where’s Sage?My bond is growing stronger by the second and I just know she’ll be here soon.
We’re somewhere in this cave but there’s a spell blocking us. At first we thought we’d found you but it was just an illusion spell. Sage is trying to figure it all out but so far, she’s only scared a colony of bats and set a few innocent spiders on fire.I try not to laugh, it would be impossible to explain in this situation, but a small chuckle escapes nonetheless.
