Page 23 of Left Hand of the Divine
They all just stared at me with varying levels of confusion, disbelief, and curiosity until finally, Thane gave a single nod in agreement. “Okay, Roux. If that’s what you believe, then we’re with you.”
I raised a brow and eyed them warily. “Just like that?”
Atticus took my hands in his and gave them a firm squeeze. “Just like that. Come on, let’s go home.”
Home.
That sounded good. I wanted a bath and some comfy clothes and—
The ground gave an almighty shake beneath my feet. “What was that?”
“If I had to take a guess, I think that would be the Vault breaking down,” Thane said.
“I think it’s time to make a move, don’t you?” Atticus said as he pulled me towards him and over to the exit. The stones cracked, the sound echoing around the chamber.
“Everyone, run!” I shouted just before a hole opened in the middle of the floor. A torrent of air whooshed through the opening, roaring and bringing with it screams and shrieks of creatures escaping from the Vault.
Wind circled the chamber like a tornado, slamming me into the wall. Pain lanced through my shoulder with the impact. “We need to get out of here!”
Atticus looked at me over his shoulder, his midnight blue waves dancing in the wind. “How?”
Well, wasn’t that the question. Pieces of the floor kept crumbling and disappearing into the Vault and the ledge we were standing on was getting thinner. I tried to portal, but there must be some magic blocking that down here. Shit. We needed to get to the doorway back to the surface, but I couldn’t fight against the swirling winds.Looking at the others – who were all pinned to the wall like me – I didn’t think anyone else was going to be able to get us out either.
“Come on! We have to try.” I took a step forward, and the piece of stone that I was going to stand on disappeared. I pitched forwards into Atticus and scrambled to regain my footing.
This was madness. We were never going to get out of here. We were all going to fall to our doom and be stuck in the Vault forever.
At least it would be empty of monsters now, though, so that was a plus.
I caught Atticus’ eye and saw the resignation in his gaze. He knew, just as I did, that we weren’t getting out of here without a miracle.
“I don’t suppose you have any ideas?” I yelled as another chunk of the floor fell from under my feet. Shit, we were running out of time.
“No,” Atticus replied, his fingers clinging to mine like I was his lifeline.
“Come on,” I said, shuffling towards the exit as all manner of things continued to escape through the Vault door. “Let’s move.”
Atticus gave me a nod and turned towards the exit. It wasn’t far, surely only a few steps. The others were pinned to the wall opposite me, and I could see them doing the same thing.
The shrieks of the escaping monsters bludgeoned against my eardrums, sharp and painful. How many creatures were down there?
It was hard going, battling the force of the tornado and trying to get to the exit, but we were doing it. We were getting there, and for the first time, I thought we might actually make it.
Then I took a step that had panic gripping me like a damn vice.
As soon as my foot touched the stone, it crumbled and broke away.
I lost my balance. Atticus scrambled to catch me, but it was too late. Everything moved in slow motion as the floor gave way, and I lost my footing. I saw the fear in his eyes, the panic and horror as I sank into the darkness. I reached for him, but I was too far away, and even though I knew it was futile, I still tried to stretch my fingers to reach him.
And as the darkness rose to claim me, I was hit with the scent of death and the decimation of worlds.
Chapter Eight
Roux
“Roux?”
I blinked my eyes open, and two pools of darkness stared at me with concern. Why would the darkness be looking at me with concern?
