Page 79 of Ransomed to the World
You should be able to use your abilities to locate the passage. Throw out your power. It should rebound off the rocks. Look for gaps, any dark space where the magic doesn’t return.He kicked, keeping them both afloat.
Understood.She patted his hand, and he reluctantly released his hold, his fingers caressing the undersides of her wrists.
With one more glance at the guys, she swam forward clumsily, barely managing to tread water with the strong current. She could sense the heavy mass of the city above her, the active magic hovering above them like a wraith ready to swoop down and drag them in front of Daxion.
She needed to be very careful so they remained unnoticed. A wisp of darkness rose from her hands, but it didn’t react like it normally did.
It was contained.
Isolated.
It mixed with the water like thick oil, wiggling and squirming like it was alive.
Without the air to carry the dark particles, it’d take too long to do a normal search.
She glanced down and saw her tank had only a few minutes left. She didn’t have time to hesitate. She needed to believe in herself the way the guys believed in her. She needed to trust that her abilities would lead her in the right direction.
She had one shot to get this right.
She released more of the darkness until a large cloud surrounded her, obscuring her vision. Then she thrust her hand into the mess and closed her eyes, picturing a school of fish…something that could only survive under water.
The water stirred around her, something silky and soft brushed against her fingers, and her eyes popped open to see thousands of tiny fish darting around her. The fish were black and shiny, their scales shimmering bright. She allowed her fingers to run over them, marveling at the way they tickled against her palm. Then she flicked her fingers, and they shot away from her.
They scattered, looping around the coral and boulders, launching themselves toward the underwater mountain. The first of the tiny minnows hit the rocky wall, then the rest joined it and began to spread along the surface like veins.
The rest of the guys swam toward her, Mason lumbering along the bottom, his tank flashing an ominous red.
He was out of air.
Edgar and Camden pointed toward the mountain, and she whirled to see all the fish swarm in one direction. They disappeared directly into the cliffside. The guys moved as one and surged forward, Camden and Xander doing their best to propel Mason along, but it looked like they were trying to swim with cement feet.
Their tanks were flashing as well.
They were expending too much air.
Before she had a chance to do anything, Logan wrapped his arm around her waist and began to drag her backwards. She wanted to protest, wanted to squirm and fight. It physically hurt to remain still. Doing anything else would only deplete both their tanks faster. She reluctantly began kicking, feeling like her insides were being torn out by leaving the others behind.
When they reached the hillside, Edgar was treading water near a small opening that was disguised behind a large coral reef. As soon as he saw her, he summoned his sword from the afterworld and hacked off the coral branches until an opening was revealed.
The aquifer.
Edgar ducked inside, a light appeared in the darkness, and he disappeared into the aquifer. Logan tried to force her forward, but she resisted.
Not without the others.
He glanced at her tank, then back at the rest of the guys, his expression hardening, and he hauled her toward the opening. Annora struggled with all her might, everything inside her rebelling at the thought of leaving her team behind, terrified that she’d never see them again.
Water churned and darkened around them with her agitation, and he reluctantly released her. Annora glanced around frantically, searching for a way to help, but saw nothing but the seaweed swaying around them.
Seaweed!
Darkness enveloped the vines, and they immediately began to stretch and wind together like ropes. The vines snaked its way across the seabed, curled around Mason’s legs, then snaked up around his torso.
Annora didn’t hesitate. She braced herself against a large boulder, then heaved back on the vines with all her might.
And could barely budge him.
Xander and Camden saw what she was doing and streaked toward them.
