Page 12 of Wolf Trap

I squeezed myself into the passageway, and although the width increased a bit once I was inside, it was still only enough for me to move through it sideways.

As for what we found on the other side, well, I would not drown, so that was a win.

Finally, mouldy, rancid air greeted me, and only a faint light lay before me.

I stopped as my eyes adjusted to the hell pit of the bottle dungeon.

His voice was husky as he asked, “Are you alright?”

“Thanks to you, yes. Here.” Sliding off the heavy rope from my body, I handed him his trousers and boots. As he got dressed, I talked in a hushed voice. “So, the tide doesn’t reach in here, that’s something, at least.”

“By its design, if it did, the prisoners could float to the top and escape through the bottleneck of the cell, if they were standing under the opening. But I’m guessing whoever built this prison didn’t know about the tunnel.”

“How could Ubraz fit through there?” I asked.

“I saw an enormous boulder. It was to our left out there, a faint outline in the distance. Wedged against the wall, perhaps? I’m guessing they use that, move it. Other than that, it beats me. They wield their own magic, and in all my existence, I’ve never trusted one. They’re usually savage creations. I still don’t trust them. You were wise, being cautious around them. If they’d known about us…”

“Yes, we probably wouldn’t be breathing right now.”

“Elsa?”

Lycaon stepped towards me, taking my hands, bending down so that his face was just inches before mine. “I know I scared you, and I am deeply sorry. If I could only take that back. And you are right, we do need to be very careful. I know some say they’re happy for us, but we need to be seen as friends only. I would kill for you and die for you.” He took his hand away and in the faint grey shadows I could see he held it over his heart. “But I don’t want you to die because of me. And yes, as Adara seems to have some pull over me...” his train of thought was broken as a noise echoed around the black room.

Growling, he shouted, “Who’s there, show yourself!”

Footsteps shuffled, then a gravelly voice, deeper than Lycaon’s, if that was even possible, said,

“Dolph, my name is Dolph. Are you… Lycaon?” The figure came towards us, arms out, palms facing upwards. Although the light was weak, his frame cast a large shadow over us. His bulging arms, huge torso.

“Dolph?” Lycaon asked. “As in a noble wolf? I know your pack. Your alpha was a fine man. I’m assuming you’re down here because you won’t submit to Adara?”

“You assume right. But I have little time. Tonight they’re sacrificing me. How did you both get in here? I’ve spent days looking for a way out.”

“Back there, there’s-”

“Yes. I could smell the ocean. I couldn’t fit through the crevice. I’m surprised you did.”

“I came through as my wolf.”

“I’m no wolf shifter, as you know. Our pack has the mutated curse. You have another way out?”

“I do. I have a rope and anchor. Show us the bottleneck.”

We made our way through the dungeon. My boots stuck to something that smelled like your worst nightmare and obviously wasn’t toffee.

The bottleneck was just an opening in the ceiling that had a narrow entrance leading to the wide chamber below, where we were. We were lucky that the neck was wide enough to haul up the rope and anchor, and hopefully it would catch on the edge securely.

I stepped back as Lycaon swung a small section of rope, eyeing the opening above before loosening its length. He whipped around faster. Luckily, there was no grate over it, but the neck was high above us.

I whispered, “They probably built this for mortals, otherwise they’d have a grate.”

“You’re right. But they’ve put other prisoners in the walls. I’ve heard their screams.”

From my pocket, I pulled out the old piece of paper that the gargoyles had given me. It was a crude drawing, probably done by them. Just floor levels of the castle and crosses that hopefully showed the Oubliettes.

I showed Dolph, not that we could read it down here. “I have a map of sorts. How many prisoners are here?”

He jutted his chin at the opening above us. “We have to get out of this hellhole first. Why?” His eyes narrowed as he surveyed me, “You planning on rescuing them? How many?”

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