Fuck.
CHAPTER 21
Callie broke the surface slowly,allowing only her head to emerge, and drew in a deep, quiet breath. Taking care to disturb the water as little as possible, she wiped her face and opened her eyes.
There were no spiritstriders in sight.
A flood of relief crashed through her.
Though her heart was still racing from that terrifying trek through the spiritstrider hive, she and Urkot had made it through. But…now what?
The large, circular chamber was brightly lit, with blue crystals of all sizes growing along the walls and the water-covered floor and glowworms crawling on the stone. But there were no openings, no tunnels leading out.
Callie tipped her head back.
No way out except for the wide, round shaft overhead going straight up. That was something. It was a way.
Smiling, she turned to face Urkot. “It’s saf?—”
Her heart stopped, and her stomach sank like a rock.
Urkot hadn’t come up. He wasn’t here.
Bubbles broke the surface beside her.
“Oh God, Urkot.”
Taking a deep breath, Callie sank back into the water and looked down. Through the blur, she caught sight of him, a dark shadow amidst the blue-tinted stone, struggling at the opening that had led them into this cavern.
Stuck.
Oh no, no, no, no…
Callie surfaced, refilled her lungs, and dove back down, propelling herself toward Urkot. More bubbles escaped him, making her panic rise. Was he drowning?
No! I won’t lose him, not now, not ever.
When she reached him, his bright eyes met hers. There was no mistaking the fear in his gaze. She wasted no time, inspecting the rock around his body, looking for a way to loosen it. Maybe if she used the knife, she could…
No. There wasn’t time to chip away at the opening, hoping to fracture the stone just right, and she certainly wasn’t going to pry him free with the short blade.
Frantic, she dropped the knife, planted her feet on the stone, wrapped her arms around his waist, and pushed with her legs, using every bit of strength she could. Urkot worked with her, his lower hand on the ground and body wriggling.
He lifted but caught once more.
Bubbles spilled from her lips, and her lungs burned with the need for air.
Urkot fought the stone, wiggling harder. One of his hands caught her arm, and he tried to pry her away, but Callie tightened her grasp. She would not leave him. She refused to leave him.
Heat blazed through her thighs with the exertion. She only poured more strength into her efforts.
Please! Please, let him get loose! Don’t…don’t let me lose him.
Callie was not religious, and she never prayed, but she did now. She prayed to whoever or whatever was listening, be it God, the Eight, or some other unknowable force.
Please help him!
More air escaped her, and darkness encroached on her vision. Internally, she screamed, she cried, she railed as terror gripped her heart.
