Like someone was listening, the fog rises to my right, catching my attention. It moves up, like it’s going over a wall, dancing along nothing until it finally settles and presents a cave nestled into the mountainside that wasn’t there moments ago.
There is no time for me to voice any concerns. Another rumble of thunder sounds, and instantly, we’re being drenched by the rain. Voraxis lands nearby, but Odeyssa and I are already running toward the opening.
Odeyssa and I don’t stop until we’re in the back, teeth chattering, limbs shivering from the cold. Voraxis tucks his wings in tight to squeeze through the opening, and once he does, I’m thankful for his body blocking any wind from skating through.
“That came out of nowhere,” I state.
“Guess the forest is full of surprises,” she murmurs under her breath. Instinctively, I want to react to her attitude, but I stop myself. I accused her. Blamed her father—and her by association—for what happened to me. There wasn’t a reason for Stephan to lie. He knew it didn’t matter what he said. I wasn’t sparing his life. Not again.
I didn’t exactly want to spend the night here. I was hoping we would find the necklace and be on our way. But clearly that’s not happening. There wasn’t any part of me that thought it would be easy, considering what the necklace is. Voraxis stays silent. Actually, he plops down in front of the exit, acting as a barrier, like I would sneak out in the middle of the night.
He knows me too well.
Huffing out a sigh, I drop my arms and take one side of the cave while Odeyssa takes the other. Sliding my back against the wall, rocks dig into my ass, making the already uncomfortable ground worse. My head rests against the cave wall, and before I know it, the sound of pelting rain lulls me to sleep.
“Oh, Princess. Where are you hiding?”
I jolt, eyes widening as the last remaining syllables fade into the background. Despite the chill sneaking around Voraxis’sbody, sweat pools along my brow. The wall must’ve slipped just a hair while my guard was down. Elbows resting on my knees, my hands cradle the sides of my head as I stare at the ground. I swipe the flyaways from my eyes and quickly stand, pacing back and forth quietly, not wanting to wake the others. He wouldn’t come here, right? He wouldn’t be desperate enough to enter the forest. There’s no way that small look gave away where we were.
But what if it did?
Fuck.
Bracing my hand against the wall, the area beneath my palm starts to glow. It’s a faint purple hue, just a singular pulse before it goes dark again. I stare at it intently, the darkness of the cave making it more difficult. Then, I have to hold in a scream as my body falls through the wall. I land haphazardly on my side and wince as pain shoots from my shoulder.
“What the hell?” I whisper. Cautiously, I stand, trying to go back the way I came. But the wall is closed up again. Panic settles deep as I run across the newly found room. It’s all closed off.
“Hello?” I yell. “Can anyone hear me?” But nobody can. There are probably layers and layers of rock between me and anything else.
Voraxis!
Where are you?His question is coated in worry.
I fell through the wall!
What do you mean?
I roll my eyes, even though nobody can see.The wall lit up then swallowed me. And yes, I know it sounds ridiculous, but that’s what happened, and now I can’t get out.
Trapped and confined. No way out.
It feels like all the air starts getting sucked out of the room. My breathing becomes more rapid, and I fall to my knees.
Firebird, take some deep breaths.But I can’t. There’s no more air in here. Dots splotch my vision, dancing in a rhythm that onlymakes me want to throw up.
Get Odeyssa!I wail. Maybe she knows how to help, how to get to me. I fall forward, pressing my hands into the ground. Stretching from the tip of my middle finger, that lavender shade of purple reappears. But instead of pulsing, it’s a steady bold light, running continuously across the floor.
Standing on shaky legs, I follow the line until it starts ascending up the far wall. Placing my hand over it, it vanishes, submerging me in complete darkness once again.
The wall explodes in violet lines pushing in all directions, twisting together until they finally come together, forming a poppy on the wall. The purple hue reaches for me as it pulses before my eyes. Instinctively, I take a step back, eyes bouncing every which way as I wait for whatever it is to unfold. What once was dust transforms into a cloud of shimmering specs. The glow grows brighter, and I put my hands up to shield my eyes when it becomes too much.
The light dims, and I cautiously lower my arms. My eyes widen in awe as a woman of ethereal elegance and beauty stands before me. Her hair is bound in braids atop her head, framing the crown that sits between the two. Hands rest together against her stomach as she peers down at me. Thin, razor-sharp wings sprout from her back, slightly fluttering to keep her feet off the ground.
“Who are you?” I’m breathless, completely taken aback by her beauty.
“Goddess Celene.” Her voice sends chills over my skin. “I’ve been entrusted to protect the amulet.” Celene’s voice is like silk, gliding over me with a comforting caress. While she speaks, I can’t help but stare. She illuminates the dark room, beckoning whatever is nearby to turn her way. My eyes stay wide, not able to process that I’m standing before an actual goddess.
This is unreal.
