I raise an eyebrow, impressed and a little scared by her nonchalance. Before I can ask her to elaborate, she's swinging her legs over the side of the pool, her bootsdipping into the glassy surface. "I think it wants us to take the plunge. You coming, or what?" She holds out her hand, her eyes sparkling with challenge.
I scoff, shaking my head—as if I would ever let her dive into the unknown without me by her side—or wouldn't follow this woman into the depths of hell itself if she asked me to.
So I swing my legs over the ledge, my hand finding hers like a magnet. Our fingers lace together, a perfect fit, as we exchange a loaded glance. Whatever waits for us beneath the surface, we'll face it together. No question.
I take a deep breath, filling my lungs with the damp, earthy air of the cave. Dani does the same, her chest rising and falling in sync with mine. And then, with a silent count of three, we push off from the ledge and dive in, plunging into the cool, clear water.
The moment we break the surface, the world falls away. The water envelops us, cradling us in its embrace as we sink deeper and deeper into the depths. It's peaceful down here, quiet in a way that seems to reach into my very soul. I can feel Dani's hand in mine, anchoring me to reality even as the rest of the world fades away.
We kick our legs, propelling ourselves forward through the crystal-clear water. Schools of luminescent fish dart past us, their scales glinting like jewels in the ethereal blue light that seems to emanate from everywhere and nowhere all at once.
And then, just as I'm starting to wonder if we'll ever reach the bottom, I see a shimmering portal hovering in the water like a mirage. It pulses with energy, a kaleidoscope of colors that shift and change every second.
I glance at Dani, seeing the same awe and anticipation reflected in her eyes. She squeezes my hand."I've seen these before—it's okay."She pushes into my mind to reassure me.
And with that, we kick forward, propelling ourselves straight into the heart of the portal and the unknown adventure that awaits us on the other side.
Danica
44
Rhyland and I pop out of the portal like a couple of spitballs, emerging into calm waters that feel like a damn spa compared to the toilet-flush ride we just took. I have no idea where the hell we are or what Water Gate we just stumbled through, but at this point, I'm just happy to be alive and not drowning in some interdimensional plumbing.
For a moment, I'm unsure which way is up, my head spinning like I just got off a particularly wild carnival ride. My lungs are screaming at me, burning like I just inhaled a pack of cigarettes and chased it with a shot of battery acid.
Rhyland, bless his heart. He seems to have a better sense of direction than I do. He grabs my hand, his grip solid and reassuring, and drags me upwards. I kick behind him, trying to help, but let's be real—he's doing most of the work. The man's built like a fucking tank, and his powerful strokes cut through the water like a hot knife.
The surface seems impossibly far away, a distant glimmer of light that taunts me with its promise of sweet, sweet air. My lungs are on fire, screaming at me to just take a breath already, but I know that's a one-way ticket to Drowning City. So I grit my teeth and keep kicking, trusting Rhyland to get us there before I pass out from lack of oxygen.
Finally, we break the surface. I gulp in a massive lungful of air, coughing and sputtering like a drowned rat. Rhyland pulls me close, his strong arms wrapping around me as he leads us toward the edge of whatever body of water we've found ourselves in.
I have no damn clue where we are. For all I know, we could be in Narnia. All that matters is that we're alive and one step closer to figuring out this "Siren's Lyre" business.
As we get closer to the edge, I take in our surroundings. We're in some underground cavern, the walls slick with moisture and glowing with an eerie blue light. It's like something out of a sci-fi movie, all alien and otherworldly.
"Where the hell are we?" I ask, my voice echoing off the walls.
Rhyland shakes his head. His brow furrows in concentration as he scans the area for signs of danger. "I don't know," he admits."But whatever this freaky-ass place is, we need to keep our eyes peeled and guard up. No telling what nasty surprises it might have in store for us."
I nod, my senses on high alert. We may have survived that Water Gate, but something tells me we're not out of the woods yet. Or the water, as the case may be.
Rhyland boosts me onto solid ground as we reach the edge with an almost insulting ease. I mean, I know I'm not exactly a heavyweight, but damn. The man makes it look like he's lifting a feather instead of a full-grown woman.
I flop onto my back, my chest heaving as I try to catch my breath. Rhyland hauls himself up beside me, water streaming off his muscular form in rivulets. He looks like some fucking sea god, all glistening skin and rippling muscles. It's enough to make a girl forget all about her near-death experience.
"Well, that was fun," My voice raspy. "Let's never do that again, yeah?"
Rhyland just grunts, his eyes scanning our surroundings with a wary intensity. I can practically see the wheels turning in his head, trying to figure out where the hell we are and what kind of trouble we've landed ourselves in this time.
But for now, I'm content to lie here and breathe, letting the solid ground beneath me anchor me back to reality. Because let's face it—after the mind-fuck of those reflection pools and the wild ride through the Water Gate, I could use a bit of boring old reality.
Of course, knowing our luck, that's probably too much to ask for.
Rhyland reaches out his hand to me. "We need to find this fucking key and get the hell out of Dodge, Angel. This place gives me the creeps, and I don't want to stick around long enough to find out why."
I nod, taking his hand, and he pulls me to my feet. "Agreed, and not in a fun, haunted house way."
We make our way deeper into the cavern, the walls narrowing until it feels like they're closing in on us. Our footsteps bounce off the stone, echoing in the eerie silence.
