She offered some of her blood to Lucian, too, but the stubborn bastard turned her down—something about Seraphina giving him all the sustenance he needed. I just hope to fuck he's right.
It warms the cockles of my heart to see those two lovebirds getting closer by the day. It's only a matter of time before Lucian grows a pair and seals the bond, and then he'll never have to worry about losing himself to the bloodlust or any of the other hellish shit our kind goes through without a mate. Which brings me to Erik, the stoic son of a bitch.
Don't get me wrong, the man's a goddamn force of nature, with a patience and endurance that would put a monk to shame. But even he has his limits, and I can only pray to whatever fucked-up gods are listening that he finds his mate soon, before the loneliness and the hunger drive him to the brink of madness.
Gideon dropped anchor a mile off the shore, and Dani portaled us onto this godforsaken rock they call Tempest Isle, not wanting to take our chances with theSirens and Jesus; this place is creepy as fuck. The massive island is a sprawling expanse of jagged cliffs and dense jungle stretching forever. As we made our way inland, we passed the crumbling remains of ancient civilizations, their stone statues and ruined temples a silent testament to the passage of time and the fragility of life.
And now, here we stand, at the threshold of the unknown, our path lit only by the faint glow of Dani's light. The cave yawns before us like the mouth of some primordial beast.
"Shall we proceed?" Erik inquires from behind me. "Is this indeed the path that leads to the lyre?"
It's a damn good question and one I don't have a fucking answer to. Dani spent more time with Mirella after our little storytime session, poring over her notes and trying to make sense of this whole lyre situation while Erik and I scrounged up gear for this little excursion.
"Yeah, can't you hear the whispers?" Dani asks, her voice serious and sass. Erik and I exchange a look of pure fucking confusion. We don't hear jack shit.
"According to Mirella's notes, the path to the lyre starts with a cave opening marked by whispers and two siren statues that weep saltwater," Dani explains, scanning the entrance with keen intensity.
Intrigued, I start walking toward the statues, my boots crunching on the dense underbrush with each step. As I draw closer, I'll be damned if those creepy-ass statues aren't actually crying, silent tears streaming down their stone faces like some fucked-up fountain.
"Looks like we're on the right track after all," I mutter, turning back to face them. We exchange a brief nod before heading into the cave mouth, our weapons at the ready.
I take the lead, hacking through the thick vines with my sword like a machete. Erik does the same on the other side, his blade flashing in the dim light as he clears a path. I move the sliced vines out of Dani's way, holding them back so she can duck underneath without getting tangled up in the mess.
As we pass the siren statues, I can't help but notice their eerie expressions. One is the picture of sorrow, her features contorted in a mask of eternal grief, while the other wears a smile that's just a little too wide, a little too gleeful for comfort. It's creepy as hell, and I can feel the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end as we venture deeper into the cave.
The air grows colder and damper with each step, the sound of our footsteps echoing off the stone walls like the beating of some giant, invisible heart. The darkness seems to press in on us from all sides, broken only by the faint glow of Dani's ball of light as she leads the way.
"So, what other nuggets of wisdom did Mirella impart upon you, baby? I'd like to know we're not just wandering around this dank-ass cave for shits and giggles," I ask, my voice echoing off the stone walls as I bring up the rear.
"Well, according to her, we should watch for a flooded chamber, a coral bridge, a harmonious pool..." Dani trails off, her brow furrowing as she tries to recall all the details Mirella shared with her. "Oh, and a melody chamber, followed by an altar that glows with light."
"And we're supposed to find these things in that exact order?" I can't help but ask, my tone skeptical. It all sounds a little too convenient, a little too much like a fucking video game quest for my liking.
"Yup!" Dani quips back, her voice brimming with confidence. "I've got it all memorized, locked, and loaded in my big, beautiful brain. Mirella and I went over it multiple times, just to be sure."
And the thing is, I believe her. If there's one thing I know about my girl, she's smart as a whip and twice as deadly. Her scientific mind is like a fucking steel trap, latching onto every little detail and refusing to let go until she's got it all figured out.
The sound of rushing water reaches my ears, growing louder with each step, and I know we must be getting close to the first of Mirella's landmarks—the flooded chamber.
I tighten my grip on my sword, my senses on high alert as we round a corner and find ourselves standing at the edge of a vast, underground lake.
"Well, would you look at that," I mutter, my eyes scanning the chamber for any signs of danger, "Mirella knew her shit after all."
I realize this isn't just some ordinary flooded chamber as we approach the water's edge. No, this is something else entirely. The water is crystal-clear, almost unnaturally so, and glowing algae illuminate it from within, casting an ethereal, greenish-blue light throughout the cavern.
But that's not even the creepiest part. I hear whispers as we stand here, taking in the surreal beauty. They are faint at first but grow louder with each passing second.
"She's here."
The Savior…"
"It's her…"
"What the actual fuck?" I mutter, my grip tightening on my sword as I scan the chamber for signs of danger. But there's nothing there—just the glowing water, the whispering echoes, and a strange, circular stone platform rising from the flooded chamber's center.
I can see that the platform is covered in intricate engravings, a complex web of symbols and patterns that seem to hint at some greater meaning. And in the center of it all, carved into the very heart of the stone, are a series of instruments. Lyres, harps, flutes...it's like a fucking miniature orchestra.
Damn, this place just keeps getting weirder and weirder. We dive into the glowing water without a second thought, swimming towards the raised platform. I help Dani first, my hands gripping her waist as I hoist her onto the stone. Erik and I follow close behind, our eyes scanning the intricate engravings covering every inch of the platform.
