With her exit cut off, Elena backed toward the walkway that had led her into the rotunda. "I got lost and somehow wound up here."
Kai tracked Elena. Only the Sye's eyes shifted to follow her in an uber creepy move that left her on edge.
"Were you not listening when you were told to remain in the main cavern?"
Elena's laugh sounded awkward in the room. "Must not have been."
"You must also not have heard of the labyrinth's true nature."
Nope. Elena somehow missed that too.
"If you had, you would know the labyrinth has a mind of its own." Menace crouched in Kai's eyes. So at odds with the soft smile gracing the Sye's face. "For it to lead you here, it must believe the exalted one has a use for you."
Elena took that as her cue, whirling. Time to go.
"Uncle Jin, I think we're going to need to revisit my ship commandeering plan,” Elena said.
The little bug clung to her cheek. "This is why I told you to leave immediately."
Elena should have listened. She really should have. Too late now.
"Where are you going, little girl? There's nowhere to run."
Elena fled, pounding over the metal grates back toward the labyrinth. As if she'd stay put like a good little girl.
Ha. Just ha. Aunt Selene didn't raise no idiot.
Except for Tommy. That boy could be so stupid sometimes. He was a mother hen with a martyr complex as strong as Aunt Kira's.
Elena burst into the adjacent room, slowing at the sight of Fyr blocking the labyrinth entrance.
"Move," she ordered softly, reaching for the bone pick she'd stashed in her boot. "I don't want to hurt you, but I will."
The pace of Kai's steps never varied. Slow and steady as if the Sye had all the time in the world to catch up. That more than anything let her know the two had planned this.
One to flush her out. The other to block her escape.
"Don't worry; you've got this," Uncle Jin whispered. "If nothing else, stall for time. My main body is close. I'll get you out before anything happens."
That would feel more reassuring if Elena didn't detect a thread of the very worry he'd advised her against.
"I won't ask again," Elena warned.
Fyr's gaze was cold. As unfeeling as it had been that first day. "I have my orders."
Funny. So did she.
Elena sprung forward, pouring all her ki into her legs and arms to reinforce them. She made it two steps before a shock went through her system. Her mind blanked. A barrier snapped down between her and her ki, cutting her off from its source and snuffing out her connection with Uncle Jin.
It felt like half of her soul had been sundered from the rest. Agony, unlike anything she had ever felt in her short life, splintered her body.
Uncle Jin's bug fell off her cheek and into the glowing pool below.
Elena couldn't cope with the onslaught of pain, finding herself in a ball on the ground. No wonder some of her siblings had chosen this position for their sleep. It was instinctual.
"Worry not. What is happening to you right now is only natural. This is his space." Kai waved a hand at their surroundings. "Only he controls the flow of the seriet. All others are punished."
Elena whimpered, conscious of the Sye moving closer. Get up, El. Remember what you promised Auntie. You have to survive.
