As far as wake-up calls go, I think I’m cursed.
I don’t know how long I’ve been out when I’m awakened by a jolt of gut-wrenching pain. Gasping, I wrench up from Sin’s arms and double over on the cave floor, trying to breathe.
Sin’s arms are around me in an instant. “Kitten, kitten, what’s wrong? Talk to me!”
Molten heat sears through my body, and a violent ringing starts in my ears.
Oh no. Not this. Not here.
Between gasps of pain, I manage to choke out, “Leon.”
Sin’s fingers curl in my shirt, and through the ringing, I hear him mutter a faintcurse. His hands come to my face, and he’s trying to tell me something. “Light. Kitten, we need to go now. My power isn’t back.”
I frown, fighting back tears from the burning that is wracking through my body and the ear-splitting ringing.
“Now, kitten. Move your ass!” Sin whisper-yells, taking my hand and tugging me to the cavern entrance. How he knows how to find it in the dark is a mystery to me.
Pulling my hand from his, I try to focus on my Reaper energy. I hope like hell I can manage to use it through the pain. A wave of nausea hits me, and I try to take deep breaths, pushing through the pain. Small tendrils of fog lick at the corners of my mind, terrifying me.
Not this. Not again.
We can’t be caught by Leon now.
My anxiety spikes at the thought of what will happen if we get caught. Sin is powerless, and I’m not sure how much longer that’s going to last. Not to mention, I doubt Leon is here alone. We’re outnumbered and likely outpowered.
Leon won’t hesitate to kill Sin, and I refuse to let that happen. I won’t let anyone else get hurt because of me.
The thought of going back to Leon sends dread down my spine. But if that’s what it takes to get Sin out safely, I won’t hesitate.
Redoubling my efforts, I pull at my Reaper energy, and mercifully, it responds. Bright wisps of silver energy float up through my hand.
The light illuminates Sin’s profile, and I briefly catch what might be fear in his expression before it’s shuttered away. Again, he grabs my hand and pulls me towards the narrow tunnel.
“Move it,” he urges in the same tone he uses in our training.
Authoritative and demanding.
Not letting myself think of the narrow space, I crawl forward.
He doesn’t stop bossing me around until I finally reach the lip and drop myself back down to the larger tunnel corridor.
Sin’s feet hit the ground a second later, but I don’t have a chance to turn to him. Instead, he sweeps me into his arms and takes off running. He curls me into his chest, and I’m immediately surrounded by his comforting scent. I’m thinking of sassing him for being so highhanded, but his whisper stops me. “You did great, kitten. Focus on keeping up the light, and I’ll work on getting us out of here.”
My pride takes a hit, but he’s right. In my state, it’s taking everything in me to keep the threads of silvery light going. I shift in his arms, holding out my hand so it illuminates our path.
The tunnels all blend together, and I’m once again amazed that Sin has any idea where he’s going. As the tunnels grow wider, the sounds of shouts and footsteps start to echo around us. I crane my neck to look over Sin’s shoulder, but I don’t see any sign of torches.
More and more tunnels and I’m feeling my energy start to wane. The fog presses closer into my mind. Iblink, and when I open my eyes, Sin is running up a steep set of stairs. Far above us, a light peeks out.
We’re almost there.
Despite the added weight of my body, Sin doesn’t slow, running up the steps two at a time. Through the pressing brain fog, I frown at the steps. I swear these seem longer than the ones we used to enter the Underworld Realm.
Sin has been running up them for ages.
I take a deep inhale, trying to focus through the fog.
Just a little further.
