Leaving them to their fight, I inched forward. The tunnel grew darker and darker as the light of the worship room dwindled.
Cindy squeezed my hand and put her lips to my ear. I grimaced as she spoke. Her hot breath tickled. “Can I risk a light?”
I put her hand on my face, so she'd feel my motions and nodded, leaning close to whisper, “Dim.”
She rustled around and a tiny fireball appeared in her hand.Well, I could've done that.
The tunnel widened into a dead end.This isn't right. They're messing with us again.I turned to Cindy. “Reveal,” I breathed.
She nodded and took out a knife, pricking her finger. I tapped her shoulder and held my arms out in a “What the heck?” gesture when she turned to me.
She pulled the fireball close to illuminate her face and mouthed, “No pencil.”
Dang.I nodded my understanding.I should've brought Leo, too.
I grabbed her arm before she touched the wall and leaned in to ask one more question. “Can you siphon energy from me?” I asked. I was afraid this battle would primarily be magical, with not too much muscle needed once Kára stopped fighting my guys out there.
I heard a roar from Axoular and snapped my head toward the barely visible tunnel entrance, worried. Cindy squeezed my arm, bringing my focus back to the task at hand.
She nodded her head. She'd be able to channel my strength. I hoped it was enough to kill that warlock. I also hoped Cindy was up to the challenge. What I knew about warlocks was how to spell warlock and not one more thing.
She took her bloody finger and smeared it over my forehead. I furrowed my brow.Why is everything magical gross?
Grinning like she knew what I was thinking, she put her hands on my head and touched her forehead to the bloody spot on mine. I felt a tug in my chest, and she pulled away, nodding, and smiling. She'd done it.
I didn't feel any different until she squeezed more blood out of her finger and rubbed it into the fancy V shape on the wall. She focused on the rune, and when she did, I felt a tug in my chest again, but this time it was accompanied by a tingle. She was using my inherent magic to reveal the hidden passage or room.
Apparently, my inherent magic was a teensy bit powerful because there was no shimmer this time. There was a deafening pop and the walls rumbled.
Being in a cave tunnel during a rumble wasn't and would never be on my bucket list. I shrank back, ready to bolt.
Oh, god, Linna is in here. I can’t leave without her.
Cindy looked at me in shock. She hadn't expected it either. The rumbles stopped and we grinned at each other, turning to face the opening in the rock that had appeared.
“They know we're in the tunnel now, with that noise. No sense in hiding,” I said.
She shrugged. “You're one seriously powerful creature. Did you know you could do that?”
“Nope. Axoular knows what all I can do, but he's been waiting to show me slowly. Most Sárkány learn this stuff throughout a long life. I haven't had that opportunity.”
As we spoke, we eyeballed the doorway, apprehensive about entering another dark cave. “Let's go,” I said.
She brightened the ball, using her own power. I didn't feel any tingles. We walked in side by side, her arm out ahead of us so the ball would illuminate the room.
A curvaceous woman stood at the other end, wearing a cloak.Finally, one of these magicals wears something I'd expect.
“Hello Cindy,” she said, smiling. Her face was long, angular, almost serpentine. I expected a tongue to dart out at any moment.
Cindy froze beside me. “Remember the rumble,” I whispered, reminding her that she had my power at her disposal.
Apparently, she heard me because she smiled. “Hello, Meg. How've you been? Still doing magic for the highest bidder, I see.”
“Like you don't?” Her voice had a hissing quality to it.
“I only take jobs for people that aren't evil, you know that.”
“You don't have the power to hurt me,” Meg said.
