After collecting myself, I assess the stone corridor before me. My goal is to find the exterior dungeon door access and confirm I can open it. I don’t need all my men swimming through this if they can walk through the back door. And if I can get that door open, I can dunk my shit-covered ass in the bay, too.
The Hunter within prepares to track movement around me as I move forward, the shadowed corridor sharpening. Aged stone walls ooze with slime, like trails of blood crying with the despair of the kingdom. My magic surges to attention as I venture deeper into the dungeons of our enemy, my adrenaline spiking as my magic senses hundreds of vampires in the castle above.
I need to cut left and around to access the door beside the grate I swam through, so I follow the wall, waiting for my first opportunity to turn. My boots tap quietly against the stone floor, and I hit the first blockade.
The large wooden door is bolted shut, with a metal grate at its center. I peer through to a long hallway lined with holding cells and call upon my magic, strength bursting, and yank the pins out of the hinges before gripping the sides of the thick door. I push through my legs to release it from the wall. Spinning, I set the massive door to the side and race through the doorframe, clock ticking now with the evidence of my intrusion.
An unconscious body is slumped over in one of the cells, but based on the smell, the frail man is no longer with us.
Monsters.
I reach my magic out to Sam—no response. The Captain in me hates being this close to my Hunter and not being able to do anything to help him.
My first opportunity to turn left is just ahead, and my magic jumps as it senses movement around the corner. I halt in my tracks, but it’s not a vampiric threat, so I plaster on a worried look before striding around the corner.
The human guard and I stare at one another.
His eyes widen as he scans my soiled clothing and the blades at my hips.
“Morning,” I say brightly.
He fumbles for his sword before aiming it at me, and it shakes between us.
“There’s no need for that,” I tell the speechless guard, the dark circles under his eyes deepening with his stress.
“No one is allowed down here,” he says, eyeing me as I step toward him.
“I’m just looking for my brother,” I say, spreading my hands out wide. “Don’t think he’s down here, though.”
The guard huffs at me. “Probably in the graves, I’m afraid.”
“Aye,” I say, wringing the shit water out of my tunic. It splashes between our boots.
The guard gags and recovers himself, shaking his head. “Sorry about your brother. There are no humans alive in the dungeons.”
I grunt. “Why waste a good meal, right?”
The guard eyes me, clearly undecided about what to do with me.
“Care to show me the way out? I’d prefer not to go back the way I came.”
The guard stiffens.
“So, is a failed rescue attempt going to cost me my life too, then?” I ask him.
“It’s supposed to,” he says, sword still pointed at my chest.
“I see,” I say, praying to the gods I can convince the guard to let me out of here so I don’t have to knock him out. “Any chance we can just forget we saw each other?”
He hesitates. Human guards are loyal to the king for only one reason.
I stuff my hands into my soaked pockets, watching the guard’s nose wrinkle. “You know, if you ever want out of this life, there’s a tavern in Southend that’ll be looking for an extra set of hands in the coming weeks. Benefits aren’t quite the same, but if you ever want out—”
“I won’t trade my family’s survival,” he growls.
“Can’t compete with that perk, huh?”
“No.”
