Taking a deep breath, she moved forward, following the call of the magic humming in the air. It was like a heartbeat, the sound guiding her through the dark ruins. They found a door, or what was left of it, and went through it. Stairs led them down below ground.
The air thickened until it felt like they were walking through thick mud.
The arch’s warning echoed in her mind once again.
Beware.
“Careful, Prince,” she murmured, testing each stair before putting her weight on it. The steps were made of crumbling stone that slipped away when met with too much weight.
In response, he gripped her hand tighter. He hadn’t complained about his foot, but every so often, his breath hitched. She’d have to insist he let her look at it later.
The heartbeat grew louder.
Thank the gods, they didn’t encounter another monster.
They descended two more staircases. One was made of slippery shards of marble, and the next was made of rotted pieces of wood.
At the base of the third stairs, the air shifted once again.
The hum became a resounding drum drowning out Vivienne’s thoughts, and the shadows were so dark that sight was a distant memory.
“We’re almost there,” she murmured confidently, picking her way along the stone floor.
She wasn’t sure how she knew the heart was nearby, but she did. The hum spoke to the darkness in her heart, calling her forward.
“I trust you.” Marius squeezed her hand.
Those three words and the confident way he held her hand made her stomach flutter more than their earlier kiss. It was like a dozen miniature bats came to life within her.
She tried to remember that the prince was her charge, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep those boundaries in place, especially when his warm hand enveloped hers so completely and when he kissed her so wonderfully.
They’d get the vial of blessed water, and then, they’d talk about these feelings.
One thing at a time.
“I…” Her voice trailed off as a fluorescent blue glow sliced through the shadows. It had been so long since she’d seen light that she blinked several times.
The glow grew brighter, and with it, the hum morphed. It was no longer a heartbeat drawing her forward but an entire orchestra playing a dark symphony. Something tugged in her gut, summoning her. She released Marius’s hand, barely noticing her movements.
The music got louder, an eerie melody calling to her.
The prince made a noise behind her, but she couldn’t make out his words.
A low percussive beat threaded through the space, calling to her.
Come, come, come.
Vivienne’s fingers unfurled, and her sword clattered to the ground, forgotten.
Her feet moved of their own accord, drawing her towards the blue glow. She couldn’t see what it hid, but she knew she needed to get nearer.
The beautiful song spoke to her.
Her wings exploded from her back, although she had no recollection of summoning them.
The tugging grew more insistent.
The glow intensified, illuminating stone walls and a floor. They were in a cavern, but she didn’t have time to assess it further.
