Spotting something in my periphery, I turned slightly to the right and took another step. Eureka. The desert instantly vanished, leaving me surrounded in perpetual gloom by row upon row of empty buildings untouched by time. It was as though this town had been frozen in amber: no decay, no speck of dirt, just stasis.
“Where are all the people?” Tor asked from behind me.
I hadn’t even realized I’d walked deeper into the town and they’d followed.
“Probably dead,” Alek answered.
“Sacrificed,” I corrected.
Pan sneered. “Lovely.”
“They didn’t want any leaks. Everyone who knew about the tomb was killed.”
“Except you.”
I nodded. “Except me.”
“How’d you manage that?” Alek asked.
“I didn’t exactly give them a choice. They didn’t know who I was.”
Pan cocked one aubergine brow. “I could imagine you being hard to kill.”
Tor snorted. “Do you think we’d be off on this adventure if he weren’t?”
“Right,” Pan muttered, seeming flustered. “For a second I forgot.”
“You forgot?” Alek asked, incredulous.
“It’s not exactly like I stand around ruminating on our impending doom. I prefer to focus on the upside.”
“And what is the upside of our situation, exactly?” Alek pressed.
“I got my tail back,” he declared, allowing it to swish beside him with a little flourish.
“For fuck’s sake,” I muttered. Pan was so unlike his father in some ways it was hard to believe they were of the same bloodline. Until he looked at me, anyway. Those eyes were unmistakably Malice.
“You’d be just as chuffed if you had a tail.”
Ignoring him, I led the way down the abandoned street, following the dirt path that had never seen a single car or truck. Deep ruts were cut into the earth from the wheels of the many wagons and carts that had been used during this town’s prime. One such cart sat tipped on its side, now empty, but more than likely once filled with food.
“Wait,” Pan said, interrupting the silence. “If everyone’s dead, where are the bodies?”
“Oh, they’re here. Trust me. No one escaped the Black City.”
“That doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence,” he replied.
“It shouldn’t.”
Tor and Alek placed a hand on their respective weapons, taking my words to heart. The twins crept forward, coming abreast of me. With a sudden crack, the floor beneath Alek gave way, and he shot down with a shocked cry. Tor reached down inhumanly fast, catching his brother by the arm and tugging him up.
“Thanks,” he breathed, his eyes round as saucers as he took in the pit below.
I moved to stand beside him, spotting the pikes he’d nearly impaled himself on. “Watch out for traps,” I said dryly.
“A little late for that, don’t you think?”
Ignoring his complaint, I moved onward, steps careful, eyes sweeping the terrain for any indication of booby traps.
