Darkling (39 page)

“Nika?”

I couldn’t look at him. Something was wrong. Something inside me.

The pain came through my stomach, and a silent cry left my mouth.

“Nika?!” he called again, but I was having trouble breathing—as if I was inhaling stuff that was too dry, as if the air wasn’t what I needed right now!

“Where’re we going?” I barely managed to ask.

“To the safe place. To the Underground.”

The Underground? My stomach was burning with pain, I opened my mouth but only screams came out.

“Nika!” Belun cried, holding me against him.

Pain in my head. Sharp. Throughout my whole body.

Belun’s arms held me tight while the screams left my throat. A zillion tiny blades cut my insides filling me with more and more pain. I was shaking and kicking, losing the sound of things. Of my screams.

Belun whispered something in my ear, but I couldn’t hear him. I only saw his lips moving, and even that began to fade.

The Sixth Elder was being born.