The Dark God's Bride Trilogy, #3 (10 page)

“Are you alright?” he asked her.

She could only nod.

He swam for shore with the current instead of against it. When they reached shallow water, he took her into his arms and carried her to dry land.

He carefully laid her on the ground and locked her eyes with his. “Are you hurt? Where are you hurt?”

She shook her head.

“Are you sure?”

She nodded.

He quickly got up on his feet. “We have to keep moving. We need to cover as much distance as we can.”

She complied, but she staggered as soon as she tried to stand. He caught her. Of course he did. She could always trust that he would. Seeing that she didn’t have the strength to come with him, he swept her up into his arms once again and began the trek down the river.

“Where are we going?” she asked curiously.

“I’m taking you home.”

“Home?” But she was told that this place, this realm, was her home.

“Look!”
Amara tapped at his shoulder when she spied a small wooden boat trapped between the boulders. “It’s a boat! This part of the river is not as turbulent. Do you think we can use it?”

“There is no such coinciden
ce,” Noctis said cynically. “He’s toying with us.”

“Who?” Amara asked.

Her question was ignored. “He’s taking us where he wants us to be.”

“So, we’re not taking the boat?”

“No, we’re taking it. Even if it is a trap, we still need to go. It’s on the way toward the exit and we’re short on time.”

“You seem to know what you’re doing, so I’ll just have to trust you.”

He deposited her into the small boat and then pushed it into the flowing water. When it became completely free from the boulders, he leaped onto the back and drew her body toward him.

Amara clung onto him for heat. They were traveling against the wind and the damp clothes she was wearing didn’t help keep her warm. At least they were moving much faster now. The sooner they could leave this place, the better.

The river was flowing directly into a wide cavern. Amara looked up at Noctis to see if he really wanted them to take this path. She felt insecure being away from the light. He made no attempt to guide the boat to shore so that translated into
we’re going in.

She really wished they didn’t have to.

The further they traveled, the darker it became. Amara raised her hand to the level of her eyes, but she couldn’t see it even if it was only inches away. It was time to make use of her skills.

“
Ignis!
” She called upon the power of the flames. It was a mistake because she had nothing to hold the flame so it dropped into her hands. Startled, she tossed the flame into the water. “
Rats!
”

“Did you burn yourself?”

She leaned over the boat and dipped her hands into the water. “No,” she replied. “I was just startled.”

He lit up a white flame in his right hand and held it at a cautious distan
ce from her. The flame provided sufficient lighting as the river carried them further and further into the cave system. Amara marveled at what she saw. The ceiling of the cavern had strange rough textures of a termite’s nest. Layered rock formations covered in black moss lay alongside the river. Dark green malachite ores were lining the cavern wall.

Amara sunk back when she felt something from beneath the water bump
ing their tiny boat. The boat swayed from side to side, letting in a worrisome amount of water.

What’s the worst that
could happen?
If I get killed by whatever is stalking us from beneath, I’d just end up back here. That was the way it works, right?

That did nothing to calm her. Another bump had her squeezing him.

The small boat slowed and it eventually came to a full stop. The surface of the river was completely stagnant in this part. Standing in front of them were massive stone gates stretching from beneath the water to the curved ceiling of the cavern.

“How are we going to open
—”

The cavern briefly rumbled. Suddenly, the gates began to open by themselves. The water rushed in and carried the small boat with it. Noctis jumped back into the cold water and pushed the boat to shore.

Amara’s grey eyes wandered about. “Where is this place?”

“Exactly where
he
wants us to be,” Noctis replied and offered her his hand. She took the offered hand and pulled herself off the boat.

The gates behind sealed them in.

“I guess we have no choice but go forward…” Amara said, following his lead closely. They walked down a long and dark corridor that was haunted by the sound of the wind being trapped in an enclosed area. The only source of light was the flame in Noctis’ hand. The walls were covered in relief art. It seemed to be keeping a record or detailing a very long story.

The corridor split into different routes that they were force
d to choose, and at the end of each route were more choices. It was a labyrinth of sorts. It was meant to trap them in. Amara figured that if she could hear and feel the circulating air, it must have meant there was an exit on the other side.

In the bone
-chilling silence, Amara could have sworn she heard very soft whispers coming from the white chess piece Noctis had often taken out of his pocket.

Sometime later, they stumbled upon a large circular space. The torches along the wall lit up by themselves, as if welcoming them. It was then that Amara felt like someone or something was manipulating their surroundings. She felt like they were being watched.

They probably were.

On the other side of the circular room were three massive doors. On each door there was a large circular symbol. Each was unique. The art continued on in this chamber as well.
On the ceiling was a massive relief of a strikingly beautiful woman with long dark tresses flowing freely over her bodice. Amara was drawn to that particular artwork; entranced by it. Her hands reached for her own face. The woman on the ceiling and Amara bore a remarkable resemblance to each other. She was provoked by a deep emotion that shook her to the very core. The feeling was powerful. It was sad.

“Amara!” Even though she heard him call out her name, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the woman. She couldn’t look away.

A small-scale earthquake caved in the path behind them. Amara grabbed onto his arm for balance.

“Stand back,” Noctis said to her. It came across as an order so she did as he bade. She backed against the wall. Noctis seemed to be sensing danger so Amara braced herself in the nerve-racking moment of silence.

The black vines on the wall sneaked up on Amara like a deadly silent hunter. They wrapped themselves around her limbs, entwined around her body, and trapped her against the wall. When she noticed they were there, it was already too late.

“Help!”
she managed to scream out before it could cover her mouth. He sprung around and sprinted to her. He began ripping the vines from her, but they kept growing and wouldn’t let her go. She could barely move much less struggle. 

Her eyes widened when she saw giant worms with rings of sharp teeth coming from the ground behind him. She wanted to warn him, but her voice was muffled by the vines. They
struck fast like deadly vipers.

He swung around and sliced one of them vertically with his blade. There were so many of them scattered across the chamber. Some dived back into the earth and attempted to assault him
from the ground up. He rolled back to dodge and slice their heads off with the fluid motion of his blade. The few spare seconds that he had between the attacks, he used to attempt to free her from the vines.

No! Don’t be distracted by me!
She wanted to tell him. She tried her best to shake her head.

He gritted his teeth and turned around. She could feel the anger rising in him. He went down o
n one knee and pressed both hands against the earth. He called upon a summoning circle and called forth the power of the white flames. All that came in contact with the flame turned to ashes in an instant. He closed his hand to dismiss the flame when all of the creatures were no more. He turned around and attempted to free her from the vines once again. He lit up a flame in his hand and brought it close to the vines. It was so hot; she felt the heat against her skin even though she was covered in vines. The vines couldn’t stand the heat and receded.

He caught her when she peeled off the wall. “Are you alright?” Blue eyes were searching hers.

She felt numb from the lack of blood circulation, but other than that, she didn’t suffer any injury. “I’m fine,” she panted.

The earth rumbled once again. The gate to the left of them was lifting, revealing a pitch black tunnel. From the tunnel, she heard echoing hooves.

What now?

Dozens of bright red eyes were peering from the darkness. They stepped into the perimeter of the light. Amara gasped at the sight of the half-man, half-bull creatures wielding double
-headed axes. Their heavy breathing could be heard from where they were standing.

You’ve got to be kidding me. Minotaurs?

Noctis threw fireballs at them from a close range, but they quickly gained ground by their powerful bull rushes. For their bulky size, they were surprisingly fast. Noctis was forced to enter close combat. Being completely useless in this situation, Amara could only try to stay out of the way.

One of the Minotaurs locked onto her. Amara didn’t know what to do so she ran. It hunched low and rushed at her with its huge horns.

Noctis dashed in between them and grabbed the bull by the horns. Its strength and momentum pushed him back several feet. Noctis growled and flipped the beast to the right and forced it on its back.

Amara screamed when another Minotaur targeted her. Since her back was against the wall, there was nowhere she
could run. Frightened, she ducked to the ground. She thought she would be impaled for sure.

She was wrong.

The Minotaur rushed at her, but it miscalculated. Its horns got stuck in the wall. Amara was face to face with the beast that was trying to tear at her with its teeth. She tried to crawl away but it caught her by the ankle. She frantically clawed at the ground to get away.

Noctis’ blade came down between them and chopped the
Minotaur’s arms in halves. Amara screamed while trying to shake the detached arm from her leg.              

“I hate this…!” Amara muttered to herself.

Noctis pressed his back against her and trapped her between him and the wall so that the Minotaur would not get to her. Some charged at him while others threw their axes. He managed to block the incoming attacks and most of the axes, but not all of them. He didn’t dodge the ones he couldn’t block, so it sliced through his flesh before pinning him against the wall.

Amara knew he could have dodged them, but he didn’t because of her. She was filled with self-loathing as
she watched his blood trickle to the ground.

Having something to protect put me at a disadvantage
, he had once told her. Now, she knew exactly what he meant.

Do something, Amara! Help him!

Her powers were juvenile. Her spells were near useless. What could she do to help him?

Just try! Pick a spell! Any spell!

Amara slipped in front of him. She prayed silently that her powers would come through for her at least once. “
Pruina!
I call forth the power of the frost!”

The power of the frost swept through the Minotaurs, freezing them where they stood. The flying axes lost their moment
um and dropped to the ground.

He grabbed her arm and swung her around. “
Never,
” he seethed, “
attempt that again.
”

“I’m not promising anything,” she replied sternly. He left her side and slashed at the frozen Minotaurs. 

“Your wounds…” she looked on worriedly.

“Minor scratches,” he said arrogantly.

She could see his bones through the torn flesh. “They’re not
minor scratches
!”

“They’ll heal,” he said, his voice stubborn.

She swallowed in nervous anticipation when the second gate opened. This time, the echoing footsteps were loud enough that they felt the vibration in the earth. Something big was coming. Something very big.

“Are we really going to wait for the other two gates?” Amara asked in a shak
y voice.

They earth shook more violently as whatever was in the tunnel
came closer.

He was contemplating.

“No.” He took her hand and hauled her toward the left tunnel. She ran with him down the dark tunnel. “If he is controlling everything then it doesn’t matter which tunnel we choose. We’ll end up where he wants us to be.”

“Ah hell!” Amara turned her head back to glance behind. “It’s chasing after us! Whatever it is, it’s chasing after us!”