Stone of Hope

Chapter 31

The hand gripping my arm is covered in sticky blood. Peering through the dimness of the tunnel opening, I look behind me at Ash’s face and realize this may be the last time I see him. We almost made it to the tunnel before we were attacked. Right before dropping into the tunnel below The Roots, Ash almost got his hand taken off when he went to block a sword.

Miko pulls my attention away from Ash’s pinched face. “Jewel, it will be dark in the passageway, but you must never let go of the back of my shirt. The path will be narrow, but there are many traps inside.” Miko pulls me toward the escape route, the tunnel darkening with each step away from the hidden opening. Ash grasps the back of my shirt tightly. I close my eyes and put all my trust in Miko.

Without warning, Miko stops and I walk into him. Ash envelops me from behind as he bumps into me, then he turns me to him. Embracing me in his arms, he kisses the top of my head and whispers, “Jewel, I don’t know what awaits us, but I hear someone approaching. You must follow the moon until you reach the trail made of branches. Follow that trail until you meet Calla at the cabin. I know what Gift she gave you that day, because she told me. Find the blue, for it is your sky. Think of your childhood cabin and the portal will take you close to there. Whatever you do, don’t return to your house. It is no longer safe.”

His fingers barely touch the side of my cheek as he places his lips on mine tenderly. The feelings I have of him being my Ash – the Ash from my world – come flooding back as I kiss him without reservation. I hug him closer to me until Miko tugs on my shirt. I turn and watch as he opens a door, and realize we are standing inside a large tree. Miko grabs my hand and helps me navigate the gnarled roots that snake along the bottom of the passageway.

Ash was right. Someone is waiting for us, but it’s not King Gus with his army; it’s James and my other door guards. Miko realizes what’s going on before I do and draws his sword, thrusting me behind him.

“Miko, it’s just James,” I scoff with a wave of my hand, trying to walk around Miko.

Miko holds his ground, preventing me from walking in front of him. “How long, James?” he snarls.

“Longer than you can even imagine,” James sneers, twisting his lips. The other door guards move to either side of Ash as James inches closer to Miko and me. With no warning, James makes his first move, slashing his sword down, but Miko is faster. The sound of clashing swords rings out in the small space.

Miko feints to the left. “Why, James?”

James scoffs, “King Destine and his miserable father were reason enough, but when you add on that he sent my parents away and made me an orphan, it really sweetened the pot. What do you think of the royal family now, Jewels?”

Miko remains calm. “Who do you work for?”

“The Darkland, of course.” With that, James and his men pounce on Ash and Miko in a battle for their lives.

Fascinated by the gruesome spectacle, I don’t run. Instead, I move back into the relative safety of the tree’s trunk and watch as Miko kicks James in the gut, pushing him away from us. James is relentless, though, and comes back at full force. Ash’s sword sings as he duels with two guards at once.

Disjointed voices echo from the tunnel and Miko is caught off guard, allowing James the opportunity to slice his arm. “Jewel,” he cries, “you must go! That’s not our army coming through the tunnels. King Destine would never lead them through this passage. These tunnels are for the royal family only.”

Miko and Ash swing harder and faster, pushing James and the two other guards back with a renewed fury.

This is my only chance to escape.