Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Dara
After walking for hours and hours we finally come to a stop. Looking around, I try to figure out why but nothing seems out of the ordinary. “Why are we stopping?” I ask, confused.
Harlan smirks. Turning away from us, he walks a few steps to the right. He stops in front of an overgrown bush with branches and leaves everywhere. Declan joins him and they both move the branches out of the way. I move left and right, trying to see what they are doing but I can’t spot a bloody thing with the guys blocking my view. The sun has started to peak over the horizon lighting the forest in a yellow glow. Stepping up behind them, I place my hand on Harlan’s shoulder and lean over him to see what they are hiding.
“Holy shit balls. Would never have thought this would be here,” I admit, looking down into the tunnel that was just moments ago hidden by the greenery.
“That’s why we call it a secret entrance, sweetie,” Oliver says, patting me on the head. The smart-arse.
Jolie and Declan join us as Albert and the other fighters quickly say their goodbyes.
We follow Harlan’s lead and enter the dark tunnel. Everyone is on high alert, looking around after each step we take. I’m instantly hit by the smell of death. Something is definitely dead in here. I try not to dry retch, but fuck, it’s hard; the stench is overpowering. I don’t want to find out what’s causing that stench, but I have a feeling that I will. It’s pitch-black. A dull, flickering green light appears to my left. Jolie has brought it forth with her magic.
I can now see clearly, I think I preferred the darkness. It’s creepy down here. The tunnel walls are covered in cobwebs. I shiver at the sight of them. The ground is just dirt, and I can’t see the end of the tunnel. Who knows how long it will take to get to the other side?
I try to check-in with Blair to distract myself and to make sure he is okay.
Are you still with us, Blair? I ask, waiting several minutes for a response. Finally, I hear his weak voice.
Yes, but … please tell me … you’re coming soon. I need … need to see you.
My heart breaks at the sound of his fragile voice. I quickly wipe away the tear that drops down my cheek. We’re coming, Blair. Hang in there, please.
When he doesn’t respond, I pick up the speed and my warriors follow my lead. After what feels like hours, we come to a set of wooden double doors. Harlan and Declan approach it first, sussing it out.
Declan motions for Jolie and me to stand against the curved wall with Oliver joining us. Harlan and Declan quietly open the door, which groans as it swings to the side.
My warriors slip inside first to check it out, moving like assassins, quickly and quietly. I share a look with Jolie. We are both praying that they will come back through for us at any second. When Declan comes back into view, I let out the breath I had been holding. He motions for us to follow.
As we step through the door, I take in the space. It looks the same as the tunnel we were just in. Odd. I thought we’d be entering the chamber where Blair was being held.
My warriors continue around the corner and I trail after them. We turn another corner, and are met with a small, discreet door.
Harlan turns to face us, talking directly into our minds to go over the plan one last time.
I want this to go smoothly. In and out with no interruptions. Once we go through this door, we’ll not only be entering the chamber, but one of the cells. Jolie, I might need you to open the door then stand guard. Declan, you put the on-duty slayers into a trance so they won’t know what’s going on. I will go with Dara to get Blair out of his cell. Are we clear?
We all nod.
I take a deep breath. We’re here, Blair—not long now.
Jolie enters first, followed by the guys and me. Goosebumps appear on my arms as the temperature drops. The cell is just as I imagined it would be; dark, and with mildew tickling my nose. It’s revolting in here. The cell is three by three metres, with no mattress in sight or anything at all. Worn-out iron bars surround us, locking us in. There’s a door on each one. A shudder goes through my body; I wouldn’t want to be locked up here, ever. Jolie walks straight for the cell’s lock while I look through the bars. There are two identical cells on the other wall, and I’m guessing one more beside the one we’re in. Two slayers at the far end of the cells standing guard.
I spot Blair’s limp form in the farthest cell on the opposite side of the corridor to us, right near a door. My stomach tightens. He isn’t moving an inch, and all I want to do is break down. But I can’t. We’re not in the clear yet.
As soon as Jolie breaks the lock, Declan goes straight to the slayers on guard at the door. I run to Blair’s cell, Harlan and Jolie right behind me. Coming to an abrupt halt, I blink, unable to believe what I’m seeing.
Blair is lying down in the corner of the cell. His head is on the ground, his body unmoving, his face unrecognisable. There are bruises, dried blood, and huge bags under his eyes. He’s a mess, and it leaves me angrier than I’ve ever been before. I grab hold of the cell bars, my knuckles turning white. The ground begins to shake violently beneath my feet. My blue magic smoke seeps out in an uncontrollable wave.
The warmth of Harlan’s hand covers mine. Dara, please settle down. This won’t do Blair any good. Get your shit together or we’ll have a million slayers in here any second now.
I take a deep breath. With the help of Harlan’s words, I begin to calm down.
Hurry up, Jolie. Get this open. Now!
As soon as the door clicks, I run in and collapse beside Blair’s lifeless body. He doesn’t stir as I pull him into my arms and cry into his neck. Placing my ear to his chest, I listen for his heartbeat.
Relief floods me when I hear the weak thump behind his ribs. He’s still alive, but only just. We need to get him out of here. Declan enters with Harlan. They haul up Blair, holding him between them, and head towards the door.
As I go to follow them, I see a movement to my right through the cracks of the iron bars next to Blair’s cell. I run over with Jolie following. Inside the cell there’s an older lady covered in torn clothes and dried blood.
“Clary, is that you?” Jolie asks, coming up beside me.
“Yes. Is that you, Jolie?” Now it clicks who this lady is. Clary, Anna’s dear friend who went missing.
“Sure is. Sit tight. We’re getting you out of here,” Jolie promises.
Get a move on, Dara, Declan tells me.
Jolie gets the cell door open, motioning for Clary to follow us back through the hidden door.
Just as we step inside the empty cell toward freedom, the main door to the chambers flies open. I shove Jolie in the back, hurrying her through into the secret passage, then step in myself and close the door firmly behind me. Harlan has a still unconscious Blair over his shoulder while Jolie, Clary, and I follow closely behind and Declan remains behind us, keeping watch of our backs.
We run straight through the double doors. Declan locks them behind him.
“Jolie!” he barks.
Jolie pushes Clary in my direction and runs back to her brother. She begins to whisper something under her breath. The door shimmers in response.
“What did you do?” I ask as we continue running.
“Let’s just say the slayers won’t be able to get through that—at least, not in a hurry.”
When we finally step out of the tunnel, the light blinds me, and I need a moment to adjust. Declan puts the branches back over the entrance to the tunnel, blocking it from view. We all keep running until we reach the spot where we left Albert.
He comes out from a cluster of trees. He takes one look at Blair in Harlan’s arms and he breaks down, falling to his knees. He jumps up taking Blair from Harlan, holding onto Blair for dear life. I have never seen an older man be so emotional and it has my heart breaking more than it already is.
Still, we have to keep moving. Wallowing in this sadness will only give the slayers—and James—more time to find us. And I won’t let him hurt us again.
Clearing my throat, I say, “We have to keep going.”