Chapter 41
The journey back to the little waterfall room is much faster than before. I suppose that’s to be expected when I’m not weighed down by another body. I keep my eyes peeled for more agual, but thankfully see none. When I finally pop my head above water, panic seizes my heart. My Madi is not here.
“Madi,” I yell. “Mate!” I climb out of the water, scooting along the foliage because I can’t wait for my legs. “Phoenix.”
There’s no answer.
After dragging myself up the stairs, my tail finally shifts.
I stand and run down the hall, calling Madi’s name.
At the window, I look out, searching for any sign of them.
All I see are the angry creatures still pacing below.
I would have expected them to give up by now, their persistence makes me wonder if their food source is limited.
As I watch, one flings himself at the door again, and this time there’s a creaking, scraping noise.
I lean as far out the narrow opening as I can in order to see better.
The door is cracked open. It’s not enough for the animal to get through, but it won’t be long before it is. I need to find my mate.
“Madi!” I scream at the top of my lungs this time as I fling myself down the stairs to the next level.
“Here,” her voice calls back, sweeter than any song, but the relief is short-lived.
“Where are you? We need to leave. Now.”
A panel opens in the wall, and Phoenix and Madi step out. “We found something. Well, it’s not much really. We were hoping for a passage out of here, but it’s more like a closet of sorts. And there are a bunch of those little harmonica things.”
“Harmonica?”
“Yeah.” Phoenix holds up the little metal thing he’d found before Hunter and I left, then points to the shelf full of them. “We think this place might have been a shop, some kind of store where people bought these, but we still can’t figure out what they do.”
“This might help, though.” Madi shows me a tiny book before shoving it back in her bag along with a few of the little devices. “I think it’s some kind of instruction manual, but I can’t read it.”
“We don’t have time.” I look over my shoulder. “The animals have opened the door.”
“What?” Madi squeaks.
Phoenix grabs several of the metal things off the shelf, shoves them in his pocket, then takes Madi’s hand and runs. “Come on, then. Time to go!”
I chase after them. “They can’t get in yet, but we must leave. They shouldn’t be able to track our scent in the water.” At least, I hope they will not be able to do so.
Once we’re back upstairs, we waste no time getting in the canal.
“We have to go together,” Phoenix says. “Will you be able to take turns breathing for each of us? Or will that be too much?”
“I can do it.” I pull Madi against my front. “Climb on my back,” I instruct Phoenix. “If either of you need a breath, pinch me.”
Phoenix wraps himself around my back as Madi clings to my front.
“Oh, and if you see an aqual—no, if you see any movement at all, tap me.”
“What do you mean?” Madi asks.
“Just keep your eyes open.” I kiss her, then instruct both of them to take a deep breath before we dive under the water.