Chapter Three #3
Azazel shoved Toni through the opening before sliding in after her. The narrow space was just wide enough for his shoulders, but he hurried, the sound of the Elites’ pursuit echoing behind them.
JR14 buzzed ahead as the cover closed with a click behind them. “Keep moving,” he said to Toni. “I’m right behind you.”
Her breath came in sharp gasps as her hands scraped against the smooth walls of the shaft. “No worries. But I sure hope you know what you’re doing.”
Azazel’s lips pressed into a thin line. “So do I.”
Behind them, the sound of pursuit faded.
Still, Azazel’s tension didn’t ease until they reached an end that opened to a dimly lit corridor. At least it was away from the incubation room. Avoiding the Elites wouldn’t last long. They’d soon trace the shaft and discover where it led.
“Let’s go through there to find another way.” He scooted around Toni to kick the crystal mesh off the opening, and they dropped to the floor inside. He went first, then caught her as she fell in after him.
JR14 resumed his place on Azazel’s shoulder.
Once they were all inside, Azazel straightened with his katana in hand and scanned their surroundings. “This looks good—for now. Any Krystalii here, JR14?”
“Negative, area clear of hostiles. Advisory: this status is temporary and may shift without notice.”
Toni leaned against the wall, her chest heaving and her hand over her heart. “You know, you both suck at giving pep talks.”
Azazel turned to her, his expression softening. “At least we’re both still alive. That should count for something.”
Her gaze lingered on him for a moment, and the strained lines bracketing her mouth softened. “Yeah, well, you’re right. Thanks,” she muttered, looking away as a faint blush colored her cheeks.
He nodded, his resolve to get her to safety hardening. She needed to be somewhere where she wasn’t under constant threat. “Okay, JR14.” He glanced at the bot on his shoulder. “Any suggestions on where we go from here?”
Toni followed Azazel deeper into the dim corridor, her nerves strung so tight, she was afraid the slightest nudge would set her off.
Her pulse hammered from the narrow escape, and the memory of the suspended Krystalii shimmering in those large glass beakers wouldn’t go away.
To make matters worse, every step through the metal-infused crystal passage amplified the tension between her and Azazel.
She couldn’t let herself get paralyzed by fear.
But it was hard to decide which threat was greater—the army of crystal soldiers or the mysterious man himself.
Her fingers grazed the wall, smooth in some areas and splintered in others.
She stole a glance at Azazel. His broad shoulders and confident stride exuded calm, but the energy coming off him reminded her of a sharp, coiled serpent barely held in check.
Damn, she’d give anything to trust him. He’d saved her twice now.
But how could she trust anyone or anything in this crazy place?
It was hard to shake the feeling that Baelon had sent Azazel to her.
What better way to observe how she reacted when confronted with life-threatening danger than having her ideal man work with her to gain her trust?
Really, the guy was a sexy mix of Jason Momoa with the mysterious sensuality of Keanu Reeves.
She doubted her experience around those kinds of men prepared her for the likes of Azazel.
Especially here.
The man in question slowed and glanced at JR14. “Where to next?” His voice was low but firm.
“Immediate area secure,” JR14 replied, his spider-like form crouched on Azazel’s shoulder. “Next access point is a central node chamber, 300 meters east.”
Toni’s stomach twisted. “Central node chamber? That sounds important. And we know important means guarded.” Oh God. Were they going into another teeny, cramped shaft?
Azazel looked at her, his dark gaze clear. “Yes, but it also means we have a chance to find a ship to escape in. Or, at the very least, discover a way to disable this ship’s ability to track us.” He shrugged.
Damn. She sucked in a breath. Even that simple gesture was done with the grace of a dancer. Or an expert in some kind of martial arts.
“Either way, it gives us a better chance of survival.”
“Yeah, well. I’m sure miracles happen all the time,” Toni muttered, crossing her arms. “I hope you have a Plan B if things don’t work out.”
He didn’t blink. “I assure you, that won’t be necessary.”
She blinked in return. For the first time, she was positive he was lying to her. The spider-bot on his shoulder also glared at her with its two sky-blue, multi-faceted orbs. No help there. Her throat tightened. “Well… that’s spectacular. Good thing we have nothing to worry about, then.”
Before she could say anything else, a low rumble vibrated through the walls.
JR14 clicked his frontal claws, his mechanical voice sharp. “Warning: proximity sensors detecting Krystalii convergence on multiple levels.”
Azazel’s jaw clenched. “They’re triangulating our position.”
Heat rose in her chest, clogging her throat. “Why?” She croaked. “What did we do—”
“We didn’t do anything,” he interrupted. “The Krystalii think like a hive. Once one knows, they all know.”
“Well… bully for them. Freakin’ cheaters.” Her sarcasm felt hollow as the vibrations grew stronger. “So, got any ideas?”
“Yeah. Run.”
He grabbed her wrist and, with a gentle yank, raced ahead.
The twisting, maze-like corridor made her dizzy. Around her, the crystalline walls gleamed as if they were alive and watched every movement as they raced through them.
The sound of their pursuers grew louder, the clinking of glass-like footsteps echoing closer every second.
Toni struggled to keep up, her breath ragged. “Azazel, they’re getting closer!”
“Don’t worry,” he said in a clipped voice. “We’ll make it.”
Her legs burned and her heart pounded, but she didn’t dare slow down.
Not that she could while the man had a tight grip on her wrist. A part of her wanted to yank free and curl into a ball into a corner and let the nightmares run by.
But the memory of those glinting, faceless soldiers burned into her mind.
At least Azazel’s tight grip grounded her in this endless chaos.
“Here!” he barked, releasing her wrist as he shoved open a door that led into a dark chamber.
Toni stumbled through the door behind him. When she straightened, she gasped.
They were in a vast room filled with strange, crystalline machinery in a multitude of colors. Each pulsed with faint, rhythmic lights in random patterns.
He moved to the center and waved a hand over the strange console. “JR14, can you disable their tracking signals?” he asked in his soothing voice.
“Working.” The AI fluttered down to the control table. One of his thin legs jabbed into the crystal material, causing the yellow glass to glow.
She bent with her hands planted on her thighs to catch her breath, her chest heaving. Gulping, she looked up. “Do you know what you’re doing?”
“Let’s find out.” Azazel’s hands flexed on the hilt of his katana as his gaze fixated on the door.
The rumble outside grew louder. The Krystalii were here.
“Signal interference activated. Pursuit delayed.” JR14 chirped.
Azazel exhaled, his shoulders relaxing. “Good. That buys us—”
A deafening crash cut him off as the door splintered open, shards of crystal scattering like shrapnel.
Three Krystalii Elite guards stepped through. Their clear angular forms gleamed in the dim light.
Toni’s blood ran cold. “Azazel...”
He stepped in front of her, his katana gleaming as he shifted into a fighting stance. “Stay behind me.”
Her throat tightened as the Elites advanced, their movements unnervingly smooth and synchronized. She had a wild idea that the raw power emanating from them pulsated with alien energy that reached out, trying to grab her.
Azazel didn’t wait. He surged forward, and his blade sliced through the air with precision.
The first Elite shattered under his strike, shards blowing apart like a chandelier crashing to the hard floor. The other two adapted, their movements faster, more deliberate.
Her heart raced as she pressed herself against the wall. She had to help, to do something. But what could she do? Her gaze darted around the room, searching for anything—something—that could give them an edge.
She glimpsed a glowing panel near the far wall. Its symbols flickered like a heartbeat. She didn’t know what it did, but it looked important.
“Toni!” Azazel’s shout snapped. “Get out of here!”
“No!” She bolted toward the panel, her fear drowned out by a surge of determination. If she couldn’t fight, she’d find a different way to help.
“What are you doing?” Azazel yelled. His voice was tinged with panic as he parried another strike.
“Just keep them busy!” she shouted as her fingers flew over the panel. Hoping for a miracle, she pressed the meaningless symbols.
With a roar, machinery sprang to life, shaking the room.
When the surrounding lights flared, the Krystalii stumbled and hesitated.
“Toni!” Azazel demanded, his katana slicing through another Elite. “What did you do?”
“I don’t know!” she admitted, her voice shaking. “But it’s working!”
Before she could say anything else, a sharp, searing pain shot through her chest. She gasped as her vision blurred. She collapsed to her knees.
“Toni!” His voice was distant, frantic.
Her breath hitched as she crumpled to the cold floor.
The world around her spun, a chaotic whirlwind of light and shadow.
The sounds of battle echoed in her ears—Azazel’s sharp grunts, the crystalline shattering of another alien Elite, the hum of machinery pulsing through the chamber like a threatening heartbeat.