Chapter Thirty Seven #2
‘Only one way to find out,’ she murmured, slicing her dagger across her palm one more time, and smearing the oozing red blood on the rune of the Void.
It didn’t glow like the Earth rune had, but the slab of stone posing as a door shifted and pulled back, revealing steps that no doubt led to another chamber.
Still Kyra felt nothing. No surge of ominous magic. Just that same familiar power from before, as though it were lingering in the tomb with nowhere else to go.
Gingerly, she began down the steps, Kawai just behind her.
This was it. The Eye of the Fifth was about to be in her possession.
It was a short staircase, and soon she was facing a night black altar on top of a dais. Atop it were a hundred short, black blades, fused and fashioned into a triangular box that flamed to life as she drew nearer.
But Kyra didn’t need to find a way to open that box.
Because someone else already had.
Empty.
Utterly empty. The ancient blades had been pried apart and twisted, manipulated to the will of the thief who had stolen the contents inside.
Kyra could do nothing but stare at the vacant box, hopelessness settling on her soul.
If the Eye was not here, then where?
And who in this damned world would have had the power to break into this place? None but those blessed by one of the Four could break that seal on the tomb’s door, none but a Warden with elemental magic-
Her breath caught in her throat as the familiar magic she’d felt from the moment she’d stepped into the tomb came to unbearable fruition.
Warden magic leaves traces.
‘Naal,’ Kyra hissed.
The snowy scent of air magic was now impossible to ignore. She’d been around the Air Warden enough now to recognise it, but in her mounting excitement that recognition had failed to register.
Now… it was clear. All too clear.
Kyra slammed her blood smeared hand on the altar. The sound echoed around the small chamber. ‘Son of a bitch.’
Kawai stepped onto the dais beside her. Doubtfully, he said, ‘You think Naal took it?’
‘I know she did.’
‘How can you tell?’
‘Her magic is everywhere,’ Kyra seethed as she stalked back up the stairs to the Hall of Mothers.
There was no point lingering over the disappointing, empty box.
‘I should have fucking known the moment we stepped in here. She took it by force, her magic has tainted everything. I can feel it. The Eye was never supposed to leave this place.’
‘So then why would she steal it?’ Kawai demanded.
‘If I know Naal, and I’m pretty sure I do, it’ll be because she thinks it would be safer with her than locked away here.
Why trust the other Wardens not to steal it when she can just keep an eye on it herself?
Out of temptation’s way,’ Kyra said bitterly.
She began through the Hall of Mothers, not bothering to be quiet nor respectful as she headed for the winding stairway.
‘If that is the case, she kind of had a point, didn’t she?’ Kawai said, hurrying after her. ‘I mean, you were about to do just that.’
Anger bubbled in Kyra’s stomach. She whirled on him. ‘Whose side are you on?’
‘There’s sides now?’ Kawai said, raising an eyebrow. ‘You and Naal are Wardens, Kyra. You’re on the same side.’
‘I couldn’t give less of a fuck about being a Warden right now! I just want to save my brother. I thought you of all people would understand that.’
‘Why do you think I’m here? I do get it. Don’t bite my head off for just stating a fact.’
Kyra turned her back on him and continued up the stairway.
She’d been so close. So close to finding the Eye and exchanging Oslan’s freedom for it.
Naal would never condone using it as a bargaining tool. Nor would she ever tell her where it was. Kyra knew that without even needing to ask the question.
All the guilt she’d felt at keeping the bargain a secret from Naal evaporated like sizzling vapour. Even if she had told her, would Naal have told her the truth in turn? That she was the one who had the Eye?
Or would she still have withheld the information? Knowing that in doing so, it would cost Oslan his freedom, and ultimately his life?
Would she have lied to Kyra, if it meant keeping the Eye safe and sound in her self-righteous fucking hands?
As she approached the sealed doorway, the scratch marks around the lining were now impossible to miss.
Had Naal almost died in her attempt to get out of here with the Eye?
The stagnant remains of her air magic lingered everywhere, as though it had been pure brute force that had allowed her to escape.
The tomb marked their reappearance, and water began flooding into the entrance chamber. Kawai grabbed her hand and held tight, and though his touch was the last thing she wanted at that moment, she didn’t resist him. The torches would soon be extinguished and darkness would engulf them once more.
Kyra took a deep breath before water submerged her, and followed Kawai’s lead in swimming out of the now open doorway. It sealed itself shut the moment they passed the threshold.
A great tail came out of nowhere, slamming into her abdomen and sending her careening back to the tomb, her head smashing against the stone.
And before she could stop it, before she could even comprehend what was happening, the attacking mer sank its fangs into Kawai’s throat.