CHAPTER 5 #2
“What the fuck was that?” Jax demanded.
“They told us these trials would be different,” Sebastian said, putting himself between the chasm and the rest of the team. “Looks like this maze could bury us.”
Why in the hells has my father allowed this?
Morra went pale. “The Arcalon isn’t meant to kill–”
“This isn’t what we signed up for,” Oryen said, outraged.
“Is this what your father meant, Healer?” Jax asked her.
“I had no idea about this,” Kara said honestly.
“And what about you, Thorne?” Oryen demanded. “Your father’s Council too.”
Sebastian’s expression hardened. “I’m just as in the dark as the rest of you.”
All of a sudden, Gregor grunted, “Pressure plate,” pointing to a small square inset on a ledge above them.
He threw out his arms. Amber light bloomed between Gregor’s palms which snaked out and wrapped around a nearby boulder. The ground shuddered as his magic raised it, scraping against the stone walls, before settling atop the plate.
The reaction was immediate.
The slabs along the tunnel floor glowed the same rich amber as his magic, shifted, then locked into place with a low, satisfying thud. Gregor moved forward, standing on the slabs without checking them, and Kara watched, breath held, until he reached the other side.
“Glad he’s on our team,” Kara muttered.
Sienna grabbed her hand, her own still trembling. “Come on, we will go together.” The other six of them moved across.
“We’re making good time,” Morra called from behind.
They took several more turns, until all the passages began to blur together.
Same stone, same sound of their boot steps.
They hadn’t seen any sign of the other teams. Their path grew darker, narrower, as they travelled deeper.
As they took a fork to the right and entered a square clearing, Jax’s hand brushed the wall.
A low rumble sounded in response. They all turned.
The stone wall itself opened, and amber light poured from it.
The rumble became a grinding sound that filled the whole tunnel as something massive erupted from the stone.
It took one stride forward and stared down at them.
It was roughly the shape of a person, but made entirely of solid rock, and taller and broader than any man Kara had ever seen.
Its face held nothing but empty eye sockets that glowed with that amber light.
What in the hells is that?
Jax stepped back unsteadily. The creature swung its stone fists.
Brutal force. Aiming straight for Jax’s chest. He reached for his sword – but not quick enough.
The creature’s stone arm slammed into him, and the blow sent him flying.
He hit the wall with a sickening crack, blood immediately trickling down his temple.
Kara surged forward on instinct – but froze when the creature’s massive head turned towards her.
“Gods,” Oryen stuttered, panic breaking through.
He stumbled, then bolted. The sudden movement made the stone creature lunge after him, its heavy strides shaking the floor.
Sebastian was there in an instant, sword raised.
The steel rang uselessly against stone, but it served as a distraction.
The monster’s gaze was fixed firmly on Sebastian now.
Crimson light flared from Sebastian’s palms. Thorne strength magic crawling up his arms, his movements so fast it looked like he blurred at the edges.
She could feel the heat of his crimson from here.
Sebastian drove a kick into its chest. It staggered.
The creature swung again. The blow caught him across the eye, but Sebastian barely flinched.
Morra sprang forward, throwing her hands towards the ground, the earth obeying her call.
Thick vines burst from the soil and coiled up the creature’s legs.
They strained and snapped but slowed its swing.
Sebastian didn’t stop, striking again and again with the pommel of his sword.
Angling his body to keep the creature away from the others – no hesitation.
Gregor moved next. He didn’t run. Didn’t speak.
He walked steadily, hands glowing amber.
The stone monster turned towards him. Too slow.
With a sharp thrust of Gregor’s palms, light burst outward.
A stream of amber energy struck the creature’s chest dead centre.
It paused mid-strike, limbs trembling violently, then cracked, breaking apart, piece by piece. It turned to rubble where it stood.
“You couldn’t have done that sooner?” Sebastian asked, chest heaving, his sword hanging loose by his side.
“Wasn’t as easy as it looked,” Gregor grunted, his breathing noticeably heavier.
Sebastian looked at Morra. “Thanks for the help.”
She nodded, but Oryen’s face was murderous. “Who the hells on the Council decided we’d face stone monsters trying to kill us?”
Sebastian barked a humourless laugh. “Sounds like my father’s idea of character building.”
Kara was barely listening – she knelt down by Jax’s side, hands scanning him for injuries as he stirred feebly.
She found them quickly – a fracture in his skull.
A break in his collarbone. Her magic surged without conscious thought, emerald bursting through her fingertips as it wrapped around the cracked bones.
Slowly, steadily, they knit themselves back together beneath her touch.
He stared up at her, dazed, as the last of the pain left him.
“You’ll live,” Kara said. “But try not to touch any more walls.”
Jax groaned faintly but nodded.
She helped him to his feet, shaking off the throbbing that echoed in her own head from the healing.
“I’m fine,” he huffed. “Just got the wind knocked out of me.”
“We need to keep moving,” Oryen said fearfully, glancing down the tunnel, evidently worried more of those creatures waited.
They hadn’t gone far before Kara dropped back beside Sebastian. One eye was already beginning to swell where the creature had struck him, a streak of blood dripping down his cheek.
“Hold still,” she said, lifting a hand towards his eye.
He stepped away from her touch. “Thorne don’t use healers.”
“That’s going to swell shut,” she said exasperated. “You’ll be half blind.”
“I’ll manage,” he said, pulling a tin of salve from his pocket.
She huffed out a breath. “Suit yourself.” She quickened her pace to walk with Sienna.
She glanced back once and caught him dabbing a yellowish paste around his eye with practised movements, like he’d done it a hundred times. Of course. Crude salve and pride – when an actual healer was offering to help.
He’ll get himself killed out of sheer stubbornness.
When she looked over to Sienna, she noticed she’d gone very pale. “Are you okay?” Kara asked.