Chapter 17
The decrepit buildings loom over us as we venture deeper into the side of Arrowwood locals whisper about with a mix of fear and disdain.
The shadows cling to the cracked walls, and I can feel the weight of unseen eyes tracking our progress.
I keep my fingers laced with Khol’s, trying not to flinch at the public display that’s more his style than mine.
His smug grin tells me he knows exactly how out of my element I am, yet somehow, the challenge of it sparks a thrill inside me.
“Where did you hear about this place again?” I ask Dezi, hoping to distract myself from the unsettling surroundings and the unfamiliar warmth of Khol’s hand in mine.
Dezi’s response is cloaked in mystery, as usual. “Oh, you know, magic shops and bar talk,” he says, his voice a smooth, nonchalant drawl.
Damn him.
I growl, frustrated by his evasiveness. “You can’t just keep everything to yourself,” I snap. “We’re supposed to be in this together.”
He finally relents, his shoulders easing back as if letting go of a burden. “The artisan who crafted your cuffs mentioned a thieves’ guild,” he admits. “And the bartender from the other night seemed to think they might know something about the disappearances around the forest.”
“Maybe it’s bandits and thieves picking off lone wanderers,” I muse aloud, considering the possibility.
“They might not have any interest in the artifacts or the Court.” It makes sense, more than I care to admit.
I glance at both of them, their expressions a blend of surprise and wariness.
I shrug off their looks. “I don’t need to argue every point, especially when you guys might be right. ”
Dezi’s lips curve into a smile, a rare sight that somehow ignites a warm flush across my cheeks. Damn him for affecting me like this. I scold myself silently, my inner voice harsh and unforgiving. If I turn into some simpering fluff ball because of a vampire’s smile, I swear I’ll kick my own ass.
Khol’s sudden halt wrenches me from my thoughts, his grip on my hand loosening as he scans the street with those unnerving slitted eyes. The air around us bristles with tension, and I catch my breath, waiting for him to reveal what lurks unseen.
What does he sense we don’t?
“Here,” Khol hisses, flicking his tongue into the cool night air.
His head jerks toward a narrow alleyway shrouded in shadows, a silent command that brooks no argument.
Dezi gives a nod, trusting Khol’s heightened senses implicitly.
Basilisks might lack the predatory prowess of other shifters, but with sniffing out danger or malice, they’re unmatched.
I release his hand as we move. He slips through the darkness like a whisper, a creature born of stealth and secrecy.
We reach a stairwell leading down to a door so seamlessly set into the wall it might as well be part of the stone itself.
My mate studies it for a moment, his movements unnervingly reptilian as he examines it.
“Magic,” Khol murmurs, tracing the arch with an expert touch. His eyes meet mine, a silent invitation to do what I do best—or at least, what I’m supposed to be good at.
Here’s hoping it fucking works.
Drawing in a deep breath, I descend the steps, the weight of expectation settling onto my shoulders. My hands are steady, but inside, there’s a quiver of doubt; my magic is a wild thing, untamed and unpredictable.
“Aperta portas tenebris clausas,” I mutter under my breath, the Latin incantation rolling off my tongue as I press my palm flat against the cold stone. A shiver runs up my arm, and I close my eyes, willing my power to respond.
Luckily, the reaction is immediate and intense. A violet aura flares around me, another magic meeting my own with a force that snatches the breath from my lungs. It fades quickly to an inky blackness, and I stagger back, shaking out my stinging hand.
“Dark magic,” I gasp, my pulse racing as much from the thrill of success as from fear. “It’s... strong, maybe a blend of several species.” The implications hang heavy between us; this isn’t a simple enchantment.
Could this be where we find clues for the artifact?
Dezi’s gaze is clouded with concern. “Witchling, if it’s too dangerous—”
“Hey.” I cut him off, firm despite the doubt in my voice. “I’ve got this. I might just need a little more juice.”
“Whatever you need.” Khol’s shrug belies the seriousness of his offer. He’s all in, and I give him a grateful smile. It steadies me, knowing they have my back.
I’m not going to tell them that or they’ll be a pain in the ass, but it’s true.
“Okay, let’s try this again.” I square my shoulders and reach for the well of power within me. Revelin’s lessons echo in my thoughts, guiding me to coax rather than command the magic that courses through my veins.
“Work with me here,” I whisper internally, pleading with my essence. “Help me open this damn door.”
As the words form a mantra in my mind, the magic swells, bursting forth in an obsidian tide that weaves across the doorway.
Sigils emerge, ancient and intricate, glowing faintly as they etch themselves into the stone.
Finally, the quiet sounds of scraping and clicking signal the release of the spell.
The stones part, glowing softly as they move aside to grant passage.
Exhausted and exhilarated, I release the magic, feeling it slip from my grasp like water through fingers.
“Did it...” I pant, turning to Dezi, who watches me with an unreadable expression. “I think it drew on you, too.”
“I never said I didn’t have magic,” he replies, a hint of something indefinable in his voice.
Didn’t say you did, either, asshole.
We stand before the now-open gateway, uncertain of what lies beyond, but united in our determination to uncover the truth hidden within the shadows.
Silence hangs between us as we look at the shadowy entrance in trepidation.
None of us have a fucking clue what’s down there and this could be a big mistake, especially without Revelin tagging along.
“Enough,” Khol hisses, his voice slicing through the tension like a blade. He points to the yawning darkness beyond the now open archway. “We’re wasting time. We need to find out what’s being protected here.”
I exhale sharply, knowing he’s right, and I can’t help but throw one last jab at Dezi.
“Just stop keeping your secrets, and I won’t have to get violent.
” It’s an empty threat and we all know it.
Dezi’s smirk tells me as much, but I don’t let it stop me from storming ahead, my boots echoing against the stone.
The spell drained me more than I care to admit, and anger is the convenient mask for my weakness.
Dezi and Khol trail behind me, silent shadows in the dark tunnel.
My basilisk’s voice cuts through the damp air with a wry chuckle. “Feels like we’re on our way to raid the Temple of Doom.”
“Most actual digs are pretty mundane,” Dezi retorts, the sound of rolling eyes clear in his tone. “Though much like this adventure and the movie, there are always giant snakes.”
“Since when are you an expert on archaeological sites?” I shoot back, my curiosity piqued despite myself.
“Egypt… winter of 1922, I believe. That was the last one I chose as a hunting ground.” His casual response stops me cold, and I spin to face him with narrowed eyes. It takes a moment for the date and location to click into place—this motherfucker was at the unearthing of King Tut’s tomb.
“Damn it, Dezi,” I groan, shaking my head. “I’m not even going to ask because you’ll only be a dick about how fucking cool that is.”
“Per your orders, I’m supposed to share. I can’t help if I’ve lived an inordinately long and exciting life,” he reminds me, the corners of his lips twitching upwards.
See? Cocksucker.
I snort, turning back toward the path that unfolds before us, swallowing back the mix of irritation and awe.
As we delve deeper, the passageway widens, and an instinctive silence falls over us.
Khol extends his tongue, tasting the air, then nods towards the righthand fork.
I eye him skeptically. “Your basilisk senses are plain creepy sometimes.”
“Creepy, but effective,” he counters, a suggestive lilt in his voice that earns him a sharp elbow in the ribs. “I haven’t heard you complaining about the forked tongue when I—”
“Shh!” Dezi cuts in, silencing our banter with a stern gesture.
His heightened vampire hearing has caught something beyond our own range.
He makes gestures indicating we should stay quiet so he can track the source of whatever faint noise he can hear that we cannot.
I roll my eyes, but comply, as does Khol.
We press on cautiously, and the distant sounds grow clearer, morphing into the unmistakable din of a crowd and the clash of combat.
Our pace quickens until the path spills out onto a ledge overlooking a scene straight out of legend and nightmare.
Below us, the stone ring plays host to a violent tableau—a fierce Fae warrior exchanges blows with a half-shifted wolf, while a river troll grapples with a dark mage, their movements swift and brutal.
An armored wyvern lets out a roar, the sound reverberating off the walls.
If that thing shifts fully, I’m pretty sure we’ll all have a problem.
“Looks like we’ve found Arrowwood’s underground fight club,” I whisper, my voice tight as I take in the spectacle of magic, muscle, and fury. Fairies flit between the onlookers, offering sustenance as if at some twisted carnival, while goblins shout odds over the roars and cheers.
A chill runs down my spine, and I can’t shake the feeling that this hidden arena holds more secrets than it seems. We watch, transfixed by the brutality and splendor, the knowledge that we’ve stumbled upon something far bigger and darker than we anticipated, weighing heavily in the air.
The stench of blood and sweat mingles with the electric tension in the air as we watch the spectacle below.
The Thieves Guild clearly doesn’t limit themselves to petty larceny, judging by the organized chaos before us.
I can’t help but sneer at the irony. “Khol and I get nabbed for a bar brawl, and these assholes are running Fight Club: Mythic Edition without so much as a slap on the wrist,” I grumble under my breath. My hand instinctively goes to my side where my magic simmers, ready to boil over in indignation.
Dezi’s voice is calm, a counterpoint to my simmering anger. “Every kingdom has its shadows, witchling. In the Night District, they parade their vices out in the open. Here, they prefer them cloaked in secrecy.”
“Which begs the question,” Khol interjects, his frown deepening, “are these fighters here by choice, or...?” His voice trails off, the implication clear—kidnapping might be part of the recruitment strategy.
Oh, shit. Is this like… supe trafficking? Fuck that.
A ripple of anger courses through me, and my magic flares in response, eager to lash out. But I clamp down hard, biting the inside of my cheek to keep from giving us away. The guys exchange worried glances, sensing my struggle.
Then, cutting through the cacophony, a booming voice announces the next contenders. “By virtue of death!” the announcer proclaims, his words chillingly casual. Two bodies are dragged from the ring—lifeless forms that once were fierce competitors.
“Next in the Royale,” the voice continues, “welcome the demon warlock and the mysterious masked Fae!”
Our attention snaps back to the arena as the new fighters step forward. Unlike the others, one wears a mask that shields any hint of identity, the black armor almost swallowing his form whole.
“Curious,” I murmur, my brow furrowing. “Why the need for a mask? What Fae hides among his own kind?”
“Perhaps it’s not about hiding from them, but hiding something about themselves,” Dezi suggests thoughtfully, his gaze fixed on the shrouded figure.
As the gruesome task of removing the fallen combatants is performed, an icy dread grips me.
The sight of the wolf being hauled away triggers a visceral reaction; somewhere deep inside, alarm bells ring for my sister.
Leaning towards Khol, my voice is barely above a whisper.
“I hope Rev’s pixie checks in soon. I need to know she’s safe. ”
He squeezes my hand in silent solidarity, his reptilian eyes reflecting the same concern that gnaws at my insides.
Seeing a dead wolf being dragged from a fighting ring scares me even more than admitting my feelings for these idiots—and that’s saying a lot.
We turn back just as the fight reignites, the crowd’s roar swelling like a wave. This could be our chance to peel back another layer of Arrowwood’s dark secrets. Whatever happens next, it’s bound to shed light on the grim reality of this hidden world.