Chapter 7

I put the blade back in the case on my back and pulled out my phone. As I hit the flashlight on the screen, the whole cave was illuminated with a bright orange light. Bethany was lighting it up. I turned and aimed the light toward the opening on the other side. It was gone. “The tunnel is gone.”

Daxx pulled Crissy to stand again. “There was no tunnel over there, Kinsley.”

Alona turned to look at her. “There wasn’t?”

Daxx shook her head and shone the light from her phone around at the others, quickly assessing everyone was all right. “No, just a pile of stones.”

“It was an illusion.” Bethany whispered. “I saw a tunnel entrance too.”

“How’s the haze now?” Kara turned to look at Reagan.

“There’s still a lot of it here.” Reagan turned slowly. “Like, a lot.” There was a nervous edge to her voice.

“Shit.” Daxx turned to look at the area we’d come in. “The guards are on the other side of that.” She pointed.

We all turned to see the rocks covering the opening where we’d come from.

“This was a trap.” Reagan stated in a quiet voice.

“Well if you’re still seeing green, it’s not finished.” Daxx put her katana in the case and turned slowly. “Do we have phone signal?”

Crissy’s phone started blaring loud music.

“That would be a yes.”

“Vic…”

“Cristy. What has happened?” Victor didn’t sound happy on the other end.

“Is everyone okay?” That was Rafael.

“We’re fine.” Kara said loudly.

“We’re also trapped.” Alona went over and stood beside Crissy.

“We’re on our way there.” Arius sounded like he was running.

“Are the guards okay?” Paisley asked.

“They’re all right.” Quinton said in a gruff tone.

“It was an illusion.” Bethany said, “all of us but Daxx saw an opening on the other side when we came in. Reagan says there’s still a lot of green haze.”

“Port out. Now.” Arius said bluntly.

Paisley nodded and closed her eyes. “Just need to settle my heart down.” She opened them. “Okay.” She continued to stand there. Frowning, she squeezed her eyes shut again. “It’s not working.”

“Try your porter.” Rafael said.

“Right.” Blowing out a quick breath, Paisley pushed her sleeve back and opened her porter. She frowned again. “Not working.”

“I can’t port either.” Daxx said.

“So they’ve taken our option to leave.” Bethany said in a whisper. She gave Paisley a quick look, “but my magic works. I don’t understand what’s happening.”

“Check the exit you all thought you saw, maybe it’s an illusion too.” Michael’s tone was calm and even.

I went over and shone my light where it had been. “It’s filled in now. I mean we can see it is.” I carefully climbed up a few of the rocks to look at the top of the pile of stone. “And very real. We can probably dig our way out though.”

“Uh, I hate to say this,” Paisley sounded scared, “but it’s filling with water.”

“Bad water.” Crissy whispered.

“Stay clear of where you came in.” King Chase said, sounding like he was in a hurry. “The guards are moving the boulders and it may cause them to fall toward you.”

The women moved as far away from the collapsed rock pile as they could.

“What do you mean it’s filling with water?” Leone asked in a strained voice.

I climbed back down off the rocks and was standing in ankle deep water. “It was dry when we entered and now it’s over my boots.” I told them in a loud voice.

“Where is it coming from?” King troy asked.

All of us began shining the lights on our phones around the cave.

“I can’t see anywhere it could come from.” Paisley said in a hushed voice.

Autumn went over and shoved against the area we’d all seen a tunnel. “How’s that digging going?” Standing back, she kicked the pile, it didn’t move.

“Not great.” Michael stated in a flat tone. “It’s like the stones are replacing themselves as fast as we’re moving them.”

Autumn stopped and shone the light on the rising water. “Maybe send someone to see if there’s another tunnel.” She turned and looked at me. “We’re going to try to move things on this side.”

“I’ve already sent three of the guards to look around the other side of this area, for possible exits.” Arius said in a low tone.

Paisley nodded and rubbed her hands over her arms. “A mage wouldn’t hurt.”

“Rafael has gone to get Romulus.” Arius told her.

“Get Clairee.” Bethany said quickly, “I don’t know how to break this spell.” She lifted her arms and then opened them above her head. The arc of light grew between her hands. “Get back.”

Autumn and I moved away from the pile.

Bethany inhaled slowly, then flung her arms toward the blocked exit. The sound of the magic hitting the stones echoed through the cavern. A few smaller rocks bounced from the pile to land in the water below. “It’s breakable.” She said in an anxious tone.

“Cristy, check the upper part of the cave. Look for light from outside.” Victor’s tone didn’t reflect any emotion.

“Okay, Vic.” Crissy handed Alona her phone and walked over to the wall and looked up, she continued along the edge slowly, running her hands along it as she did. “The walls feel slimy.”

“Water still coming in?” Rafael asked.

“It’s almost to our knees now.” Kara told him.

“Bethany. Put in your earpiece, Clairee is going to call you.” Leone said quickly.

The princess nodded and reached into her pocket. “Okay.” She put it in her ear and then stared at her phone. “Clairee. Can I break this with a spell?” She turned and looked at the pile of stones. Nodding, she glanced down at the water, “I moved a few, but I don’t think I have enough power to clear it.”

“If any of you are in your leather jackets, take them off so you’re not weighted down.” Troy said.

I took off the case for my sword and shrugged out of mine without second guessing his order. Putting the case back on, I stood there holding my jacket, unsure of where to put it.

Daxx dropped hers. “Done.” She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at the area we’d come in. “Any luck on your side?”

“Okay, yeah I’ll try.” Bethany backed up, then slipped, almost landing in the water. “Hold on, I need to lose this coat.” She glanced around, then held her phone out to me.

Dropping my uniform jacket, I moved over quickly and took it. Shrugging out of her coat, she tossed it behind her and nodded. “Okay.” She blew out a breath. Taking the phone back, she tucked it in her back pocket.

“What?” Quinton growled. “The other tunnel that you thought you saw is running with water.” He said, then there were some mumbled voices, “it goes down the into the lake by the marsh.”

Reagan turned in a circle, “so without the spell this cavern is filled with water normally?” her voice squeaked at the end.

“It appears that way.” Troy said calmly. “Mac, Bronx and Derian are trying to get to it on the other side, but the water is moving fast.”

There was complete silence for several tense seconds.

“Okay.” Bethany nodded, “so if I break this barrier we’ll be pushed out with the water?” She looked at the water at her feet, “and if it’s not moving fast enough, we drown.”

“It’s possible.” Michael stated.

“To hell with that.” Autumn shook her head, looking around quickly. She pointed, “We’ll stand there,” everyone turned to see where she was pointing, “and hang onto those rocks until Beth breaks this.”

The area she pointed to was close enough to where the blockage was, and we shouldn’t be washed out in a rush of water. I nodded. “It could work.”

Everyone moved over to where there were large spaces jutting out of the stone wall.

I continued to stand in the open, if I had to save one of them, I wanted to be ready.

“Stay clear.” Bethany said in a quiet voice. She closed her eyes and raised her arms slowly, the cavern filled with bright light from the arc running between her hands. Opening her eyes again, she visibly inhaled a deep breath and then hurled the energy at the stones. Some shifted, then echoed as they bounced down the wall. She shook her head, “it’s not enough.” She looked behind her, “I can’t get enough distance to get the force I need.”

“Miss Hinton,” Victor’s voice had me straighten, “can you move the stones with your ability?”

I jolted. I hadn’t even thought of that. I nodded and moved over to stand in front of the stones. “I’ll give it a try.” I ignored how deep and cold the water was, and how it impeded the speed I could move. I blew out a breath. “Shine some light. I need to see them.”

Several lights hit the pile in front of me. I nodded slowly and focused on one of the medium sized stones near the top of the pile. I didn’t need to use my hands, but I found it helped me focus if I held them out toward my target. Right now, I needed the extra help focusing. It took a lot to get the stone to move at first, it was wedged between others. I gritted my teeth and stared at it. It had been a long time since I’d moved something of this size.

“It’s working.” Kara whispered.

The stone finally came free. I moved it so it would set down in the water, well away from the space we were trying to clear.

“Did you see that?” Reagan shone the light on the wall. “It was an open space for a second and then another stone filled it.”

“Bastard wants to drown us.” Daxx was not happy at all.

“Can you move them faster?” Autumn asked.

My heart was pounding so fast, panicky, and didn’t want to let it show.

“Ladies, the tunnel you entered is becoming unstable, we’re going to the other side.” Troy informed us.

“What do you mean unstable?” Daxx put her hands in the air and stared at the water that covered her waist.

“When Beth hit it and Kinsley moved that rock, the walls here crumbled a bit.” Rafael reported.

Autumn growled, “When we find that no good mage, I’m going to…”

“Kinsley, think you can hold a rock in the air, and I’ll smack it with energy?” Bethany was giving me a hopeful look.

I nodded, “I can, but I think we need to hit it multiple times as fast as we can to break this.” I turned and looked at the pile of stones. The water was past my knees now. My shins were aching from the cold.

“Oh.” Paisley stumbled through the water until she was beside us. “I can hold the stones that Kinsley lifts and you can keep smacking them, Beth.” She gave me a wide-eyed look, “while you’re picking up the next one.”

I bit my lip and turned to look at the amount of stones we needed to move. “If we do it fast enough, a few of you can get out before it fills in.” I was cold, but the royal women in here were far more important than I was.

“But that leaves you three behind.” Daxx didn’t sound pleased.

Beth put her hand up to her ear. “Clairee thinks if we move enough of them, his spell won’t work.” She nodded, “he’s using a lot of power to maintain the spell.”

Autumn snorted, “good, I hope it sucks up all the energy he stole to look young.”

Paisley looked at her, then the wall. Nodding she turned to Alona, “You and Daxx get out first.”

“I think…”

Paisley shook her head to cut off Daxx. “The queens need to get out first.” She gave me a look, before turning back to her queen, “if anything happens to either of you, that gives them an advantage.”

“Kitten, just for once go with it.” King Chase pleaded.

“Daxx.” King Troy added softly.

Daxx heaved a sigh. “Fine. We’re first.” She held out her hand to Alona.

Alona went and stood with her, beside the wall out of the way. “Tell us when.” She said in a quiet tone.

I turned back to the stones. “Let me lift one for you to hold, then I’ll get another one ready, so we can do this as fast as possible.”

Paisley nodded and stepped back.

“Just keep the second one out of my path.” Bethany backed up a few steps and raised her hands.

I studied the pile, trying to find the ones that would open the most space. “I’m going for the bottom ones.” I glanced at our royal witch, “you hit it near the middle.”

She nodded, “and hopefully weakening two places at once…”

“We’ll get us out of here.” Paisley said her expression determined.

Bethany gave her a look. “As the shortest here, I’m running out of body to keep out of the water.”

“Same.” Paisley said and looked down to see the water was reaching her waist.

“You’ve got this, ladies.” Arius said in a breathless voice. “We’re almost to the other side now.”

“Some of us are at the bottom by the lake.” Rafael stated.

“See you soon.” I said in a determined voice. “Lifting the first one. Tell me when you have it.” I looked at the rock, it was bigger than the last. If this was to work, I needed to start with the largest I could get free. It started to move, carefully I lifted it in the air, so it was lined up with the center of the pile.

“Got it.” Paisley said.

I didn’t look to check, just focused on the bottom of the pile again.

“On three.” Bethany whispered. “One.”

I freed the next one and held it in place until they had the last one out of the way.

“Two.”

“Stay clear.” Paisley said.

“Three.” The rock hit the wall with such a force, that it broke several free.

I lifted the stone.

“Got it.” Paisley said quickly.

“One.”

I dragged another one out.

“Two.”

“The magic is faltering.” Kara said quietly.

“Three.”

Stones flew far enough that water splashed me as I lifted another one.

“Got it.”

I quickly glanced to the center. “Two more, then rush out the hole.”

“One.” Bethany said loudly.

I lifted the next one.

“It’s not filling back up hardly at all.” Reagan told us.

“Two.”

I moved the next one up so I could grab another as fast as possible.

“Three.”

The sound of falling rocks followed by splashes yielded a few excited gasps in the cavern.

“Got it.” Paisley’s voice was louder now as well.

“One.”

“After this one, my queens.” I said through grit teeth as I pulled another stone.

“Two.”

“We’re ready.” Daxx replied.

“Three.”

I focused on nothing but the next stone.

“They’re out.” Kara said quickly.

“Got it.” Paisley sounded breathless.

“One.” Bethany sounded more determined.

“We’re ready to go.” Kara told us.

“Two.”

I pulled the largest one I could and held it.

“Three.”

Water splashed my face. I vaguely realized how high it was but couldn’t stop.

“Got it.” Paisley sounded like she was right beside me now.

“One.”

“After this one.” Kara told whoever was going with her.

“Two.”

I focused on a stone in the side of the pile this time.

“The opening isn’t closing.” Autumn said.

“Three.”

This time the sound of stone bouncing off stone echoed through the cave.

“Got it.”

“We have the queens.” Arius’ voice came through Crissy’s phone.

I lifted the next stone.

“Cristy, put your phone away, we’ll stay in touch through Bethany’s call to Clairee.” Victor’s tone was quiet.

“Ok, Vic, I’m going with Autumn next.” Crissy answered.

“One.” Beth’s voice was quiet.

I held the next stone up and ready.

“Two.” She sounded breathless.

“Three.”

Water splashes was all that I heard, moving to hold the next stone up. I paused long enough to realize I could see outside. “You two go right after this next one.”

I moved the stone up.

“What about you?” Bethany asked.

“Got it.” Paisley sounded distracted.

“I’m a guard, I’ll follow.” I said as I moved back out of their way.

“Okay.” Paisley answered.

“One,” Beth whispered, “Two.” The water was to her chest as she held her arms above her head. “Three.”

I watched her magic knock the stone into the side of the pile and more rocks fell. They both moved quickly to the opening and then vanished from my sight. I turned and double checked all the others had gotten out. When I turned back there was water all around me. I choked and then took a deep breath, holding it. I couldn’t get my footing; I was being pushed toward the opening. The rushing water covered my head as it shoved me out the opening. I was sliding along slick stone. I held my arms in against my body and tried to breathe when air touched my face.

When daylight hit my face, I barely had time to see one of the guards holding out his hand as I plunged downward. I looked below me and was thankful to see there was water. I had enough time to catch my breath before hitting the water. My back hit the bottom of the shallow lake, spurring me to push to the surface.

It was over my waist when I stood up, but after expending all my energy, I barely had the strength to make it to a large rock in the middle. Leaning in, I rested my arms on it, then put my head down to rest.

“She’s here.” Someone shouted.

I looked up to see three of the guards with Captain Rafael standing in the swampy growth about twenty feet from me.

“Are you okay?” Rafael started into the water.

I nodded, too breathless to speak.

Emil appeared beside the guards and ran into the water. He went past Rafael and reached me quickly.

I blew out a breath. Despite my revelations about him, I was happy he was here. I was very happy I was here. This was so far from any scenario I could have ever pictured when I agreed to accompany the royal women on their exploration.

“Are you all right?” He leaned down and grasped me around the waist to help me get to my feet.

I nodded, “I think so. My back hit the bottom when I landed.” With weak knees I stood, gripping his arm to steady myself. “How are the others?” I glanced down and wanted to groan out loud when I remembered I was wearing a tank top that was not standard guard issue. My strap and weapon were also missing.

His expression was hard as he glanced behind me. “You have some scrapes. The others are okay, a little shaken.” He glanced to Rafael, “we caught them before they went over.”

I glanced up at the distance I’d fallen, my stomach clenched when I noticed everything I could have hit instead of the water. I nodded. “I think the magic let out just as I went to leave, the force of the water shoved me out.” I took a few steps in the squishy muck at the bottom. Stopping, I looked from one brother to the other. “Can we find a temporary guard for your daughter?”

Emil frowned, “I thought you said you were all right.”

“I am.” I turned to my captain, “but I want to be there when we find the jerk that did that.” I pointed up to where the water flowed off the mountain. “I don’t take kindly to someone trying to drown me.”

Rafael smirked, “I’m sure we can arrange something.”