Deep Dark Hole
Deep Dark Hole
In another part of the Mag Mell
The darkness engulfs every corner of the small cave. Dampness lingers, thickening the air. Ciaran traces a finger over the cavern floor, feeling the cold wetness. How did he get here? The last thing he remembers is being drug into the woods by Alroy. His eyes adjust to the lack of light and he begins to make out the sedimentary sculptures around him. The stalactites and stalagmites create prison bars. He looks around for a way out.
The bars block the opening in the cavern room. When Ciaran finally gathers his bearings, he rises to his feet. He steadies himself against one of the columns. The slickness of the boggy rock sends him stumbling forward. He crashes into a thicker column in front of him. Ciaran shakes off the pain. Through the bars he discerns a long tunnel out of the room. After trying to squeeze in between the structures and failing, Ciaran steps away from the bars to reassess his situation.
For his next attempt, he pushes against the rock hoping for a crack in the stable composition. There is no crack. He bruises his shoulder as he pushes vigorously. He backs away from the bars and massages his shoulder. Alroy must have opened a portal to get him in here. But where is here? Is he in the Mag Mell or somewhere in the human world? Knowing which will help him determine the best strategy to get out of this predicament.
A thought crosses his mind. Maybe he can communicate with his father. His father can locate him and open a portal. Ciaran concentrates on the link. No one answers. He tries again. Still no answer. Ciaran does not know what is happening back at Ainmire’s castle in Boston. He links one more time and when nothing echoes back he curses and spits on the ground.
He hopes his dad is not in trouble. Maybe the cavern has a magical barrier around it so he cannot communicate out. He tries another person to link. Again, he concentrates. A link opens up and a rough voice resonates in his head.
“Everything okay, boss?” Hayes inquires.
“Hayes, I cannot get a hold of my dad,” Ciaran replies.
“Do you need me to check on him for you?” Hayes asks.
“No, no. That can wait,” a trembling anxiety hides in Ciaran’s voice. “Can you locate me?”
“What do you mean, boss?” Confusion mingles with concern in Hayes’ question.
“I do not know where I am,” Ciaran explains. “I am in a cavern but the rock bars have transformed it into a prison and I cannot get out.” He continues, “I have no idea where the cavern is. So can you locate me?”
Only silence resounds back. Ciaran begins to worry he has lost Hayes. He is about to recall Hayes when a bright light emanates from the corner of the cave. Ciaran proceeds cautiously towards the light. He hopes that Hayes is behind the crease of light, but doubt lingers in his mind. The portal may be from Alroy, or someone else. Ciaran is unsure.
As he creeps closer to the light, Ciaran observes a slither of a parking lot. A large figure blocks the light for a moment, then steps aside to reveal a black suv. Ciaran lets out a sigh of relief. The suv appears to be one from his fleet. Hayes must have been able to locate him.
The opening grows wider. Ciaran can make out the back of the man standing by the suv. Clearly, the back belongs to Hayden, a mountain of a fairie. Ciaran wonders how he is able to open the portal without concentrating on it. He begins to step through the portal.
A slight shift in the atmosphere causes Ciaran to pause. Did the world just blink? He closes his eyes and slowly opens them before continuing through the passage. When he opens his eyes the parking lot fades into a forest floor. The behemoth of a man, now standing by a fallen tree, turns to face the portal.
In a passing of a second, Ciaran loses all hope. The massive man is not Hayes. He is exactly who Ciaran fears, Alroy. There is something different about him, though. His surly evil demeanor falters. Alroy appears to be afraid. Alroy reaches through the portal to grab Ciaran.
Ciaran steps back into the cavern, dodging Alroy’s grasp. Alroy tumbles forward causing the passage to close for a brief moment. Ciaran scrambles to a far corner of the cave away from the light given off by the portal. Seconds later, the passage reopens and Alroy steps through.
“Ciaran, Ciaran!” Alroy calls out. “Where are you, little brother?” Alroy scans the cave, settling his eyes on the far corner where Ciaran hides from the light.
“Come out, come out, wherever you are?” Alroy taunts. Venom returns to his words.
Ciaran sucks in his breath, holding his spot pressed up against the cavern wall. The moisture soaks through his shirt and chills him. He keeps his eyes trained on Alroy as the beast searches the cavern.
There are not many places to hide in the small cavity. Where is Hayes? Was he still not able to locate Ciaran? Ciaran tries to make himself smaller. He will not be able to hide from Alroy much longer.
Alroy trudges closer to Ciaran’s spot concealed from the light. Ciaran stops breathing, desperately trying to not make a sound. Alroy drums his fingers against the wall as he approaches Ciaran. A low whistle blows from Alroy’s lips.
“Little brother,” Alroy stops steps away from Ciaran. “I can feel you.”
He pushes his hand forward and smacks Ciaran’s bicep. The smack resounds through the cave and echoes off the walls. Ciaran scoots backward, backing into a stalagmite. He bites his lower lip, trying hard to not cry out. Alroy hovers closer. Both his hands reach out around Ciaran. They grab the sedimentary column, pinning Ciaran in place.