Page 9 of Devil's Night

“I think I found our next door,” I said, pointing toward the wavering glow.

Sargon’s gaze sharpened as he studied the phenomenon, then gave a curt nod. Crossing the room in three long strides, he grasped the armoire’s handles and wrenched the doors open.

A blast of searing light and sound exploded outward, forcing me to throw up an arm to shield my eyes. When the roar and brilliance faded, I found myself once more confronted by the reality-defying geometries of that maddening, kaleidoscopic maze.

With a quick glance at Sargon’s impassive features, I steeled myself and stepped through the rent, the Vinduthi falling into stride beside me.

Our quest to find that elusive release card and unravel this cosmic trap continued. But at least this time, I felt the first faint stirrings of hope flickering to life.

If we could make it through this ever-shifting labyrinth, maybe - just maybe - I could find my way back to the normal life I’d once known.

But was I going to be anywhere close to normal anymore?

SARGON

Ihad not expected to be so impressed by a little human.

She’d caught the shimmering that indicated a break in the maze, her curiosity giving us a new clue.

Despite the baffling circumstances we found ourselves in, despite her lack of understanding of the advanced technology at play, she refused to be deterred. An admirable tenacity for a primitive species.

This time the portal dumped us in a dimly lit corridor, the wooden panels creaking underfoot. It led us into a spacious kitchen, cluttered and coated in thick dust. Faded wallpaper peeled from the walls, patterns of roses and vines distorted by age. The air hung heavy with the musty scent of decay and disuse.

Sunlight filtered through grimy windows, casting slanted beams that made the dust motes swirl like miniature galaxies. Nicole ran her fingers along the battered countertop, dislodging a small cloud of grit.

“Looks like no one’s been here in a long time,” she murmured.

“This kitchen is another floor lower than where we were before.” I turned around slowly. “I’ve searched it before duringmy time trapped here, but I wasn’t looking for something like a card.”

“Then we can start looking now.” Nicole began opening cupboard doors, peering into the shadowy recesses. I admired her willingness to help despite her disadvantages. Did humans even have night vision?

As I checked under the ancient stove, something skittered in the corner of my vision. A rodent, no larger than my palm, scurried along the baseboard before disappearing into a gap in the wainscoting. My body tensed, predatory instincts flaring.

“Ugh, did you see that?” Nicole wrinkled her nose in disgust. “I hate rats.”

“Why waste such contempt on such a resourceful creature?” I cocked my head, tracking the sounds of its movement within the walls. “They survive against all odds, thriving where others perish.”

She shot me an incredulous look. “You’re not actually praising them, are you?”

I couldn’t resist teasing her, just a little. “I am. They make excellent sustenance when other food is scarce.”

Nicole froze, comprehension dawning across her delicate features. “You’ve been eating them?”

“Among other things.” I rose in a fluid motion, lips curling to reveal a hint of fang. “I could catch one for you, if you’re feeling peckish.”

She paled, swallowing hard as her gaze darted toward the nearest exit. “I, uh I’m good, thanks.”

A low chuckle rumbled from my chest at her discomfiture. So easy to unsettle, these humans. Yet her reactions amused me. An unexpected delight amid the endless stretches of solitude and despair.

As we continued our fruitless search, a peculiar ache settled within me. I found myself wishing I could offer her more - aproper meal, a taste of the wonders that awaited beyond this dilapidated prison. To show her the sublime beauty of my home galaxy, the celestial splendor that dwarfed even her most vivid dreams.

On the ringed planet of Elaar, fields of luminescent flora stretched to the horizon, their soft blue radiance bathing the landscape in an ethereal glow. The air carried the sweet, heady fragrance of night-blooming valkath blossoms, their delicate petals unfurling beneath the light of three moons.

The Tenyrth colonies on Kri’vak boasted cities carved into the sides of towering crystal peaks, their spires and arches refracting the crimson light of the system’s dying star. At dusk, the mountains appeared to bleed fire, casting the world in shades of garnet and cinnabar.

And on the jungle moon of Taranis, entire forests thrummed with life - from the kaleidoscopic plumage of native avians to the trilling songs of insects woven into a symphony of alien beauty. Glowing spores drifted on warm breezes, dusting the air with glittering motes like stardust.

My chest constricted with a profound sense of loss. Once, I could have taken her to experience such transcendent vistas. Could have opened her eyes to the vastness of creation, the marvels that spanned the cosmos.

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