Page 61 of Shadow's Chosen

Nezka felt an icy knot tighten inside him as he nodded back to her. "Farewell."

Worik led them down the temple steps and onto a path toward the eastern wall. They walked in silence, Nezka's mind turning over what was to come, when he felt a warm hand in his. He tensed and looked over to see Elise smiling up at him.

"Whatever happens, I'm glad it's you and me. Together." She squeezed his hand, and Nezka could barely return her smile as the icy knot grew, touching his heart and rising into his throat, making it hard to speak.

He squeezed her hand in turn then released it, his eyes shifting away from hers. "We're almost there."

Worik brought them to the edge of the wall and slipped over to the control box. A wave of energy shimmered along the wall that Nezka had not noticed before.

This is where I leave you," Worik said at his return. "Good luck to you both."

"Thank you," Nezka replied, bowing his head. "For everything." He took hold of Elise's waist and drew her close against him.

As they walked through the wall, Elise stretched out her hand as the darkness took them momentarily then in an instant was gone, leaving them on the other side of the wall.

Nezka did not let go of Elise right away. Instead, he pressed her closer and buried his face in her hair, filling his lungs with her scent. Before she could say a word or wrap her arms around his waist, he let her go, pretending not to see her look of confusion.

"We make for the sewers," he said, shifting his gaze away to focus on the section of buildings and road ahead. "There is a path leading into the energy deposit from there."

"You saw on your map?" Elise asked with growing excitement.

"Not I. One of the other hunters." Nezka lifted his techband to message Silfres as they made their way into the shadow of a large building.

"They finally contacted you?"

"Yes. Three have found their way here. Two will be waiting on my signal to attack from the outside. One will be meeting us in the sewers." Though he had not yet heard from Vijnn, Nezka assumed he was waiting on his command just like the others. Nezka's assumption was confirmed when Silfres quickly replied back, stating that the corax had messaged him last night. He was ready to go and would be waiting. Nezka messaged both Silfres and Vijnn to let them know he and Elise were on their way.

Keeping close, they ran on down the road, Elise taking up her gun, having it ready for anything unexpected. But the streets were dead and the buildings empty. No one met them as they found an entrance into the sewers along a dried up waterway. They slid carefully down into the slime-filled sewage canal and stopped at the half-grated tunnel entrance.

"Why didn't we think of this before?" Elise asked as they stared into the mouth of the tunnel.

"I had back when we first started out but quickly learned that pumps deep within drain the water and sewage out every thirty minutes. We would have either been washed away farther from our destination or drowned. So, I considered it unsafe."

Elise nodded. "You definitely made the right call then. But what of your teammate? How did he make it through?"

"Corax are impressive swimmers and are equipped with gills as well as lungs," Nezka stated. "Vijnn likely had no problem."

"Makes sense." Elise did not move. "How much time do you think we have?"

"Not much. But the path isn't far. Let's get moving."

Together they slipped into the tunnelway. As soon as the light faded and the darkness took hold, Elise clicked the light on the top of her gun and Nezka turned on those attached to his wrist plates. Nezka took the lead as they made quick work through the murky tunnels. Several unsavory scents hit his nose and oily filth splashed against his boots, but he cared little. He listened for the sounds of metal grinding or of the rush of water and found only the sounds of his and Elise's footsteps. Small creatures scurried around their feet as they passed but nothing larger met them. He stopped every so often to check the map then they would continue on as before. They were getting close.

When they were just before the deposit, they heard a dull thumping noise that grew louder as they approached. Judging by the map and the sound, Nezka theorized it must be a large reactor settled beneath the building. As they turned a corner and headed down the last tunnelway, Nezka could feel a low vibration.

The deposit was in working order, generating what must have been a good chunk of the undercity's power.

They exited the tunnel and came to a small end chamber with a welded ladder leading to the top. Nezka cast his light at every corner and frowned.

"What is it?" Elise asked.

"Vijnn. He should be here." Nezka brought up his techband and began to message the corax after telling Silfres to stand by.

"Do you think he went to the top?" Elise said, pointing her light up at the door.

Nezka couldn't be sure, but an unsettled feeling began to brush at him. He cast his light once more around then made for the ladder. "Wait here."

Elise stood close by as he climbed swiftly to the top then started to push at the door. With some effort, he was able to shift the heavy metal back until it left an opening wide enough for him to poke his head through. Cautiously, he looked over and found a darkened room. Large steel barrels made up most of the space. Quietly, Nezka slipped out and looked over the room. He was about to message Vijnn when he heard a sharp clanging close by and saw a shadow move. In an instant, he had his blade in hand, ready to strike. He moved toward the noise and cast his light up just in time to see Vijnn directing his gun at him.

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