Page 58 of Bound By Wishes

“You will,” I assured her.

An ancient curse cloaked the entrance, shrouding it for centuries. Only those who knew where to look could see through the enchantment that hid it from the world. And luckily, I did.

Heat and magic rose from the smoldering desert floor, distorting the view and giving the impression that the mines were a mirage instead of reality as we neared. Once close enough, they rose dramatically from the dry desert ground, an imposing fortress of ancient stone carved directly into the side of a rocky mountain. The grand doorway below had weathered over centuries, its once intricate carvings now eroded and the stone scorched by the relentless sun.

I gently guided the carpet, allowing it to settle on the shifting sands in front of the entrance. The grains crunched softly as we touched down, and everyone stepped off.

Caleena cautiously approached the entrance, running her fingers over the ancient stone door. She meticulously studied its weathered surface and the faint carvings that hinted at the secrets within.

Caleena turned back toward me. "It says only the blood of a direct descendant shall awaken the sleeping stone and grant passage to the heart of the king's legacy.” She’d deciphered the symbols. My gaze collided with hers. It was a warning as much as it was a key.

Something within me cracked, a tiny fissure weaving its way through my resolve. This was everything I had ever wanted, and yet was I willing to sacrifice Caleena to get it? The thought of sending her into the mines without me by her side twisted uncomfortably in my gut, gnawing at the man I thought I was.

Caleena bent down, reaching into the top of her boot to retrieve a small knife. The blade gleamed in the harsh desert sunlight as she stood. She drew the knife closer to her hand, the edge hovering just above her skin.

“Just a drop will suffice,” I said, stepping toward her. The memory of the deep cut that Razoul inflicted flashed through my mind. I gently placed my hand on hers to guide the blade, ensuring that she only pricked one of her fingers.

With a quick jab, Caleena punctured her skin, and a bead of blood welled up on the tip of her finger. She stepped forward, glancing back at Malik and me, then smeared the blood across the cursed stone door. Just like the tomb before, the rocky surface drank in her blood, the crimson droplet vanishing into the tiny pores as if it had never been there at all.

The stone responded with a deep rumble, the olden magic within stirring from its deep slumber. Caleena stepped back as the mountain itself began to tremble. The door moaned and groaned, the sound echoing through the desert as sand and debris rained down from above. With a slow, grinding motion, the massive doors began to open, revealing the dark, yawning entrance to King Thalorian’s mines. The air was thick with the scent of ancient stone and dust.

I gripped Caleena’s arm, pulling her to me as the ground shook beneath us, holding her close until the tremors stopped. Reluctantly, I let her go, snapping my hand through the air with a flick of magic. The carpet on the sandy ground stirred to life, and I urged it closer.

“Nothing inside is as it appears,” I warned. “This medallion, etched in the thread, is all that I recall from the ancientscrolls.” I paused, meeting her gaze. “That’s all I know about the scepter. The rest is a mystery.”

Caleena’s gaze lingered on the scepter, her eyes tracing the intricate design of the cobra coiled around it. “What does the snake have to do with the scepter?” she asked, her brow wrinkling in confusion.

“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. I reached toward the rug and a puff of black smoke erupted from beneath it, engulfing the carpet. In moments, the fabric disintegrated into black sand. It fell to the ground in a swirling, ashy cloud, leaving nothing behind but a faint, lingering scent of magic.

Caleena inhaled deeply, her eyes steady as she turned to Malik. “Are you ready?”

Malik let out a scoff. “Sure,” he replied, “why not?”

Caleena stepped confidently toward the dark opening. “Let’s go,” she urged. “The sooner we get in and out, the sooner we can put an end to the Nightshade. We don’t have time to waste.”

I gripped Caleena’s elbow, and she froze, her eyes widening with surprise as she glanced back at me. I spun her around until she was facing me. “Be careful, sayyida,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’m not fond of the idea of you going in there without me.” With a flick of my hand, a torch materialized from thin air. I handed it to Caleena, the fire illuminating her face. “Take this.”

She accepted the torch, then gently tugged her elbow from my grasp. “I’ll be fine,” she promised. With a final reassuring glance, she walked into the cave, the darkness quickly swallowing her and erasing her from my sight.

Malik started after her, but I stepped in front of him,blocking his path. “You watch out for her,” I growled, locking eyes with him. I was placing something far too precious in the hands of a man I’d just met.

Malik ducked around me. “I’ll always have her back,” he said sharply. “It’s you I don’t trust.” With that, he strode into the cave, disappearing into the shadows.

I took a deep breath and made myself comfortable, leaning against a fluffy cloud of my magic as I waited for their return. “As you shouldn’t.”

The faint light from the torches barely pierced the darkness that seemed to close in around us. Each step echoed through the passages, and the air grew colder and heavier as we ventured deeper.

The narrow entrance turned into a labyrinth of narrow tunnels and large chambers, all made from ancient stone that glistened with veins of gold and precious gems. Malik raised his torch, and the light danced across the cave’s interior, causing the embedded stones and veins of gold to shimmer.

“Wow,” he muttered.

The torchlight refracted through the crystals and mineral deposits, creating a mesmerizing rainbow effect that brought the ancient walls to life and highlighted the faded murals and intricate carvings. I stepped closer, studying the scenes of ancient royalty, mythical creatures, and long-forgotten battles. I was disappointed when noneof the scenes depicted anything about the scepter or hinted at any clues of my heritage.

I continued down the winding tunnels, feeling like a stranger to myself. How had I gone my entire life without truly knowing who I was? Doubt still lingered in my mind, but my blood had unlocked an ancient sarcophagus and opened these mines. Blood never lied, and now it had unveiled a dark truth about myself I couldn’t deny.

As we ventured lower, the air grew thick with the scent of earth and mineral-rich rock, mingled with a faint musty odor of long-forgotten treasures. The ground was uneven, covered with loose stones and gravel.

The treacherous passageways finally opened into vast, echoing hallways. The uneven path gave way to smoothly polished stone floors. I stepped on something that crunched underfoot, and I froze, holding my breath as I waited for a trap to spring. The air seemed to hold its breath with me, the faint echo of the crunch still echoing through the open hallways.

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