Page 65 of The Curse Between Us

He sighed heavily, then turned his attention back to the path ahead. If he were in a more logical state of mind, he might have considered staying here, conserving his energy. But the thought of Zephyr—alone and possibly injured somewhere in this hellish place—kept him moving. Even though he had no idea where he was going, or how he might escape, he couldn’t bear the thought of not trying.

The ground began to slope downward in front of him, the path growing steeper as he continued onward. Edric shudderedas he imagined just how deep this cave system might stretch, how much farther he could descend into the earth. The thought of being so far from the surface, with so much rock between him and the world above, made him feel claustrophobic. It was a feeling he hadn’t experienced since he was a child, when he used to worry about being buried alive.

Taking a deep breath, Edric tried to calm himself. He closed his eyes briefly, holding the breath for several seconds before releasing it slowly, willing his panic to subside. It helped, just a little, but the tension still gnawed at him. When he opened his eyes again, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching him.

There was a faint glimmer of light in the distance—a small pinprick of brightness, as if the darkness were beginning to yield. The hope it offered was both a relief and a warning.

With a steadying breath, Edric began moving toward it, forcing himself to maintain a slow and cautious pace. He didn’t know whether the light was a sign of salvation or another trap set by whatever dark forces lurked beneath the mountain. But the thought of Zephyr—of finding him—was too strong a pull to ignore.

The light grew brighter as he drew closer, a flickering white glow that illuminated the otherwise pitch-black cavern. The ground became rougher here, with small stones and chunks of rock scattered across the path. Edric’s attempts to move quietly were thwarted by the crunch of debris beneath his boots, and he winced with each sound, though no immediate danger presented itself.

Minutes later, he reached the source of the light—a smaller cavern to his left, an arching spire of rock forming an oddly regular doorway. Within it, a shaft of light descended from above, spilling down into the darkness like a spotlight. Edric hesitated at the threshold, unsure whether to enter. His instinctsscreamed at him to wait, to consider the risks. But before he could fully think through the situation, he stepped forward.

The moment his foot crossed the threshold, a high, metallic shriek echoed around him, sharp and jagged. Edric’s hands flew to his ears in an attempt to block out the sound, but it only grew louder, more discordant. The noise rattled his teeth, and his heart raced in response, panic rising in his chest. He couldn’t think, couldn’t act, could only react on instinct.

Without hesitation, he spun on his heel and bolted back into the darkness, his pulse roaring in his ears. He ran deeper into the cave, desperate to escape the unbearable sound. Just as abruptly as it had started, the noise ceased, leaving a hollow, eerie silence in its wake. Edric’s breathing was ragged, his body trembling with adrenaline and shock.

He wiped the sweat from his brow, his mind reeling. This place was steeped in Abyss’s presence. It was clear now—this was no accident. Edric and Zephyr had been brought here for a reason, and that reason was to face whatever horrors Abyss had in store for them.

Despite his shaking hands, Edric drew his sword, the weight of it grounding him as he prepared himself for whatever might come next. The echo of footsteps in the distance caught his attention, drawing him out of his thoughts. His heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively moved into a defensive position, his sword ready.

The footsteps grew closer, then paused, and the stillness of the cave stretched out between them. Edric’s fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword as he waited. He held his breath, listening intently.

The footsteps resumed, and Edric stepped out from the shadows, ready to face the threat, whatever it was. But as the figure stepped into the light, Edric froze.

“Zephyr?” he whispered, not trusting his own eyes.

In the spill of light from above, Zephyr stood before him, his hair disheveled, a thin cut on his cheek, but otherwise perfectly unharmed. The shock of seeing him, alive and standing, made Edric’s heart leap in his chest. Zephyr’s gaze was steady, though there was no greeting in his eyes. The silence between them was heavy, filled with unspoken questions and the weight of the journey they had yet to finish.

Edric moved instinctively, arms outstretched, as if to embrace him, to make sure this was real. “Zephyr?” he asked again, his voice thick with emotion. “Are you hurt? I’ve been looking for you.”

At that, a smile broke across Zephyr’s face, but it was not the smile Edric knew, the one that had always held warmth and a certain mischievousness. This smile was sharp, cold, ancient, and full of barely-contained malice. It was a smile that sent an icy shiver down Edric’s spine, a feeling that settled deep into the pit of his stomach, twisting it into something dark and uncertain.

“How fitting,” the voice said, and it was Zephyr’s voice—but something was wrong, something terrifyingly wrong. “I’ve been looking for you too.”

Edric stopped abruptly, a chill washing over him. The voice, though familiar, had twisted into something Edric could not place, something not quite Zephyr. He swallowed hard, trying to shake the feeling of dread creeping up his spine. He forced himself to speak, to sound calm, even though his heart was pounding in his chest. “Zephyr?” he asked again, but the word felt foreign in his mouth, as if it had no meaning anymore.

Slowly, Zephyr—or the thing inhabiting his body—shook his head, the motion disturbingly similar to Zephyr’s own but lacking the familiar warmth. “No,” it said. “Only the semblance of him. It is an honor to meet you, King Edric. My name is Abyss.”

The words hit Edric like a punch to the gut. His breath caught in his throat. He couldn’t comprehend it. His mind screamed that this couldn’t be real, that this couldn’t be happening. “What have you done to him?” Edric demanded, his voice sharp, though his hands trembled.

For a moment, there was a cruel, disinterested pause, as if Abyss was considering whether to humor him. Then it spoke with a casualness that only made Edric’s blood run colder. “He is alive,” Abyss said with a shrug, as if the truth was insignificant. “I am, by my very nature, formless. But in the world above, there is much more that can be accomplished with a body.” Abyss extended one hand—Zephyr’s hand, that large, capable palm turned upward for inspection—and shrugged again, almost as if it were a trinket being shown off. “He felt no pain when I took possession of him, if that is your concern.”

Edric’s jaw clenched, his gaze narrowing, though his voice remained taut with control. “My concern,” he said, his words bitter, “is far greater than that.”

Abyss tilted its head, a gesture so Zephyr-like that Edric’s heart skipped a beat. The malice behind the movement was palpable, like a cruel imitation of the one he had come to love. “You humans think you are so bold,” Abyss said, voice dripping with mockery. “What else is your concern, little king? Your crown?” Abyss’s laugh echoed in the cavern, dark and hollow. “Your land only exists because of me. Me, and Plenty.”

Edric’s brows furrowed as his mind raced. He had to stay focused. He had to outwit this entity if he had any hope of saving Zephyr, of freeing him from Abyss’s clutches. Drawing in a deep breath, Edric’s voice came out steady, challenging. “Perhaps. But as you may be aware, new lands now exist. Because of Zephyr and I.”

Abyss’s grin faltered for a split second, the faint scent of ashes suddenly thickening in the air. The malevolent forceradiating from it intensified. “Yes,” it snarled, low and filled with distaste. “I am aware. You have woken me with your union, and from deep in my prison, I have observed you, biding my time. Waiting for an opportunity like this.” Abyss’s hand stroked down Zephyr’s side, the motion grotesque and unnatural, and Edric had to fight the urge to step forward and rip the thing’s hand away. “I could only reach you in whispers, in acts I could control through the earth. I knew it would not be long before you came to seek me yourself, foolish as you mortals are.”

The mocking tone, the complete lack of empathy in Abyss’s voice, made Edric’s stomach churn. He wanted to do something—anything—to break this creature’s hold on Zephyr, but each move he considered seemed fraught with danger. Abyss had already shown its power, and Edric was no fool. If he rushed in without a plan, Zephyr would pay the price.

“And then what?” Edric asked, his voice tight. “You have the body you wanted. But you are still trapped here.”

The smile that stretched across Abyss’s face was terrifying. It was far too pleased with itself. “You think you can trick me into telling you that, oh, perhaps there is a tunnel that will lead you back to the surface?” Abyss waved a finger in the air, scolding, like a parent reprimanding a child. “Not so fast, little king. First, I must deal with you.”

Edric felt a cold chill race down his spine. “Me?”

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