Page 40 of Treasure of the Abyss

It was a wild hunch, a stretch, but he had little else to actupon.

Jax closed the door quietly behind him and crept to the edge of the pool. Arkon was nowhere in sight; Jax’s relief was followed by a pang of guilt. He couldn’t keep Macy secret forever, but he wasn’t ready to tell his friend, yet. Best to avoid the conversation fornow.

The overall pattern Arkon had created on the floor of the pool was little changed, but the refinements were clear — the earlier symmetry of the design was slightly off now, but it only added to the sense of movement created by the entire thing. Jax was even more impressed than he’d beeninitially.

Another wave of guilt flowed through him when he realized he’d forgotten about the glowing centerpiece he’dpromised.

He crossed to the lockers on the far wall, and his heartbeats quickened; he’d seen the objects inside of them before and should have thought of them immediately when Macy described what sheneeded.

Reaching into a locker, he removed the item hanging within. It was a black suit, like the other human clothing he’d found only in that it was clearly meant to cover a human body. Asmallhumanbody…

Raising the suit, he studied it. Macy wasn’t large — Camrin was easily the bigger of the two — but this suit appeared to be designed for someone half her size. The black material had a strange texture to it, and a faint hexagonal pattern over its entirety. Jax pinched it between his finger and thumb. It was oddly resistant despite itsthinness.

When he took it in both hands and pulled, the fabric stretched easily. It maintained its large size for a few heartbeats before reverting to its original shape. A sleek, white piece was attached at the wrist, and another on the chest. Jax wasn’t sure if they were metal or plastic, but neither came off when he tugged onthem.

He set the suit aside and resumed his search. Four lockers later, he found the other piece she’d mentioned. It was a thin, curved piece of glass with a metal frame. At the bottom corners were two attachments that reminded him of gills. The mask had no straps or fasteners of any kind; he didn’t know how she was meant to put the thing on, but this had to beit.

The remaining lockers each held one of the suits, and he found six more masks. He moved back to consider them. There was no guarantee they’d all function properly; he’d be best served by taking them all. The devices were wasted hanging here, forgotten, especially when someone had use forthem.

Besides, Macy would never enter the Facility. No humanwould.

Jaxfrowned.

It didn’t feel right, taking all of them. Perhaps they’d never see use, like most items in the Facility, but this was where they belonged. They were as much ghosts as theholograms.

He laid one of the suits on the floor, placed a second suit and two masks atop it, and tied it into a bundle around one of his tentacles to ensure it would be close during his journey to the cave. As he turned to leave, the dooropened.

There was nowhere — and no time — to hide; he was exposed. Straining for a natural way to begin a conversation with Arkon, he swung his attention to thedoorway.

Jax clenched his jaw. Arkon had notcome.

Dracchus halted just inside the room. His eyes met Jax’s, and he pushed up with his tentacles, raising himself high. He was slightly longer and broader than Jax, and heavily muscled; that struck fear into some of the others. Dracchus wasn’t hesitant to make use of his size andstrength.

They stared at one another, locked in a silent struggle for which Jax had no patience. Dracchus’s normally black skin had a crimsonundertone.

“You saw the signal outside.” Dracchus’s jaw muscles bulged as he rolled his shoulders. He looked over the room before settling his gaze back on Jax. “Where is yourfriend?”

“Somewhere else, Dracchus. His den may be a good place to begin thesearch.”

Brighter red seeped into Dracchus’s skin. “There is no time for these games, Wanderer. We mean to departsoon.”

“Do not allow me to delay you.” Jax lifted his hand, palm up, and gestured to thedoor.

Dracchus advanced. Jax rose up to meet him, holding hisposition.

The challenge was clear in Dracchus’s posture, coloring, and expression; his directness had always been admirable. There were no secrets with him, no attempts at subtlety. He always made his feelings clear — as often through actions as throughwords.

“We need our best out there, Wanderer. I will not deny you and Arkon your due ashunters.”

“I’ve other matters to attend.” Jax’s hearts thumped rapidly, and heat rippled through his limbs; his body was preparing for a battle, and he didn’tresist.

Eyes flaring, Dracchus moved closer, stopping just in front of Jax. “Do you mean to abandon our people entirely,now?”

“I have not abandoned our people. But I will not swim with you on thishunt.”

“Because you do not trust my judgment. Would you prefer to lead thishunt?”

“You are hunt leader, Dracchus, and I will not challenge you for it. I have other concerns to occupy my time.” Jax’s muscles felt like coiled springs, near trembling with the need to expend the storedenergy.

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