Page 50 of Choosing Jenny
“Wall paths?” Omen asked.
Gram shifted once again in his seat, and explained. “When the miners first got there, the cave was full of native predators. They carved elevated ledges along the walls to avoid getting mauled. Didn’t always work, though, because those creatures could jump. So they tried flooding the cave. It’s built on a downward slope, so they rigged a bolder gate at the entrance and drowned everything inside. Once they thought the beasts were gone, they reopened the cave and used those paths to mine. Now, the water’s gone and the Vulavi can’t jump high enough to reach the ledges.”
I tried to process exactly what we were in for. “So, we are going to climb up on these carved paths, use them to get past the sleeping sadistic hungry beasts to the rear of the cave, where presumably the Vulaven Eggs are, grab the eggs without the said residents noticing, get back on the paths, and get out. That’s the plan I’m hearing, right?”
“Yep.”
“Our friends are going to be so disappointed they didn’t get to come and missed out on all the fun,” I muttered, rolling my eyes.
“Cheer up, Tiger,” Omen said, patting my back. “Youvolunteeredfor this suicide mission.”
That didnotcheer me up.
“There it is,” Gram said, pointing ahead.
The Vulavi island was three times the size of Credo’s prison island. Golden sand was gray as night fell, but I could still see the orange boulders and the golden mouth of the cave. But no Vulavi in sight.
Curious, I asked, “What were they mining for here?”
“Gold. Back when it was rare and before we learned to synthesize it. I mean, the natural stuff is still hard to find, but nobody cares about authenticity anymore,” Gram said with a shrug.
Omen shuddered. “Just think, all those miners died for something we take for granted now.”
“I’d rathernotthink of it.” I guidedCheesecaketo a smooth landing in the shallows, then set the anchor. “How long do we wait? Until it’s fully dark or—”
“No, we should be good to go now, actually,” Gram said, standing. “I didn’t see any Vulavi on our approach and there’s nowhere else for them to hide but the cave.”
“Not the water?” Omen asked.
He shook his head. “The Vulavi aren’t foolish enough to be in the water at this time of the evening. There are much scarierthings than them in this part of the Diamond Sea. That’s why they only hunt during the day. Come on.”
To my surprise, the lounge door was wide open, and Surge and Sam didn’t seem as though they had been doing anything wild and crazy. Their clothes and her hair weren’t mussed, but the sexual tension between them had not faded.
They joined us to disembark.Cheesecake’sramp extended over the water to the dry beach, and as we walked down it and onto the island, I gave Surge and Sam a briefer rundown of everything Gram had just told us, so they’d be informed.
Once the five of us neared the mouth of the cave, Gram turned back to us, his voice low as he spoke to us. “Within five meters of the cave, no more speaking. The Vulavi have decent hearing and could wake to eat us.”
“What about eyesight?” Omen whispered.
“Not great at night,” Gram said, much to my relief. “It’s believed they can’t see colored light either, so our gauntlet drivers will make excellent lanterns inside.”
“Lead the way,” Omen told her brother.
I wasn’t sure how comfortable Omen was taking instruction from Gram. She had a contentious relationship with her family, but more than that, she was used to being in control. Her gift for illusion had been enough to knock Jac to his knees when they became reacquainted on Halla, but like most conduits, it came from her voice. To go into a situation where her voice may get her eaten…she must really trust Gram.
And if she trusted him, then so did I.
Gram Skir didn’t have the greatest reputation, even before he was a scheming refugee. He was opportunistic, at the best of times. When he was younger, he had turned in some of his colleagues and the stink of betrayal followed him throughout his life. Still, I couldn’t think of any possible gain he could make by betraying us, inside the cave or outside of it.
Up close, the mouth of the cave was wider than it had looked at first. The miners had left a rusted metal pulley system at the opening that held a large flat rock over the entrance, like a door. The sides had steps which led to the carved side ledges, but those outcrops looked much narrower than I had imagined when Gram told us about them. One Ladrian wide and barely enough height for me to stand upright. Without lights inside, we could see only the first couple of meters before it was completely black.
Silently, we nodded to one another and began our trip deeper into darkness. Gram went first on the left ledge, his gauntlet driver glowing blue. Omen was close behind him. I went in on the right. I figured if we spread out, then we had a better chance of at least one of us being able to get to the eggs at the end of the cave, since we had no idea what to expect down there.
My driver glowed purple and cast light for two meters ahead of myself. Surge climbed in after me, his hands glowing red for light for him and Sam, who didn’t wear a gauntlet driver.
Inside the cave, the stench of wet creatures filled the air. It was hot, too, which didn’t help the smell. The air was heavy with it all—heat and humidity and stink.
“I’m sorry, Surge,” Sam quietly said, several meters behind me.
