Page 99 of Poseidon's Trident
Can horses smirk? Because that damned horse has an air of superiority to him right now. I narrow my eyes at him, knowing he’s listening to my thoughts again. Bastard.
“Fine. I’ll get on the creepy horse,” I grumble.
The horse backs away, shaking his head and stamping his hooves angrily. What the hell is his problem now? I said I would get on and he’ll probably try to scare me again, but it is what it is.
“C’mon, Skullrider, please? We’re running out of time.” Jayden pats the horse's shoulder.
Another rumbling roar booms from below, shaking the ground. Rocks fall from the edge of the cliff. I brace myself but don’t fall as I widen my stance. Is whatever’s down there going to topple the cliff down on top of it? Thad steps forward again, but Greyson clamps a hand down on his arm.
“It’s in pain,” Thad says.
“You’re gonna be in pain if you fall over the edge of that cliff,” Greyson scowls.
“The water won’t hurt me.” Thad yanks his arm from Greyson’s grip.
“The rocky cliff will if you hit it on the way down,” I say.
I turn to Skullrider since this is the only way Jayden is going to stop stalling so we can get to the cave below the cliffs. The horse snorts flames again and shakes his head.
“He doesn’t want to take me on his back, Jayden. We need another plan.”
“No. Skullrider, behave. We need to go before they try to get down on top of water.” Jayden turns the horse’s head in his direction.
“Look, I’m sorry, okay? I just don’t like beings listening to my thoughts without permission.” I step closer to the horse and this time he doesn’t back away.
Progress.
Jayden breathes a sigh of relief and pats Skullrider again before swinging up on his back. He holds a hand out to me and pulls me up in front of him.
“We are going down to see if we find anything. Skullrider will be back for you,” Jayden says.
“Okay,” Raven says.
Without warning the horse leaps straight in the air, eliciting a squeak from me and I swear to the gods the damn horse snorts a laugh. Asshole.
“Skullrider, be nice,” Jayden says.
We circle the cliff once before the horse dives unexpectedly. I grip Jayden’s arms as we drop into a free fall. I scream as we fall, my nails digging into Jayden’s arm. The horse evens out and flaps his wings just above the crashing waves.
“Fucking horse thinks that’s funny,” I grumble.
“C’mon, Beth. He’s trying to help even if he’s being a pain right now.” Jayden squeezes me tighter to him.
Skullrider’s wings flap as he hovers over the sea and he nods his head to the craggy rocks of the cliff. A bellowing roar blasts from the cave entrance and something splashes, sending a spray of sea water pelting my skin. I shiver with the cold.
“What is in there? It really does sound like it’s trapped.” I peer through the darkness inside the cave.
“How do we get in there without it sending us back on a crashing wave?” Jayden asks.
Skullrider snorts and shakes his head toward a ledge to the right of the cave. It’s just big enough for us to step on one at a time. He flies over to the ledge and Jayden helps me down from Skullrider’s back onto the ledge. I press my back to the cliff and edge closer to the dark cave.
“Wait for me,” Jayden says, hopping down next to me. “Skullrider, go get the others.”
The ledge circles around the craggy rocks and I follow the path into the dark cave. Another roar pierces my ears and I wince. It really is a roar of pain and not necessarily anger. I just hope whatever is causing it pain doesn’t make it want to kill us.
“Can you see anything?” Jayden asks.
“No, it’s too dark. I don’t want to use my sword just in case we anger whatever’s in here.” I shuffle around another curve in the rock.
