Page 91 of Shadow Caster
Cool airand mist surrounded me. I was outside, but where was Hyde?
An arm pressed to my throat, and I was hauled back against a breastplate. Citrus aroma tickled my senses.
“Hyde. Shit, it’s me.”
He released me abruptly. “What the fuck are you playing at, Justice? You missed the trial. Do you know what that means?” He looked me over. “Where the fuck is your armor?”
“I didn’t miss it, I was kidnapped.” I filled him in using the cliff notes version, watching the confusion melt into comprehension across his face. “And Master Payne and Madam Mariana and all the cadets are going to die if we don’t get them out.” I scanned his face, watching the cogs turning. “Is there a back door to this place?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
“Can you draw me a map?”
“No.” He tapped his head with an index finger. “The map is up here. I need to be inside the catacombs to use it.”
Shit. The door was sealed. There was no way for him to get in … unless … unless I took him with me. Master Payne had said there could be a cost to carrying someone. It could leave us stranded inside …
But that wouldn’t matter if we had a way out. “Maybe I can get you inside.”
“What?”
“I mean this shadow phasing thing … Maybe I can take you with me?” I threw up my hands. “Look, it’s worth a try, isn’t it?”
He nodded. “Fine, let’s give it a shot. But if it doesn’t work, if you find yourself alone in there, you get your arse back out here stat, you understand me?”
I nodded mutely.
“How long till the bombs go off?” he asked.
“Two hours after the start of the trial.”
He glanced at his watch. “We have an hour and a half. We can do this.”
I scanned the mist for shadows and settled on the mouth of the cave that was dripping with darkness. Harmon … I needed to visualize Harmon because if I knew that guy, he’d be leading the troops.
I held out my hand. “Are you ready?”
Hyde slipped his hand into mine, palm to palm, his long fingers wrapping around mine. My heart sped up.
“Let’s do this.”
We ran into the shadows together.
Thirty
Rock surrounded us, and the scent of death and decay pressed in on me. We were in a narrow tunnel with a ceiling low enough to jump up and touch, or for Hyde to just reach up and press his palm to. Soft green light illuminated the tunnel. It was coming from a glowing mossy plant that covered the rock in patches.
“Urgh.” Hyde covered his nose and mouth with his free hand.
Yeah, it was an overpowering smell, and my gag reflex sprang into action. I adjusted to breathing through my mouth, which was just as gross because it meant I was tasting the air. I took a step, and the world swayed as dizziness assaulted me. Okay … this had to be the effect of carrying someone. Not so bad. I could deal with this. Just one moment.
“Justice, you okay?” Hyde asked.
I smiled. “Fine. Just a little dizzy.”
He frowned. “The phasing … fuck, it’s taking a toll, isn’t it?”
But the dizziness had dissipated. “I’m fine. Harmon should be close by. We need to get to him.”
