Page 52 of He Who Ignites The Flame
I pulled my attention away from them, walking at Lucia’s side toward the edge of the forest. It wasn’t my place to offer her any comfort, and I couldn’t understand why I cared enough to want to.
My brows furrowed as the green moss turned a shade of mottled brown beneath our feet as we walked before dying out entirely to be replaced with dark gravel.
“We’re here,” Lucia muttered, and we all lowered ourselves behind dying brush and trees. The flames at the center of my being curled within itself at the sight of what could only be described as a fortress carved out of the mountainside, the flame bristling and desperate to be unleashed on everything it represented. My stomach turned at the sight of severed heads spiked atop the walls, entrails staining the stone below. Crow-like creatures littered the grounds to peck and feast on the remains, their caws echoing across the sparse expanse of land between us.
“Coronis,” Lucia muttered under her breath as she watched the birds scavenge for meaty scraps.
“Gods,” I whispered, my nose wrinkling at the stench. “They kept her here?”
Lucia nodded. “You can’t imagine what we found the first time.”
My skin crawled at the thought as Lucia drew a deep breath. In the distance, I caught sight of a large bird flying over the battlement before it shifted into one of our warriors and crashed into an unsuspecting guard, silencing him before he could alert others.
Damien lowered to his knee at Lucia’s other side, taking her hand and gently squeezing it. They nodded to each other before Lucia returned her sights to the warriors currently overtaking the wall. “I only pray it isn’t as bad.”
18
THALIA
Nothing had changed.
My fingers grazed over the rusty mechanism that controlled the main gates, and the beast within me recoiled as I remembered the terrible sound it made when it had first trapped me in this hell, remembered how that same sound brought hope when I’d finally been freed.
Damien came to a stop at my side and rested a hand on my shoulder, drawing me back from the memories burned into my mind. “We’ll get them all out.”
I nodded, looking forward to where Micah was checking the tunnel that led to the prisoner’s block. We started toward him, two other teams following closely behind us. Before I turned into the tunnel, I glanced at Lucia, at Barrett standing amidst Marcus and other warriors as she discussed the plan with them. Barrett’s steel eyes lifted briefly to me, something akin to worry flitting across them before he averted his gaze.
Something twisted in my chest, and I pulled myself away to lead the others into the tunnel. Barrett and Lucia would be all right.
The beast nuzzled against my consciousness.Surely you’re not starting to care about the steel-eyed warrior.
I let out a sigh as I took each stony step with care, watching for any sign of guards or fighters…or creatures.You should be focused on what we might find down here.
It isn’t anything we haven’t faced before.
I couldn’t argue with the beast’s logic, but it had been ten years since this place had fallen. There was no telling what manner of foul creature had taken shelter here, what terrible atrocities the fae might be committing deep within this hellscape.
The tunnels broke into three directions before us, and I came to a stop.
“We split here,” Damien said, turning back to the teams. “Each tunnel leads to one of three cell blocks. There is no telling what we will find there. You have twenty minutes to scout each location before we regroup here. If you’re not back, we will assume you were attacked. If the area is clear and you find captives without the presence of aggressors, send two members of your team back to report.”
The others nodded before they headed down their tunnels and I turned down ours, the walls far more familiar than I wished they were. Each step grew heavier, voices echoing in the back of my mind, voices that had been snuffed out by the cruelty of Arden’s actions, of every fae’s actions in this Godsforsaken place.
The tunnel opened into a larger hall of carved stone, walls lined with barred rooms extending as far as I could see.
Micah’s hand took mine as I stood at the entrance, near frozen as I assessed everything I’d ever known growing up. Every memory was covered in a thick layer of dust and cobwebs.
I lowered to a knee, carefully inspecting the floor where the dust had been disturbed, whether by some creature or fae guard, I wasn’t sure.
“Stay alert,” I muttered, and the warriors drew their weapons as they stepped around Micah and me to search for any captives that might be held here.
The hall was silent, but I continued, drawn in by the horrible familiarity of it all. I’d sworn I would never set foot in this place again, and yet, here I was.
The beast curled within me as if wrapping me in an embrace.It is not without reason.
It wasn’t, but this would be the last time anyone would set foot in this place. I would make sure of that, no matter what it took.
My feet moved of their own accord, leading me to a familiar cell. I lifted my fingers to touch the bars. The warding on the iron was weak but still present enough to leave my skin tingling, my magic recoiling. The rusted metal resisted as I tried to open the door, but it eventually gave way with a heavy groan that left the hairs on the back of my neck rise, and Istepped into the cell. I took in the deteriorating wooden table and shelves littered with cracked pots and bowls, the twin cots side by side in the corner.
