Page 43 of A Serenade To The Elf Queen
The excitement made me careless.
I’m free falling into the trap. A sudden jerk forces me to release my grip on the torch. It takes a long while for the flame to finally meet the bottom of the chasm. I glimpse the spikes covering the ground before the fire flickers out.
The only thing standing between me and them is the prisoner’s hand clutching mine. I can feel my body getting heavier by the pull of gravity. If this man is anything like Jack, he’ll let me fall to my death.
My breathing stalls. Time seems to freeze when I raise my head to look into his eyes.
Don’t let go,I plead silently.
He reels me up easily in one smooth motion. I release a long breath when I sense solid ground underneath my feet again. His keen eyes scan me for injuries.
“I’m fine,” I say shakily.
He keeps checking me to see if I’m intact. This reminds me of the time I accompanied Rainer to the market when I was young. The elderly ladies do the same thing when they’re measuring for fresh vegetables and fruits. A bubble of laughter escapes my lips despite my near-death experience.
His fingers close around my chin, lifting my face to look at him. Once again, he is smothering me with that heavy gaze. Even in the dim lighting of the crystals, I can make out his rough, handsome face. I almost look away when he suddenly wraps mein a tight embrace. I soak myself in his refreshing scent, listening to the rapid beating of his heart.
The guy is worried for me. Heat prickles along my back. I push the sensation away as I melt into his arms. “Thank you.” I smile at him, even though he can’t see much of my face.
“I don’t even know your name. Rhianelle,” I say, pointing to myself. I touch his muscular chest.
He answers me in that strange language again. I don’t catch any of it. The words are too long. Is that a name or does he fail to understand my question?
“Svenn?” I try the last syllable.
I hear a low rumbling from his chest. It sounds a whole lot like a laughter.
“Nel,” he teases right back.
An angry wailing shriek suddenly echoes through the chamber. “I can smell you, dirty elven rat!”
“He’s found us!” Panic seizes me. I drag Svenn to sprint faster. “This way! Come on!”
We need to put as much distance as possible between us and the demon. Thank the gods Svenn has no trouble keeping up with me.
My heart thunders like a war drum over another eerie, high-pitched howl. Pain sears through my left leg but I keep going. Sometimes, I think the Ashmedai is close enough to catch us and then he slows down. The sick demon probably gets off on the chase.
I hear Svenn’s heavy sigh in the dark, as if all this running is boring him. He suddenly halts and turns around.
“What’s wrong? We have to go now.” I tug him. I might as well try to move a mountain. He will not budge. The guy is adamant on waiting for the demon.
I don’t want to get mauled to death. If I continue moving forward, I might get a head start. But I can’t bring myself to leave Svenn behind.
“I need you to come with me.” I take his hand, begging him to listen.
His brows draw together as he looks at me.
Tears well in my eyes. “Please, Svenn.”
A long, frustrated breath leaves him, but he finally relents.
The Ashmedai’s insidious laughter fills the cave. “I’ve always wanted a new elven coat!”
My skin crawls with dread with each threat. I keep my mind empty as we bolt down the corridor towards the bright archway.
I will escape this place with Svenn. I say the words repeatedly in my head.
We finally reach the open hall filled with sculptures and carvings of celestial gods and monsters of old. The sound of trickling water from one of the magnificent statues catches my attention. I follow the gutter towards a small tunnel deep into the colossal structure on the wall.
