Page 119 of In Between Darkness
“And leave you here? Fuck that,” he retorts as if he is offended by my suggestion. The elevator dings and the doors open.
“Sorry,” I reply as I push him through the portal, closing it the minute I know he is through.
Miss Worthington seethes with bitterness as she stares at me through the open elevator doors, an army behind her crammed in tightly.
“Get her. But I want her alive.” Are the only words I hear before the stomping of army boots tread through any empty space in the air. Before I can think, my legs take me back down the hall behind the armoured door, but the lock is broken from Ryder yanking it open. I Influence it shut behind me, but I’m afraid it won’t hold for long.
“They’re coming, we need to go. Now!” I exclaim, my heart thumping frantically in my chest.
“I’m on the last cuff,” Ryder explains, kneeling down with his shadows manoeuvring inside the keyhole. The door begins to shake and bang at its hinges.
“Come on, Ryder!” Panic chews through my words. “I can’t hold it for much longer.” I urge him to quicken his pace.
Ryder’s poise is calm, not even a tremble to his fingers as he works, like he has all the time in the world.
“…and… done.”
The lock clicks as he pries the cuff from the sky serpent’s ankle. I am relieved, but the banging on the door holds my breath hostage for a moment.
“You’re going somewhere different,” I explain to the creature whilst conjuring a large portal. “I think there’s someone who would like to see you.”
A smile forms on my face as the everlasting garden of Kamaria appears on the marble wall like a phantom picture.
‘I will be forever in your debt, Starchild,’it hisses, and looks at me with thankful eyes.‘I am Skypharoh.’
“Go, Skypharoh. Be free.” I smile as his body slithers through the threshold.
And with that, the portal closes swiftly behind him. The banging on the door is more violent now, more forceful, and I can feel the grip on my Influence sliding, like the rail I was holding on to is now lathered with oil, and I am slipping, close to letting go.
“Quick, Ryder. Now.”
I grab his hand and conjure the portal just as the door springs open. The force from the vortex sucks us in, but my eyes meet Miss Worthington’s as we hurry through. The portal closes swiftly behind me. She knows what I am.
Chapter Forty-Seven
“Thank the Gods you’re okay!” A relieved River rushes to my side as I pry myself from the forest floor.
“Why, did you miss me?” Ryder taunts back at him, and a small laugh escapes Rivers’ mouth.
“You wish,” River snaps back with a smile on his face and lends me a hand up.
“I liked it better when you two hated each other,” I interrupt with a cheeky smile, latching onto River’s hand as he pulls me up.
“I am really glad you are okay though; you had me worried there for a sec,” River emphasises looking genuinely relieved.
“I’m sorry I pushed you through the portal,” I admit, hoping he hasn’t held a grudge. “I had to, because I knew you wouldn’t leave my side.”
“It’s okay, Asha. I get it.” He stands closer to me. “You’re right. I would never have left your side.” He smiles a small smile and retreats towards the rest of the camp.
My eyes rejoice as they look around at all the people we have saved, smiling faces and laughter sing through the trees around us.
“We actually did it,” I whisper, still in disbelief at our success. Ryder’s smile is large, with his dimples showing at the corners of his cheeks, but something unsettles me. “Don’t you think that was a little too… easy?” I ask as an eeriness unsettles my stomach.
“We got them out… that’s all that matters.”
He places his hand on my lower back as we stand admiring the sight in front of us. I rest my head on his chest, trying to dampen the feeling. But I think Ryder feels it too.
Kyro’s shadows dissipate into the air as he swoops down and chirps at Ryder, whose body instinctively tenses against my cheek.
