Page 28 of King of Knights

She runs into my arms and wraps around my waist. She is so small, smaller than Venus. A protectiveness grows within me. I look beyond her and there’s a hooded figure standing watching us. An amulet rests on their chest, giving off a green glow.

The figure seems to vanish, causing me to glance around and knit my brows. There are large structures everywhere. Not castles or churches, but structures that reach for the skies.

“Brother, come to us. Someone is in our temple.”

Those words snap me from the vision, bringing me back to the present. I look around and spin about in the water. I’m still alone. My horse stands in wait for me.

“What was that?” I mutter.

“Kendrick, we are awakened.”

This time, I recognize the voice in my head as Reilly’s. I’m torn between finding my love and going to see what has awakened my brothers. My brothers are left vulnerable when they are in slumber and also as they awake. It takes time for them to fully recharge.

Venus and her sisters can at least defend themselves. I have no choice but to abandon this search and head to the sacred resting place of my brothers.

“Forgive me, my love. I will find you once I protect my brothers.”

Sacred Ground

“Isn’t the exit in the other direction?” Zandra asks as we move through the cave.

I know for sure we’re moving away from the exit as the walls of the cave begin to show signs of condensation. There’s water somewhere close by as I can hear it flowing.

I can’t shake what happened last night, so I haven’t said a word as Yanique leads the way with an orb of light in her palm to guide us. Annaniah has a tight hold of my hand beside me.

“We are not leaving,” Yanique says.

We’ve moved from corridor to corridor so far. The last one we went through seemed so much more still than this one. A stone bridge-like overpass led us to this passageway.

“Then where are you leading us to?”

“Shh,” Yanique says and waves her off.

We continue to walk the narrow cave route as it leads to another stone overpass. It’s warmer in this area. I look over the edge and see flowing lava below.

“Gods, it’s hot,” Annaniah says.

I gently squeeze her hand. We make it across the bridge, and I take a deep, relieved breath. As we go, the air becomes thicker.

The temperature changes again as we pass into another area. It’s almost stifling. As if the warm air and icy temperature are fighting against each other.

It’s icy cold as we continue. Annaniah takes off the blanket she has around her shoulders and places it over mine. I tighten it around me and give her a smile. She reaches to pat my still-flat belly.

“Where are you taking us?” Zandra hisses.

“Allow her to lead,” I say as my teeth chatter.

“But where in the heavens is she leading us to? Our deaths? I’m freezing. I don’t have a good feeling about this place. It doesn’t feel like we should be here,” she says as she looks back at me nervously while wrapping her arms around her middle.

“Would I ever lead you into danger?” Yanique mutters.

“No.” Zandra pouts.

“Then be quiet and keep up. We’re almost there.”

We step through another passageway onto another bridge-like path. This time, when I look over, there is water rushing below. I knew I heard water somewhere.

This time, when we step from the bridge-like structure, we step down into a circular room. There’s a symbol carved in the center of the floor.

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