Page 48 of Mystery of Magic

Indy wiped her blade on her pants. “Who was that guy? He is using magic I have never seen before.”

Daryn shook his head. “I assumed it was Cage for a while, but that warlock is much more powerful, and Cage has never worn a suit in his life.”

Indy pointed to a lever in the tunnel. “Look. I thought I heard a grating sound just before the last hybrid died. Do you think he went deeper into the tunnels?”

Daryn motioned the orb forward. “There is only one way to find out.”

Kaine pulled the lever, and the rock made the same grating sound as the rock outside. He had to pull the mechanism several times before the opening was wide enough for us to fit through. “Have I ever told you guys I hate spelunking?”

Indy smacked his shoulder. “Don’t be such a baby. Let’s find that warlock.”

Kaine rolled his eyes and followed his sister deeper into the tunnels.

Daryn and I were just behind them when the first dart whizzed by Indy’s head. She arched back with less than an inch to spare before her brother pulled her backward.

She pointed at the dart stuck in the wall to the left of her. “Looks like this tunnel is booby-trapped. I can’t see the dart holes, but they must be in the natural fissures in the rock. They are small and likely tipped with poison. Daryn, can you position the orb for a better look?”

“How did the warlock get by without activating them?” I asked.

Daryn moved the orb over the holes in the right side of the wall. “That’s the question, isn’t it? He obviously knows something we don’t.”

Indy pointed to the orb. “Can that set them off?”

Daryn flicked his hand, and the orb dipped down, so it was infront of the line of holes. As it passed each one, a dart ejected from the tiny opening, embedding in the opposite wall. “Yup.”

As we cautiously moved forward in the shadowy tunnel, my heart pounded with anticipation, and my senses remained on high alert. The magical orb’s soft glow illuminated our path, but the air was thick with tension, and we knew that danger could strike at any moment.

With a sickening thud, a bamboo spike erupted from the ground beneath Kaine’s foot, piercing through his lower leg. He screamed as the sharp spike breached his flesh, and blood began to drip to the ground.

Kaine’s face twisted in pain, and I could see the effort he exerted to suppress his agony. Indy rushed to Kaine’s side, her curses filling the stale air. With trembling hands, I moved to assess the contraption, realizing that this trap had been activated by a pressure plate, cunningly concealed beneath the rocky floor.

As Daryn tried to support his weight and keep him immobile, Kaine gritted his teeth. “We need to get that spike out of his leg so we can lay him down.”

Indy touched the base of the bamboo spike. “Bro, this is going to hurt like a bitch.” Her blade arced in one swift motion, severing the rod from the ground.

Kaine yelled as his other leg buckled and Daryn staggered under the sudden weight.

He gently lowered Kaine to the ground after he steadied himself and I crouched before them, reaching for Kaine’s leg.

My healing magic poured from me the moment I came in contact with his body. The power flared to life like an old friend, and I remembered how it had felt the first time I had used it. “Just give me a second.”

The tissue responded instantly, reaching for its counterparts, and the blood stopped dripping almost immediately.

Kaine’s face was pale, but he sighed in relief. “Shannon, have I told you how much I love you?”

Daryn grunted. “If you were more careful, my parafinai wouldn’t have to save your ass.”

Indy smiled, but her eyes were still haunted. We all knew Daryn was mad at the situation and not Kaine.

I withdrew my power when I had healed as much as I could. “If I completely heal him, I will be unconscious. Considering our current predicament, I’m not sure that would be beneficial.”

Indy slipped her arm around Kaine’s waist. “I agree. I will take Sir Falls-A-Lot back to base. Are you two going to wait for backup?”

Daryn glanced down the tunnel. “We will keep going, but send Marlin once you exit the tunnels. Something is blocking the hunter link. I can’t get a signal out.”

Indy cursed. “That means no portal. I gotta pack his heavy ass all the way out?”

Daryn’s lip twitched. “I’m afraid so.”

---