44. Ivy

I stare at Vex, my mind reeling from everything he's just told me. "So you're saying there's a way to break free from The Syndicate? To escape Death himself?"

Vex nods grimly. "It's not easy, and it's not without risk. But yes, there's a way."

"How?" I lean forward eagerly, hope blooming in my chest for the first time since my terrifying encounter with Death.

"Do you trust me?"

The question hangs in the air between us, and I take a moment to stand up and smooth down the towel, which I could really do with swapping for some clothes sometime soon. His gaze searches mine, looking for an answer.

"Yes," I say, eventually. "I trust you."

He nods once, not gloating or triumphant or being a dick about it. Whatever he is about to suggest puts him in immense danger, and I gulp back the feeling of sudden gratitude I have that I'm not alone. Even if the only company I have is Vex.

He clicks his fingers, and I look down to see the towel replaced by black leggings, an oversized black tee, and black boots appear on my feet. "They won't last forever, but it's better than parading around in next to nothing."

"Thanks," I mutter.

He ignores me and focuses on a drawing of what appears to be a gateway on the far wall. The ground shakes beneath our feet and he curses as the wards around the house snaps. I know they're gone. I feel exposed and vulnerable.

"Tate," I murmur.

"Your boyfriend is really starting to get on my nerves," he says, but doesn't falter in his drawing. If anything, he speeds up.

Muttering a few words, the gateway comes to life, and Vex grabs my hand, leading me through the arch into a dark tunnel. The door closes behind us, plunging us into complete pitch black. "Wait!"

"No time."

For a moment, panic grips me. The darkness is absolute, pressing in on all sides. I can't see my hand in front of my face and can't even tell if my eyes are open or closed. The only thing grounding me is Vex's firm grip on my hand.

"Vex?" I whisper, hating how small and scared my voice sounds.

"Relax," he murmurs back. I feel him shift beside me, his free hand moving in what I assume is some kind of gesture. "Lux obscura," he intones.

Suddenly, a soft, purple light blooms between us. It hovers in the air like a will-o'-the-wisp, casting eerie shadows on the rough stone walls of the tunnel. In its glow, I can make out Vex's face, his expression tense and focused.

"Better?" he asks, quirking an eyebrow at me.

I nod, then back it up with a, "Yeah, thanks."

"Good. Now, we need to move. This tunnel will take us to where you need to be, but it's not without its dangers."

Where I need to be? What does that mean? I look back over my shoulder, wondering if I'm making a mistake. Should I have told the guys about this ultimatum? Should I not have run? Too fucking late now, though, isn't it .

Before I can ask what Vex meant or debate my choices some more, a low rumble echoes through the passage. I feel the ground vibrate beneath my feet.

"What was that?" I ask, trying to keep the fear out of my voice.

Vex's grip on my hand tightens. "The tunnel responding to our presence. It's alive, in a way, and it doesn't always like visitors."

Great. Just great. As if I didn't have enough to worry about with Death on my tail and my heart in pieces over leaving the guys behind.

We start moving forward, the magical light bobbing along beside us. The tunnel stretches endlessly ahead, curving and twisting like the innards of some great beast. The walls are slick with moisture, and the air is thick and musty.

"So," I say, trying to distract myself from the oppressive atmosphere, "you want to tell me more about this plan to escape Death?"

Vex chuckles darkly. "Not really the time or place for a detailed explanation, little shifter. You'll be informed when we get there."

I nearly trip over my own feet. "And where is there?"

"Someplace you need to be."

"Oh, that's reassuring," I mutter. "And helpful."

Before Vex can respond, the tunnel gives another ominous rumble. This time, I feel something shift beneath my feet. I look down to see the stone floor rippling like water from the faint glow of the purple light.

"Vex..." I start, but he's already pulling me forward at a run.

"Move!" he shouts, just as the floor behind us collapses into a gaping chasm.

We sprint down the tunnel, the collapsing floor nipping at our heels. The magical light streaks ahead of us, illuminating our path. My lungs burn, and my legs ache, but terror keeps me going.

Suddenly, Vex skids to a halt, yanking me to a stop beside him. Ahead, the tunnel splits into three separate passages .

"Fuck," Vex hisses, his eyes darting between the options. "That is unexpected."

"Which way?" I pant, glancing back at the approaching destruction.

Vex closes his eyes for a moment, his face scrunched in concentration. Then his eyes snap open. "Left!"

We dash down the left passage just as the floor gives way behind us. For a moment, I think we're in the clear. Then I hear a new sound - a high-pitched whine that sets my teeth on edge.

"Cover your ears!" Vex yells.

I clap my hands over my ears just as the whine intensifies into a deafening shriek. Even with my ears covered, the sound is painful. I can feel it vibrating in my bones, making my vision blur.

Vex grabs my arm, dragging me forward. I stumble along beside him, fighting to stay conscious as the shriek grows louder and louder.

Just when I think my head might explode, we burst through a shimmering barrier. The shriek cuts off abruptly, leaving a ringing silence in its wake.

I double over, gasping for breath. "What. The fuck. Was that?"

"A defence mechanism," Vex says grimly. "Designed to incapacitate intruders."

"Charming place you've brought me to," I grouse, straightening up.

Vex doesn't respond. When I look at him, I see why. His expression is grim, his eyes fixed on something ahead of us.

I follow his gaze and feel my heart drop. The tunnel ahead is blocked by a solid wall of writhing shadows. They move like living things, tendrils reaching out as if sensing our presence.

"Please tell me that's just some creepy decor," I say weakly.

Vex shakes his head. "Shadow guardians. Very nasty, very dangerous."

"Can we go around them?"

"No. They'll just follow us. We have to go through."

I stare at him incredulously. "Through that? Are you insane?"

He grins, but there's no humour in it. "Probably. But it's our only choice. Unless you'd rather go back and face Death and your guys?"

Put like that, I suppose writhing shadows aren't the worst thing I've encountered today. "Fine. What do we do?"

Vex holds out his hand, palm up. A ball of crackling energy forms above it, glowing with an intense white light. "When I say go, run straight through. Don't stop, don't look back. The light will protect you, but only for a few seconds."

I nod, steeling myself. "Okay. I'm ready."

Vex takes a deep breath. "On three. One... two... three... GO!"

We sprint towards the wall of shadows. As we near it, Vex hurls the ball of light ahead of us. It explodes on contact with the shadows, creating a tunnel of blinding white radiance.

I run faster than I've ever run in my life, feeling the shadows closing in around us. They hiss and snarl, tendrils of darkness lashing at us from all sides. The light holds them at bay, but I can feel it weakening with each step.

Just when I think we're not going to make it, we burst through the other side. I stumble and nearly fall, but Vex catches me, pulling me along as we continue to run.

"Don't stop!" he shouts. "They'll follow us if we slow down!"

I push myself harder, ignoring the burning in my lungs and the trembling in my legs. Behind us, I can hear the shadows shrieking in fury, their cries echoing off the tunnel walls.

We run for what feels like forever, twisting and turning through the labyrinthine passages. Finally, just when I think I can't take another step, I see a glimmer of light ahead.

"There!" Vex pants. "The exit!"

With one final burst of speed, we race towards the light. It grows brighter and brighter until it's almost blinding. Then, suddenly, we're through, stumbling out into a large cavern that is filled with creatures that appear to be of the same ilk as Death.

"You fucker!" I snarl, rounding on Vex, my fist balled, ready to punch his lights out for betraying me .

"Whoa," he says, hands raised. "It's not what you think. They can help."

"Help?" I frown and lower my fist. They aren't attacking me or trying to restrain me; in fact, they haven't even acknowledged we are here.

"Trust me," Vex states, giving me a glare.

I turn to face the cavern again, and one of the creatures slips away from the others. An androgynous looking thing in a black suit, its feet floating about three inches above the ground as it approaches us. I shuffle closer to Vex, my blood thumping in my ears as I'm confronted with this thing. Its pale face and black eyes, like voids into nothing, are so similar to Death's; I gulp and try not to panic.

It glides up to us and stops about a foot away, staring at me with those abyss-like eyes that unnerve me far beyond anything, except Death. "Who are you?" I whisper, unable to stop myself.

"Welcome, Ivy," the creature says in a voice like smoke and whiskey.

"How do you know who I am?"

"We've been watching you."

"Who is we?"

It gestures behind itself to the cavern at large, the rest of the creatures still going about their business, pouring over maps and using tech to do whatever. Not unlike The Syndicate office, I saw that one time when Vera recruited me. I glance at Vex with narrowed eyes. He smiles and looks relaxed as if he belongs here, but now I'm not sure I can trust him. Has he brought me straight to The Syndicate, the very beings I'm supposed to be running from?

The creature speaks, drawing my attention back to it. "Let's just say we have a mutual goal, and we feel now is the time to get you on our side."

"Our side?" I echo with a frown. "What does that mean? Whose side am I on? What mutual goal? Who are you?"

The creature floats forward a bit more, its feet hitting the ground, and then it shimmers, shifting into something else.

Or someone else.

I gasp, stumbling back a step as I take in the being standing in front of me, and I hiss, feeling betrayed beyond belief, "You!"

Read on with Torn Ivy, Book 2 Torn Ivy (pre order for end of October)