Chapter 22

Chapter

Twenty-Two

SAGE

I gasp for air, startling awake, convinced I'm back in Wolfe's bed, having slept an entire day after the strangest dream of spending a day with Nyko. Opening my eyes, yawning, I roll onto my back, the bed rock-hard and cold.

Wait, this isn't right!

That's when a horrifying hiss fills the room.

Heart in my throat, I jolt to a sitting position. And it all comes back quickly—the day with Nyko, the market, the truth about my father, the realization of why I'm really in this world. But right now, none of that compares to the immediate terror of where I've woken up.

Around me spreads out a strange room with polished stone floors, no furnishings, and the walls and ceiling resemble a cave. Grooves are etched into the walls, jagged stone hanging from above, and the small lights embedded in the rock steal enough of the shadows to show me I'm in really big trouble.

Where the hell am I?

"H-hello?" I call out, assuming I'm still on the vessel, not on some island, based on the spotlights in the room. Turning on the spot, taking in the large enclosure, I can't see a way out, not from where I'm standing, but there has to be a way out, maybe in the shadows.

I rub the side of my neck where I was jabbed, fear tumbling through me as I realize that whoever attacked me in the woods has to be responsible, right? I was barely a few steps out of the courtyard when they struck. My skin shivers—they've been watching me the whole day?

Scanning the room, I start walking around, searching for a door… I entered the room somehow.

Then that hissing comes again.

I flinch hard, my heart slamming into my rib cage. Whipping around, across the cave-like room, something shifts in the shadows.

It slithers out, and the fear, the shock—it all crashes into me.

My scream rushes out involuntarily as I see the same creature from the woods. It's here and has me trapped. I back up, hugging myself.

"Gods, this can't be happening."

An elongated body covered in black scales glistens in the dim light with six long legs with webbed feet. Being so much closer to it is terrifying, but I can see the details more now—the fangs from lips peeled back over them. It lifts itself on its hind legs, towering, and its long face with gleaming eyes pierces right through me.

Fates , I don't want to be swallowed by the snake creature.

My breath hitches, my hands shaking as they search for anything to defend myself with. I have empty pockets, and there's nothing around me. Shit!

"No, no, no," I whisper, my voice trembling. I keep backing up until my back hits the cold, jagged wall. The thing hisses again, its forked tongue flicking out, tasting the air, tasting my fear, no doubt. Its eyes are locked on to mine.

"Stay back!" I shout, but my voice wavers, betraying my terror.

The snake beast doesn't seem to care, dropping back onto its belly, those limbs bent and coming toward me. Its movements are slow and deliberate, as if savoring the moment.

I try to think, try to find a way out, but my mind is a jumble of fear and panic.

Glancing around desperately, searching for any possible escape, I come up empty. My heart's pounding so hard it feels like it might break a few ribs. That's when I spot a small dark opening in the far left corner of the room, barely large enough for me to squeeze through. Seeing the snake slither from the right, deeper in the cave, maybe that's my way out. Not overthinking, I dart toward it, my legs shaking, praying I can make it before the creature reaches me.

The hissing escalates, and my skin is covered in goose bumps. I don't dare look back, fearing it's right behind me.

Frantically, I drop to my knees, scrambling through the opening, spotting a light at the end. It's narrow, but if that snake thing can slither through it, so the hell can I. The rough stone scrapes against my arms and back.

Hisses echo behind me.

I'm moving desperately, terrified out of my mind, not caring that walls are catching and pulling on my clothes. I tug against it, needing to escape.

Just as I think I'm there at the opening where a beam of light greets me, a sharp pain shoots through my ankle, and I'm yanked back. I scream, clawing at the floor, trying my best to pull myself forward.

"Help, someone help me," I bellow, hoping I'm heard, but the creature's grip is relentless. I don't want to die here.

"Let me go!" I shout, twisting onto my back, kicking my other foot into its leg, the one latched onto my ankle.

Golden eyes glint in the dark passage, and it unleashes another hiss, then drags me back into the cave so fast that I stand no chance of stopping it.

The rugged walls scrape across me, burning sharply and feeling like they're tearing me to shreds. I cry from the pain, but there's no time for pity. I kick it again viciously in the face and yank my ankle free.

Scrambling up, the pain shoots up my leg where it jammed its damn claws into my ankle.

"You shithead!" I cry out, feeling just as angry as scared. Realizing no one is going to save me, I know I have to do it myself. I didn't come this far to die by a snake. A new surge of energy pours through me, something I put down to adrenaline.

I back away as it hisses, long green fangs bared. My whole body is shaking. If I get behind it, maybe I can strangle it. The idea of touching it terrifies me, but what other options do I have?

The sting on my shoulder and jaw burns from the cave's scratches. I rub them, my hand coming back bloody from where I got scratched up in my escape. I gasp. My arms have scratches, too. Glancing down quickly, I see the tears in my shirt and pants, blood staining them. Then I spot a few drops of blood on my new necklace, on the pearls. Somehow, my brooch is untouched.

As much as I'm pissed at being trapped in here, I'm also annoyed that the beautiful necklace is tainted. I never receive gifts, so this means a lot to me.

"You're going to pay for this," I sneer at the snake. I have no idea where my newfound bravery comes from, but maybe deep down, when it comes to facing life or death, I'm a fighter, not weak like most in the village assumed.

Another hiss, and this time, the creature strikes fast with bared teeth.

A whimper spills from my throat as my body darts into action. I shove myself out of the way so quickly I'm left confused by my strength, yet I feel invincible, stronger, faster. There's no time to think about it. I'm buzzing all over, and I welcome this new part of me.

I hurl myself to its side again, knowing this is my chance. As I leap toward its back while it's twisting around, I crash against it, bringing us both down, me on top of it.

It's a strange sensation to be cringing and screaming at touching its scaly body while forcing myself to throw my arms around its neck. I know this isn't me, but all my terror and facing death must be affecting me.

Inside my chest, my heart's on fire, my head screaming, but my body… it's floating on an energy I don't understand. I embrace it, knowing this is the only way I'll survive.

The snake convulses, and in a sudden thrust, it bucks me off. I fly across the room, hitting the wall with a thump, the air expelled from my lungs.

"I'm going to die," I gasp, pushing myself back up.

"What the hell am I thinking? I can take that on."

Lifting my gaze, I watch the creature beneath the lights, and I swear I must have hit my head because I see two of them now. Well, not quite—the second one is a shadow of the first, with a mauve hue. It's not mimicking its actions but lingering there, staring at the creature.

I blink, trying to clear my vision, but the shadow remains, watching. The snake hisses again, its attention diverted to the strange shadow. Taking advantage of the distraction, I push myself up, every part of me aching. I have to find a way to use this. I have to survive.

The creature lunges at the shadow, but it passes right through it. The serpent slams into the wall from the momentum, then spins around, shaking its head.

The shadow is staring at me now, and for a moment, I swear it's waiting for me. Eyes glowing, its mouth isn't gaping open, and it's not in a striking pose. It's strange to say, but it doesn't feel threatening.

I press my back harder against the cold, rough wall of the cave.

In the eerie silence of the cavernous room, the shadow serpent and I stand frozen. The actual snake creature, realizing its shadow counterpart poses no threat, turns its attention back to me.

This is just great!

Panic claws at me as it slithers toward me, body tight as if preparing to strike.

Trembling, I'm trapped.

"Do something! Help me!" I shout at the shadow, desperation tainting my voice, figuring if it's here, there's a purpose, right?

The real danger approaches, its forked tongue tasting the air, and it lunges at me.

I instinctively dodge to the side, the buffet of air from his attack shoving me farther away. I snap around fast, and that's when I spot the shadow sliding rapidly across the floor in a fluid rush toward the snake. Heart pounding in my ears, I watch the shadow serpent lunging at the snake, throwing itself at him, knocking them both over.

Wait, it's taken a solid form now?

I dart out of the way, wanting to be nowhere near them. In that same heartbeat, the shadow slithers away, then it stands there again, staring at me once more from a few feet away.

My chest's pumping so fast now as terror consumes me.

"What the hell is going on? What are you doing?"

I swing my attention to the fucking snake, arching up, dripping venom from its gaping mouth, eyes huge and clearly furious. It rushes at me, and this time, it's as though I'm ready, the overwhelming energy in my body shoving me forward to duck and weave out of its path.

I'm terrified.

That's when I realize my movements are being echoed by the shadow.

Frustrated, I shout, "Attack it! Don't just copy me!" I thrust my fist forward in a commanding gesture.

The shadow lunges at the creature, its shadow fangs bared and sharp.

They clash, their bodies entwining in a terrifying tangle.

The two serpents locked in battle.

Wait… if it's copying my actions…

As they roll across the floor, the shadow seems to gain the upper hand, its body somehow finding purchase on the serpent's slippery scales. I'm glued to the sight, my fists curled tight. I drive my fists into the air in front of me as though it's me fighting the creature.

They're both a blur of speed and savagery. The shadow coils itself around the real snake, tightening its grip before sinking those long black fangs deep into the neck of our enemy. It thrashes wildly, its body convulsing in a desperate attempt to free itself.

I cringe, staring at it struggling, and can't look away, terrified yet wanting that thing eliminated.

Slowly, life fades from its eyes, its movements growing sluggish, then stopping altogether.

As the shadow releases its hold, the limp body of the beast thuds heavily onto the stone floor. The shadow then glances over at me, its form flickering slightly. I lean against the wall, my breath coming in ragged gasps.

"I don't know what you are, but thank you, and please don't attack me now."

Exhaustion and shock threaten to buckle my knees when I catch movement from the corner of my eye—a hidden door in the rock wall sits open with Killian and Wolfe standing in their monster forms, Nyko nearby, mouths all hanging open, eyes huge.

My heart skips. How long have they been there?

Nyko suddenly stumbles on his feet, moving more into the light.

I gasp at how pale he looks. Before I can even process everything completely, he sways on his feet, a hand clutching at his chest, and then collapses with a heavy thud that reverberates through the still room.

It's the same moment the shadow serpent crumbles into a cloud of dust that drifts away into nothingness.

"Nyko!" I cry out, rushing over to him. The distance between us closes in seconds, but each step feels agonizingly slow.