Buccaneer

Chapter 35

They entered a cavern honeycombed with side passages, large and small. The floor was cracked and wisps of steam rose all around.

“I don’t like this.” Tam looked down at the ground, as if expecting it to give way at any moment.

They shone their lights all around, the beams slicing through the mist and revealing carvings of mythical creatures above the various passageways. The room was a veritable menagerie: a griffin to the left, a manticore to right, and various others all around. All of them looked fierce… and hungry.

“How about we move along?” Bones asked, looking nervously around.

“The directions say we’re supposed to feed ourselves to the dragon,” Dane said. “Look around for it, and watch your step.”

They scattered and, moment later, gunfire and shouting erupted from the passageway by which they’d entered. Everyone looked around in alarm, those who were armed drawing their weapons.

“Find the dragon and let’s move!” Dane shouted, moving as quickly as he dared across the precarious ground and shining his light above every passage.

No sooner had he spoken than a group of armed men burst into the cavern. Though the mist limited visibility, the ambient glow of a dozen flashlights playing off damp stone was sufficient to see the gleam of weapons in their hands. The newcomers froze for an instant at the sight of a cavern full of people, then opened fire.

The chamber thundered with the sound of gunfire. Dane hit the ground turned off his flashlight, and returned fire, as did the others in his party. The mist, moving lights, and confusion made him feel as if he were in a madhouse. Bullets ricocheted all around, adding to the danger. More men poured into the chamber, and Dane knew they were outgunned.

“Maddock! The dragon’s over here!” Angel shouted from behind him.

“This way!” he called, keeping low as he ran toward her voice. “Let’s get out of here.”

Avery was nearby, and vanished into the tunnel along with Angel. Dane looked around for the rest of his group, but they had all killed their lights. He could tell by the occasional gunshot from the cavern’s perimeter, however, they were scattered all around and cut off from him.

“Just go!” Tam shouted. “We’ll catch up with you.”

“No way.” Dane dropped to the ground as someone fired off a shot in his direction.

“Maddock, you get out of here or I’ll shoot you myself!” Bones’ voice came through the fog. “Finish it!”

Indecision kept Dane frozen in place long enough to realize the sounds of gunfire on the perimeter were growing fainter. His friends were retreating into the side passages, drawing the attackers away from him. Cursing and blessing them in the same breath, he turned and dashed down the passageway.

Tamsin stumbled through the darkness. Her face was bloody and her body bruised from tripping over unseen obstacles and banging into walls. Her men had abandoned her the moment the fighting started and the Dominion operatives didn’t seem to care who they killed. They had surprised the Sisterhood’s forces and started shooting. They were supposed to have made contact with her and joined forces. How had it gone so wrong?

She grimaced at the question. It had gone wrong because she had placed her trust in Heilig Herrschaft, the most sinister sect of the Dominion and had been betrayed. Now she and her Sisters were paying the price. Morgan had lost all her men except Locke and Jacob. Rhiannon’s force had fared better, taking up defensive positions and holding the attacking force at bay, though who knew how long they could keep it up? If Tamsin’s own men had stood their ground, they might have turned the tide, but the cowards had shown their true colors and now she was alone.

As she reeled forward, she sensed that the space around her had opened up. She had lost her flashlight when the fighting started, and was now, for all practical purposes, blind. She slowed her pace and felt all around her. She was definitely in a large chamber of some kind. She felt around for a wall to guide her and stepped out into open space.

She fell, screaming and grabbing for a handhold. Her fingernails tore as she clutched at rough stone, still falling. And then she hit the ground hard. For one irrational moment, she thought she had fallen to her death. Then she laughed. Feeling around, she realized she’d landed on a ledge. Of course, she didn’t know how she was going to get out of this predicament, but at least she was alive. If only she could call for help, but there was no way her phone would get a signal so far underground.

Her phone!

She cursed herself in three languages as she dug her phone from her pocket and turned it on, using its faint glow to light the space around her. She saw immediately that she had not fallen far, and the rocky face above her was ripe for climbing. Relief flooded through her, renewing her energy.

She had raised her head and shoulders over the top of ledge when she heard a faint sound coming toward her. It wasn’t exactly footsteps, but more of a scraping sound. She froze, hoping it would pass her by, but it came right toward her and, as it approached, she knew what it was.

Mordred.

She knew she should climb back down and wait for the dragon to go away, but fear kept her frozen in place, and she was trembling so hard she was afraid she would lose her grip and, this time, miss the ledge. Mordred had always terrified her, but this was far beyond any fear she had ever felt.

Far down the passageway behind Mordred, she saw a flicker of light. Someone was coming. She tried to cry out, but managed only a whimper. As the light grew stronger, she could finally see the dragon. Its snout was inches from her face.

She shook her head, furtively praying that the beast would go away, but it hissed, and opened its mouth wide.

She found her voice in time to manage a shrill scream that cut off when razor sharp teeth closed around her throat.