Chapter 7

• Crissy nodded and started typing on her phone. “I always message first because calling at the wrong time could get his head chopped off.” She glanced up from the phone. “If he’s being justice.” She nodded. “Oh.” She smiled and taped the screen again.
• “Heart, what is it?”
• She had the phone on speaker. It was strange to hear the justice’s tone so soft.
• “Vic, we went for a walk.” She nodded.
• “Are you well?”
• She nodded. “Yes. I am well.” She said slowly enunciating each word.
• “Where are you?”
• “We went down the road from the palace toward,” she closed her eyes for a second, “Valena— that little town.”
• “Have you found something?” His tone was still soft, but I could hear the concern.
• “I think we did.” She looked at the cave entrance. “It’s a cave,” she looked at Bethany, “or could be,” she paused, “Beth and Reagan went in and looked it’s a tunnel leading down.” Daxx pointed to Reagan, “oh and Reagan sees green haze.”
• “I see.” The Justice’s tone was harder now.
• “We want to go in a look.” Crissy nodded again. “We have nine guards with us and all of our weapons.” She gave Daxx a serious look.
• “Am I on speaker?” That tone I knew.
• “Yes.” Crissy held the phone up higher.
• “Bronx, you are to dial in immediately and keep me posted with each step taken.”
• Bronx straightened. “I will.”
• “I am going to mute the call on my end. Be aware if anything happens my brothers are not going to be as agreeable as I am.” There was no mistaking the seriousness of his words or tone. “I will inform them when they aren’t otherwise occupied.”
• “How’s it going there?” Daxx asked.
• “We are getting some viable leads—for the first time.” Victor informed her. “There is still no movement from the tracker placed at the asylum, so that is a small comfort.”
• Daxx grinned. “Great. We’ll shout if this turns into anything.”
• “Before you get yourselves into a situation would be preferable, Daxx.” He answered.
• “Absolutely.” She nodded. “We just can’t sit around doing nothing.”
• “I understand. Have care.” The background noise was gone.
• Daxx nodded and looked from the phone to Bethany, “how cramped is this tunnel?”
• Bethany shrugged, “It’s pretty narrow.”
• Daxx nodded, “Okay, lets stagger going in, so we’re not all smushed in a small space.”
• I stepped forward, “I think a guard should go first.”
• Daxx smirked, then motioned to the entrance. “After you, guard.”
• I hadn’t expected her to pick me but wasn’t going to pass the chance to be chosen first. As one of the few female guards, it never happened. Everyone always went with the large men. I pulled the blade from my back and went in. Bethany was right behind me, the sparks arcing from her hands serving to light the way.
• I glanced back at her, she smiled, “no flashlight necessary.” She turned, “Rea, you come in behind me, we need to know if the haze gets worse or vanishes.”
• “Do we have a game plan if we find Arwan?” Paisley asked softly.
• I stopped and glanced behind to see the women come in one after the other. It was too dark to see how far back the rest of the guards were. I sucked in a deep breath, preparing myself to do whatever it took to protect the queens and princesses.
• “The green continues.” I heard Reagan say.
• I continued down the tunnel. I was no expert, but the walls looked like nature had carved them out, not a man. When my heart wasn’t pounding in my chest, I’d decide if that was a good thing or not. A few steps later I noticed the tunnel was starting to get wider and blew out a quick breath of relief. The worst-case scenario had this tunnel narrowing into a dead end.
• “It’s like the walls are coated in green.” Reagan said from behind me.
• I breathed another sigh of relief as we entered a small cavern, there was a little more breathing room now. I moved into it, checking as best I could with the low light to make sure we were alone. There was a tunnel leading out the other side, so no dead end.
• “What does that mean?” Paisley turned in a circle and looked around the space.
• “Maybe this space is protected?” Bethany walked over to the wall and touched it. “Or not.” She whispered.
• “Great.” Daxx huffed out a loud breath. “A dead end.”
• I frowned and looked from her to the opening on the other side. “Are we following the…” The slate beneath my feet shook as a loud rumbling filled the cavern. I stumbled sideways, trying to keep my balance. Large rocks and stone scattered around my feet. The dust made it hard to see anyone. I stepped back a few steps and after a near miss with one that went past my foot.
• When it stopped, I tried to see.
• “Hold on.” Bethany coughed, “I’ll give us some light.”