Unfaded (50 page)

Meanwhile
Sobek was closing the gap. He didn’t have a flashlight but that didn’t seem to bother him. I could hear his feet that they steadily beat a rhythm against the rock. How was he moving so quickly?

“Hurry,” I said.

We began to run but it was hard when the candles kept flickering and threatening to burn out. If we got stuck in the dark we’d be a lost cause. Finally, after another winding tunnel we came into another room that branched out in two separate directions. Now I had another concern. If we got too far in we might not be able to find our way back.

The rock was heavy in my hand.

“New plan,” I said. Leaning against the wall, I held up the rock and decided to wait. It wouldn’t be much of a surprise attack, I couldn’t risk blowing out the candles and trying to do it in the dark. At the same time, the upper hand was still mine. I’d spent so much time running from Sobek; he wouldn’t be expecting me to fight back. That second of surprise might be all I needed.

“When I hit
him, you run,” I said.

Connor was holding his candle, his eyes wide and sparkling in the light. “This is stupid,” he whispered. “I can help you. Two against one.”

“I’m not risking you.”

There was no more time for talking. We both heard the noises as
Sobek rounded the bend and raced into the room. I brought the rock down but misjudged, hitting him square between the shoulders instead of his head like I intended. He let out an oomph noise but barely even stumbled.

I turned to Connor to scream at him to run but he was beyond moving. Instead, he was frozen, his eyes fixated on
Sobek.

He
stood between us and freedom. I had to play this carefully. No human witnesses. I couldn’t allow that to happen.

“Let Connor go,” I said. “He’s done nothing wrong.
I’ll stay and fight. I give you my word.”

Sobek
chuckled. “I’m not concerned about that,” he said. “Your word is useless in this position. You have no choice but to fight. But yes, the kid can go. I have no desire to hurt him and he’ll never find help before I end this.”

It took less than a second to overcome my shock. “Go,” I told him.

“Mai...”

“You promised.” I didn’t
look at him. I was afraid I might break down. Connor was my last lifeline towards the world I’d always known. Hanging out with my friends at Beans, parties, high school, being a normal teenage girl—it was all about to end. Letting him go meant giving up everything I’d ever known. If I made it out of this cave alive I’d be leaving behind the last bit of humanity inside of me. It would make me a killer because one of us wasn’t going to survive.

I expected Connor to fight to the bitter end but he didn’t. Placing his candle down on the floor, he gave me one last look and then headed back down the tunnel towards freedom. Part of me both rejoiced and died
as I listened to his feet fall against the rock.

“You know I’m still going to kill him,” Sobek said once he was out of sight. “You know the rules.”

“I know.”

“It’s nothing personal.”

“I know.”

“Hell, I’ve got nothing against you either. I’m not the bad guy here. It’s a crappy deal you got dealt.”

I nodded
, taking a few steps backwards, clinging tightly to the rock. When it happened, it would be quick, the more distance between us, the more time I’d have to prepare. If only I could stall a little bit longer, if only my head would clear up enough for me to think straight.

If you had asked me a month ago how I’d end up dying, I’d never in a million years
had thought it would be like this. Would anyone find my body? I didn’t think so. Sobek would make sure to hide me deep in the caves where no one would ever venture.

But there was no point in getting sad over it. I had bigger problems to deal with.

Sobek lunged.

I dodged him to the left, but he was expecting it. Grabbing hold of my
hair, he yanked me backwards, slamming me against the wall. My wrist became crushed between the cold stone and his muscular arm. A large spasm claimed my hand, forcing me to drop the rock. Immediately Sobek kicked it away into the darkness. Ignoring the pain, I twisted my body, shoving him hard. I managed to force him back a few feet. It was a pretty feeble attempt. He didn’t even sway off balance. Instead he dropped down into a crouch, thrust his foot out and kicked both my legs out from under me. I landed straight on my tailbone, clenching my teeth tightly to keep from screaming. I’d never give him the satisfaction of hearing me beg.

However, Sobek wasn’t about to give me the chance to do anything. The moment I managed to pul
l myself to my feet, he came again. Using a mixture of both his muscles and energy, he sent me flying across the cavern. I hit the ground on my side and slid across the rest of the damp floor and thumped against the wall. My jeans tore on a sharp rock. Bits of stone and sand embedded itself inside my palms from where I pressed against the ground to try and slow myself down.

Deep inside me, something was stirring. A small tingle, it spread across my stomach, moving through my nerve endings, extending outwards with each heartbeat. The wound in my stomach flared up for a moment, sending adrenaline coursing through my body. It was like being injected with a strong drug. I could feel muscles tighten as they responded to the synapses’ firing throughout my nervous system.
My senses intensified—it was like a veil being lifted over my body. Suddenly everything was crisper, brighter, electrifying.

It was time to stop thinking like a human
and claim the birthright that kept being taken from me. 

I was Apani, daughter of Rafferty, sister to Dialexa.

I pulled back my arm and slammed him across the face. His head snapped backwards along with the rest of his body, flying across the room where he hit the ground hard.

I had to stop myself from immediately running over to him to make sure he was all right.
I was absolutely horrified. I’d never done something like that before. I wanted to apologise but that was kind of pointless. It was hard to tell who was more surprised—me or him.

“Nice sho
t,” he said, rubbing his jaw. “You’ve come a long ways. I’m impressed.”

“Thanks.”

This was becoming even more surreal. Did my enemy just compliment me for almost breaking his jaw?

“A challenge is fantastic. I’d much prefer it this way.”

“I’m happy you’re happy.”

We squared off again, moving around in circles, neither of us wanting to make the first move. He was being more cautious now.
He didn’t want to give me a second opportunity to use my right hook. Reaching into his jacket, he produced a knife similar to the one Anique had tested on me earlier.

“I think it’s interesting that you chose to die here,” Sobek said as we continued to pace. “Were you feeling nostalgic?”

“Seemed like a good idea at the time,” I said. “Not so sure now.”

Grinning, he darted left but I was prepared. I managed to avoid his fingers as they reached for my arm.
His fist closed over air but he also ignored the foot I kicked in his direction. We stepped backwards into our original positions, both unsatisfied.

“You realise Rafferty is
here,” I said. “He’ll never let you go. He’s probably got Anique by now.”

“He’s here?” Suddenly Sobek didn’t look so sure of himself. “You’re lying.”

I shook my head. “I invited him. Showed up a few hours ago. What makes you think you can kill me, anyway? Anique couldn’t finish the job. You’re no stronger than her.”

He laughed. “Anique lets her emotions get the better of her. Doesn’t always think before she acts. I don’t have that problem.
Besides, I don’t think your friends will be rushing to your aide this time.”

“You won’t kill me.”

“I killed Kian.”

I stopped moving. My legs no longer knew how to work.

“You didn’t realise that?” Sobek was grinning, showing me a wide row of perfectly shaped teeth. “Oh, I’m sorry. I should have mentioned it earlier.”

“You’re lying.”

“Oh? How do you know? Did you think there’d be some sort of magical connection? Did you think you’d feel his soul as I ripped it from his body? It doesn’t work that way, sweetheart.”

“He’s not dead.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll be reuniting with him soon enough. Wait, I guess not. Your soul never gets to rest, does it?”

I almost didn’t notice when he came at me for the final time. The knife was inches from my face when my hand automatically came up to block it. The blade sliced through my skin but
I barely discerned the white heat spreading through my fingers. Every single second ceased to exist, time lost all meaning and the world completely stopped. In my slow motion daze I managed to shove him against the cavern wall, slamming him hard enough to bring dust and pebbles raining down from above. He grunted twice and sprang back, using his hands to spin me around, shoving me up against the side, pinning me by placing his arm up against my neck.

“It was a good fight,” he said. Bringing the knife up, he positioned it just above my throat.
The edge of the blade pressed into my neck, sending a small trickle of blood down my chest, staining Kian’s shirt.

It had been a good fight but it wasn’t over yet.

Something was coming towards us from the mouth of the cave. Just like the calm before a storm, a soft tremor swept under my skin and an invisible breeze tickled my hair. It started out as a dull beam of energy, moving along the walls of the caves. Pulsating fingers reached through the darkness to find me. Electrified like lightening, the purple light cracked under the intense heat. It flowed into the cavern like a tsunami, illuminating the room.

Rafferty was teaching Kian some of his old tricks.

It gave me strength.

It gave me hope.

It gave me the urge to kick some Unfaded ass.

I love you. I won’t lose you.
This time it’ll be different.

             
It was.

I pulled Sobek’s arm from my throat as if it were nothing more than a scarf draped across my neck. Bringing my knee up, I slammed him hard in the one spot you’re never supposed to hit a guy unless you mean it. His annoying smile played upon his face for a brief second before shock overtook him. Eyes widened and then he doubled over, a high pitched whimper was the only sound he could muster. 

I didn’t even touch him. A blast of energy burst through my skin, sending him flying upwards and straight into the ceiling where he hovered for a few brief seconds before crashing to the floor. Crumpling to the ground, he didn’t move. I hadn’t killed him. I could hear the ragged breathing through his broken nose. It would mend. In a few days he’d be right as rain. But for now he was unconscious and I wasn’t going to have to worry about him for a while.

I stepped around his motionless body, resisting the urge to kick him a few times. This was not a time for petty revenge, even if I knew it would make me happy. Instead I picked up the candle from the floor—it was still flickering—and began making my way back through the tunnel towards the icy door.

I only managed a few feet before the floor started spinning. Stopping, I placed my hand out to brace myself but the walls melted away into darkness.

I was in a cave but it was another one, somewhere further away from any d
istance I’d ever travelled. It was cold, so cold, my fingers were stiff and the numbness had claimed my feet. Leaning against the cavern wall, I’d brought my legs up and wrapped my arms around them to try and keep warm.

I’d never be warm again. This I knew for certain.

It was dark, blacker than nothingness. Just beyond my reach, my sister Dialexa paced the floor, her bare feet slapping time against the damp rock. She was furious, I could feel her hatred pouring from her skin and just beneath that I could sense the newly found power we’d claimed a short time ago. Ancient power. The kind any creature would kill for.

Creatures just like us.

The power waited just underneath my own skin. I could feel it straining at my chest, spreading its fingers through my nervous system, examining my muscles, blood cells, bones, not a single inner working part of my body was untouched. A million ants crawled around my belly. Centipedes worked their legs through my hair. The energy was looking for quick release. It wanted to reunite with my sister. The powers needed to be together. They begged for it.

They hadn’t been able to stop us from unleashing it. But they’d trapped us just the same. Deep down within the mountain, so far down, our powers would never break through the rocky surface and into the light.

And because we couldn’t starve to death or die of thirst, we’d be forced to spend the rest of eternity trapped underneath the mountain until the darkness claimed the last of our sanity.

We’d spent days wandering the tunnels but they only led us further into the m
ountain. Aelin had done a good job, she'd made sure not even a single crack of light would find us. The air grew heavier as our eyes adjusted to the permanent darkness.