Eight of Hearts: The Vision - Book 2

Chapter 30

When Isaac Matthews had suddenly appeared to warn James and Jonas that Bryce was in danger, Adriana had been careful not to draw attention to herself. They had just stopped to rest at the entrance of one of the side tunnels, and were now discussing what to do about it. Thankfully, the others were loud enough that slipping into the shadows was easy for her.

"Why did he engage the blasted thing?!" Peter shouted as he leaned against the wall.

"If it started to head for the armory--" James started to say.

"Why would it do that? I thought we were its main targets." Jonas said, his expression twisted with worry.

"Maybe we were wrong about that," James suggested. "Kaya is at the top, but the creature came from the lower levels; it's likely they have nothing to do with each other."

Peter cursed. "If that's the case, we'll have to postpone this expedition until after that thing is dealt with. Do either of you have a plan?"

James grinned broadly as he slashed the air, opening a new portal. "Plans are for the weak, and those who have the luxury of time. We'll stop it, somehow."

Jonas shook his head in disapproval, but didn't hesitate to follow James and Peter through. Moments later, the portal closed again, leaving the tunnel silent once more.

Adriana hadn't once taken her eyes off of Isaac who had, like her, kept to the side out of sight.

"He hid his presence well," Bai Suzhen's voice whispered in Adriana's mind. "He is even better than you at it, since he never left their sight. Even I, as powerful as I am, had trouble keeping him in focus."

He's just a kid, not your precious Fahai, Adriana thought back at her.

The old woman hissed angrily at her. "You promised me you would aid me in hunting the sorcerer down," she said. "I can easily make you obey if you'd rather..."

Adriana's hand lifted of its own volition, her fingers flexing as they reached out towards Isaac, who had started climbing the vines again.

Let go! Adriana sent back, struggling in vain to wrest her arm back under control.

Her hand relaxed as Bai Suzhen released her. "Trust me, my child," the old woman said soothingly. "If he truly is not Fahai, then no harm will come to him; at least, not by my hands. I have no intention of revealing myself until I find him."

What if you're wrong? Adriana thought, You got your eggs in one basket here, but what if Fahai ain't one of them?

Bai Suzhen chuckled, a slow, nauseous sound. "I can feel him. From the moment I met you, I could sense his presence. He is among your number, and I will find him. Now follow the boy and see what he plans to do."

Adriana began following Isaac up the wall. Her movements were sleek and precise, and she glided up the rock surface without a sound. Bai Suzhen called it the power of the white snake spirit, which certainly fit her first encounter with the old woman in the HDSF prison cell. She'd had to climb without it before, keeping up the pretense of being a normal human. But now, she climbed effortlessly, her body moving with the guidance of the old woman.

Despite her advantage of speed, Adriana had to push herself to keep up with Isaac as he scampered up the wall with boundless energy. They quickly passed beyond the growth of vegetation and had to climb the bare rock surface, but even then Isaac managed to keep ahead of her.

If he really was Fahai, or rather, possessed by Fahai, Isaac might have been planning to betray them there. Adriana couldn't imagine him doing it, but if Fahai really was as crafty as Bai Suzhen claimed, it was possible he had been playing the part of a fool this whole time.