Dark Nine ❈ Dark Nine Universe Bk1 ❈

Chapter Forty-One

Diana's POV

I didn't have a chance in hell at escape with nine enemy Kors right behind me when I made my dash for freedom. Proxima let me reach the top of the stairs before he casually snatched my elbow and pulled me close – catching me even in stealth.

"Asshole," I hissed under my breath, and Proxima's own stealth flickered off, his wicked smile just for me.

I didn't protest further, I just glared at him and the others as I was pulled along. Orlai was then escorted out of the torture chambers with Arcturus and led along beside me, and as we were walking – we didn't get far before we were directed to one of the walls and tossed into a slide.

Literally a steep tunnel just casually carved into the wall, and it's so slippery and slimy, I can't grab a hold of anything as I tumble to the bottom with Orlai in front of me. The adrenaline rush kicks her out of her trance as she screams back to reality, tumbling out first at the bottom, followed by me.

We both skid along cool luminescent dirt at the bottom of some pit... perhaps the final destination for females after a successful hunt? I guess I'm getting a glimpse into their traditional hunting and feasting methods. This was a beautiful death pit, painted with all kinds of star dust. Soul stuff.

It should be pitch black down here, but all around is luminescent flora feeding off its own light in a dark cave. It's our only light. But the area is quite large. There's a slab of smooth rock in front of us, it reminds me of a butcher's table to be perfectly honest... eh... I'm not entirely comfortable with this set up.

Orlai spins around, her eyes finding it difficult to adjust. I step toward her and put my hand on her arm, "Stay with me."

"Why did they – how did I – where did you come from?" Orlai asks me, finally fully aware and back to her senses.

"I came to check on your health and wellbeing, since you helped me," I respond quietly, "Can you hear them?"

"Nothing," Orlai whispers back and we both go silent.

"I can't either, look around, they kill a lot in here," I gulp as we both walk forward quietly toward the slab and we see the surface is polished so smooth it provides a purple tinted mirror.

We both bend over and look at our reflections.

Orlai touches her face, seeing the star dust all over her skin.

"This is first class treatment for an Empress, apparently," I murmur between us, "Being tossed down into a death pit."

"Maybe we can find a way out," Orlai wonders, her eyes already defeated as she looks around to multiple cave corridors. The caves leading off look narrow and dodgy as heck – without any light of any kind to guide us.

"Does it look like anyone else found a way out?" I ask.

"We're here because they can get in, but we can't get out," Orlai walks toward one of the corridors, reaching her hand to the darkness. She tries to bravely step into the dark, but gets scared and backs out, turning back to me.

I've jumped up and walked over the polished slab, turning toward the sound of running water.

"...maybe we can swim out..." I murmur it to myself, "Look."

The whole waterway is lit with glowing bacteria around the walls.

Orlai joins me, and she stares at the flow of the water out of here.

"I can't hold my breath for very long," she murmurs, "But you might be able to."

"I'll check it out, and if there's a way out, I'll come back and guide you through," I jump into the water, which has a gentle current. My Enhanced Instincts feel the quiet vibration through the rock and the water itself – it doesn't rush off anywhere, it glides along. It might even take us to the pool she was sleeping and bathing in before.