Rise of the Erifs (The Fire Song Chronicles Book 1)

Chapter 26

Keppar  

"HEY KID, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?"

Jaydar groaned. He felt someone shaking him by the shoulder. He slowly opened his eyes, a dull throbbing in the back of his head. He found himself looking into the face of a grubby middle aged Erif. Jaydar carefully pushed himself into a sitting position, every muscle screaming in protest at the movement.

"Yeah." Jaydar stopped as his right arm flared up. "Sort of."

"They brought you in here a moment ago," the Erif said. "Looks like Crimson's had enough of your lack of cooperation." 

"You know, I think you might be on to something," Jaydar said. "I passed out after the first few shocks."

"They threw you down the stairs."

"That explains the massive pain in my arm."

"You've lasted longer than I thought you would." 

"That's only because of you, Jeb," Jaydar said, glancing around the large cell at the other Erifs locked in there. When Crimson had first thrown him in there the other Erifs had tried to attack him, some for his food others because they hated Latainians. But Jeb had saved him, now no one came near Jaydar. 

Jaydar shivered and coughed.

Jeb put a hand to Jaydar's forehead which was freezing cold. He frowned.

"I feel horrible," Jaydar whispered.

Jeb nodded. "I know." He glanced over at the other Erifs. "Get some sleep. I'll stay up."

Jaydar nodded. He laid down on the cold damp dungeon floor and fell asleep.

Jeb looked at Jaydar and shook his head. Too much truth serum caused fever like side effects. He knew that they had been pumping the stuff into Jaydar in a desperate attempt to draw out as much information about Latainia and the royal family as they could. Especially after their discovery that Jaydar was part Erif and therefore couldn't be harmed or tortured with fire.  But apparently Crimson still hadn't acquired the information she was seeking.

*   *   *

Jaydar could hear Daye screaming for him. He could hear her cries for help but he couldn't see her. He could feel the heat radiating around him. He outstretched his hands in the darkness searching for her.

"Daye!" he shouted.

"Jaydar!" Her voice reached his ears.

Jaydar was frantic. He couldn't see her. He blindly ran around the next corner of the pitch black maze he was in. There he saw her surrounded by a tall circle of fire. He bolted to her but a metre away from the fire he crashed headlong into an invisible force. He realized that there was a thick layer of glass stopping him from getting to Daye.

"Jaydar!" Daye screamed again, tears streaming down her face.

Jaydar smashed his fist against the glass but it didn't budge. He realized that if he didn't do something soon he would just have to stand by and watch Daye burn to death.

"Jaydar!"

Jaydar felt something knock him to the ground. Something heavy was placed on his shoulders pinning him to the ground. He fought desperately against it but whatever it was held him down. He glanced over at Daye only to see she had disappeared.

"Daye!"

"Jaydar!" but it wasn't her voice.

Jaydar tried to throw off whatever was holding him down.