Reaping The Red Heir

33. Oops! My Feelings Are Showing

I grabbed Pierce's hands, the chill of his skin contrasting sharply with my own warmth. His grip was firm, unwavering, and for a moment, a strange sense of reassurance washed over me.

"Just hold on tight," he instructed, positioning himself at the edge of the abyss. "I'll lower you down slowly."

I couldn't help but glare at him, the biting wind stinging my eyes. "Have I ever told you I hated you?" I queried as I cautiously descended one leg into the abyss.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Only three times now, but who's counting?"

"Well, add this to the list," My voice strained as my grip on his hands tightened. The darkness below seemed endless.

"And yet, here you are, trusting me with your life. Curious, isn't it, how fate weaves its threads?" the vampire above me taunted.

I bit back a retort, concentrating on finding secure footing but failing. The surface was slick, offering no purchase for my boots. I was wholly dependent on Pierce's strength to guide me down. "Don't let go, Pierce. I swear, if you drop me—"

"You'll have plenty of time to curse my name on the way down," he interrupted.

He lowered me another few inches, slowly but surely, my feet still dangling in the air.

"Alright, I've reached the full extent of my reach. The fall will be but a mere drop," he declared. "You ready?"

I drew in a shuddering breath, feeling as though there was a lack of air. Bowing my head to glimpse at my feet was a challenge in the cramped space, yet when I managed, nothing greeted me but pure darkness—a void so complete it felt like my boots had vanished into another dimension.

"Define 'mere drop,'" I muttered, trying to mask an overwhelming feeling with sarcasm.

"It's just a few feet," he assured me as if that would magically make me forget the vast, endless abyss that awaited my descent. "Trust me. On three," he added as if I had any choice in the matter.

"One..." I muttered, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart, which seemed to be conducting an orchestra of panic within my chest.

"Two..." he continued, drawing out the word in a maddeningly casual tone. And then, without so much as a "three," he let go.

Indeed, Pierce hadn't deceived me. The leap was brief, and I securely planted myself on what I presumed to be the ledge he had referenced earlier. Now that I had descended further, the walls appeared to widen, offering a bit more room.

I hugged the wall, wincing at the biting chill it radiated. In the embrace of this abyssal blackness, the edge of the shelf might as well have been the edge of the world for all I could tell. Peering into the void, I figured the drop could range from 'ouch' to 'last words' territory.

"I can't see a damn thing!" I hollered upwards.

"Skyla," Pierce's voice called down to me, calm and authoritative. "Get down on your knees. Remain close to the wall, but be cautious not to stray near the ledge," he instructed.

Even in the face of such peril, I found little fondness for being ordered about. "Maybe you should get on your knees," I shot back, my tone laced with challenge.

His laughter echoed from above, a sound as smug as the vampire himself. "I'm not in the habit of kneeling, but if it will please you, I might just entertain the notion."

Truly? Him, on a bended knee? I couldn't help but grin. The mental picture was ludicrous, and the concept even more so. "I'd like to see that," I said, intending my words to carry a mocking tone. But even to my own ears, they sounded more like a dare.