Promises of a Deadly Bind {Sequel to Games of a Different Kind}

Chapter 6

A.N How time flies when you're having fun... It's been just three... months since last upload. Okay, yes, I'm a terrible person. We get that. So I wrote extra :) I didn't actually mean to write so much- I thought I was writing eight pages and I guessed I got my calculations wrong. 

I have many excuses for why I didn't upload. They mainly involve a lost rabbit, a witch and a wardrobe (not that story). Somehow none of my excuses have the right amount of... well, you could say truth, to them. So, without further ado, and in all mysteriousness, enjoy the latest installment to Promises of a Deadly Bind. 

1. The first song you listen to describes your future job.

2. The second song you listen to describes your future pet.

3. The third song you listen to describes your future best friend.

We managed to scrounge up a few bones for Cerberus (there were wide varieties from the decaying corpses on the road) that he was happy and didn't make Liam into mince meat. Though Liam hadn't been dissolved into a chew-toy, I was still angry at Tyros. His actions reminded me, that though we were allies, the bond between us all was fragile and easy to tear. 

"What were the next instructions Ashida had for us?" Liam asked me as we trudged into the city. Blackened pires and soaring carcasses of towers greeted the eye everywhere you looked. Fire had plunged this city in smoke and flame, that much was obvious. 

"Follow the Blood Moon river," Tyros answered smoothly, his voice shocking me slightly. "Though I'm afraid we will have to pause this dashing journey for the while. The Blood Moon does not arrive for a week- which means we will have to make our place in Yacaz for the while." 

"But where will we stay?" I edged in grudgingly, not pleased at the idea of actually conversing with the demon. Liam may have given him a pass, but Liam did not know the entire story. The idea of my closest friend being nothing more than a burden would no doubt have changed his mind. "This city is dead." 

"You think you see something, but you really don't," Tyros answered lazily, in that patronising tone of his that set my teeth on edge. The urge to drive a sword through his thick-headed skull was incredibly satisfying... but might create a few more problems. "This is not Yacaz." 

"What do you mean it's not Yacaz?" 

"I mean... oh, let me think. I think I mean... it is not Yacaz."

"Cut the crap, Tyros," I snapped. "Tell us what you mean." 

"Do not be so hasty to fence words, Danielle," Tyros chided. "I simply mean this is only the entrance to Yacaz. Yes, this used to be the city. But as you can plainly see this is not the thriving place you might expect of one of the largest Underworld trading centres."

"Clearly it's not doing so well," Liam muttered, gesturing to the city. I eyed the city, trying to understand what Tyros meant. Not a soul stirred in the soot and the smoke and the only sound were their footsteps that echoed throughout. It appeared like a ghost town, not the largest trading centres that the Underworld boasted. 

"This isn't Yacaz," Tyros repeated. "Only the entrance. The real city is underground." 

"Underground?" I scoffed.

"You mortals really are slow, aren't you?" Tyros noted, raising an eyebrow. "Yes, underground. This suits some of their darkness-based creatures as well, as the tunnels are not one for those who need the light. Yacaz is very well-known for its trading system, one of the very best in the Underworld."

"Then where is the Blood Moon river?" Liam asked. "It doesn't seem highly plausible it's underground as well and also, I would assume the Blood Moon has something to play into it."