Broken (Disappeared #2)

Chapter Eight

Theodosia screamed and grabbed Xochitl. The twins looked just as freaked out as she was.

"It's okay, it's okay," Xochitl said soothingly. "That's how you go in."

She shook her head rapidly. "But he will drown!"

"You'd think so, right?" Xochitl grimaced. "But no. You'll see. Go in. It's okay. Ahuil will be down there waiting for you."

Theodosia's heart started to pound so heavily she could feel it in the soles of her feet. She had never been comfortable with water, mostly because she didn't know how to swim. English costume was much too cumbersome for that sort of thing. Yet she knew beyond certainty that Ahuil would never put her in danger. If he went in, so would she.

"Will I be able to breathe?" she said in a small voice.

"Yes. It's not wet in there," Xochitl replied. It didn't look like she fancied the idea of going in either.

"How is that even possible?" Theodosia took a deep breath and let it out quickly. "Heavens. The things we do for men. All right, here I go."

And with that she stepped over the pool and was promptly sucked in.

The first thing she noticed was that she was still underwater, in what looked like a cave. Light flooded in from above and she was surrounded by turquoise, iridescent liquid.

She twisted around frantically, looking about at all the water, her hands at her throat . Ahuil appeared in front of her and held her face between his hands, his eyes wide.

"You can breathe, Theo. Breathe. It's alright. Trust me."

She tried to suck air in through her nostrils. Amazingly, no water entered. It was like she was on land, breathing air. She opened her mouth. Same thing: air filled her lungs. Then she realized that she wasn't floating but instead standing on the rocky floor of the cave. She laughed and bubbles floated away from her mouth.

"This is unbelievable," she gasped.

Ahuil smiled crookedly and then looked over as Xochitl, Izel, and Tipelli materialized beside him. Xochitl looked less than thrilled. The twins immediately began panic as she had, struggling as if there were no air. It look a long minute for Ahuil and their sister to convince them to breathe.

Eventually, they stopped struggling but they remained anxious. Whatever Theodosia was about to see, the Nextic had reason to fear this thing as well as place all their hopes on it.

She heard what sounded like footsteps. They all looked around. A figure approached. It was somewhat human-shaped. Painfully thin. Tall, dark, and not quite there, as if it was fading into the water. Theodosia couldn't see its eyes or even a face. It was more that she half-saw and half-sensed this strange creature. Fear filled her like nitrogen bubbles in the blood, making her feel dizzy and sick.

Ahuil stiffened instantly and put his hand on the small of her back.

"Welcome," said a thin, reedy voice. "You seek the Ahtle?"

"Yes. I'm the leader of the Nextic people and these are my guards," Ahuil said. "We request counsel."

The figure seemed to bow, though it was hard to tell. He went in and out of sight just like a lake's reflection on a windy day. Theodosia had to blink rapidly to focus on him.

"I know," he said in his high voice. "I see everything in this world. What has been, what is, and what will be. Nothing escapes the notice of the Ahtle."

Ahuil glared at him. "Obviously, which would be why you sent the half-beings after us instead of helping our people. Or haven't you noticed we're disappearing?"