Darkly Devoted (Book 1, 2, 3)

LOMD Chapter 18 - The Pointy End

Chapter 18

VIVIENNE STARED at Blake's watch as he led her to the edge of a subterranean lake. On his wrist, the complicated piece of winding gears continued to tick, counting the time that had passed. It was two o'clock. There were only four more hours until dawn. Vivienne didn't want to think about how little time they had left to find the boat. She tried to focus her eyes instead on the recessed form of a willow tree carved into the clock face.

"We're here," Blake said, as he walked up to the edge of the lake.

"I don't see a boat," Vivienne said, wondering if he would finally admit to losing his way. "You heard what Tarana and Jonathan were saying; you have to make it through all three chambers. This is only the first one. We don't have much time."

Blake chuckled and caught her hand as she tried to lead him back to the main pathway. His green eyes seemed to shine with excitement as he held up the crumpled cigarette box.

"You're not serious, are you?" Vivienne asked, throwing up her hands in frustration. "Are you really offering me a smoke? Is this the part we throw ourselves into the watery depths like Ophelia?"

"No, Viv," Blake said. "We don't need to find the boat. It will come to us." Blake ripped the cigarette carton off the white, egg-shaped object underneath. The device blinked a soothing dull light in the darkness. "Watch. This is a homing device."

Vivienne watched in shock as an empty boat appeared from behind the stalagmites. It slowly, deliberately, made its way to the water's edge where they were standing.

"So, this was rigged all along," Vivienne said, her mind reeling. Was it was just the mayor or was the Grand Master in on it too? No one had made it through the trials in six years, was this why? "How did you know?" Vivienne asked.

"I'll explain later," Blake said. "You said it yourself; it's time for us to retire from this place."

Vivienne reluctantly nodded at Blake's suggestion. Yes, she was exhausted from the night's events. For the first that night, she felt herself relax long enough to feel the depth of her weariness. Blake offered his hand to hold as she stepped into the boat. Vivienne sat down on the back end of it and nodded at Blake to join her. She saw him lift his head to take one last look at the spectacular rock formations that made up the chambers of the cave. It was as though he was taking a moment to say goodbye. What she didn't know was, to who?

Just as Blake placed his hand on the side of the boat, Vivienne heard a scream. The voice was screaming for help. Vivienne felt the hairs on the back of her neck stick up. The sound of screaming was becoming commonplace during the course of that cursed night. This scream though, Vivienne would recognize that voice anywhere.

"Janun?" Vivienne yelled, standing up in the boat, causing it to rock from side to side. "Janun! I'm coming!" Vivienne jumped out of the boat and onto the bank. Blake caught her arm; he said nothing but his eyes were pleading with her to get back in the boat.

"I can't," Vivienne said, desperately, "I have to go save my sister." Vivienne ran up the rocky path, towards the scream, into an open, atrium-like space. There, she saw Janun sitting on the floor, her daffodil colored velvet dress in tatters. She was only wearing one stiletto; her other foot was bloody and bare. Her face was covered in tear stains and smudged make-up.

"He's behind you," Janun gasped in fear. Vivienne spun around, holding up her stake in defense. A man appeared in the light of her Segais wood. He was handsome, tall, and stern. There was a murderous smile on his gorgeous face. Julian He wasn't wearing his glasses, but Vivienne had a feeling he never needed them.