Hedge Witch Diaries Complete Series Boxed Set by Theophilus Monroe & Michael Anderle

Author:Theophilus Monroe & Michael Anderle [Monroe, Theophilus & Anderle, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LMBPN Publishing
Published: 2024-07-29T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

The oppressive darkness swallowed us as we crawled deeper into the winding tunnel. Jagged rocks tore at my knees while I led the way. Dorian’s tall frame awkwardly scrunched behind me. This passageway didn’t easily accommodate a man of his stature.

A leathery flutter startled me as a bat shot past my ear. Dorian let out a sharp shriek that echoed against the cave walls. I bit my lip to hold back a laugh. “You realize that thing is more afraid of you than you are of it.”

Dorian grunted. “I’m not afraid.”

“You squealed like a girl!”

“Did not! It startled me. That’s all.”

I smirked. “Right. Look out, it’s coming back!”

Dorian jolted, covering his head with his hands as he flattened himself against the ground. “Where? Get it away from me!”

I chuckled. “Gotcha!”

“You—” Dorian sighed. “That was mean.”

I snickered. “It’s okay, you know. Having a few little fears doesn’t make you any less manly a warlock. It’s kind of cute.”

Dorian snorted. “Let’s just get the hell out of here.”

We pressed onward through the tight, endless black. Dorian was convinced this godforsaken tunnel led somewhere, but my faith waned with each scrape against the stone.

I paused, rubbing my throbbing knees. “How much longer?” My whisper bounced off the rocks.

Dorian’s hand found my ankle. “I don’t know, but there’s a breeze. This tunnel can’t go on forever.”

A faint glow appeared ahead, its golden light dancing against the walls. “Do you see that?” I asked.

Dorian squinted. “Yes. It’s flickering. Like firelight.”

My pulse quickened. “You don’t think…”

“It’s likely Gareth.” Dorian’s voice hardened. “I don’t know what he’s doing down here, but we should proceed quietly.”

I nodded, creeping forward. The tunnel opened into a vast cavern, its ceiling vanishing into blackness. Gareth lay below, curled up in a moth-eaten blanket.

Dorian began whispering an incantation, attempting to levitate us down. His spell fizzled out with a faint hiss.

“Magic’s still not working, huh?”

He shook his head.

“Guess we’re doing this the old-fashioned way.” I lowered myself over the ledge, dangling by my fingertips before dropping. Pain jolted up my legs as I landed hard on the rocky ground.

The sound stirred Gareth awake. He recoiled, clutching his blanket like a shield. Terror shadowed his eyes.

Dorian thudded down beside me, stumbling on his ankle. I caught his arm before he fell, glancing warily at Gareth. “What are you doing down here?”

Gareth’s voice quavered. “Hiding.” He winced as he spoke. “Please, you shouldn’t be here.”

“Hiding from us?” Dorian asked.

Gareth shook his head. “From myself.”

Gareth’s eyes darted between us, wide with fear. “You shouldn’t have come. It’s not safe.” He glanced around the cavern as if expecting attackers.

I took a cautious step forward. “Gareth, even after you learned the truth about the false betrothal, you came and helped us. You cast the spell that helped us beat the Réminians. I know you’re suffering. Maybe we can help.”

He scrambled back, gasping in pain, his fingers digging into the stone floor. “Don’t come closer.”

The betrothal curse. It was still affecting him, even here. He was cursed to wander the world in solitude.

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