Lies of the Haven: A Young Adult Urban Fantasy Adventure (Faerie Warriors Book 1) by J.A. Curtis

Author:J.A. Curtis [Curtis, J.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ElMae Publishing
Published: 2020-08-31T05:00:00+00:00

14

Not Alone

“Always help the innocent.”

I ENTERED A LARGE CAVERN and skidded to a stop, almost plunging headfirst into a large underground pond. The light was coming from a large opening into the world high above, way out of my reach. The walls of the cavern were streaked from years of runoff, as if crying over my imminent end. This was no escape.

I whirled around with the wish I could somehow get back out before the beast caught up to me. But my luck had run out. It came through the entrance to the cavern, snarling and snapping. For the first time, I saw the beast in the light. It came hunched over, a long snake like tail whipping behind it with tusks and horns and slashing fangs. Thick legs extended into long claws. It had a long reaching nose and dark bloodshot eyes that glowered at me. An image I would forever behold in my nightmares.

It plowed toward me, saliva slung from its jaws. It leapt. The force of its weight bowling into me would take me down hard. Its claws reached for me, about to shred my face.

And I ducked.

The beast sailed overhead. Waves lapped as it splashed down into the pond’s center, which was deep, because it twisted and thrashed to stay afloat.

It must not be able to swim.

I was safe.

The monster would drown, and this craziness would end. I straightened, my hands resting at my sides as the panic of survival began to wear down. The sword in my sheath clanked a little at my side as I watched the beast lose its battle to stay afloat.

A pale little hand shot above the water. A human hand. And I remembered what my panicked mind had forgotten—it wasn’t the beast that didn’t know how to swim.

I dropped the flashlight and dove into the frigid water, making my way to that little desperate hand. The fingers were slipping beneath the surface. I reached down, and the little fingers wrapped around my wrist like tentacles. With a harsh yank, she rose while the force of her desperation pulled me under.

When I broke the surface, I heard desperate sobbing. Dairlin was human, but she was frantic, clawing at me and thrashing around in the water at the same time. I worried I wouldn’t be able to hold us both. My sword banged against my side, an unnecessary weight.

We began to slip under the surface of the water. I kicked hard to keep us afloat, but already my legs burned from exertion. I wrapped my arms around Dairlin’s little body, her skin cool and slick. She wasn’t wearing any clothes.

“I got you Dairlin, I got you,” I said, trying to make my voice as reassuring as possible. Her thrashing lessened, and I took a breath that ended up being half filled with water. I spit the water out and continued.

“We’ll get out of here, but I need you to wrap your arms around my neck,” I said.

The cool thin arms locked around my neck.

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