Mortal Demon: A Shadow Shifters Novel by Tia Didmon

Author:Tia Didmon [Didmon, Tia]
Language: eng
Format: epub

CHAPTER 13

Riley and Colton coalesced just inside the entrance of the mine. She glanced at the planks that boarded up the entrance, inhaling the smell of rot and stale water. “Are these mines attached to the wolf caves?”

Colton touched the surface of the damp rock. “This mine was built hundred years before the mine was inhabited by the wolves. I believe there was a cave-in, and the tunnels were deemed unsafe. They moved to the opposite side of the mountain and started excavation. That doesn’t alter the fact that this property is owned by Raine. He inherited Maddock’s property, and this location is owned by the parent company of both mines.”

Riley glanced through the rotting planks barring the entrance. “Should we wait for Ferguson?”

Colton focused on the tunnel. “I can’t hear anything, but Ferguson would have ensured we entered away from the demons so they weren’t alerted to our presence when we arrived.”

Riley sucked in a breath as Ferguson coalesced beside her. “Dammit! I swear I’m going to put a bell around his neck.”

“My apologies,” Ferguson said. “There were no demons on the other side of the mountain. There is an inner chamber. Let’s walk toward it and see how close we can get before we encounter the enemy.”

Ferguson went first with Colton and Riley following behind him. Thick wooden beams stained with tar bracketed the inner rock walls, but they were cracked and rotting. Dirt dropped from the ceiling as they walked and roots hung low, causing them to move them with their hands as they passed.

Riley stepped over the broken pick handle and several bits of chain before they skirted around a broken handcart. Dirt had settled over the old rails. Had she not kicked some loose gravel to expose the rail beneath, she would not have realized it was still there.

The ceiling was much lower in this cave than that in the wolves. Both Colton and Ferguson had to stoop down in order to traverse the tunnel. Their boots echoed as they shuffled along, scattering loose earth in their wake. She focused on the muffled staccato until realizing it was a slow drip of water. They neared a section immersed in water and were forced to wade to their knees where the tunnel had eroded before emerging on the other side.

“Why would the demons pick such a precarious location? This place looks like it could collapse at any moment,” Riley asked.

Ferguson glanced back at her. “The mine was closed for that very reason. The inner cavern is stable. I believe the demons are in that location.”

They all stopped when they heard the echo of a scream. Ferguson put his finger to his lips, crouching lower as he moved forward quietly. She and Colton followed his lead.

As they neared the rock wall, she realized the cavern was two levels down. They were on the upper floor, overlooking of rock room full of demons.

Ferguson pointed at the two demons carrying a woman’s body from the center of the room. Deruthel had set up another mock throne.

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