Part 24 (1/2)

Within seconds, I dissolved into it. Like sugar in water.

Chapter 28.

Darkness consumed me. Despite that I still had a sense of solid s.p.a.ce under my feet and in front of me. It was like instinct now to follow the path. I had a picture of Thane's room in my mind and that was where I was heading.

Keeping my head straight, focusing on what was in front of me, I put one foot in front of the other. The tunnel was tight. It was like being forced through a tube of toothpaste. I just went with the flow trying not to think about it too much. Because that would be a huge mistake and would most likely make me immobile.

I kept walking sure I was just about there. Something pulled at me. Forcing me forward. It was a bit like being sucked through a cold, dark straw. The pulling feeling intensified. It was impossible to stop now even if I wanted to. But I didn't panic. It was what was supposed to happen.

Right before being sucked upward, I saw something to my right. It flashed and shone like a beacon. Then it was gone as I materialized out of a shadow along one wall of Thane's hotel room.

I stumbled forward, banging my knee on the coffee table. ”Ow. d.a.m.nit.” I rubbed at it trying to soothe the sting from radiating up my thigh. It did anyway.

The last place I'd seen his green bag was near the bed so I crossed the room. But it wasn't where I'd last seen it. Spinning around, I searched the room for it. At first glance I couldn't see it anywhere.

I flung open the closet door. It was empty save for a few wire hangers and the dry clean bag for housekeeping. I dashed to the bed, dropped to the floor, and looked under it. Nothing except a few dust bunnies.

My heart was thudding. Panic was starting to take root.

I rushed to the bathroom. It too was empty except for the dirty towels on the floor. There were no toiletries on the counter. No toothbrush. No razor. Nothing that said this room was still occupied.

A sinking feeling was filling me as I came out of the bathroom and really surveyed the rest of the room. The bed was unmade, pillows tossed here and there. Empty beer cans littered the table. But there was no evidence that anyone planned to return to the room. Thane had taken his bags with him. They were planning to split right after the gig.

I pulled at my hair in frustration. ”I can't believe this. We are so screwed.”

I found the same shadow and stepped back into it with a clear image of the center bathroom in my mind. This time I ran through the dark, hands out to the sides. My fingertips skimmed the walls keeping me grounded so to speak. I had to make sure I was still on the path.

The pulling sensation on my chest returned and I knew I was close to being back. But then that gleam came again. To my left this time. It was brighter, as if sensing my presence. As if signaling me with an SOS.

This time, I couldn't ignore it. I didn't want to. So I did the unthinkable, the one thing Trevor kept drilling into my head, and stepped off the path. The second I did that another path formed under my feet. It led me towards the light.

I took maybe ten steps before the path opened up and I walked into a cavernous like room. It was still black around me but the glow from the center cast a green essence outwards just touching the edges of the dark. I stepped into that green glow and followed it to its originator.

Floating about three feet above the ground was a rectangular box. It was the size and shape of an adult coffin. A clear see-through coffin, that looked like it was made from gla.s.s.

I reached out and touched it. My fingers slid along its cool smooth surface. It was like polished ice. Running my hand along its side, I peered into it.

My heart lurched up into my throat nearly choking me. The small hairs on the back of my neck stirred. It was as if a spider had crawled its way up my spine.

”No freaking way.”

Awestruck, I leaned down and came almost nose to nose with Merlin the magician.

If it wasn't for the thin ice barrier I would've touched him. He looked like a wax figure in a museum. Completely froze in time. His skin was s.h.i.+ny, luminescent really. The green glow seemed to resonate directly from him.

He was bald with a dark intricate tattoo on his skull. His eyes were closed, his mouth slack as if in a deep peaceful sleep. He had on a dark blue tunic, st.i.tched with symbols all over it. The same symbols I'd seen etched into that wooden box. It also looked like he was wearing a robe, in the same color and with the same designs.

His slim hands were folded on his chest and clasped between them was the handle of a long silver broad sword. The blade was inlaid with the same markings I'd seen before.

This was the enchanted sword that had sent Merlin into a coma. This was the sword we needed. It just had to be. But how did I get it?

Backing up a little, I looked the ice coffin over. Maybe there was a way to open it. Then I saw it, down the side, almost at the bottom. A lock. Obviously, I needed a key. Now I knew without a doubt what was in Thane's box. And there was no way I could get to it.

Dejected, I slapped the top of the coffin with my hand. ”d.a.m.n it.”

The sword was within my grasp and I was incapable of doing anything about it. Thane and the others were going to win. They were going to get away with destroying both my and Trevor's lives. I couldn't let that happen. Not now. Not ever.

I dropped to my knees to inspect the lock. Maybe I could pick it. Reaching into my hoodie pocket, I pulled out a small screwdriver, a left over tool from working on sound equipment. Trevor had given it to me to hold onto for him, just in case. This was a huge just in case.

Lock picking was probably a lesson in patience and finesse, but I possessed neither of these qualities. So jabbing the tip of the screwdriver into the lock and jiggling it around was just going to have to work for me. I didn't have time for anything fancy.

After a few minutes of futile poking and agitating, I realized the lock wasn't going to open. Exasperated, I stood and glared at it, willing it to open. I wouldn't let some fancy locking mechanism best me. There was too much at stake. It wasn't just about me either. Trevor was counting on me. I couldn't let him down. I wouldn't.

As I took a step back, anger and frustration surged through me making my hands shake. Anger that Thane was going to get away with hurting me, with killing so many girls. Frustrated that I was so close to retribution I could taste it on my tongue like sweet grainy sugar.

Without thinking, I kicked at the lock. The coffin didn't even move. So, I kicked at it again. And again. And again. Until I was booting it over and over alternating between my left and right feet. Chips of ice scattered on the ground with each blow. The tinkling sound of the pieces. .h.i.tting the solid floor echoed all around. It was so loud in my ears I was sure it would wake the dead. Or Merlin, in this case.

Curious, I stopped kicking and approached the coffin. Ice shards crunched under my boot heels. I peered down into the magician's face. It was still slack. No life stirred in his pale waxy features.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I glanced back down to the lock. My heart skipped a beat or two as I noticed the metal clasp was twisted and busted up. I'd broken it. I couldn't believe it.

Stomach clenching, I reached down and flipped the latch. The lock was open. I could open the casket if I wanted to. Swallowing hard, I looked at Merlin, asleep inside. Did I really want to?

Fear crept upon me but I swallowed it back down as I slid my fingers into the grooves along the coffin's side and pulled upwards. I expected it to creak since it was so old but it didn't. There was definitely a sound, but it was no creak. More like a pop from a release of pressure. As if I opened a freezer door for the first time in a hundred years. I also didn't expect the blast of cold air on my face or the smell that escaped. One of rotting fish.

After the lid was up, I stumbled backwards, gagging on the stench. I never thought he would stink so badly. It totally took me by surprise.

I wiped at my nose, trying to rub the horrid odor away before I leaned in to inspect the sword. It was long; a broad sword I guess it was called. Merlin had his frozen fingers wrapped around the hilt. I'd have to pry them off. Oh Jesus, what if they broke off while I was touching him? The thought made me queasy. I rubbed a hand over my stomach hoping to ease its suffering.

Closing my eyes, I counted to three, then quickly opened them and without losing my nerve, reached in to touch Merlin. His skin was cold and hard under the tips of my fingers. For some reason I was expecting it to be oily but thank G.o.d it wasn't. It just looked that way.

As carefully as I could, I dug my fingers under one of his and lifted it. There came a crackling sound as it moved but it didn't crack or snap off. Once I had one digit successfully lifted, that gave me the strength and will to lift the others. Soon, all of Merlin's fingers were bent back and up, and I could touch the hilt of the sword.I wrapped my hand around it and sliding my other hand under the blade I was able to elevate the sword out of the icy casket.

It was heavy and I wondered how I was even going to wield it. But at least I had it. I'd worry about using it once I took it safely back topside and to Trevor.

I smiled down at Merlin's form. ”Thanks buddy. You just saved my life.”

His eyes snapped open, forcing me back.

”Nivaine,” he breathed on a puff of cold air.

”s.h.i.+t!” I backpedalled away from the coffin. Dragging the sword at my side, I sprinted out of the cave. I ran blindly down the tunnel hoping like h.e.l.l I was going the right way.

I ran for what seemed like hours, my lungs burning, until I finally felt the pull out of the shadows. But right before I came out, I dropped the sword. I collapsed onto my hands and knees on the cold tiled bathroom floor. As I gulped air furiously, I looked around. I was alone. Scrambling to my feet, I tore open the door to find Trevor. He had to come back with me to retrieve the sword.

The moment I came out of the bathroom, I knew something was considerably wrong.