Part 15 (2/2)
Arie stepped beside Ash and pulled her gun out. ”I agree, I would rather not take my chances,” she said.
Ash turned to smile at his friend. He loved that she always had his back. Leon turned his solemn gaze away from Ash and looked at Arie. His eyes lit up with amus.e.m.e.nt.
”Finlay is lucky to have found someone who is not such a risk taker. Maybe that will calm him down a bit.” Leon grinned at Finlay, who in return made a playful jab. Leon blocked the jab. He threw the bone on the ground and sighed. ”I still believe something else has caused these bones.”
Annalise nodded and turned to speak with the unicorn. ”Why are you leading us toward the seer?” she asked. Ash liked how she took control of the situation; he decided to let it play out.
”The entrance is past her lair.”
The entire group walked on in peace, hardly taking a break to rest. In the distance they could hear the echoes of beasts and breathing. One could never tell where exactly the sounds were coming from; it seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. The ground became dry and cracked; their surroundings looked as if someone had once lived here thousands of years ago, but had since let the place become nothing more than piles of rubble. Once they pa.s.sed through an area that looked like it had once been a city. There were the remains of ancient building all cl.u.s.tered in a circle. Dirt and bones littered the ground and crunched beneath their feet. No one dared to explore though, so they continued on, following the unicorn.
A few times along the way, they were attacked by odd looking creatures. Each time a creature showed up, everyone except Annalise would run toward it hoping to be the one to claim the victory. Finlay was successful at slaying a three headed beast. Ash cut the head off of a mutant worm like creature that slithered along the ground, and Arie had taken down a dozen small pixie creatures. Annalise stepped in to help her this time. She used her water to keep the creatures off of everyone's back. When the creatures were dead, they pretended not to notice as the unicorn sucked the remaining essence from each carca.s.s.
They each took turns talking about how they would attack the fallen once they got there. Annalise mentioned she would drown them quietly with water. Arie wanted to feed them to a beast. Finlay decided he would cut off their wings slowly and feed it to them. Thoughts of violence and destruction filled their minds the further underground they went. A good ways on, they reached a section of the underground where the ground dropped off into a deep cliff. Ash peered off of the edge of the cliff, into the dark void. He couldn't see a bottom. Across from the cliff, about eight feet away, stood another mountain. This one was taller than the cliff they stood on, and it appeared to touch the top of the layer. Consequently, the opening could easily be missed if you didn't know where to look. The unicorn motioned his head to the hole in the ground.
”Down that hole is a tunnel. Keep walking straight to reach the opening of the tenth layer. There is only one tunnel, and it is not a labyrinth like the other tunnels below each layer. This tunnel is the home to the seer. She is very old and very wise. Interest her, and she may tell you your future.”
The unicorn backed away from the edge and looked toward the center of the layer.
”This is your last chance to turn around. For a piece of the redhead's essence; I may be persuaded to guide you back home.” He looked at each one of them as they shook their heads in disagreement before baring his teeth and running off into the darkest parts of the layer.
Arie scrunched her nose. ”I feel like I am in a dream, this place is unbelievable. I am actually in the ninth layer.”
Yesterday, all the strange creatures that they had happened upon were just myths and legends. Today, the frightening images burned in their minds.
”How will we get down there?” Annalise asked. They had no rope or gear to climb down, only the small bag of food and weapons Arie carried.
”We can fly down,” Finlay suggested. He tapped his bangle and let his large wings fly out from behind him.
Ash scoffed at the seraph. ”That's great Fin, but what about the two of us who can't fly? If we jump will you catch us?”
Finlay didn't look too amused by the comment, looking at Annalise, who nodded in agreement.
”Leon will carry Ash, and I will carry Arie,” he said simply.
Both the humans' mouths opened up in shock.
”I am not being held by you!” Ash told Leon. Arie nodded in agreement.
”Well Anna's wings are smaller than mine, and Ash you weigh twice as much as Arie, Finlay pointed out, Will you be satisfied if I carry you and Leon carried Arie?”
Ash looked over at Arie, a silent agreement pa.s.sed between them. There was no way that Ash was going to put his arms around Leon, no matter what the situation.
In the mood to protest, but eager to get the whole thing over with, Ash walked up to Finlay and let the seraph scoop him up in his arms. He reluctantly put his arms around the large blonde and sighed.
”Fin- I swear if you try anything funny. I am going to stick my blade so far up your bender...”
Finlay rolled his eyes and turned to Leon. ”Be careful with her. I am trusting you.”
Leon pulled Arie close and whispered something into her ear. Annalise tapped her bangle and let her wings fly out behind her.
”You first Fin,” she urged.
One at a time, the five of them lifted a few feet off the ground. Their wings barely moved, but Ash could feel the wind flowing around them to keep them afloat. Finlay flew straight down into the small hole. Annalise was right behind them. Ash looked up to make sure she was okay. Sure enough, Annalise was majestically soaring above them into the depths of the pit below.
It was a few minutes before they reached ground. As soon as he felt Finlay's feet touch the ground Ash scrambled out of his embrace.
”Thanks,” Ash mumbled as he put his pride aside.
Finlay reached out to put a hand on Ash's arm, ”For what it's worth- I really am sorry. I never meant to betray your trust. I wasn't allowed to tell you what I was, just as you couldn't tell me you were a keeper.”
As much as Ash wanted to hate Finlay, they were once good friends. Deep inside, he wanted his friends to be happy. Ash gave a half smile.
”I understand- and I guess I overreacted over the whole Arie thing. She is free to be with whomever she pleases.”
The air was cleared and a burden felt like it had been lifted off of Ash's shoulders. Annalise stepped by his side as they looked around. Everything around them was rock and dirt, the sounds of water dripping echoed from a distance. The overhead florescent lights were also gone, but a single torch burned on one of the nearby walls, as if their presence was expected.
”Are you okay?” Ash asked her. Annalise gave her arms a small shake and hid her wings.
”Yes. I am just tired.” Ash put his hand on her cheek and slowly swiped a bit of dirt off of it. The closer they got, the more Ash dreaded the finale. Annalise would go back home. Ash would return to the eighth layer and this entire trip would be a distant memory. He wanted to remember Annalise liked this in case something happened to him. He was certain that either Finlay or Leon would take care of her if he got hurt, but he still felt better when she was near him to protect.
”Let's find this seer shall we?”
Each one of them drew out their weapons as they walked through the tunnel. Finlay once again pulled out his lighter and branch to light up the pathway. They hadn't gotten far when a voice called out to them ”Who disturbs my slumber?” The voice was old and dry.
No one answered. Finlay nudged Annalise with his elbow.
”You are the nicest of us all,” he urged. ”You sweet talk it.”
”I- I- It is Annalise. We are here to ask permission to pa.s.s through your lair to gain entrance to the tenth layer.”
Finlay held the fire up higher and Ash squinted his eyes to make out the figure moving closer.
It was hooded and short, only coming up to Ash's waist. It limped closer and closer at a slow pace. Within a few moments it stopped in front of the group. Two hands came out of the old and dirty gray cloak and lifted to take off the hood. Under the cloak was an old woman. Her skin was cracked and dry. So much, that her skin was starting to bleed and separate. The wrinkles hung off her face loosely and the sockets where her eyes should have been were empty. The seer smiled to show a toothless grin.
”I have been waiting for you, Annalise. You must have Ash with you also.”
Ash straightened up and gripped Annalise's hand. He looked at her, letting his strength fill her up.
”I am here,” he told the old lady.
She reached out toward them with her long bony palms.
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