Page 28 (1/1)

Still, if he did reject my offer of help, it was his own decision I couldn’t force hietting too far ahead of et myself out of this hole

I stayed as close to the walls as I could, realizing that I was doing exactly the sa blindly through walls and ceilings, not knoas on the other side But I had no other choice now but to keep her levels At least noas not in such a mad hurry I was able to travelchased by ghouls… at least not yet

With each level I cli, I poked just half offully It was a slow, arduous process, but along the way, I was at least able to take inso fast before, everything had been a blur, and I’d barely been able to see iant network of cavernous chambers, most of them scattered with their beloved decorative pools--at least those I passed through I wondered where the residential quarters were; I didn’t spot any As I cliht, more vibrant, more alive… until I was certain that I was only a few floors away from my own level My belief was confirmed as I spotted a familiar tunnel--just beyond that was h until I reached about halfhen I stopped dead in h the tunnel frohouls, however These voices were those of a man and a woman And I could understand them Hurriedly, I sank into the wall of the tunnel and strained to listen

"We’re not going to meet the demand," the female voice hissed

"We will, Lidera We will" The ely familiar

Lidera’s voice dropped to a hushed whisper "Stop lying to yourself, and stop lying to me! You knoe are far too short of the count to ever make the deadline Why don’t you just admit it?"

Two fae came into view around a corner of the tunnel Now I knehy the male voice sounded faed ing by her vivid hair color, they were related

Anger boiled up within ain Still, I tried to focus my mind on their conversation

"Ad us all into a pit!" Lidera shot back

The er "We have this conversation every time you come here with me! My answer now is no different than last time We will meet it, I promise you"

"An empty promise!" Lidera spat

At this, the"And ould you have me do? Pray tell, sister What would you do, in er to accept their assistance to begin with Don’t play the innocent one here"

"I’d rather break the bonds and forgo the punishment than face the consequences of this failure," she breathed, her chest heaving with agitation "And I would suggest that you, Sherus, and everybody else, do the salowered at each other Then Lidera broke it "I ed "What?"

"I--I said I want no e hand snaking around her neck He gripped her throat hard as his eyes bored into hers "You see that we made a pact All of us You cannot simply back out now"

"I already told you, I don’t care anylistened with fear Then she reached up slowly and touched her brother’s cheek "I don’t want to be around to see you fail, brother," she said in a softer tone this tih I wish--hoish--you will succeed"

"Coward!" Sherus hissed, letting go of her neck and shoving her hand away from hi a step back Then, without another word, she jerked forward and raced away down the tunnel out of sight, leaving Sherus standing alone, agape

Indignation burned in his irises, but as he stood there, I could’ve sworn that I also spotted a flicker of doubt Then he shook his head angrily and ran his hands over his face After reer, he continued on his way after her Once the sounds of his footsteps becaain

Myas I attempted to make sense of the conversation What did the wohosts, I could only assu that was hard to believe frohosts I’d spotted so far in this place I wondered how e for their help all those decades ago

As Sherus’ footsteps faded completely, I realized that I would be a fool not to follow after hi for the direction of the exit The exit If I could just so forward, even as I tried to rey walls Sherus seemed to be in no particular hurry--or ht of hi the corridor He exited the tunnel and entered another chamber--which, if my memory served me correctly, was the chamber that held my own pool I didn’t have time to check I fixed my eyes on him in tunnel vision as I trailed as closely behind him as I dared He crossed to the other side of the cavern and then wound his way through another tunnel Soon, we approached thethe handle, he twisted it sharply and pushed it open He stepped through, i it behind hih this particular door anyway Afraid that hefaster and I could lose his trail, I quickly passed through the solid wood