“Where are the Bringers?” Gregory turned to face the group.
Rell lifted her sword and pointed toward the farthest and darkest corner. “The opening is over there.”
Her feet didn’t want to move. A firm hand settled on her shoulder and she looked up expecting to see Siban, but it was Luc. He peered down at her. “You all right?”
It was funny that he should be asking her that question. He’d been the one tortured, imprisoned by her and Icarus. “Are you?”
“Not really.”
She nodded, feeling a connection with him. He understood. “Me either.”
“They’ve moved the immortal weapons.” He walked around the tumbled chunks of stone and stopped next to a ledge, placing his hand on it. “About fifteen weapons rested here. I grabbed the axe on my way out. So the rest were probably immortal as well.”
“Let’s hope not everything has been moved,” Juna said.
A small movement on the ceiling drew several of the Bringers attention, including Rell’s. She crouched in an attack position, her sword pointed in the direction the movement came.
“Imps.” Siban crept forward. He pointed to several different spots on the ceiling and his posture was somewhat relaxed. “They’re all over the place and not dangerous from what I can tell.”
“What are imps?” Meran stopped directly under one of the bat-looking creatures. Large black eyes stared down at her. “They’re not demons?”
“I don’t know exactly,” Jade said. “But when I was healing Luc, they shared their life force. There wasn’t much, but what they had, they gave freely.”
Juna stopped next to Meran, also staring up at the creature. “How odd.”
The imp cocked its head and blinked once. Meran smiled. “They’re kind of adorable.”
Juna snorted. “We have a very different idea of adorable.”
“Let’s keep moving.” Gregory walked to the far corner of the chamber and pressed his hands against the wall. With a slow side step he slid along the solid structure until his hands disappeared. “I found it.”
In an instant Juna was behind him. Instead of rushing to follow, Rell lingered behind and waited for Siban. This was not a place she wanted to charge into at all. But if it meant saving the Bringers she would—with his support. She noticed that Luc and Jade also hesitated. The three exchanged glances, silently mustering their courage.
Luc held out his arm, indicating Rell should lead. “Shall we?”
Siban slipped his hand into hers and gently pulled her forward, leading the way. The blackness in the corridor pushed against her eyes. She strained to see anything, but no light penetrated the passage. The air grew noticeably colder. A shiver ran through Rell and her fingers began to ache against the metal hilt of her sword.
When they rounded a curve, blue light illuminated the end of the passage, and she could see the other Bringers waiting. Thankfully the bite from the Bane did not increase. If they were lucky, they could be in and out before the demons even knew they had been there.
As they approached the end of the line, Rell couldn’t help but notice that the glow was much dimmer than it had been when Sha-hera had shown her the menagerie of frozen prisoners. A feeling of foreboding grew inside her. Siban turned and looked at her, his expression grave as well. Something wasn’t right.
Leading the way, Gregory slipped beyond their sight. Each one of the Bringers followed. Siban pulled her forward and out into the icy chamber. Luc and Jade were the last to enter. They stopped, they’re mouths dropping open. Rell looked around the cavern and groaned.
“Where are they?” Jade said.
Vapors from her breath circled around Rell’s face as she exhaled in frustration. She released Siban’s hand and walked to the first opening. At one time a young man had been held here, his features peaceful, captured in an icy prison. Now the gaping hole was dark and empty.
She slowly turned and faced the group. “Vile must have moved them.”
“Sha-hera must have told him of our encounter.” Ravyn said. She moved down the line, checking each prison. “Perhaps he guessed our purpose.”
“No doubt,” Rhys said from behind her. He walked to the opposite side and examined the jagged ice around one of the openings. He touched a shard with his finger and quickly yanked his hand away. “It burns. Be careful.”
Trace jogged the length of the chamber, disappearing into the darkness. After a minute he returned. “There’s no exit down there, only the way we came in.”
“We knew this wouldn’t be an easy rescue.” The tip of Gregory’s sword rested against the frost-covered floor. “I say we continue into the Shadow World and try to find where Vile has taken them.” He looked around the group. “We don’t know what we’re up against so I will leave the decision up to the group.”
Rell looked at Siban. His eyes questioned her. More than anything, she wanted to get out of the Shadow World, but she was part of something bigger now, and the chance to face her fears and perhaps exact a little revenge would probably not be handed to her so neatly ever again.
“I’m staying.” She held Siban’s gaze. “The Bringer prisoners need us.”
His brow furrowed for a second and then smoothed into acceptance. “I’m staying as well.”
Obviously not happy about the decision, but Rell was grateful that Siban made no further protest.
“Count me in.” Jade moved to stand beside her sister. “We’re all in this together.”
“Damn it, woman, you’re going to make a hero of me yet,” Luc said. He joined the line. “So what’s our next move?”
Gregory smiled. “Have any of you been deeper than this chamber?”
“The farthest Rhys and I have been is the Throne Room.” Ravyn looked at Rhys. “At least I think that’s the farthest we’ve been.”
“Yes, and I have no knowledge of the outlying tunnels or chambers,” he said.
“I was imprisoned somewhere, but I couldn’t tell you where.” Siban faced Rell. “Do you know?”
“Down a different corridor, but on this level.” She could feel his hesitance at knowing the details of his captivity. In an effort to ease his agitation, she kept her description general. “It would not be big enough to hold all the prisoners. So I doubt they took them there.”
Siban didn’t ask any more questions and she didn’t provide further details.
“Well, uh—” Jade shifted uncomfortably when everybody’s gaze turned toward her. “I explored as far as the succubus army’s war room once.”
“What?” Rell glared at her sister. “When?”
Jade waved her hand in the air. “It was a long time ago and I never did it again.”
“Why not?” Rell’s stare narrowed. “You almost got caught, didn’t you?”
All eyes leveled on Jade, waiting for her answer. “Maybe…by Vile.”
“Sweet Sainted Ones.” Rell raised her arms. “Didn’t I tell you to stay in the caverns?”
“Really?” With her hands propped on her hips, Jade donned an indignant scowl. “We’re going to do this now?”
Rell bit back her retort and faced Gregory. “I have also been to the war room.”
A sound of protest escaped Jade. “And you’re scolding me?”
“I—” Rell slowly turned and faced her sister. “Was a demon, not an innocent child with her soul still intact.”
“Details.” Conceding defeat, Jade relaxed. “Fine, so we can both get that far, but it’s treacherous.”
“She’s right.” Rell spoke to the entire group. “The minions don’t inhabit the lower areas, so any demons we meet are going to be the most dangerous.”
Luc tossed his axe in the air, spinning it before catching it again. “Then I suggest we stay on our guard.”