The narrow path wound its way upward, hugging the cliffside with little regard for safety or ease. Ellie followed behind Gorran, her steps careful but unsteady. The rocks beneath her feet were loose, sliding every now and then under her weight. She could feel the tension building among the group, the air growing heavier as they neared the entrance to the mines.

Talan stopped suddenly, crouching low to the ground. His fingers brushed over a patch of disturbed earth, his sharp eyes following the faint imprint of boots. "He passed through here. The trail’s fresher now. Not more than a few hours ahead."

Ellie’s heart sped up, the rhythm of her breath suddenly too loud in her ears. She had to keep her focus—keep playing the part they believed her to be. The longer she kept her distance from real action, the safer she would be.

Iona swung her axe over her shoulder, her eyes scanning the rocks ahead. "We’re close to the mine. If he’s still alive, he’ll be in there."

Ellie kept her gaze on the trail, hoping her silence would be interpreted as concentration. But her mind was far from the sharp awareness she needed. Every thought seemed to trip over itself, snagged by the growing certainty that something, very soon, would go terribly wrong.

Gorran took the lead again, moving up the path with slow, deliberate steps. Ellie followed, keeping a few paces behind. The air was thinner here, colder, and the shadows of the cliffs seemed to deepen with each turn.

Then she saw it—a dark opening in the rock face, jagged and yawning like a mouth about to swallow them whole.

Talan motioned for silence, his hand raised in warning. They approached the mines with quiet precision, the tension thick between them. As they neared the entrance, the sound of low, rasping breaths echoed from within, the kind of sound that spoke of something large, something patient.

Ellie’s breath caught in her throat. Her pulse hammered in her chest, and her feet suddenly felt leaden, barely able to carry her further. She didn’t need to ask what kind of creature waited inside. It didn’t matter if she knew its name. She could feel the wrongness of it—the dark, ancient energy that seeped from the stones around the mines mouth.

Gorran gave a sharp nod to Iona, then to Talan. The tracker moved swiftly to the side, positioning himself for a clear line of sight. Iona gripped her axe tightly, her muscles tense with readiness.

And then they all turned to look at Ellie.

She stiffened under their gaze. They expected her to do something—anything—that would display the power they believed she held. But there was no time for spells, no time to think through a convincing illusion. The rasping breath from within the mines grew louder, as though the beast had sensed them now, waiting for them to make their move.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Ellie stepped back, her foot slipping on loose stones. She flinched, her arms flailing for balance. Her shoulder hit the rock wall with a dull thud, sending a cascade of pebbles skittering down into the dark mouth of the mine.

The rasping stopped.

A moment later, the creature emerged, and Ellie’s blood froze.

It was large—larger than she had imagined—its shape a twisted mass of fur and scales, its eyes glowing with an eerie, pale light. It crawled on limbs too long and too thin, its mouth stretched into a snarl, revealing rows of jagged teeth.

For a split second, no one moved. Ellie’s mind went blank, the fear so overwhelming it was as if her body had detached from her will entirely.

Then, in a panic, she stumbled backward again, her foot striking a jagged stone at just the wrong angle. The stone gave way, and Ellie crashed into the rock wall behind her with a cry. Her elbow hit something hard, sending a loose chunk of rock tumbling down into the abyss beside the cliff.

The creature’s head snapped toward her, its glowing eyes narrowing.

In that instant, Gorran lunged forward, swinging his sword in a wide arc. But before he could land a blow, the creature reared back, its claws scrabbling against the loose stones of the cliffside. The rocks beneath it gave way, and for a heartbeat, time seemed to hang suspended, as if the world itself were holding its breath.

Ellie watched in disbelief as the creature lost its footing. It stumbled, tried to regain balance, and then with a terrible, deafening roar, it tumbled over the edge of the cliff, its long limbs flailing uselessly as it plunged into the ravine below.

Silence followed. The echoes of the creature’s fall slowly faded, leaving only the soft whisper of the wind through the rocks.

For a long moment, no one spoke. The rescue party stood frozen, staring at the spot where the creature had been, their eyes wide with shock. Ellie, still pressed against the rock wall, felt her legs trembling beneath her, the adrenaline draining from her body in waves.

Finally, Gorran turned to her, his expression a mixture of awe and confusion. "That was…"

Ellie swallowed, her mouth dry. She had no idea what to say.

"That was some spell." Iona stepped forward, shaking her head in disbelief. "I didn’t even see you cast it."

Ellie blinked, her mind racing to catch up. She could feel her pulse thudding in her throat, the weight of their expectations settling on her again. They thought she had done this—thought she had taken down the creature with some complex, hidden magic.

She opened her mouth to protest, to explain that it had been an accident, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she nodded, feeling the lie curl itself around her once more, tighter than ever.

"It… happened quickly," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Gorran let out a low, appreciative whistle. "Quick or not, you saved our skins."

Iona laughed, the tension finally breaking as she wiped the sweat from her brow. "You’ve got some tricks up your sleeve, Ellie Liddell. We’re lucky to have you."

Ellie managed a weak smile, though inside, she felt hollow, the weight of her deception growing heavier with every passing second. They believed her again. They believed she was the mage she pretended to be.

But as she glanced over the edge of the cliff, the deep ravine below where the creature’s body had vanished into the shadows, a sickening dread curled in her stomach.

She had survived this time. But how long could she keep fooling them?