Chapter 17. Into the Depths.

“It’s dark down here, watch your step.” Valery clicked a flint wheel to the cloth of a torch, setting the oily substance aflame. A breath of fire exhaled up the wood until the dark staircase below them became revealed in a flash of gold and red. The wet, stone steps seemed to twist down endlessly into shadow, flickering darker and darker in the light of the torch with each deeper level until nothing else could be seen but a black pit.

“Where are you taking me,” Shawn said. “This doesn’t look safe. Does anyone even go down there?”

“I do. Some of my friends do too. And now, so do you.” Valery took her first step down the stairs, and Shawn hesitated to follow.

“I thought we were going to a forest?”

“We are, but first we need to get the gear for the journey: Food, some coats, boots, maybe a sword or two. Satisfied, yet?”

Shawn rolled his eyes. “Whatever, just hurry.”

“Impatience is weakness,” Valery said as she continued down into the shadow with her torch leading the way. This time Shawn followed.

“These stairs lead to the city beneath the city. This section was abandoned after Mikhail’s death a thousand years ago, but it was repurposed by Copper Lanes as a sort of underworld, then abandoned again when the Gray Death cut through the South. The Royal Army were ordered by the king to seal all the gates that lead below the city. I think they hoped they could escape the plague down there. But it didn’t quite turn out as they planned.” Valery swung the torch at an alcove where a pair of skeletons in Royal red gowns were huddled in a corner, holding each other tight. A black rat climbed up out of the woman’s collarbones and turned to look at Shawn before scurrying away to escape the light.

“My friends should be waiting for us with the supplies down below. They’re coming with us.”

“Your friends?” Shawn didn’t like the sound of that. It felt like he was walking into an ambush.

“Yeah, friends. They’re coming with us to find the Crystal.”

“Sounds like you’ve got a plan,” Shawn said, unnerved more than he was letting on. “How would you have gotten this Crystal if I didn’t show up tonight?”

“We wouldn’t have. I need you to get us inside. No one else can.”

“So you knew I was coming, then?”

“Maybe I did.”

Shawn tightened his jaw and shook his head. “Everyone in this city seems to know a lot about me.”

“Well you’re famous, Shawn,” Valery said, turning back. “What did you expect? That people wouldn’t recognize your face?” She giggled, then held the flame of her torch away so the blue light from Shawn’s eyes could illuminate the darkness of the stairwell. “Or that we wouldn’t notice a blue flame in your eyes?”

Shawn paused and rubbed his eye with one hand as if he could somehow hide it. “We aren’t as dumb as you think,” Valery said, twisting away and making the fire of her torch roar. She continued down the dark stairs and Shawn followed before too much distance had grown between them.

“Is the forest we’re going to dangerous?” Shawn asked, wanting to change the subject.

“Everywhere in Talmoria is dangerous,” Valery said. “You should know that by now. Even when you’re with the ones you love. Especially when you’re with the ones you love.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Shawn said, thinking of Manie.

Valery flashed a tiny smile and laughed. “Particularly especially at night,” she finished. “No one can save you at night. Not even the biggest strongest man in all of the Dozen Kingdoms. There are beasts out there that can make even your worst nightmare look like a dream. But the Crystals can protect us. That’s why I want them, because they can give us power. Power like a King wields.”

This girl has gone crazy. Shawn wondered if it was smart to help her. Maybe it would be better to just find Shaleah’s lab on his own. “How long is this going to take?” Shawn asked.

“Shouldn’t take long. We’ll be back before the sun comes up if everything goes to plan.”

“That’s a pretty long time,” Shawn responded. “So we’re going to camp in this forest that makes nightmares look like dreams?”

“What the matter, Shawn? Are you scared?” Valery laughed. “Easy enough to take on the biggest Renjin who ever lived in Talmoria and the Somna who rode him, but a forest is too much? I’m beginning to doubt those stories about you were true.”

“The stories are true,” Shawn said, trying not to let her hear the annoyance in his voice. “That Somna also tried to hang me once before that, but it couldn’t kill me then, either.”

“Well then, this should feel like nothing at all. Besides, it’s a small price to pay for a cure to the Gray Death, right? You might even have some fun for once.”

“Some fun? Yeah, I guess,” Shawn said, shaking his head as he followed her.

“I’m sure you’re familiar with the concept. Though transporting that blue-haired mutant must have felt a bit strange.”

“Who, Manie?” Shawn asked, resistant to the label Valery had given her. “Her hair is red, now.”

“I wonder how that happened?” Valery asked, her voice a well of sarcasm.

Shawn stared at her from above and behind as they descended the steps as if she’d somehow transformed into his enemy with those few words. He didn’t understand how she even knew Manie was alive. But if he wanted the cure, he knew he still needed her help.

Valery continued twisting deeper and deeper into the shadow as if they were submerging into a lake. Five levels down they came to the bottom and an iron door. Valery grabbed the handle and pulled it open with a stiff squeal of metal.

“So why do you want this cure? Are you some kind of hero now?” Valery asked, pausing in the doorframe. “I guess killing Duncan and Goroth gave you a taste for the danger of battle.” She looked at Shawn from toe to head, pausing with her eyes on his.

“What do you mean?” Shawn asked, confused. “I’m trying to save people. It’s not some kind of addiction.”

“You sure? You mean to say you don’t like it when people drop to their knees and bow at your feet like you’re a god?”

“It’s never been exactly like that, but I… I don’t dislike it, but…” Maybe she was right, Shawn thought. It was a feeling like no other. He couldn’t imagine going back to being just a regular teenager like he was before. A Nobody like Spencer.

“See,” Valery asked, biting her lip. “You do like it.”

“If you say so,” Shawn replied, defeated.

Valery smiled and took his hand. “Come on. We’re almost there.”

On the other side of the iron door was a long, dark hallway. Valery went into the shadow wielding the torch and Shawn stuck to her back. She went downstairs and through passages until they came to a wide room that stretched out for miles away from where they stood. Moonlight spilled into the room from a wide crack in the chamber’s ceiling like a scar of blue breath, painting the cavern’s abandoned and mossy buildings with a sapphire glow.

There were dozens of structures across the cavern, decayed and ruined by time, and the tiled floor of the chamber below was littered with broken chunks of stone and fallen bricks. Down the center of the room was a drainage river of green water that had multiple bridges crossing it, reaching in from six directions to touch a platform where a small tower stood just a few steps off the ground. Inside the ring of columns was a statue of a woman whose face could not be seen through her veil of shadow and moss, but Shawn suspected the woman was Milly.

“This place is huge,” Shawn said. “Half the city could fit down here.”

“It’s not that big,” Valery said back, sounding like she’d seen more impressive anthills. “Look down there, off the river. See the place with the spires that look like horns?”

Shawn found the building with his eyes. He could see a dark silhouette with shadowy towers at each corner of its roof. Beyond the broken double doors at the front entrance was a glow of orange light. “I see it.”

“That’s where my friends are waiting with the supplies.”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Shawn let out a deep sigh. “So…you're really sure you know where to find the cure? I’m trusting you with this.”

“Absolutely sure,” Valery said back. “I’ve read journals left behind by the Queen. She hid her secrets well, but not well enough.”

“Okay… Well, I hope you aren’t trying to trick me, somehow. I don’t have any time left to waste.” Shawn said, waving his arm. “Talmoria is depending on me.”

Valery brought her eyes to his. “Why would I try to trick you, Shawn? Like I said, you’re the hero. I just want to help. But first, you have to help me.”

“Whatever you say. Let’s just get this over with,” Shawn said, relenting to the look in her eyes.

Valery smiled and turned, descending the labyrinth of stairs.

***

The old cathedral loomed over them like a horned giant cowering in the dark. The front doors were open maws, empty and full of shadow. But beyond the darkness, there was a warm glow of torchlight. Valery went into the front hall first, Shawn following close behind. Inside were marble benches along both walls, wide enough to seat fifty people. Near the middle of the room, many of the benches were shattered and their remnants pushed to the corners into piles of debris.

In the one place beneath the city that felt the reach of moonlight shining down through the rocks was a statue of Mikhail, wielding the Blue Crystal out in front of him like the gem was his guide. His other arm had been cleaved off halfway, and the stone sword stuck in the ground at his feet had a disembodied stone hand still clinging to its hilt.

There was a burning torch laying on its side at the statue’s feet, smearing a long trail of soot up the right leg as the fire licked the king’s knees. Some of the painted glass in the spire above was shattered, and its remnants littered the floor. Shawn grabbed the torch to relieve King Mikhail of the flame and brought its light close to one large shard of glass near his feet. It showed a hero wielding a Crystal to fight off Goroth with a river of molten light. The person fighting the monster was Jango.

“They used to worship the Crystals in this place, and the heroes who could use them,” Valery said, grabbing Shawn’s shoulder and leaning over him to look at the glass. “The people that came here believed those people were gods, sent to save us from ourselves.”

Shawn kneeled and picked up the piece of glass. He held it in front of the flame, watching the battle between Jango and Goroth dance with golden-red light. Beyond the glass, he could see a lit doorway and an outline standing inside it. Shawn lowered the glass to let his eyes meet the figure, realizing it was a girl with hair like the green of the sea. She wore an oversized blue bow on the side of her head like she was a gift to the world, and she had puffy round cheeks like a squirrel.

Valery pushed herself off Shawn to stand back up and he had to fight not to fall into the mess of glass. “Hey Molly,” she said, voice rising with excitement. “Look who I found.” She put out her hands at Shawn as he stood.

Molly raised an eyebrow at him. “That’s…Him?”

“Yep,” Valery said. “That’s Him. Shawn, this is Molly. Molly, this is Shawn: the Renjin Slayer.”

Molly raised her eyebrows and fought the smile on her face until she could hold it no more, then burst out laughing. “You can’t be serious! He looks like he couldn’t fight a jar of tuna! Renjin Slayer? Bull-Shit!” She broke out into laughter once more, and Shawn could see Valery biting her lip as she tried not to join her.

It was hard not to be annoyed. Shawn knew he was supposed to keep his identity hidden, but he couldn’t help himself. “Says the girl with a giant bow in her hair. You look like a mannequin at a clothes store.”

Molly’s eyebrows pressed together in confusion as her laughter died away. “What?”

“You look like a flesh doll,” Shawn said to clarify.

“Go fuck yourself, Twig Boy.” Molly shoved a finger through a hole she was making with her other hand.

“Alright, enough you two,” Valery said, stepping between them. “Molly, you really need to work on your first impressions. Shawn’s a very serious…man–bounty hunter, I mean to say...”

Molly and Valery met eyes, then burst out laughing once again. Shawn held up his middle finger and swung it across both of them.

“Is that the finger you use to pleasure yourself?”

“It’s something we do where I’m from. It means fuck you.”

“Don’t be so serious,” Molly said. “We’re only jesting with you. Now put your chamber toy away before you lose it.” Molly bit the air and made her teeth click.

“Careful, she bites,” Valery whispered.

From the room in the back chamber came another of Valery’s friends, a boy, tall and skinny with blonde hair and a bony face. He stood in the doorway watching them. “Are you having such a good time insulting each other that you’ve forgotten the true purpose of our coming here?”

Molly turned back and raised her middle finger at the boy. “Hey, I kinda like this thing. Really gets the point across in a subtle way.”

“No one has forgotten, Dylan,” Valery said. “Especially not me. And I don’t think Shawn has either. He’s here to find a cure.”

Dylan turned his eyes on Shawn’s, looking unimpressed. “You think you’re going to cure the disease and save the island?”

“Yes, actually,” Shawn said, shrugging.

Dylan’s eyes swung back to Valery’s, and she smiled. “What can I say, he’s a real-life hero, come to save us all.”

“If you say so,” Dylan said back to her, turning to Shawn. “So you’re the one with Mikhail’s power coursing through your veins. Mind giving us a demonstration of your abilities? I’d hate to go traipsing off halfway across the island for nothing, and besides, I am oh so curious to see if you can live up to the tales I’ve heard.”

“How am I supposed to do that?” Shawn asked.

“Destroy that statue,” Dylan said, pointing at the stone carving of Mikhail. “The old king is long dead. No use for it now. Besides, if you’ve got his power, it won’t be long before these statues are carvings of you.”

Shawn turned to the king and paused. Even though it was only a rock, it still somehow felt wrong to harm it further. “This is stupid, but whatever.” Shawn pulled back his hand like he was aiming a strike at pool, then thrust out his arm and shot a burst of light, a shockwave, that erupted against the stone and tore it to pieces like it had been built of mud. A wave of rocks and pebbles showered against the far stone wall, crumbling into a pile beside the foundation where the legs had been standing.

Shawn’s heart was beating inside his chest. He was short of breath. He looked down into the crumbled remains and saw Mikhail’s arm, still clutching the Blue Crystal, wrapped in its silver chain.

“Did you see that, Vee?” Molly asked, her voice high and out of breath. “He really did it.”

Shawn looked at Valery and saw her watching him with her mouth half open. “It wasn’t just a rumor…” she said, unable to take her eyes off the stone ruin of Mikhail.

“Believe me, now?” Shawn said, turning back to Dylan and Molly. “I killed Duncan, and I killed Goroth, with nothing but my hands. And if anyone gets in my way again, I’ll kill them, too.”

Shawn could see the fear in Molly and Dylan’s eyes, but when he turned back to Valery, he saw something else. Valery looked like she’d just found a long-lost friend. “I knew there was something special about you,” she said.

Shawn was glad it was beginning to grow more obvious. “You noticed.”

“Doesn’t prove a thing,” Dylan said. “There have been others who wielded a similar power. We’ll have a better idea of the truth if you can manage to unlock this temple in the forest, that is if it truly does exist.”

“Your doubts will be remembered, and duly rubbed in your face when we arrive,” Valery said. “Besides, we’ve got Shawn.” Valery fluttered her eyelids at Shawn.

“Oh my god, don’t make me barf!” Molly shoved a finger inside her mouth. “Can’t we get going already? My feet are starting to hurt from all this standing around.”

“Yes, I think it’s time,” Valery said, moving closer to Shawn. She rubbed her hand along his shoulder and looked into his eyes. “Are you ready to find the future with me, my Lord Protector?”

“If that’s what it takes to find a cure,” Shawn said, barely succeeding at resisting her charm.

Valery smiled at him, looking like she’d lost the game. “No, this is good,” she said. “Look at the four of us. We make a dreadful scene. Copper Lanes isn’t going to know what hit ‘em.”

“That, or we’ll be the laughingstock of the town by the week's end,” Dylan said.

“Like we weren’t already after you robbed that orphan girl,” Molly said, slapping Dylan’s shoulder.

“Do you ever get the urge to kick a stray dog?” Dylan asked. “Sometimes it simply can’t be resisted.”

“Real inspiring, Dylan,” Valery said. “I’m glad you’re still with us and that the guards decided not to throw you in the dungeon.”

“Someone has to keep you two from shivering in your boots every time a boy with a firm hairline comes by.”

“Out of the four of us here, you are clearly the biggest dumbass,” Valery said. “Now stop talking and follow, like a good dog.”

Dylan turned his eyes from hers and said nothing.

“He’s loyal,” Valery said, turning back to Shawn. “That’s why I keep him around.”

Molly leaned over and touched the back of Dylan’s ear. He slapped her hand away like he was trying to break her fingers and Molly screamed, rubbing her hand. “Asshole!” She raised up her leg and kicked him in the elbow from behind.

Dylan turned and grabbed Molly by the throat, squeezing hard enough to make her face turn red. “Does this strike up memories of home?” he asked.

Molly grabbed his arm in both hands and smiled, then spit in Dylan’s face.

“Enough!” Valery screamed. “Fight our enemies, not each other!”

Dylan released his grip at once, letting Molly cough herself back to life. “I was only trying to help her remember her father.”

“You can’t squeeze half as hard as my father could, you little bitch.”

Dylan raised his hand to strike Molly with a backward strike, but Valery shouted to stop him. “Touch her again and maybe I’ll just kill you here.” Valery held fists at her sides. “We've got Shawn, now. We don’t need you.”

“When you look into the fire of your hearth at night, can you hear the sound of your mother screaming?” Molly asked, holding her throat with one hand. “Her flesh sizzling, popping? Your sisters calling out your name as they died? The sounds must haunt your dreams at night.”

The cold, quiet rage in Dylan’s eyes was enough to freeze a river. “My sisters never called out my name, they were crushed by falling debris.”

“Okay, we’re going, now,” Valery said. “Please stop fighting before I’m forced to crack your skulls together. Dylan, you get the gear?”

“Why would I have the gear?” Dylan asked.

“Um, because I asked you to get it?” Valery asked.

“It’s at The Forge. Tonila has it.”

“Great,” Valery said, raising up her arms before she let them slap back down against her sides.

“So we’re not going to the Forest?” Shawn asked.

Valery put her forehead in her hand. “No, we’re still going, but we’ll have to get the gear ourselves.” She let out a sigh. “Well, this should be interesting.”

“Interesting how?” Shawn asked.

“Interesting in the way that talking to people you don’t like can be. Come on, no use in fretting over it. Let’s just get it done.”

Valery took the torch from Shawn and turned towards the doors of the cathedral, where the sound of the river was coming from.

“I told you to get the gear, dumbass,” Molly whispered to Dylan as they started following her.

Shawn was the last to follow, but he quickly caught up.