Ash Princess (The Deviant Future #6) - Eve Langlais Page 0,40

point. Nasty critters had ways of getting in.

She wanted to go down and check on them, but responsibility kept her pacing instead. With five of the oldest ones already down below, she couldn’t leave. If the worst happened, there wouldn’t be anyone left who was born before their world ended.

Surely she overreacted, but tell that to the gnawing worry in her stomach.

Time passed. Hours and hours, or so it seemed. In reality, it was a lot less. She hated not knowing what was happening. She was crouched by the stairs, listening, when she caught the hint of smoke.

Smoke in a place of stone? She grabbed the crossbow leaning against the wall. “Milo, I need you to stand outside. Be ready to drop the bar if I tell you.”

“You mean once you get out.”

“Drop the bar no matter what.”

“If there is something down there bad enough to take you and the others out, then closing this door will only delay the inevitable.”

Her lips thinned. “Delaying is all we have.”

Milo exited and kept the door open only enough to hear her and keep an eye on the hole in the floor. It had to be killing him.

Surely there was nothing to worry about. One of the harvesting crew must have gotten hurt, delaying their return.

If only she believed it.

Across the room, Gellie squawked. He waddled in agitation, rolling his body, ruffling his stunted wings. A dragon needed space for them to grow.

“What’s wrong?” she asked. Not that Gellie ever replied, but at times it felt like he could understand.

There was the smell that was wrong, first of all, then the noise. What noise? She couldn’t hear it, and yet glancing at Gellie, she did. The grunts of exertion, the distinctive fleshy smacks from a stave, the howl of something inhuman.

Howling wasn’t good. She looked away from Gellie, and the sensory input faded, if it ever existed at all. She preferred not to dwell on it because then she’d have to decide if it was real or a symptom of her finally going crazy.

Kayda held herself ready, and it wasn’t long before she could discern the faint sounds of battle. Sweaty hands gripped the crossbow as she watched for whoever would come up those stairs. Friend or foe. It took everything in her to not succumb to the temptation of going down to see. If she did that, then who would warn Milo to block the door? Who would protect the rest of them?

Her finger flexed but didn’t press on the trigger as a body lurched into view, covered in gore, but not a monster. A grimacing Lila, followed by Gorri, who turned to look behind, only there was no one at his back.

“Where’s Hale, Pelo, and Bea?” Kayda asked as her friends reached the room. She left out Cam on purpose.

“Gone. We think.” Gorri rubbed his face and only spread the grime. “Cam’s still down there fighting off the last one.”

“Last what?” she asked, her blood running cold.

“Ghoul.”

Even before Gorri had finished saying the word, Kayda was skipping down the stairs in time to see a head with scraggly, greasy strands moving in for a fatal bite. Instinct took over; the crossbow lifted, and one of her few remaining quarrels flew.

Thunk.

The ghoul fell over. She asked Cam if he wanted to live, and he turned to give her a grin.

“Nice shot.”

“Thanks.” She went to retrieve the bolt, but he grabbed her arm as she passed him on the stairs. “Leave it. We don’t have time.”

The ominous declaration formed a knot in her belly.

Together, they raced to the top of the stairs where Gorri and Lila waited. As soon as she and Cam appeared, they sighed in relief.

“You made it!” Gorri exclaimed.

“We’re not safe yet,” Kayda snapped. “Grab the trapdoor.”

The first line of defense that went over the hole for the staircase. It locked into place, but she noticed Cam eyed it dubiously.

“If they come up in a large group, they’ll tear through that.”

“I am aware,” she said grimly. “Which is why I’m sorry, Milo, but your garden has to go.” She ran for the back wall and the thick metal lever jutting from it. She grabbed hold and heaved. It didn’t budge it at all.

“Need a hand?” Cam drawled as he grabbed hold and pulled.

It groaned and creaked as it moved. There was ominous rumbling underfoot that went on for a while.

When it ended, Cam said softly. “What did that lever do?”

“Took out the staircase and the first three floors below us.