think we could stay if we wanted to! Geratan glanced back to the Brigantines. We need to get into your tunnel, Tash.
Tash wanted Twist to come with her, and to her relief, he was suddenly beside her. He grabbed her hands and pointed upward. A vision filled her head—all the tunnels were closing in, closing in faster and faster. But one of the tunnels on the level above was a shorter route to the surface. It was the last way out.
Tash grabbed Geratan.
Change of plan. We’ve got to use a different tunnel. Twist will show us.
You’re sure?
I’m sure.
She grabbed Twist’s hand, and he set off running up the terraces, leading the Demon Troop to the higher tunnel. At the entrance, he pulled Tash to the side as Anlax began to lead the men in. Twist held Tash’s hand, and she had a new vision. In it, the smoke in the core was getting more and more turbulent and turning white. The demons were in the small chamber she’d seen way down in the lower levels of the world, still walking into the core. There were only five left. Twist was one of the last. Horrible realization filled her.
He’s saying good-bye—forever.
He couldn’t come with her. He didn’t want to. But he was her friend; she knew it—felt it.
Good-bye. Thank you for being my friend. Thank you for helping us, even though you owe us nothing.
She knew he couldn’t understand her words, but hoped he understood her feelings, her gratitude. But now she saw a different vision. One of herself with a small flame of red smoke inside her.
Twist looked into her eyes and pointed to her chest.
In all the chaos, Tash had forgotten that she had smoke inside her. She’d inhaled the purple smoke when she’d broken the bottles and she had that element of red smoke deep inside her. That smoke had saved her, but now it would kill her. When the smoke turned white and the demon world ended, she would end too.
I don’t want it, Tash thought to Twist desperately. It doesn’t belong to me. But how do I get rid of it?
In answer Twist leaned forward as if he was going to kiss her. And then his mouth was on hers, but not in a kiss like she’d seen young lovers doing. Twist was sucking—sucking her breath out, then somehow sucking more until her lungs were empty and screaming.
Stop! No!
There was a searing heat in her chest and throat, and, as her head fell back, she caught sight of a small stream of lilac and red smoke coming out of her mouth, emptying her of strength. And only when the last wisp had gone could she breathe again.
Well, that was shitting horrible.
The smoke wafted round her neck and away, through the cavern and down to join the rest of the pale smoke that was swirling out of the core.
Tash felt weak and sick, but she tried to smile.
Thank you, Twist. Thank you for everything.
Tears filled her eyes, and she leaned up and kissed his cheek. Good-bye. I’ll miss you.
They slid their hands apart.
Twist turned and raced off, disappearing into another tunnel, and Tash knew he was going back to the core, to become smoke again and help remake the world of smoke somewhere else.
Tash took one last look at the cavern. It seemed to be shrinking before her eyes: the terraces were narrowing, the tunnels closing in, the roof dropping toward her. And yet the smoke was brighter, almost dazzling.
Geratan’s hand was on her arm. We’ve got to hurry, Tash. Go to the front. Lead the way.
She slipped past the Demon Troop and kept running as fast as she could.
Twist showed us this tunnel. He’d know we’d have a chance. But please don’t close. Please don’t close . . .
The tunnel spiraled up steeply. Her legs felt heavy, like she’d been running for days. Which, when she thought about it, she had.
Just keep going. Keep going . . .
And then she saw it.
Sky. Real sky. And the silhouette of treetops.
Her heart pounding, Tash forced herself up the last few paces and out into the coolness of the human world. She fell to her knees on the grass, gasping for air. She’d never pushed herself so hard in her life. She turned to look behind her and willed the others to arrive.
Anlax was next. Then more of them. All were breathing hard, flopping on the ground. There was no sign of Geratan, and Tash knew he would be