into the abyss. Instantly he thrust the sight into Joie’s mind, knowing she would relay the information to her siblings and they would be trying to slow their descents.
He felt rather than caught the first bump as the ice beneath him had flakes. Cursing to himself, he used more energy trying to smooth the way ahead of them. He could taste fear the other three radiated, especially Joie’s sister. She was holding it together by a thread. The intensity of the emotion was amplified by the combination of natural fear, the vampires, and the mage caves. He couldn’t waste his strength shielding them from the disturbing broadcast.
He’d slid another ten feet when he saw the large obstacle blocking the path. A ball of ice closed the chute. It was thick and solid. He felt Joie’s instant awareness. She was locked in his mind, clinging to the fact that he seemed confident.
On three we self arrest, Joie instructed her siblings.
Gabrielle’s sob of alarm echoed through the tube, and Traian’s heart stuttered for a moment. If the woman couldn’t stop her descent, she’d slam into Joie’s head. He had to concentrate on removing the huge block of ice stopping up the slide and there was likely to be more ahead.
One. Two. Three.
He felt the surge of energy as the three climbers slammed the spikes deep into the ice and rolled, their arms taking the shock of the abrupt halt. Joie’s wrenching cry was only in her mind, but Traian felt the jolt through his own body. Gabrielle let out a small sob.
I’m slipping, Joie.
We’re okay, Joie assured. Hurry, Traian.
The three of them had thrown their lot in with him and were trusting in his ability in a situation beyond their comprehension. As he gathered energy he puzzled the best way to dissolve the ice ball. Heat could cause more problems. Blasting it might as well.
Joie. There are handles in this chute, Jubal announced. This isn’t entirely natural.
It is mage-formed, Traian informed them as he carefully blew a steady blast of heat into the center of the solid ball of ice. He took great care to keep a laser-like projection. He didn’t dare allow the sides or ceiling of the tunnel to melt as well.
I can’t hold on any longer, Gabrielle informed her siblings, panic edging her voice.
I hear something in the chute. That was Jubal, surprisingly calm.
Traian redoubled his efforts, no longer caring that there might be a small spill. He blew steadily as he approached the blockage. The ice ball melted into a puddle and ran down the slide in advance of him.
Keep coming but really try to control the speed of your descent.
It would take effort for the three to turn over and reposition themselves without falling out of control down the steep slide. He had faith that Jubal could do it. The man was strong. Perhaps Joie, but Gabrielle wasn’t experienced enough. He took a breath and sent her strength, knowing he was growing too weak to keep controlling everything around him. He kept the ceiling as smooth as possible as he went down, not wanting any of them injured. Ahead of him, he had to continually clear the chute.
Crickets. Thousands of them, pouring over the top of me.
Again, Traian was astonished at the calm in Jubal’s voice. The experience of swarms of insects rushing over one in the dark was eerie and frightening to say the least. He wasn’t surprised when Gabrielle burst into tears.
Close your eyes, Jubal advised. Breath shallow through your nose. They’re moving fast. Trying to get out of here like we are. I think they’re trying to tell us something.
Traian knew that last was for him. They were communicating through his strong connection with Joie, but Jubal had to be a strong enough psychic to feel him in Joie’s mind.
He knew the moment the crickets reached Joie. Everything in her stilled, rebelled, silently screamed as the bugs poured over her in their effort to get away from the evil following them. The rasping was loud as thousands of legs rushed over the ice and humans, desperate to escape.
Hurry. I am out. Do not worry about how fast you go, I can stop you here at the bottom. I must close the chute behind you before the vampires can enter.
The crickets reached Traian and rushed over him as his feet touched the ground to flee in front of the threat of evil. He leapt out and turned to catch Joie in his arms, whipping her