darkness, it appeared to be securely stuck into the shaft’s wall, though whether it would remain that way with my weight dangling close to the end of it was another matter entirely. I needed to adjust my position and move back toward the wall.
It was going to hurt. A lot.
I could do it. I had to do it.
I carefully pictured exactly what I needed to do, and then, before the fear of what it would physically cost could stop me, swung my right leg toward the beam. Heat and pain and darkness surged, tearing a scream from my throat. It seemed to echo forever in the mineshaft, an indication just how deep this thing was.
Then, from darkness far above me, came an answering howl.
Imagination? Wishful thinking?
Possibly.
The heel of my boot caught the far edge of the beam. I shifted position, forced my entire leg over, and then shifted again, this time pulling myself around until I was lying along the length of wood rather than hanging limply over it.
It hurt. Lord, how it hurt. But I wasn’t finished yet. Wasn’t safe yet.
Slowly, carefully, I hooked my feet together under the beam and began to inch backwards. Sweat stung my eyes, making it difficult to see, and all I could smell on the dank air was my own fear.
It was a slow and painful process; by the time my butt hit the wall, I was soaked and shaking. But I was still conscious and still on the beam, and that was a miracle in itself.
I remained in that position for several minutes, but Belle was right. My weight was putting too much pressure on whatever I cracked. I closed my eyes, once again gathering courage for the pain that was about to hit, and then carefully pushed upright. For one intensely scary moment, I tipped sideways, but I gripped the beam fiercely and managed to stop the fall.
Then, and only then, did I look up. The stars twinkled brightly, looking far closer than I thought they’d be. Despite what I’d thought, I hadn’t actually fallen that far—maybe only twenty feet or so.
People can be killed falling ten feet, Belle said. Once again, lady luck has been with you.
She does seem to have a soft spot for me.
Or perhaps you were a cat in a previous incarnation and you’re just using up whatever spare lives you carried forward. It could also explain why Eamon dislikes you.
I snorted and instantly regretted it. I hissed and clamped a hand to my left side in a vague effort to contain the hurt, even though I knew it wouldn’t help. How far away is the rescue party?
Aiden called me about five minutes ago—they’d just found the remnants of our SUV.
Meaning they should be close. The council is going to be pissed.
The damn council needs to be bitch slapped. If they hadn’t been so damn recalcitrant about getting another witch when Gabe disappeared, none of this would be happening.
Something they’d at least admitted and rectified. It had just happened a little too late to prevent word of an unchecked wellspring spreading through the darker places of this world.
“Lizzie? Are you out there?”
The question rose out of the silence, making me jump even as relief shot through me.
Aiden. I briefly closed my eyes against the sting of tears. “Yes. I’m down a mine shaft.”
Dirt fell from the rim of the hole, and then he appeared above me. Never in my life had I been so glad to see anyone. “Are you hurt?”
“Cracked a rib or two, I think.”
“And that beam? How secure is it?”
“It hasn’t moved.”
“Paramedics and rescue are two minutes behind me. Once we get some painkillers into you, we’ll get you out of there. In the meantime, if I lower a harness down to you, do you think you can put it on?”
“Yes.”
He immediately did so. Putting it on was harder than it looked, but I eventually had everything strapped in. Securing it across my chest hurt like blazes, but falling would be ten times worse.
I swiped at the sweat dribbling down my face and then looked up. Aiden’s face was shadowed, but his eyes were as blue as sapphires. “Okay, secure this end.”
“As we are here. You won’t fall any farther, Liz.”
Which didn’t make me feel any safer. Nothing would until I got out of this goddamn shaft. I rested my head back against the wall and tried to curb my impatience. “Is Ashworth with you? Because the Empusae might still be—”
“She’s long gone.” Ashworth