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“We’re not…”

“We are.”

I swallowed. “What happens if we fall?”

“My suggestion isdon’t.”

That didn’t make me feel any better. “But if we do?”

“You get impaled on one of the spikes below.”

Wonderful.

I could’ve insisted I stay here and wait for him to come back. Of course, if he took too long, the fire would go out and I’d have no way to find my way back. But there was something about the temple. Something that was drawing me deeper and deeper in.

He turned back to face me. “You can stay here,” he said, reading my hesitation.

I shook my head. “I can manage.”

“I’ll hold the torch for you, then.”

Before I could ask how, Raphael disappeared.

A breeze hit my face.

No, not a breeze. I stared at the spot where Raphael had been standing. In his place, at eye level with me, was a large bat.

He flapped towards my hands, an indication to give him the torch.

I was still staring at the creature in front of me.

“You can turn into abat?”

He dove at my hands again, more impatient.

I’d never sleep well again. Not if vampires could turn into random animals.

Well… if I impaled myself on a spike in the pit, it wouldn’t matter.

I lifted the torch to him, uncertain if his small, clawed feet could grasp it, but they managed, digging so hard into the wood it dented. Apparently, vampire strength extended to other forms. He moved from the edge to the space over the chasm, lighting the ledge for me. I stepped onto the lip, pressing my weight towards the wall. My heart slammed against my ribs, but I mastered my breathing and slowly moved one foot forward, then the other. Bat-Raphael lit the way, a few paces ahead. I didn’t dare look any farther. I didn’t want to know how far I had to go. The stone was smooth, and the slick sweat of my palms meant I couldn’t even fool myself into thinking I had any kind of grip.

When faced with a terrifying situation, the only thing to do was keep moving. So that was what I did, one slow foot drag at a time. It could’ve been an hour for all I knew. When I eased around another corner, I dared to let myself believe I might actually make it. I was close. So close. Raphael flew closer, the beating of his wings cooling the sweat beading on my neck. The torch seemed to be growing dimmer, but perhaps that was just my nerves. It lit the space immediately in front of me, so I stepped there, then again and again.

I’m going to make it.

Then the dim light sputtered out.

And I was in the dark.

Clinging to the wall.

Chapter Twenty-One

Panic seized me. Anychance of controlling my breathing died as I began to hyperventilate.

I’m going to die here.

I’d thought it would be worth it. That I needed to continue on this journey. Stupid. Survival above all else. Now I would die for my godsdamned curiosity.