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"Fine," he says, clasping Tyler's hand.

The massive insect twitches on the floor. Its mandibles continue to move, as though it's searching mindlessly for the source of energy it calls food. Its dark eyeballs seem to lock onto Tyler and his egg.

Kalistratos's arm swings in a fast arc, and a throwing knife plunges into the insect's head. The thing finally goes still.

"God, I hate bugs," Tyler groans miserably. "Anyone have any fucking bug spray?"

Kalistratos retrieves his weapon and flicks off the blood. "I think it's clear what happened to our friends here." He picks up a bone from the ground. "These ones were unlucky to have survived the storm."

He begins to scour the room, overturning the furniture looking for another exit. I go to help him, though we both already know there is no other way out—we're up against the cliff. There's nothing but solid rock.

"So what are they?" he asks. "More of Umbrios's pets?"

"His influence is drawing these monsters out from the shadowy places within our realm. The soul reavers, the harpyia, and only the Gods know what else... Provide the right conditions for darkness to thrive, and it will thrive." I crouch beside the insect. "Fascinating."

I hold my staff up to it to make some comparisons, noting that it measures up to over half of it lengthwise, and a quarter of it at its widest point. The top of its shell is as tough as rock and polished like obsidian. The underside, its belly, is softer, perhaps similar to tree bark. I rummage through my waist pouch, pushing aside the small amber piece of harpyia essence to find my emergency wine flask beneath it, now empty. I uncork it and shake the last few drops into my mouth before scooping a little of the creature's glimmering blood into it. Tyler's face crinkles.

"Nasty," he says. "What are you doing?"

"Collecting knowledge," I reply.

Suddenly, a piece in the middle of the door explodes into splinters, and the open gap fills with gnashing mandibles, clicking and scraping against the creaking beam. Kalistratosthrusts his sword through the hole, but the insect that falls away is instantly replaced by another.

"Perhaps we leave the knowledge collecting for another time?" he yells.

"Aw,fuck," Tyler says. "The only way out of here is through them, and we can't outrun that swarm."

"No, we can't," I say.

There's an idea forming in my head.

Kalistratos slashes the mandibles off another bug. The door shudders and pops as it fractures down its center. Flashes of sunlight slice through.

"Not much time left!" he shouts.

"Tyler? Are you still able to feel where Jackson is? Can you take us in his direction?"

Tyler looks at me, then closes his eyes. And as he attunes to his powers, the swarm reacts. Pieces of the door explode off. Kalistratos slashes furiously, hacking away the parts that push through. One of the creatures manages to grab his sword arm, and with an angry shout he slices the mandibles off with an upward swing of his knife.

Tyler opens his eyes. "Yes, I can feel him."

"Good. Then there's only one thing we can do. You said it yourself. The only way out of here is through them."

"Fly?" roars Kalistratos in disbelief. "In phoenix form, they'llneverstop chasing us!"

"Exactly," I reply.

His eyes narrow as he grasps what I'm hoping to accomplish.

"Cheesus.With two days ahead of us, I hope to the Gods you have that kind of stamina."

"Perhaps you want to make it a competition?" I say with a grin. "See who can last the longest?"

"Jesus, you guys are sogayfor each other sometimes," Tyler says. He snaps his fingers. "Let's go."

"I'll clear our exit," I say.

Kalistratos crouches down. "Tyler, get on my back."