Page 21 of A Curse of Breath and Blood (The Mind Breaker #1)

20 AELIA

Tharan made a torch out of his undershirt and the matches he carried. The light barely fought back the ever-encroaching darkness.

The tunnels in the cave twisted and turned, playing tricks on our minds. Dampness seeped into my bones, making my teeth chatter with cold.

“We’re never getting out of here,” I moaned. My body begged for sleep, but my mind ran wild with questions. Who was the cloaked sorcerer? Where were Amolie, Roderick, and Lucius? My chest tightened with concern over things I had no control over.

“These tunnels can’t go on forever,” Tharan said. “We’ll find a way out.”

Caiden rubbed his arms as we headed through the treacherous passages.

We entered a cavern where a pool of black water lay still as glass below a narrow bridge. Putting his finger to his lips, Tharan pointed to the water, wiggling his fingers. I got the hint: a monster lurked in the underground lake.

I held my breath as we crossed the narrow pathway over the water, the torch’s light reflecting off the still surface below .

With every step I took, my pulse raced faster. Tharan moved gracefully as if he had done this a thousand times. The sound of our padding feet on the bridge undulated through the massive cavern.

My heartbeat blasted in my ears: thump, thump, thump . I prayed we were almost across.

A wave rippled across the placid lake beneath us. I swallowed hard. We needed to move quickly. Whatever lurked in the water knew we were here.

The bridge dipped down. We were near the end. My heart soared, but something felt off. The water was too still.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.

“Aelia!” Caiden called from behind me.

A slimy tentacle wrapped itself around my waist, pulling me into the abyss. My head went foggy as the creature slammed me into the water.

I screamed, but the water filling my lungs stifled my voice.

Nothing but murky blackness surrounded me as pain ripped through my chest.

Stabbing at the tentacle, I fought to get free.

The kraken released me, howling in pain, and I clawed my way to the surface.

I burst through the surface, gasping for air. “Caiden, your electricity. Use it!” My voice cracked as I swam aimlessly in the water.

“It’ll kill you too, Aelia.”

“Just do it!” I screamed before another tentacle hooked itself around my leg, dragging me back under. This time, my eyesight adjusted in time to see a set of vertical teeth, the size of a grown man, chomping at me.

Lightning cracked, and a flash of white light filled the cavern. Heat like a thousand fires blazed through my body. The water muted my screams .

The creature released me.

I floated to the surface.My muscles spasmed uncontrollably. Barely able to move, I tried my best to stay afloat.

“Aelia, grab the vine,” a voice called from above.

My hand shook as I reached for the smooth bark of the vine. Wrapping itself around my wrist, the three men heaved me out of the water, where I dangled.

The beast stirred back to life beneath me.

“Hurry!” I cried, just as a force pulled me down—down closer to the abyss.

“We’re trying,” Tharan said through a clenched jaw.

The slap of a tentacle sounded below, spraying me with water. The creature failing to retake me. I didn’t dare look down, but I could feel the monster rising to the surface. The sound of water running off something significant echoed through the cavern.

I focused on the flickering torch, trying to regain my breath.

Above, Caiden created a ball of lightning between his hands.

“Shut your eyes, Aelia,” he said, expanding the size of the orb.

I did as he commanded, but not before taking one last look at the monster hunting me. The light grew larger and larger in the creature’s black eyes until the two collided, sending a wave of energy throughout the chamber.

The kraken howled and thrashed in the water until taking one final death roll. Silence surrounded us once more. Its massive body floated lifelessly.

The men pulled me onto the narrow land bridge. Water dripped from my heavy skirt. I dug my fingers into the dirt, gasping for breath, while saying a silent prayer of thanks to Ammena for saving my life.

“Are you okay?” Caiden said, kneeling, patting my back, attempting to get the water out of my lungs.

“Just… give… me… a… minute.” I focused on the d irt between my fingers as the reality of what had occurred came crashing down upon me. I wanted to cry, but no tears came as a knot I couldn’t untangle twisted in my chest.

“We have to go,” Tharan said in a voice as hard as adamant. The torch flickered in his green eyes. His gaze focused on something behind us. “They’re coming.”

Through the darkness, the light of a single torch came into view.

“Gideon’s men?” I asked.

“Worse.” Tharan pulled his sword from its sheath. “Cave trolls. Can you run?”

I nodded, feeling returning to my limbs. “I think so.”

My heart raced as Tharan cut my heavy skirt off. The fabric fell into the black water below. With it went any protection I had.

“Caiden will lead us. Aelia will go next, and I will follow.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Tharan dropped his torch into the water.

Massive white trolls appeared at the other end of the narrow land bridge.

The creatures sniffed the air, tasting our scent. Fucking cave trolls—smelly beasts without eyes who lived off the organisms in the rocks but had a taste for blood should the opportunity present itself. Notoriously hard to kill because of their armor-like outer shells. Leading the army of blind beasts was a goblin with batwing ears and beady black eyes.

My breath hitched in my throat at the sight.

“Run,” Tharan said.

We took off across the land bridge into complete darkness. I could barely make out Caiden’s silhouette as we made our way through the circuitous tunnels of the cave. An army of trolls marching behind us. Their heavy footsteps shook the earth beneath our feet.

Caiden swore under his breath .

“What is it?” I asked, trying my best to keep my voice steady.

“It’s narrow up here. I think we’ll have to go one at a time. When you get through, sprint to the mouth of the cave. The trolls won’t dare cross into the forest.”

A jagged crevasse cut like a scar against the smooth rock. Inhaling deeply, I maneuvered my body into the gap. Rough stone scraped my face as I made my way through.

Rays of sun shone through, beckoning me forward, while the sound of clashing swords reminded me of the danger lurking behind us.

“Keep going,” Tharan yelled loud enough for me to hear.

I squeezed through, falling to my knees on the other side.

Come on, come on, make it through. I bit my nails, waiting for the men on the other side.

Another flash of light streamed through the crevasse—the last of Caiden’s power. The gifts of the sylph were not infinite. Caiden would be exhausted. If he made it.

I held my breath as another figure made his way through the fissure. Tharan joined me, gasping for air.

Caiden came through after. His movements slowed by the weight of exhaustion. I bit my lip but did not look away until I saw the gold ring on his left hand slide out of the crack.

He collapsed onto the hard ground.

“Caiden,” I gasped, running to his side and pulling him into my lap.

“I’m so tired,” he said as his eyes fought to stay open.

“He needs to eat something.” Tharan went to the mouth of the cave, digging his hand into the damp morning soil. Holding it up to the sun, he whispered something in a language I did not recognize. To my amazement, two mushrooms sprouted from the dirt.

“Here, give these to him. They should help.”

I took the two yellow mushrooms from his palm. “How do I know these aren’t poisonous?” I arched a questioning brow .

“The ring. The band will glow if there is poison near.”

I held the mushrooms near the ring. It did not change colors. A weight lifted off my chest. I smashed the fungi into a paste and placed it on Caiden’s tongue.

“I need you to chew,” I commanded.

Caiden mashed the yellow mush lazily.A grimace crossed his face, but alertness returned to his eyes.

“Energy mushrooms,” Tharan said, wiping his hands on his pants.

“Thank you, Tharan.” I rubbed Caiden’s chin with my knuckles.

Caiden got to his feet, brushing the dirt off his white pants, stained with blood.“Thank you. Both of you.” Caiden nodded to Tharan before giving me a dimpled smile.

“We should go while the sun is still high in the sky. It will take us hours to reach the border of the elven lands.”As Tharan headed toward the forest, a trail of blood leaked from his leg.

“You’re hurt,” I said, pointing to the gash.

“It’ll be fine,” he said, keeping pressure on the wound. The winter wind bit my exposed legs as we trudged toward what we hoped was safety.

The Forest of Needles was aptly named—skeletal trees reached for the ashen sky like twisted, bony fingers. Leafless branches, barren of life, clawed at the air as if frozen in a perpetual state of agony. A thick, suffocating stillness permeated every living thing, broken only by the occasional creaking and groaning of the lifeless limbs in the wind. The air itself seemed to carry a whisper of melancholy, as if the very essence of life had been drained from the surroundings. Gnarled trunks cast long, foreboding shadows playing tricks on my mind.

With every step, the snow burned my bare skin. Caiden offered me his coat. I took it gratefully, burying my nose in the fabric smelling of bergamot and leather .

The sound of Tharan’s teeth chattering drowned out my own.Shivering worse than me, his wine-red hair whipped in the icy wind—a slight limp in his gait from the fight.

“We need to stop and light a fire. Tharan and I will not make it much further,” I said, wrapping my arms tighter around myself.

“We must cross the border before nightfall. There’s no telling what hunts in these woods once the sun is gone,” Caiden said, not bothering to look back at me.

I gave Tharan my best I’m sorry eyes.

He mustered the best smile he could.

An eerie sense of calm inhabited the forest.

“We’re just passing through,” Tharan whispered under his breath. “We will be gone soon.”

A stick cracked in the distance. The men’s heads snapped to the left. Caiden held up his hand, stopping us dead in our tracks. Tharan muttered something under his breath while we held ours. Perhaps the cold had made him go insane.

“Something is watching us,” Caiden said, scanning the ridge above for predators.

“Let’s keep going. We are almost at the border,” Tharan replied.

“Do you know what hunts us, Prince ?” Caiden asked, snark dripping from every word.

“If we keep moving, it will leave us alone. This forest is old and likes the taste of blood. It’s best not to linger for too long.” Tharan kept limping along.

Hooking my arm around Tharan’s waist, I let him lean on me. He gave me an appreciative smile, showcasing his long sylph fangs.

“There is a town close to the edge of the forest. They are not kind to outsiders, but they will tolerate you if you’re with me. We can get a hot meal and a place to lay down,” Tharan said.

Darkness chased our footsteps, awakening the forest with it. I didn’t dare look back. Tharan’s wound attracted the eyes of the forest.

From the edge of the forest, the roofs of a small town came into view. Sheep dug in the snow for grass on rolling hills. Elven lands were foreign to me. They did not take kindly to outsiders.

Opulence dripped from every nook and cranny of the elven town. Streets paved with iridescent cobblestones wound through meticulously manicured gardens where vibrant flowers and enchanted flora bloomed even in the dead of winter. Sculpted homes mirrored the surrounding forest—a testament to the elves’ craftsmanship.

Tharan stopped before a large marble building with two statues of Eris, the elven goddess of the Trinity, standing guard.

“This is the governor’s residence. I will ask for a safe harbor for the night.” He took a deep breath before climbing the marble stairs and disappearing behind two gold-plated doors. Caiden and I sat on the hard steps and waited for him to return.

“Thank you for what you did back there,” Caiden said, fiddling with his rings. “Did you plant the seed?”

“I did, and you’re welcome.” I wrapped Caiden’s cloak tighter around me. “Everyone will think Gideon is a hero now.” A bitter taste filled my mouth at the thought of Gideon being hailed a champion.

“He’s cunning, I’ll give him that,” Caiden said, gazing around the immaculate marbled town.

“What are we going to do now? He’ll be more emboldened than ever.”

Caiden rubbed eyes. “We’re going to continue with the plan as is. His arrogance will be his downfall.”

“Let’s hope it works,” I said, rising as Tharan bounded down the stairs.

“They said we could stay for the night. The portal to Ruska opens in the morning.” Tharan led us down the pristine street to a small inn where he presented the innkeeper with a permit for outsiders to stay.

Dark wooden staircases and gold accents greeted us when we entered the inn. An elderly elf with long, bony fingers and soft creases around her eyes greeted us.

“Hello, Prince Tharan. The governor sent word ahead and said you would be arriving with…” She eyed Caiden and me with distaste. “Guests soon.”

Tharan laid a pouch of gold on the mahogany counter. “Yes, they are to be treated with the utmost respect.”

“As you wish,” she said with a hint of disdain, grabbing keys to three rooms.

Her hands slipped on the polished railing as she escorted us upstairs. Despite their immortality, time still took its toll on the elves.