Page 2 of Bound by Wishes (Enchanted Deceptions #1)
A strange feeling of unease settled in my chest as I stepped out of the beat-up car. For some reason, I expected the entrance to King Thalorian’s mines to be much grander than a simple stone passage carved into the side of a mountain. And if it was this obvious, why hadn’t someone found it before now?
“Unload my explosives!” a man who Mathew addressed as Benjamin yelled over the commotion.
“Explosives?” I blanched, turning to Benjamin and Mathew.
“I’m tired of waiting, Cali,” Mathew huffed. “You have five minutes to find me a way in before I start blasting.”
Benjamin smiled at me arrogantly, all the while continuing to stuff wicks into dynamite.
I hurried forward before these fools did something reckless, like blowing up a monument that had taken centuries to find. I scanned the massive stone structure. The symbols were easy to read—years of sand and dust had already been meticulously cleared by other archaeologists. Shadows brushed across the ancient surface, casting eerie shapes that seemed to mock me.
I took a deep breath. I knew these symbols, and I refused to let those pigheaded men ruffle me.
I traced the rough stone with my fingertips, and a surge of excitement coursed through me as I read the forgotten language etched into its surface.
Mathew's sudden presence jolted me from my focused trance, causing me to startle slightly at the interruption.
"What is it?" His question pierced through my concentration, drawing my attention away from my work.
“Ancient petroglyphs,” I replied, trying to mask the annoyance tugging at my expression.
“Can you read them?” he asked, his curiosity evident despite the audacity of the question.
I pressed my wind-chapped lips into a thin line, leveling him with a look of pure aggravation. "I wouldn't be a very good archaeologist if I couldn't, now would I?" My retort held a touch of sarcasm, which I could tell he did not appreciate.
"The other archaeologists couldn’t," Mathew grumbled, his tone doubtful. “Well, what does it say?” he asked impatiently.
I stepped back so I could study the structure. It baffled me why the other archaeologist couldn’t read the words; they were so simple. “It’s a warning to anyone who enters. ‘Death comes on swift wings to whosoever disturbs this resting place.’” I glanced up at Mathew. “I don’t think this is King Thalorian’s mines. This warning says it’s a resting place, but King Thalorian wasn’t buried in his mines.”
"Don't be so naive, Cali," Mathew countered dismissively. "They probably put that there just to throw us off."
I nearly snorted out loud at his ignorance, biting my lip to keep those words from tumbling out.
“Does it say how to open it?” he asked.
“No,” I answered with a shrug. “Just the warning.”
“Well, that was pointless,” Mathew sneered, walking away. “More unnecessary time wasted bringing you here.”
“Watch out, little lady. It’s my turn.” Benjamin muttered as he shoved me out of the way and started depositing dynamite around the entrance.
"Don't touch me," I hissed, jerking away from his touch as a surge of anger shot through me.
“I would move waaaay back if I were you,” Malik’s voice rang loud and clear over the radio, reminding me that he was listening the whole time from the campsite. I heeded his words and ducked behind one of the vehicles.
“These idiots are going to ruin the entrance and make this side of the mountain very unstable,” I grumbled to Malik.
The static of the radio responded first, followed by Malik’s voice. “What did you expect when Mathew’s in charge?”
I covered my ears as Benjamin yelled, “Hit the deck!”
The explosion rattled my teeth as the deafening blast echoed across the land. A cloud of dust and debris billowed outward, surrounding us in a suffocating haze. Tears welled up in my eyes, stinging against the grit clinging to my lashes and floating through the air.
“All right! Everyone inside,” Mathew shouted, gripping me under my arm and pulling me until I was standing. I snatched away from his touch so violently, I nearly toppled over.
“I take it you won’t be joining us,” I accused, my tone carrying a hint of challenge.
He shot a cocky grin in my direction. “Of course not. Someone has to stay out here and make sure everything runs smoothly.”
I shook my head, biting back the sharp retort that hovered at the tip of my tongue. I grabbed my old bag and a lantern, stalling at the entrance. Why weren’t my feet moving? Wasn’t this everything I had ever wanted—to make a name for myself like my dad had? I bit my lower lip as fear collided with my dreams.
“Be careful, Cal,” Malik warned over the radio.
“I’m always careful,” I responded, making my voice sound more confident than I felt before I stepped into the dark maw of the cave.
The faint glimmer of sunlight in the entrance barely penetrated the darkness, casting our elongated silhouettes across the jagged outlines of the rocky walls. The air was cool and musty, thick with the scent of damp earth and dusty smoke from the explosion. Every sound seemed magnified in the stillness. Shoes shuffled across the ground and the wind whistled at the cave’s opening.
“No unnecessary noise,” Benjamin warned. “This cavern is unstable. ”
I raised my lantern. "I wonder who made it that way?" I mused aloud, my lowered voice dripping with sarcasm.
Benjamin shot me a scowl as he glanced around, but I paid him little mind as I pressed deeper into the cave. We continued down, the smoldering heat from above replaced with cool, damp air. Goosebumps erupted on my skin, but I wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or the excitement drumming in my veins.
The cave rumbled, seemingly displeased with our presence here. I didn’t believe in curses, but the warning at the entrance kept echoing in my mind. I cast an uncertain glance around the tunnel. “I think we should turn back. These walls need to be reinforced before we continue deeper.”
“Where’s your sense of adventure?” Benjamin snarled over his shoulder, continuing forward while ignoring my warning.
“She’s right,” another worker chimed in. “That explosion has made these walls very temperamental.” The cave grumbled its agreement, causing more debris to fall from the ceiling.
I froze as the ground began to tremble violently beneath our feet. I gasped as a fissure tore through the cavern floor. It split wide open, swallowing everything in its path with a deafening roar. With a scream of terror, I stumbled backward as the ground split in two.
I watched in horror as crew members disappeared into the abyss, their desperate cries fading into the depths as they fell deeper and deeper into the darkness.
I pressed my back against the cavern wall, my heart pounding as I tried to avoid being swallowed by the gaping chasm that had ripped through the earth. My fingertips dug into the rough, uneven surface of the stone, clinging to it as the split continued to widen.
"Cal!" Malik's voice crackled with desperation over the radio, the fear in his voice intense even through the static.
My heart clenched with helplessness as I listened, unable to respond. I knew that no matter what I did, the looming abyss was about to swallow me. I wanted to tell Malik how much I loved him. But the words were trapped in the hollowness of my fear. I was too afraid to reach for the radio.
A jolt of terror shot through me as my feet slipped from beneath me, sending me hurtling into the darkness below. Panic surged through every fiber of my being as I plummeted, the cold rush of air whipping past.
I fell for what felt like an eternity before I was engulfed in icy cold water. My lungs threatened to implode as I kicked and thrashed, clawing my way back to the surface. I gasped for air, scarcely believing I was still alive. I fought my way through the water, dragging my body onto a slippery rocky ledge.
My body trembled uncontrollably as adrenaline coursed through my veins. I scooted further away from the water, hugging my knees tightly to my chest, and forced my panicky breathing to slow, drawing in soothing lungfuls of air. Gradually, the pounding of my heart began to ease.
I lifted my head, surprised to see a soothing blue light pouring from the depths of the cavern. Its gentle glow bathed the surroundings, forming ethereal-looking shadows that danced across the slick cavern walls.
I pushed myself to stand on trembling legs, my knees threatening to buckle as I scanned the area. I looked for any signs of the others in the exhibition crew, hoping that they had survived.
“Hello?” My voice shook, but the only response I received was my word echoing into the void.
I stepped forward, half expecting to see the lifeless bodies of my crew members scattered about in the dim light. Panic surged in my chest as I realized I was here alone. How was it possible that none of the others had made it down here with me? Frantically, I reached for the radio in my pocket, only to be met with emptiness. No doubt the radio was at the bottom of the deep pool, along with the others.
On shaky limbs, I continued toward the source of light that led me even deeper into the cavern. I hugged my arms closer to my body, trying to harness what little warmth they provided. The narrow passageway gradually widened, unfolding into a massive opening that stretched out before me.
Concern about survival was tossed aside as I gazed upon a rocky podium bathed in that strange blue light. The light seemed to gather, forming a shimmering halo around a mysterious ancient black oil lamp. Its obsidian surface seemed to drink in the light, pulsating with a foreign energy that sent shivers down my spine. I dared to move closer, carefully watching for any sign of booby traps.
I admired the intricate details etched into the onyx lamp. The patterns danced across the smooth surface, reminding me of a starry, moonless night. Caution begged me to stop, but it was like I didn’t have control over my body. Everything within me begged me to touch the lamp. I reached out, my fingers trembling as they brushed across the cool, smooth surface.
With a gasp, I snatched my hand away, recoiling in alarm as inky black smoke poured from the spout of the lamp. The tendrils of darkness curled and twisted, writhing like living shadows as they reached for me.