Page 182 of Lady of the Drowned Empire

I passed through the threshold into the cavernous hall around me. The rock formations— their color, their scent—felt different. This wasn’t the same cave as before.

A chill ran down my spine. We’d been transported again while unconscious.

Morgs! Where are you?

I walked more quickly, peeking into the different alcoves. More beds like the one I’d been in—proper beds—appeared, but they were all empty.

Come on, Meera, give me a clue. Give me something to work with.

They’re taking me.

I ran, energy that I shouldn’t have had firing through my legs. I peeked inside every alcove, around every corner, until I found myself going down a long narrow hall leading downward, deeper and deeper into the cave.

Stupid one-way vorakh.

Terror was ringing through Meera’s aura. I had to be getting closer—I could always feel her at a distance, but this was too powerful. I ran farther, going deeper, the lights of the torches dimming. There was a salty, mineral-like scent in the air, and it was growing warmer, humid.

Gods. They’re taking my clothes. I can’t fight them.

I slowed, opening my mind. I needed to see what she was seeing. I needed a location, a view, something to help me find her.

Then I was in—seeing through her eyes. Blue waves glowed against the cavern wall and low ceiling. Warm water pushed like a tide against her feet. An akadim gripped her. It was the girl I’d seen. Murdered. Changed. Now, it was tall, its eyes red, its skin torn, its teeth fanged.

But there wasn’t any hunger or violence in its eyes.

Meera struggled against it, fighting to keep her dress on, filthy and disgusting as it was.

“Stop!” she screamed.

I could hear her—with my ears, not my mind.

I kept going. I had to reach her.

“Clean you!” roared the akadim.

The floor sloping beneath me evened and became damp, the stones growing warmer and warmer. I saw Meera ahead with the akadim, which was no longer fighting to undress her but simply sliding its clawed nails through the fabric until it fell from Meera’s body in shreds.

She was naked, her body pale and thin, wide swaths of her skin bruised and cut.

“MEERA!” I screamed, racing forward. “Get your hands off her!”

The akadim ignored me, gesturing to the water beyond.

“You, too,” said another akadim. Another female.

“Bathe,” it ordered.

“What?” I asked.

“BATHE,” it roared.

I stumbled back, my heart pounding. Then I realized where we were. It was a hot spring. A bath. A warm bath.

We were being cleaned. There were no male akadim in sight.

“Why?” I asked. “What for?”

“He’s coming,” said the akadim, its voice gravelly.