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“I’ll take the stronger ones, but are you sure our efforts won’t activate all the spells?” The question didn’t stop Eldwin from extending his diamond toward Rod’s. “It wouldn’t be hard to create a cascade effect tied to the first spells.”

“Agreed,” Rod said. “Which is where Bart comes in. He’ll protect us if the other spells go live all at once.”

It wasn’t the time to admire my mate, but I did. His confidence grew with every decision he made. His commanding presence, however, didn’t stop me from asking questions. “Are you sure that’s a wise move? Blackstone will know we’re here once we tinker with his spells.”

“Your grandfather is in there.” Rod pointed in front of us. “There are no options except moving forward.”

He was right, so we began without further discussion. Hro moved up next to Eldwin, while Cael and Bart remained side-by-side as we worked.

I couldn’t see what Rod did, but the Earth thrummed through my connection.

The danger zone moved further down the tunnel, allowing us to continue.

We stopped at a second spot, and Rod’s diamond pulsed gently.

This time the warning hit me like a truck.

I groaned an instant before a ball of magical fire appeared in the blackness ahead and raced toward us.

Purple light met the fire, and the two canceled each other out in a brilliant flash. We waited for more attacks, but the Earth had returned to calm.

“The path is clear until the end of this hallway,” I said. “At least I can’t sense anything at the moment.”

We continued, and the tunnel narrowed ahead. The rough-hewn walls glistened with an unnatural sheen. My enhanced senses detected a complex lattice of death woven into the very stone.

“Hold!” I threw out an arm as if that could stop them. “There’s an angry web of energy ahead.”

Rod’s diamond flared, and his magic flowed over the floor. Where it passed, lines of sickly purple-black energy crisscrossed the ground in an intricate web.

“It’s fascinating, in a twisted way,” Bart said. Holding out his purple tourmaline, he stared at the obstruction. “They’re layered, like a deadly composition.”

“Three primary trigger mechanisms, each connected to at least five secondary responses,” Eldwin said, his face bathed in pink light. “If you trip one and neutralize it, the others will probably activate in sequence.”

“There’s a pattern,” Rod said. “See how the energy loops back on itself? The first layer binds, the second drains magical energy, and then the third swoops in for the kill.”

“The targeting spells are keyed to the earth magic in beings,” Cael finished grimly. “It’s designed to distract the mages so it can kill the beings.”

“Can we remove it?” Father asked. “And if not, can we fly over it safely?”

Bart and Cael faced Rod, and then Rod looked at Eldwin. The elder guardian appeared to shrug.

“It can be done,” Eldwin said. “But it will take a few minutes.”

He and Cael knelt at the edge of the magical barrier, their stones casting light in mesmerizing patterns. They traced counter-sigils in the air and floated them to precise spots on the ground.

“The structure is numerical,” Eldwin said. “Three primary nodes, each with nine connections.”

“It will take three mages to do it safely,” Cael said, looking at Rod. “We need you to disrupt one of the primary spots.”

Rod nodded and added his white to the blue and pink floating over the array. Their magic twined together, creating a visual light show that danced over the ground.

Despite the tension, I watched in fascination as the magic darted around the deadly space. The three slid into a rhythm, clearing the ground in short order. When their magic covered the entire space, the dark glyphs slowly faded into the dirt.

“Done,” Rod whispered after several minutes. “Give it another minute to make sure all the dark energy is neutralized.”

We made it safely to the end of the tunnel and paused while I determined which way. “That way.” I pointed left. “We’re getting closer, but there are different spells lining the way.”

The mages consulted again, and when they finished, we set out again. The process was painstaking, requiring everyone to be on high alert. We encountered three more layers of defenses, each one more sophisticated than the last.

After we cleared the third obstacle, we stopped to rest and reassess our position.

The passages beyond weren’t natural. Residual dark energy lingered in the walls from magic used to carve them. This was a twisted maze, designed to wear us down. Corridors branched off at odd intervals. My earth sense told me they were dead ends, but checking them cost us valuable time.

I closed my eyes, pushing past the immediate layer of corruption that saturated the tunnel walls. Beneath that sickening vibration lay something else—a rhythm, ancient and pure, that pulsed with stubborn persistence. Like a heartbeat.

Kneeling, I pressed my palm flat against the cold stone floor.

The initial contact sent a shiver of revulsion through me as Blackstone’s magic attempted to repel my touch, but I pushed deeper.

The Earth responded—not just responding to my call, but reaching for me with something that felt almost like recognition.

“It’s different this time,” I said, looking up at Rod with wide eyes. “The Earth is communicating. Not just allowing me access, but actively showing me things.”

“The Earth remembers this place is a medicine wheel,” Cael said. His connection to earth magic allowed him to see most of what I could, just not Grandfather. “Before Blackstone’s corruption, this was a site of healing and communion.”

Beneath the pervasive layer of wrongness, earth magic still flowed.

Blackstone had tried to smother it with his dark arts, but his corruption was just a surface wound.

Below, the ancient magic waited, gathering its strength like a coiled spring.

The Earth found cracks and gaps in the perversion and was helping us find Grandfather.

“This way,” I said when we reached a new hallway.

My connection to Grandfather grew stronger as we walked down a sloped tunnel. Given how far underground we’d gone, I started to question my decisions. If I was wrong, we’d all die, along with any hope of saving the world.

Rod fell into step beside me and clasped my hand. His confidence quelled most of my doubts without him saying a word. It wasn’t blind trust, but a willingness to trust in us, the same way we’d maintained our faith we’d be together one day.

The air grew thicker, heavy with the unpleasant scent of corruption that reminded me of the demon cave in Romania. There was more here than just holding Grandfather prisoner. I couldn’t say what, but it was foul.

After another turn, I felt three life forces ahead of us. None of them were Grandfather. I stopped abruptly and pointed to the right. “Three guards around the next bend,” I said silently.

“How close?” Eldwin asked.

Concentrating on the signals, I traced back mentally. “Twenty feet, maybe a bit more.”

“It’s obviously a trap,” Eldwin said. “They have to know we’re here.”

It didn’t make sense. If Blackstone knew we were here, why let us keep going? I checked to be sure it was really Grandfather I felt. “Father, I need your help.”

“What’s wrong?” Dad asked.

I wanted to appear competent, but getting us killed was worse. “If this is a trap, maybe it’s not Grandfather I’m sensing.”

I opened my thoughts and showed him what the Earth revealed. Father accepted the invitation and moved through the information. I waited anxiously, hoping he didn’t tell me I’d been wrong.

“It’s him, Cinaed,” Dad said, withdrawing from my thoughts. “But I share your concerns. If it’s too easy, something’s wrong.”

We shared our concerns with the others, but no one had an explanation that didn’t scream trap.

“We push ahead and trust in our superior skill,” Eldwin said.

I was still hesitant but didn’t have a better idea to suggest. The mages conferred quietly before Eldwin and Roderick charged around the corner. Bart and Cael continued their role, staying alert for a potential ambush.

The guards were where my earth sense had warned. They had their dark stones charged and glowing with power and released their magic when we came into view.

Our attack unfolded with deadly precision. Eldwin struck first, pink energy streaming from his stone in a protective barrier that absorbed the volley of dark magic. Sparks cascaded across the tunnel ceiling, briefly illuminating the shocked faces of our adversaries.

Behind him, Rod pivoted to the right, his gem casting a brilliant white light that formed into three arrow-like projectiles. They streaked past Eldwin’s shield, targeting the nearest guard with unerring accuracy.

“Cael, the floor!” Bart called, purple energy pulsing in harmony with his mate’s blue.

Cael dropped to one knee and pressed his sapphire against the floor. The Earth responded instantly, rippling outward in a wave that disrupted the guards’ footing as they attempted a counterattack.

Their spell went wild, striking the ceiling instead of our group. Chunks of rock rained down, but Bart created a dome of purple energy that dissolved the debris.

Father and I moved left as our guards went right. Phoenix fire danced along my fingers, and I hurled flames at the nearest enemy mage. Father’s attack mirrored mine, and our burning attacks struck together.

The enemy mage had a smug expression as his shield easily repelled our attack. I smirked back at the fool, because we were a diversion. Rod’s white energy sliced through the distracted man’s defense, engulfing him in a deadly barrage.

Hro joined the phoenix guards, and the three charged the woman with their swords. Her counterattack washed harmlessly off a pink shield, leaving her open-mouthed with surprise. Eldwin finished her before she could recover.

The entire encounter had lasted less than thirty seconds.

“Everyone alright?” Rod asked, scanning our group.