Page 322 of The Spider Queen

I shot her a glare even though she couldn’t see me. Then again, beggars couldn’t be choosers, and when a dragon offered to take you to the top of the Empire State Building, you didn’t complain about the ride. Even if it was bumpy and cold.

She circled the top of the building, slowing her speed so she was finally able to hover near the top of the famous radio antenna that adorned the skyscraper. Something twinkled near me in the glow of the city lights. I had an inkling that it was the second pearl and I leaned over, gripping Auri’s back with my thighs. Reaching out, my fingertips grazed the warm black pearl, but just as I was about to wrap my hand around it, something dislodged me from Auri’s back.

Auri bellowed in outrage, but I couldn’t look to see what had hurt her. I was too busy fighting for a handhold, so I didn’t plummet to the ground.

I grasped onto one of the ladders that ascended the antenna. The wind had picked up, or maybe it was the flap of Auri’s wings as she beat ferociously to stay in the air. As I held onto the side of the building, I chanced a look behind me.

Auri was tumbling through the sky, snapping her sharp, jagged teeth at a red beast with horns and an oxen tail. It, too, had wings. But instead of the sleek, beautiful scales, it had the same webbing as Lucifer’s wings.

The red beast opened its mouth and unleashed a rain of hellfire. Auri diverted her body, but fire caught the end of her tail, singeing it.

She snarled in pain and rage, and then went on the offensive.

I turned my attention back to the matter at hand. There was nothing I could do to help Auri, and I knew I had to grab the pearl.

Raindrops began to fall and thunder roared in the clouds above as the ladder became slick with rain. I scurried up, losing my footing a time or two on the slippery rungs. I had to get to the top of the antenna to retrieve the pearl, but it was now pouring and my hair stuck to my neck and fell into my eyes, marring my vision.

With a shaky breath I pushed onward, knowing from the horrific sounds next to me that Auri was losing the battle with the Hell-demon and that time was running out.

When I got to the top of the antenna, I breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of the pearl. I lifted it from its spot, and just as I was fighting to get my bag open, a blast of demon fire hit the metal rod.

Sparks shot through the sky, and I was knocked back from the ladder. But instead of falling to the deck below, I was pushed over the side of the skyscraper. I plummeted and the ground was coming fast.

I looked up and saw both dragon and demon still engaged in a battle against the backdrop of thunderous storm clouds.

I wrestled with my bag. Hands still inside the satchel, I clasped the snow globe and the pearl, shoving them at each other.

By some miracle or a stroke of luck, the golden base took the pearl and as I continued to fall, I shook the orb.

And just as I was about to meet the cement below, I was sucked into the crystal dome and thrust into another world.

Chapter 22

Everything was tan.

My eyes were coated in grit as I tried to protect them from the sand storm, but it was useless. There was so much dust that it blurred my vision and I couldn’t see more than a few inches in front of my face. I ducked my head against my chest and raised a hand across my eyes and mouth.

At least I was no longer inhaling sand with every breath. But it did nothing to aid in my ability to see. I curled my hand around the snow globe, but cried out in pain as shards of broken crystal sliced my fingers.

My hand dripped with blood. I gritted my teeth as I waited for the dull throb to ease. Drops of blood hit the sand.

One.

Two.

Three.

The sandstorm calmed and the land began to settle. I took my hand away from my eyes and looked around, frowning. I sat down on a small dune to let my fingers heal. It wouldn’t take more than a few minutes. It was superficial, and clearly, as an immortal, I healed fast.

A cry lodged in my throat when I saw the crystal dome. The base was still intact, but the magical transport that had once been was no more.

I sat for a long while, rays beating down on me. The sandstorm had blocked out the sun, but now it was back. My skin sizzled with heat, and I felt like I was slowly cooking, like a rotisserie chicken.

Where was the last pearl? Was it somewhere in this barren desert? Was I supposed to start digging, like a pirate searching for buried treasure? Or just walk and hope I found it?

I stood up, with the intention of—what? There were sand dunes as far as the horizon, and no doubt even farther than that. My throat was already parched; the relentless sun was leaching every drop of moisture from my body.

My hand was already healed, but that wouldn’t matter if I shriveled like a dehydrated fruit. I was immortal, but I could still be incapacitated by circumstances. What I wouldn’t give to be back in the ocean, breathing underwater, cool and safe.