Page 14 of Traveling with Gentlemen (Tempting Monsters #1.1)

"You're not saying he's been here since—" Ezra started.

"Since Birsha escaped his own death, yes, I think so."

Auguste stepped forward and I resisted the urge to yank him back as he crouched in front of the frozen vampire. He drew in a deep breath, catching the captive's stare and then released a ragged chuckle.

"This is how Sofia knew where to look. This is her maker," Auguste said. "She sold you out to that fool's king, didn't she?"

The vampire moaned, and I couldn't help but look away as his chest moved, the torn and jagged hole flexing gruesomely.

"Can we…can we help him?" I asked.

Auguste was quiet for a long moment, before speaking. "There's no restoring centuries of starvation."

"Who else is in here?" Jonathon asked.

Amon growled softly and prowled away. I only hesitated a moment before following him, everyone but Auguste trailing after.

The next alcove revealed another man, his yellow gold skin turned dull, body caving in and shrunken beneath the draped fabrics of his clothing.

On his head two stumps rested above his temples.

"Demon. Horns removed," Booker said.

The demon did not wake for us.

The third figure was worse than the vampire, the languid and sinuous male body with a snake-like lower half, twisted to reveal a back torn open.

There was no movement at all from him as Jonathon leaned in to inspect.

Staring at the shredded flesh and scales, the wet and ruined gash, I heaved and inched away.

"Naga," Jonathon said. "Spinal cord removed. He's paralyzed completely now."

My eyes shut, arms wrapping around my stomach and head shaking slowly. I'd never known a hate like the one I held for Birsha, such a consuming and impossible anger. It made me sick. I slowed, realizing the final alcove, the final figure was ahead, and afraid of what I might find.

I had no lantern in my hand, no clear light to see the horrible details in front of me.

Perhaps that was for the best. The fourth captive was a woman.

She was dressed simply, a light sheath of fabric that drooped and flowed over her shriveled frame.

Her hair had continued to grow and it rushed over her in dark curls, luscious where the rest of her was nearly decayed.

I thought her face might've been beautiful before this tomb had left it to wither.

Her eyes were gone, black hollows left in their place.

More than the others, and even in spite of her lost eyes, she seemed the most at peace of the lot, her hands upturned and stacked in her lap, her back straight. I studied her without realizing how close I traveled.

Not until one hand snapped forward, clutching around my wrist.

I didn't yell, perhaps because my heart was too busy leaping in my chest, my tongue tying in fright. I stumbled back, but her firm grip held me tethered.

Her lips parted and together this woman and I gasped.

"He sees us now," she said, her voice a shocking melody, so at odds with the sight of her. "He fears us now. Fears you. Run now, and you will be safe," she said.

I yanked my arm but she didn't let go, and behind me my gentlemen shouted, running closer.

"Run now, and nothing will change," she said.

I stilled at the words frowning, opening my mouth to ask, but she continued.

"Bring the mountain down," she whispered. "Break the tether. He sees us now. Run now."

A great grinding screech echoed behind me and I turned, the ground beneath us trembling as Booker shoved the lid of the casket down to the floor.

"Empty," he announced.

And with the word, the mountain trembled.

"You heard her, time to run," Ezra said.

"No!" I cried as the grip on my wrist loosened and the woman fell back into her seat, trapped in this tomb. "No, she said if we ran now, nothing would change."

"And that we'd be safe ," Amon pointed out.

"It's them!" Auguste cried, spinning to face us. "It's these monsters. They're the tethers."

Jonathon turned glancing at each of the figures in turn, his brow folding as he tried to calculate the science, to understand the impossible. "How do we break the magic, we don't even understand—"

"Mercy," Auguste said, turning to face the male vampire.

And I understood. Not in the way Jonathon would after weeks of study and experiment and observation. I understood in the panic, and urgency, in the sorrow of the woman's voice as her words begged and warned me in equal measure.

"We kill them and whatever hold this tomb has on them," I said.

Jonathon gaped at me, blinking, but Auguste nodded, stomping toward a torch and pulling it down from the wall. Without another word, another consultation with the rest of us, he thrust the flame into the vampire, into that horrible open wound where a beating undead heart was stolen.

Auguste leapt back as the vampire in his seat burst into flame. A breeze swirled around the room, the sound of soft exhales of relief carried. The mountain groaned and a crack shattered through the vampire's alcove before a sudden cascade of stone and rubble poured down.

"This is not at all a satisfying explanation!" Jonathon shouted, but together he and Booker hurried to the demon.

Auguste rushed in my direction, waving Ezra and Amon away. "You two take care of the naga. I'll get Esther to the exit. Quickly!"

"Run now," the woman echoed through dry lips, her voice starting to reveal the centuries, growing dry and ragged. "Bring the mountain down."

I bit off a cry as the ground shook again, nearly throwing me to the floor, and another cascade of rock made the world shudder in protest. Auguste reached for the torch but I pushed him out of the way.

"Let me," I said, not understanding why but needing to be the one who helped this woman. "Who was she?"

I wasn't sure Auguste would be able to hear me over the groan and crack and crash now surrounding us. But he wrapped his arm around my waist, steadying me through the wave-like motion of the ground beneath our feet and answered in my ear.

"She must've been an oracle," Auguste said.

He sees us now.

I grinned at that, pulling the torch free, knowing that Birsha could see me, had stolen this woman's vision and power, and would know the moment that I broke his hold over her.

He fears us now .

"Good," I muttered.

I plunged the torch into the alcove, too heartsick for this woman to thrust it into her eyes.

But her hair caught the flames like kindling, a sudden blaze turning her hair to fire.

For a moment, I saw a new version of her, bright and full cheeks, beautiful smile, elegant body.

She and I were victorious together, women Birsha could not trample.

Then the fire consumed her completely, and Auguste was dragging me away, toward the hall.

There was no inky black now, perhaps we'd destroyed that enchantment with the others. It was a relief, but only a small blessing because the hall was narrow and it too was trembling, heaving and cracking, spilling pebbles down onto our heads and threatening much worse.

"The others," I gasped looking over my shoulder, relieved to see their faces, bobbing behind us, lanterns swinging and casting dangerous shadows.

" Run , Esther," Auguste growled, pulling me along.

"It's collapsing!" Ezra warned.

"Run," Auguste repeated, the word like a prayer on his lips.

Run. Make it out. Let the hall hold together just long enough to get us out!

It was a shorter trip out than in, and the air of the valley was cold and dry and beautiful as it rushed into my lungs.

The pillars of the entrance were cracking, and the donkeys were racing away from a crumbled one, braying and complaining eagerly.

Auguste swept me off my feet, rushing us away from the threshold, chasing after the donkeys.

"Wait!" I cried, but there could be no waiting, not as the mountain came down.

Jonathon was behind us now, Ezra blinking in and out of vision, a rare determination turning his mischievous face stony. But where was—

"Booker!" I cried as he appeared, a great boulder dropping from the threshold, cracking to dust against his shoulder. And cradled in his arms was a limp and heavy figure, coat dangling and torn. "Amon."

Booker was not fast but he was steady and the cascade of rubble bounced off his legs and ankles. Amon's hair swayed as he was carried out, away from the falling mountain, Birsha's ruined tomb, to where we gathered together, sheltered by a curve in the road.

"Amon! What happened?" Auguste released me and I ran to meet Booker.

"Rock hit him as we ran," Booker said, kneeling down, setting Amon on the ground for Jonathon to inspect. I joined them, pulling Amon's hands into mine and watching Jonathon's face as he worked.

"Skull doesn't feel fractured. There's blood but—"

Amon groaned, his hands squeezing mine, and I gasped for air, falling forward to rest my head on his chest.

"We're out," Amon muttered.

"Yes. How many fingers am I holding up?" Jonathon asked.

"Three. I'm fine. I'll heal quickly. Esther?"

"Fine, just…you frightened me," I murmured, lifting my face to offer him a wavering smile. There was blood around his left ear, and I thought he looked a little pale but he sat up without a problem.

A low chuckle interrupted us from behind and I stiffened as the sound bit off briefly and then started up again.

"Ezra," I hissed, unamused for once.

"Sorry—" he said, but the word was strangled by laughter.

"Yes, Mr. MacKenna?" Amon bit out, glaring up at the man. "Is there something you would like to say?"

"It's just—" snort "—Book did say—" giggle "—he wanted to rescue the damsel."

Booker's own laugh was low and gentle, and I once again abused my lips by clamping them between my teeth as Amon's eyes narrowed.

But the snort arrived, unladylike and loud from my own nose, and once it was out there seemed no point in burying my laughter.

Amon's arms wrapped around my shoulders as I fell into his chest, giggle breathless and relieved and a little panicked again.

His own chest shook slightly but he never made a sound.

"So he did," Jonathon said gently, patting Amon's shoulder and rising to his feet to stare back at the new craggy shadow of the mountain. "Well that's one adventure off our list then."

"I vote for the treasure map next," Auguste said with a sigh.

My laugh grew teary and my arms tightened around Amon's waist until he grunted. His lips landed on the crown of my head. "Someone go catch the donkeys. It's time for us to return home."