Page 180 of Vying Girls

‘And Tilda’s ours,’ Haz counters. ‘And I’m gonna kill that motherfucker.’ Another stab of her knife.

I huff out a breath. Just have to hope she does as I say. She’s usually full of bluster but always pulls through.

Truth is, I’ve never seen Haz in love, never seen this version of her. It’s got her wild, reckless, protective as a mother bear who’d maul whoever endangers her cub.

Maybe she will kill Damien. Once Tilda’s safe, maybe I’ll step out her way.

I catch Elly’s eyes. I see it all there—the trepidation, the fear, the feeling that she’s out of her depth. She’s different to me and Haz. She’s what we have missing, all the light and the kindness. Everything me and Haz lost along the way. She’d hate me for saying so. Scoffs every time she gets calledtoo nice.

If this all goes tits up, she’s got more to lose. She’s got family, people who rely on her, love her.

The sight of the knife clutched in her hand is just wrong. She’s never even been to the Vaults. It’s a place that only lends itself to likeminded kin, those as dark as its cavernous mouth. It’s not a place for someone like Elly. The thought of her looking into Damien’s eyes, just as dark, makes me want to flay my own skin.

‘Elly…’ I start quietly.

‘Don’t. This is Tilda.’

I nod and look away. What more can I do? We’re all here for the same reason. Knights vying for the chance to save the princess.

And Damien, that black dragon.

It’s not the first time I’ve wished for these boats to have motors. The solemn rowing goes with the whole vibe. The cloaked, unspeaking Charon, rowing slowly, slowly over the grey waters, right into the mouth of hell. It’s something that wears off the first handful of times. Then it’s just tapping your fingers on the edge of the boat until you finally dock.

Haz disembarks first, almost mowing the Charon over in her haste. She helps Elly out, then me. At the tunnel to the Vaults, she waits, none too patiently. This place is my domain, inherited from Damien. I see his fingerprints all over it now. How he’s dictated my every move without even being here. I wouldn’t be at Hazelhurst without him, I wouldn’t be part of The Order, I wouldn’t have met Elly or Tilda.

It’s like the glamour’s worn off. No longer the maiden but a crone, not a fairy but a goblin. His influence is everywhere, just like his hands used to be.

And now he’s planting those same fingers on Tilda.

I hurry down the tunnel, uncaring of the other two lurching behind me, their footsteps loud and obvious. I can’t bear for herto spend another second in his presence. I don’t care if he turns those fingers on me. I’d take it all if it meant sparing her.

We move through the empty club, the bar, the sparring cages and into the market at the back. This tunnel’s mainly a place for young, eager freshers, hot with the rumours of what happens down in the labyrinth, all the secret goings-on of a society they could only wish to be a part of. It’s usually manned by some dour-faced bouncer. Today, there’s only a rope cordon that’s easy enough to remove.

Did he bring her this way? Doubt he would have reattached the rope so carefully if he had, not with a struggling Tilda.

Or had she not been struggling? Maybe he—

I cut off my thoughts when they threaten to release as a scream. It would be just like him to drug her, to find some other way to immobilise her enough so she’s compliant. Damien doesn’t negotiate. He only knows how to take what he wants.

And unfortunately, today, I don’t have what he wants.

Unlatching the rope, I step into the labyrinth.

I cast my gaze back to the others as we’re swallowed in the gloom. They hang back by tacit command, turning on their phone torches and angling them to the ground. I don’t bother with the same. My senses are pricked for any kind of disturbance, their fitful, grey lights enough to see by.

Against the old tunnel walls, a gaping silhouette indicates the first chamber.

Haz grabs my arm. ‘Are you giving him the money?’ she hisses.

I hesitate, not about to tell her I don’t have it. There’s more money out there but what I have access to right now, my current account, was spent mostly on Elly’s family’s carer. Not about to tell Elly that either.

‘Haven’t decided yet.’

Haz drops her hand from me. ‘Then fucking decide.’

I turn back around, waving my hand at them to lower their torches. I peek into the chamber. Empty.

‘Elly, duck round there. Haz the next one.’