Page 70 of Wild Temple

Caspian and his goons followed.

I had made my way back through the temple to join them.

Caspian smiled. "I see you survived. Did you taste the water?”

I shook my head. "Be my guest.”

Caspian and his goons marched us back to the cistern. The dickhead's eyes rounded with awe and wonder when he saw the translucent pool of water. "The Well of the Divine," he muttered to himself in a hushed breath.

Caspian grabbed his canteen, unscrewed it, and poured out what water remained. It splattered against the stone floor.

He took a step toward the well, mesmerized by the calm, reflective water. Caspian navigated the steps to the edge of the well, knelt down, and dipped the canteen in to fill it. Bubbles rose as water poured in.

With a jolt, his face twisted with pain.

He jerked his hand away from the water. Caspian hadn't seen the black snake weaving through the pool. Caspian scampered away from the cistern as the snake slithered onto the shore. He clutched his hand as it bled from two puncture wounds.

I took advantage of the distraction and lunged for Richard’s gun. I drove him into the wall of the cavern as we struggled for the pistol.

His counterpart took aim at me, but JD put his shoulder into him, throwing him off balance. He splashed into the water, kicking and flailing, freaking out that there might be more snakes—guardians of the sacred water.

He drew his pistol and took aim at me.

I put a few heavy fists into Richard's kidneys, keeping my other hand on the gun. I had him wrapped up against the wall.

His comrade blasted off two shots.

The report was deafening in the cavernous space. Bullets rocketed across the cave and smashed into the walls around us. Bits of stone chipped away.

I came across Richard's face with a hard right to the jaw. I stripped the weapon from his grasp.

I put two shots into Richard.

He slumped against the wall and slid to the ground with a groan.

The waterboy fired two more shots in my direction. With blurry eyes full of liquid, both shots missed by millimeters.

I don't think he was the best swimmer in the world.

With a face full of panic, he bobbed at the surface, clawing at the water. The well had a steep drop-off, and he was barely treading.

I returned fire, my pistol hammering against my palm.

My bullets streaked across the cavern and pelted him in the throat and one to the head.

He sank into the water, blood swirling.

Caspian's right arm had already gone numb. He’d broken into a cold sweat, and his breathing was labored. He looked at me with terrified eyes, gasping his last breaths.

So much for an extended lifespan.

His chest went still, and his eyes fixed. Caspian wouldn't hurt anybody anymore. It seemed the spirits of Pura Jiva had determined he wasn't worthy.

“Is everybody okay?" I asked.

With terrified eyes, the girls nodded.

I glanced at JD, and he gave me the thumbs up.