"Ready to move?"
She touched the fob watch. Its beat was shallow. “Let's go,” she said. Besides, moving was definitely better than standing. Moving made them harder targets. Shivering, she shined the light across the water. Tiny waves continued to roll away from them, fanning out across the darkness. In the distance water dipped steadily, but the lake seemed to swallow all other noise. But someone was out there, watching them. She licked her lips. It was getting harder and harder to ignore the urge to run. “Michael—"
"I know.” His voice was terse. “Just keep moving. There's nothing we can do here, anyway." The water level began to drop, inching down from their chests to their hips. But it still held the consistency of glue, making every step difficult.
Something pushed at her wet jeans. Biting her lip, she battled the desire to run. The soupy water made any sort of quickness impossible, anyway. She'd only fall ... and that was probably what Jasper had in mind.
But she wished she knew what was touching her ankle.
Again it trailed past, more solidly this time.
"He's playing games."
Though Michael's voice was calm, anger burned along the link. “Then you don't think we'll be attacked?"
"Not here. Not yet."
She wished she could share his certainty. The dark water receded further, and walking became easier. She swept the flashlight's beam across the darkness ahead, noting the tunnel was beginning to close in around them. The roof was only inches above their heads.
"Hope we don't have to crawl,” she muttered. The thought of getting down on her hands and knees to wade made her stomach churn.
"I can't imagine Jasper doing it, so I doubt we will."
"You really do know him well, don't you?"
"It pays to. As I've said, he's eluded our circle for years."
"And was your circle after him before or after he killed your brother?"
"Before."
But it became personal when Jasper killed Patrick. “Does the circle attempt to kill every vampire who has a thirst for human blood?"
He shrugged, a movement she caught in the edge of the light. “Not all. There are some who can restrain the urge to kill and live long lives."
Some, but not many, she deduced from his tone. She wondered how he'd managed it, how long it had taken him to curb the lust all too evident in Jasper.
"Jasper is a killer,” Michael continued grimly. “Always was. Even before the change, he feasted on the suffering of his victims."
And now he feasted on Jake. Her stomach turned. She swallowed and forced a little lightness into her voice. “And his sort gives the vampire world a bad rep, huh?" He squeezed her hand. “Something like that."
They continued on in silence. She swept the light across the layers of darkness. Nothing moved, yet something was out there, stirring the darkness ahead.
Michael stopped abruptly. “Movement ahead."
"Where?"
"The tunnel rounds a corner just ahead. Something moved in the shadows." She shivered. It had to be the zombies. It wouldn't be Jasper, not this soon. He'd play with them a little longer.
"We could go back.” But that would mean leaving Jake to die.
"No. I doubt if Jasper would allow a retreat, anyway.” His answer was absent, as if his attention was elsewhere.
Power washed through the link. He was using his abilities to study the threat ahead. Why didn't Jasper's net affect him?
"It's not aimed at me. And there are two of them up ahead. A tease, nothing more." Some tease. “What do we do?"
" We do nothing. I'll take care of them.” He brushed a kiss across the top of her head then faded into the darkness.
"Michael?” she hissed as his hand left hers. “Michael!" No answer. Wonderful. What if the zombies were just a diversion to separate them?
Movement whisked around her legs. Biting back a yelp of fright, she shone the light down at her feet. The water stirred, and something slick, brown and long rose briefly to the oily surface before slithering back underneath.
Her mouth went dry. Snakes. There were snakes in the water with her... Sweat broke out across her brow. The dark waters began to churn, the snakes bumping and entwining their sleek bodies around her legs. Were they real, or some form of illusion?
They sure felt real. One entwined around her legs, and she kicked out. A sleek brown head rose from the water, hissing. She screamed and swiped at it with the torch. It sank back down and joined the circling pack. She leaped over them and ran forward, heading for the zombies and Michael. The beam of the flashlight jumped erratically, creating crazy shadows on the slick dark walls. The darkness beyond the light seemed oppressive, a monster waiting to pounce. She splashed on, cursing Michael for leaving her.
The snakes pursued. Real or not, they were coming after her. She gripped the flashlight tightly and tried to run faster.
Michael! Frantically, she reached for the connection between them. There was no answer, just a sense of absence. Could he hear her when he was little more than a shadow?
It was just one more thing she didn't know. Heart pounding as fast as her feet, she listened to the sounds of pursuit above the noise of her own panicked flight. She was tempted to use her psychic abilities, but knew this might be what Jasper wanted. He'd snare her the minute she tried. Damn it, she wasn't helpless without her abilities. She had her knives. She could use them to defend herself. Why play Jasper's games any more than she had to? She stopped and swung around. The water was still, silent. The snakes, if they'd ever been real, were gone. Almost with you, Nikki.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm her churning stomach. It had been nothing more than a game. Once she'd stood her ground, Jasper had backed away. Maybe Michael was right. Maybe Jasper did fear her abilities.
The thought did little to ease the sick tension in her stomach. She turned and shined the light across the waters ahead. Ripples of movement stirred the surface, but she couldn't see Michael. Only when he was near her did he shake himself free of the shadows.
"Are you all right?"
He brushed his knuckles lightly against her cheek. She wished he'd just take her in his arms and hold her until the chill and the fear left her. But they had no time—Jake was dying. They had to get to him quickly.
"Yeah, sure.” She ran a hand through her damp hair. What would he think if he realized she'd been running from nonexistent snakes? “This place is just starting to get to me. What about the zombies?"
"They've disappeared."
She raised an eyebrow. “How can zombies just disappear?"
He shrugged, his gaze on the darkness ahead. “I don't know. As soon as I neared them, I lost all scent of them."
She studied the darkness uneasily. If Jasper could fool Michael's keen senses, they might be in big trouble.
"Come on.” He ran his hand down her arm and clasped her fingers gently. “There's nothing we can do but move forward."
The warmth of his touch made her feel more secure as they walked on. But after a few minutes, they stopped again.
"Fork in the tunnels. Which way, Nikki?"
She closed her fingers around the watch fob. It pulsed lightly, but its rhythm was slower, more erratic. They had so little time left.
"Left.” She swung in that direction, but Michael jerked her back, again almost dislocating her shoulder in the process. She swore softly. “What's wrong?"
"The zombies are back."
She shined the light into the tunnel but could see no movement. “We can't just stand here, Michael. We have to get to Jake."
He hesitated, then shrugged. “Let's go, then."
The walls began to close in, threatening to smother them. Ghostly tendrils of slime brushed against her clothes and felt like long green fingers of the dead.
Twenty feet on, they came out of the ankle deep water and into a cavern. She blinked and stopped, taken by surprise. The flashlight filled the cavern with dancing shadows, dark demons that teased her imagination. Something about the air gave a feeling of vast emptiness. Then she saw the figure huddled against an outcrop of rock. With a small cry, she ran across. Squatting next to Jake, she frantically felt for a pulse. It was there, slow, erratic and weak.
"He's dying,” Michael said softly, stopping just behind her. She swallowed the lump in her throat and blinked back sudden tears. “No. I won't let him die." He couldn't die and leave her alone. She couldn't cope with it.
"Jasper has fed on him. There's barely enough blood left to pump his heart..." Michael's voice faded, and she glanced up quickly. He was listening to the silence, his face as still as his thoughts, giving nothing away. Evil closed the air around them, and her heart lurched in sudden fear. Jasper's plans were about to be revealed. She reached out and touched Jake's pallid cheek. His skin was colder than her fingers.
"Jake? Please, wake up."
No response, nor did she really expect any. They had to get him to hospital if they were to have any hope of saving him.
"We can't stay here—"
"And I won't leave him!"
"Nikki—"
"I don't want to hear it, Michael.” She clenched her fists and glared at him. She wasn't about to leave Jake here to die, as she'd left everyone else in her life she'd cared about to die.
"I was only going to say we have to get going. Now, move aside, so I can pick him up." She rose and stepped to one side, watching him haul Jake's unconscious figure upright. Something quivered in the air between them. She spun—too late to see what it was. She bit her lip, and clenched her fists. Jasper was playing games, again. Damn it, she had to ignore him, had to... An explosion ripped across the silence. The ground bucked, and she screamed, staggering sideways as the darkness filled with fire and imminent death.
Michael grabbed her arm and held her upright. An ominous rumble ran through the darkness. Jasper hadn't finished with them yet.
"Go,” Michael shouted, and thrust her forward.
She ran, dodging falling dirt and stone, the flashlight's beam barely picking out the ground a foot away. Dust filled the darkness, a thick cloud that tore at her throat, making it difficult to breathe. She had no idea where she was going. She just ran, staggering from side to side in rhythm to the earth's contortions. Michael was at her back, his breathing labored. She didn't want him to die, and knew they all would if they didn't get out of this tunnel soon. The thought sent fresh energy though her legs.
"Swing left."
Her foot slithered on the slick footing. She threw out an arm for balance and struggled to keep upright. Hopefully, Michael had a far better sense of direction than she did. The falling debris made the darkness an alien world. It was difficult enough to breathe, let alone remember which tunnel was where. Another explosion ripped across the darkness. Rocks rained down from the ceiling. She threw up her arms, trying to protect her head. Debris hit her, bruising her hands and shoulders. She stumbled, falling, and jarred her knee. Michael's arm went around her waist. With a grunt, he lifted her up and ran them all out of immediate danger.
After several minutes, he released her and pushed forward once more. “Move, move,” he said. His fear was tangible, filling the darkness. Not fear for him but for her. The knowledge lent her feet wings.
"Turn right now!"
She swung, dodging rubble, her breathing sharp and labored under the thickening cloud of dust.
"Watch it—"
Michael's shout echoed as her instincts cut in. She twisted sideways, barely avoiding the foul gasp of a zombie. She slipped, and cursed, then twisted around and shone the light into the creature's eyes. It leapt at her anyway. She dodged and flicked her knife into her palm.
Michael grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
"Let me,” he said, and thrust Jake at her.
Jake's weight hit her, and she grunted, staggering backwards until she hit a wall. Rock dug sharply into her back and pain ran hot down her legs. She cursed but wrapped an arm around Jake's chest, holding him upright.
Another rumble ran through the darkness. She glanced upwards, wondering uneasily if Jasper's plans included bringing the entire mine down on top of them. Maybe it was just a neat extra. A chill ran through her. Jasper was close, so very close. She sensed his evil, felt his gloating... A figure loomed out of the darkness. Nikki swallowed, fingers clenched around the knife. Michael, not Jasper. Relief shot through her, its intensity shocking.
"Go,” he said, and took Jake from her.
The water grew deeper, inching back towards her chest. She remembered the snakes she'd encountered earlier. Real or not, it wasn't an experience she wanted to relive. She faltered, not certain what to do next.
Another explosion ripped across the darkness. The roof above her collapsed, and a rush of rubble and dirt swept her off her feet.
"Nikki!"
Michael's cry was cut off as she was swept under the water. Dirt and stone fell around her, encasing her, trapping her under the foul waters. Panic swelled. She kicked her legs, desperate to get free, to get back to the surface. Fire burned in her chest, and she fought the desire to breathe. More rocks fell, churning the water, confusing her senses. Pain exploded through her body, and the need to open her mouth, to suck in air, grew desperate.
She thrashed sideways as rock smashed against her shoulder, and her head hit something solid. Red fire spread through her brain. She gasped in agony, swallowing water, crying a denial as darkness engulfed her.
Nikki, Nikki! Hear me!