Chapter 92: Run

Chapter 92: Run

Hard cobbled ground materialized beneath Chances feet. His knees buckled as he slammed into it with far more force than he had expected. Chances training kicked in and he rolled forward with his momentum, rising to his feet. His left foot caught on the edge of a cracked tile that stuck up at an angle, and he pivoted around it to avoid injuring his ankle.

The movement carried him straight into Bellas path. Chance caught her as she stumbled, keeping her from falling over. The last vestiges of the golden mist peeled away from Chance, and they exchanged a silent glance for a few moments.

Thanks, Bella said, taking a step back and pushing a strand of curly hair behind an ear. She turned, taking in the courtyard. Chance scanned it as well, searching for strands of Karma or anything that would indicate another cultivator was already here.

He found nothing. Large purple vines covered in dense thorns wound around the edges of the stone walls that ringed the courtyard. They wove clean through the stone rather than around it, and piles of rubble laid beneath where the vines had punched through.

Brilliant yellow flowers dotted the vines, their huge petals shaped vaguely like lightning bolts attempting to free themselves from the borderline golden, antennalike stamens. The faintest traces of a sweet scent tickled Chances nostrils, a mixture of distant honey and bitter fruit.

Several other tall stone buildings stood beyond the walls, but Chance couldnt see most of them over the vines. Far above everything else, the cracked spire cast a shadow over the courtyard and a large portion of the island.

I dont see anyone else here, Chance said, speaking softly. Even though the island looked empty, something about it made him hesitant to speak loudly. Unease prickled at the back of his mind and made the hair on his arms stand on end.

Neither do I, Bella replied in the same tone. She glanced over her shoulder and wrapped one of her arms around her chest, frowning. I dont see any way off the island. Theres no pattern in the courtyard.

Well have to find it, then. Chances expression changed to match Bellas. He looked back, half hoping that shed just missed a rune circle somewhere, but Bella was right. All that greeted him was plain, cracked stone. Do you feel a bit

Uneasy? Bella finished. Yeah. It feels like Im somewhere Im not supposed to be.

Like my hands caught in the cookie jar when Im on a diet, Chance said with a nod. Bella raised an eyebrow at his analogy and Chance scrunched his nose at her. What? Its a perfectly good way to describe it.

Sure. I guess the only way to move is forward, then. Should we get over the wall and head toward the tower? Its tall, so I figure anything important is going to be over there. Thats how these things work, right?

Your guess is as good as mine.

They approached the wall in the direction of the spire. Chance hopped up, grabbing onto the lip of a jutting stone with one hand, and pulled himself up to a hole in the wall with a grunt. He wedged his other hand into it and, swinging once, launched himself for another protruding stone.

Golden mist gathered at his fingertips and the stone creaked beneath his weight, but it held strong. Chance pressed his feet against the wall and swung his body up, reaching the lip of the wall. He swung his legs over it and then turned to extend a hand down to Bella.

She took several steps back, then charged at the wall with all her speed. She leapt as she grew close, launching herself at an angle and using the first handhold that Chance had grabbed as a boost to vault upward.

Chance slammed his urumi into the body of a thick, thorny vine beside him as leverage and leaned down as far as he could. His hand slapped against Bellas wrist. For an instant, he felt her start to slip. Chances tightened his fingers around her wrist and Bella did the same to his. Chance leaned back, pulling Bella over the edge of the wall.

Bella rolled to her feet and lifted Chance to his, and they turned away from the courtyard. The top of the wall was actually the roof of a flat, rectangular building that ran along the edge of the courtyard. An open doorway led into the darkness across from them, and taller buildings rose up all around them, blocking off the way to the spire that loomed over all.

Unless we want to do a whole lot of climbing, it looks like the way forward is in, Bella said. She didnt sound happy about it, and Chance couldnt help but agree. He almost wanted to suggest sticking to climbing and using his luck to make sure it didnt go poorly, but the back of his neck prickled violently just at the mere thought.

In it is.Ñ00v€l--ß1n hosted the premiere release of this chapter.

Chance kept his urumi at the ready as they approached the entrance. Bella took the lead, her skin shimmering with a translucent layer of protective Essence. She poked her head into the darkness, looking in both directions before stepping further. Chance kept close behind her, searching for any signs of Karmic threads.

Chance made sure to move as slowly as possible, and he paused after just an inch to check if there was some sort of wire trap set up. All that greeted him was darkness. After glancing at Bella and receiving a shrug, he called on his Essence before pushing the top of the chest up the rest of the way.

It opened without complaint and Chance leaned it against the back wall as gently as he could to avoid making any more sound than he had to. Sitting in the center of the chest was a single ring, made of three strands of woven, silvery wood.

Chance shifted to look at the ring from other angles, but he couldnt see anything connecting it to the chest or otherwise impeding them from removing it.

Should we take it? Chance asked.

I mean, someone left it here. Its not even in a grave or anything, Bella replied. I originally though this would be grave robbing, which is always a little bit morally questionable, but this well, it kind of seems like somebody left it out for people to find. Should I pick it up since my Essence should protect me?

I think luck would probably be more relevant here, Chance said. He dug through his pockets and pulled out a handkerchief. Luckily, Ive got this backup.

You think a little piece of cloth is going to protect you if thats somehow dangerous or evil?

Its better than nothing.

I cant argue with that.

Chance wreathed himself with Essence and reached into the chest with the handkerchief. He draped it over the ring and picked it up. Nothing happened. He blinked, then shrugged and lifted his hand out of the chest.

Well we got a ring. No idea what it does. If it does anything.

Thats a problem for later, Bella said. If its not doing anything, maybe I should hold onto it. Im keeping myself protected, but who knows how long luck will protect you if its actively malicious.

Chance nodded. He made sure the ring was completely covered with the handkerchief and handed it to Bella, who tucked it into one of her pockets.

I guess well have to climb onto the roof and head toward the next building, then, Bella said.

They turned away from the chest, looking into the vine-ravaged room.

Into the hallway that theyd come through before.

A tall, gangly limbed figure made entirely of black stood, hunched over so severely that its body nearly formed an upside down u shape. Its limbs hung long and spindly, no thicker than a single bone, and its face was featureless.

Freezing cold raced down Chances back and into his spine.

The figure vanished.

Chances heart hammered in his chest and goosebumps erupted over his body.

Did you see that?

Yeah, Bella whispered. I have no idea what it was. We need to run. Now.