Before I could speak, Eleanor tipped her head and cut in. “Would you like me to swear an oath of secrecy, My Lady?”

  Silence stretched for a beat before the spirit answered. “Yes. Any knowledge you gain regarding Time, Karma, Nikolas, or Thomas will be bound to the highest secrecy.”

  Eleanor nodded, raising her hand as mana thickened in the air. “I, Eleanor, Paladin of Light, swear to uphold and protect the secrecy of all information surrounding Time, Karma, and their Chosens until such a time I am released from this vow.”

  A brilliant flash of light sealed the oath. She exhaled, shoulders relaxing. “It is done.”

  “Good,” Light intoned. “Journey with them until I give you further instructions.”

  The glow began to dim, but Eleanor spoke before Light could vanish completely.

  “Wait. I thought you wanted me to remain here and investigate? I’ve learned little so far—”

  Light hesitated, shimmering back and forth in a motion akin to a head shake. “This place is cursed beyond even my power to cleanse. I will confer with the spirits of Knowledge and Shadow. For now, leave this place.”

  And with that, she was gone, leaving only the oppressive darkness behind. When it became clear she wouldn’t reappear, I turned to Dominicus and sighed.

  “I know you’re not happy about this,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “But I genuinely can’t tell you more. Not until one of the spirits involved gives me the go-ahead.”

  He grimaced but nodded. “You’re right—I do despise all this secrecy. But the Lady of Light told me how to earn the answers I seek. Once I’ve proven myself trustworthy, I will know the truth. Until then, I’ll wait.”

  A pause, then he clapped my shoulder. “You seem sincere in your desire to share what you can. I appreciate that.”

  Turning to Eleanor, he let his hand drop and gave a small nod. “We’ve neglected our half of the introductions in all this chaos. I am Dominicus.”

  I ran a hand through my hair. “Nikolas. We’ll introduce the others once we’re topside.”

  She hummed in consideration, gaze flicking to the shifting shadows. “Acceptable. But we should focus on getting out of here. Every second we linger, my skin crawls.”

  She flexed her wings outward, testing them with a few powerful beats before nodding in satisfaction. “I’m ready when you are.”

  I eyed the shadows twisting just beyond the reach of her light. “And what’s stopping them from dragging us down again?”

  Eleanor smiled and unsheathed her sword. The glow that had been contained within its scabbard flared to an almost blinding brightness. “This. Along with several other spells at my disposal.”

  She turned to us. “Are you ready?”

  I exchanged a glance with Dominicus. He nodded. “Looks like it.”

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Stepping into the center of my protective circle, Eleanor studied him for a moment. “I am unfamiliar with your beastfolk heritage. Can you fly or glide?”

  Dominicus unfurled his wings with a grunt. “I can fly. I’ll keep up.”

  Eleanor reached for me, her grip firm around my arm. “Then I’ll carry your friend, and we can be off.”

  Before she could so much as bend her knees, Dominicus shook his head. “No need. I’ll carry Nikolas. You need to be ready for when the tendrils try to stop us.”

  She tilted her head, curiosity clear. “You aren’t injured from the fall?”

  He shook his head, smiling. “I was, but Nikolas is a healer.”

  Eleanor’s gaze flicked to me, her expression shifting with interest. “You would’ve been useful when my wing was injured.” A small smile tugged at her lips. “Healers are rare.” Her gaze flickered to my staff. “You aren’t light-affinity, though, are you?”

  I shook my head. “Nope. Plant.”

  I half expected a reaction—maybe disappointment or distaste—but she only chuckled. “I’ve heard of plant affinity healing, but I’ve never seen it in action. It’ll be a learning experience.”

  She stepped back, giving Dominicus space. Once his grip on me was secure—my arm slung over his shoulders—he grunted.

  “Let’s leave this cursed place.”

  Eleanor smiled. “With pleasure.”

  The takeoff was rough, Dominicus adjusting for my weight, but soon we were airborne.

  The shadows wasted no time. They lurched upward, twisting into jagged spears that reached for us. Eleanor’s glow slowed them, forcing some to recoil, but a few stubborn tendrils pushed through.

  I lashed out, watching as they evaporated–only to reform a second later. Eleanor grimaced, keeping close as she swung her sword. The shadows shrieked at the strike, flinching back, but more surged forward, single-minded in their pursuit. She fought relentlessly, cutting them down as they came.

  The ledge loomed closer, only a few yards away now. But just as we neared the top, the shadows shifted.

  The tendrils coiled together into a massive vine, rising like a serpent.

  Dread hit like a punch to the gut. I knew what was coming.

  “Dominicus, watch out!”

  His grip on me tightened as we cleared the last stretch.

  Up ahead, our group came into view. Time stood near the ledge, tension and worry etched into his face. Henry held him back, Maya clinging to his leg as we inched closer to safety.

  The shadows struck.

  Before they could slam into us, Eleanor pointed her sword at the mass and shouted, “Daybreak!”

  Mana snapped through the air. My skin prickled as the spell took hold.

  The shadows froze—then, from their core, a dull glow began to spread.

  In the next instant, the entire mass exploded in a blinding burst of light.

  Dominicus cursed, staggering under the force. He threw us forward, aiming for the ledge—.

  I missed.

  Familiar weightlessness set in, and for a sickening moment, I plummeted.

  Then, a firm grip seized my wrist.

  I barely registered the strength behind it before I was yanked back. My momentum wrenched to a halt, and my heart slammed against my ribs.

  Time held onto me, jaw clenched, muscles taut with effort. Behind him, Henry braced his weight, keeping him from toppling over the edge.

  Through gritted teeth, Time ground out, “You are going to kill me through panic alone.”

  I really couldn’t argue with that.

  Still gripping Dominicus, I let them pull us up.

  When solid ground met my side, and the shadows could no longer reach us, I groaned.

  “If the rest of this journey is gonna be like this,” I muttered, flopping onto my back, “it’s gonna be hell.”

  Only day two, and cursed shadows had nearly dragged us to our deaths.

  Even by my standards, that was an impressive start.