Kilenya Series Books One, Two, and Three (80 page)

This was going to be great.

Jacob’s parents decided that he, Matt, and Aloren would stay home from school Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday the following week to help recruit Wurbies. Jacob couldn’t believe they were actually in favor of that, but, after hearing Gallus’s argument that there weren’t many other people who could help in recruiting, it made sense why they’d say yes. Jacob was the only one who could use the Key, Matt was as strong as an adult—none of the Makalos could keep up in that area—and Aloren knew Dusts really well. Apparently they were very similar to Wurbies.

Gallus was in charge of the trip, so naturally he was also going, along with Sweet Pea and Akeno. Sweet Pea because he was an experienced fighter, and Akeno because he could knock out creatures, light areas up, and sense living things.

At a meeting right before leaving, Gallus explained they’d be using Aloren’s Minya, Hazel, to keep them in contact with Taga Village. He went on to say there would be a lot of dangers—getting to Ashay Hills wasn’t an easy thing. “And we’ll most definitely run into Eetu fish.”

“Really?” Matt asked. “They live out of water, too?”

Gallus shook his head. “No, but to get to the mountains, we have to go through tunnels that run beneath Sonda Lake.”

“Why can’t we just walk around?”

“The water is right up against the mountains, and since there isn’t a gradual slope, it’s impossible to get to the canyons of Ashay Hills by doing that. Onyev and the earlier humans and Makalos built tunnels a very long time ago to provide safe passage.”

Aloren nodded. “And those tunnels will be . . . let’s just say,
interesting
. I’ve only been to the mouths of them—too creepy.”

Gallus turned to Akeno. “Your father made more doors, correct?”

Akeno lifted his bag. “Thirty, at least. We’ll be very well prepared.”

“Good. Let’s get going. Make sure you have everything you need. We’ll stop by my shop to pick up extra supplies, then head to the castle.”

Jacob and Matt had already packed their backpacks full of jerky, bread, a couple types of cheese, bacon, flashlights with extra batteries, matches, and anything else they thought they’d need.

They hefted their bags to their shoulders and Jacob Keyed everyone to the shop in Macaria, ignoring as Matt playfully shoved Aloren, calling her “sis.”

Gallus didn’t show them what he collected from his shop shelves, but Jacob assumed it had something to do with bribing the Wurbies.

When they got to the castle, Aloren led them to a different section, away from where Jacob had been last time. She crept around corners, keeping a lookout for Dusts and other dangerous creatures, finally leading them to a large door. It was locked, and Jacob used the Key to open it. On the other side was a set of dark, rickety stairs. Gallus went first, leading the way, and Jacob and Matt took up the rear.

“My sister is freakin’ cool,” Matt whispered to Jacob.

Jacob chuckled. “Yeah, she is.”

“It’s ‘cause we’re related, you know.”

“Whatever.”

The group descended several stairs—at least 200. Jacob counted them until Sweet Pea broke through one of the steps and nearly fell. It was so dark, Jacob could barely see the hole the Makalo had created, and he stopped counting so he could concentrate better.

They finally reached the bottom. The air was musty, damp, and stale, and smelled of something Jacob didn’t recognize. Something almost animal.

Gallus lit a torch and instructed Akeno and Sweet Pea to light their fingers, and Jacob and Matt turned on their flashlights. Jacob strained to see ahead of Gallus, expecting a long expanse of passageway, but frowned when he saw that the way was rough-hewn and rocky—nothing like any of the tunnels he’d been in previously.

Gallus turned to face everyone. “From here on, things will be very dangerous. We’re under the lake now, so don’t touch the water or walls—even with your shoes—and do your best not to touch the ceiling. Most everything is moist, and we won’t know which water belongs to an Eetu fish without finding out the hard way.”

The group nodded.

“We’ll be fine as long as we’re careful.” He turned to go, then looked back. “Eetu fish aren’t the only pests that live around these tunnels. Keep that in mind.”

“What else is here?” Matt asked.

Gallus tilted his head to the side and pursed his lips. “Critters—rats and such.”

“Great,” Matt grumbled.

They started slowly, then gradually picked up speed as the individual members of the group adjusted to the rough passage. Parts of the tunnel had broken away, revealing incredible depths of water—sometimes clear, sometimes dark and murky. Even in the clear waters, Jacob couldn’t see the bottom.

“How deep in the lake are we?” he asked.

“Several hundred feet by now,” Gallus called back.

Jacob pulled himself past a big rock in the middle of the way. “How is the tunnel not overflowing with water?”

“Magic,” Gallus said. “It was built to be a passage, and a passage it will be.”

Jacob nodded to himself. Makalo magic certainly was strong. How much of this sort of thing would Akeno be able to do, once he figured out his abilities?

He paused while Sweet Pea clambered up a huge rock, then grabbed the Makalo’s offered hand and pulled himself up. His shoes slipped on the mucky rock beneath him, and he nearly fell against the wet stone.

The boys froze.

Nothing happened.

“That was close,” Sweet Pea said.

Jacob nodded and turned to help Matt up.

During a particularly difficult section, Matt muttered. Jacob chuckled, listening to his older brother.

“They call this a tunnel? Ridiculous. I’ve seen much better ones before. Heck,
I’ve
made ‘em better than this. And how did the rock get here, anyway?”

“The rock isn’t suspended, you know,” Gallus said. Apparently, Jacob wasn’t the only one listening to Matt. “Yes, there’s water below us, but this entire thing is attached to an overhang on the left. Above and to the right is water.”

Matt sighed in frustration. “How much longer until the end?”

“No idea.” Gallus grunted in exertion. “Don’t expect it to be soon.”

The group fell silent again. Jacob’s hands got raw from grabbing the rougher sections of rock.

He jumped when Aloren’s scream slashed the air, followed by a splash of water. He and Matt scrambled to catch up to her. She’d fallen into a puddle about a foot deep. Gallus and Matt pulled her out of the water, then the group ran forward—climbing and crawling over the rock.

“Hurry, everyone!” Gallus called back. “If there was Eetu in that water, we need to increase the distance as much as possible.”

But after a while it became apparent that nothing was chasing them, and they eventually slowed down. Gallus decided they needed to take a break, and he wrapped a blanket around Aloren’s shoulders. Her face was white and she trembled, her teeth chattering. The air around her showed she was afraid—very afraid. Jacob didn’t blame her. Matt approached and offered her his hoodie. She declined, saying he needed it, and Matt put his arm around her instead.

Jacob watched, helpless, wishing he could also do something to comfort her. He patted her on the shoulder, then ran his fingers through his hair.

It wasn’t as cold down here as he’d expected. Maybe the Makalos had also set up a magical heating system. When Aloren had calmed down and everyone had the opportunity to eat, Gallus said it was time to start up again.

The next person who touched water was Jacob, and the group went through the same thing again, rushing forward as fast as possible, then taking a break when it was apparent nothing was following.

Matt flicked his flashlight on and off several times. “How do we know Aloren and Jacob didn’t actually touch Eetu water? What if the Eetu are underneath us right now, waiting to attack?”

“If that were the case, we’d know. Eetu are incredibly fast and strong, and aren’t conniving. They don’t wait for the perfect moment to attack—they go in for the easy kill. Their strength and immunity protect them while they do it.”

“Can we please not talk about this?” Aloren asked.

Jacob put his hands in his pockets. He thought it was fascinating, but could see why she wouldn’t.

Something to the left of him scurried and he sprang from the ground, backing up against the other side of the tunnel. “What was that?”

“Where?” Matt asked.

Jacob pointed. “It was white and a foot long.”

A movement at his side caught his attention. The biggest rat he’d ever seen clung to the wall right by his head. Where did it come from?

Its eyes were milky white, its body slimy and sleek. And hairless. Completely hairless. Jacob backed slowly away, then jumped when the rat leaped for him, landing on his chest. He freaked out, wiping at his shirt, trying to brush the thing off. The little beast clung tight, then squirmed, attempting to burrow itself in his jacket.

“Get off me!”

Finally, he grabbed the rat around the midsection. He almost dropped it when his brain registered the texture of the rat’s skin—like a wet mushroom. It took some pulling, but he finally ripped its claws free and threw it away from him. He couldn’t help the impulse to wipe his hands off. The feeling of a squirmy, hairless rat was too much.

Jacob cringed, wishing he could rid himself of the sensation. He was hit by memories of being in another passage far away, full of lifeless people. He rubbed his hands on his pant legs over and over again.

He turned to ask why no one had helped him and saw that they were all fighting to get rats off of themselves. The rodents were everywhere—jumping onto the group, climbing up legs, and scurrying around.

“Get moving, everyone!” Gallus called.

They bolted forward, shaking off rats as they went. It didn’t take much to discourage the beasts from following, and after a moment, the group reached another wet section. The rats didn’t pursue.

“Why did they attack us?” Matt asked.

“I suspect they were going for our clothing,” Gallus said. “They don’t find much material for nesting down here.”

Aloren grimaced, curling her lip. “They’re disgusting.”

Jacob had to agree.

“Why couldn’t Jacob just Key us into the Wurby village?” Matt asked.

“Because that isn’t polite,” Gallus said. “You don’t just barge into people’s homes without getting permission from them first, especially when no one has talked to them in years and you want them on your side.”

The group fell silent. They were passing over a part that had many holes, and they had to be careful. At one point, Jacob’s heart nearly stopped beating when, while he hung over a huge gash in the stone, he saw a large, dark creature pass directly under him. He could’ve sworn it looked up at him and smiled. Could fish smile?

“We shouldn’t be far from the end now,” Gallus said.

Somewhere along the way, Matt had passed Jacob, and Jacob ended up in the back of the group. He didn’t mind—he just made sure to be extra cautious. The idea that they were almost to the end of the tunnel made him get goose bumps. He couldn’t wait to feel the sun again. It had been at least two hours since they’d last been out in the open.

He rushed forward, going as quickly as he could, shimmying underneath a large overhang of rock. Once on the other side, he pulled himself up, trying to reach Matt.

Jacob was crawling across another hole when he misjudged his foot placement and slipped. Crying out, he grabbed at the rock all around him, attempting to stop his fall. He hit his head against the stone, scraped his hands and elbows, and knocked his knee really hard.

With a splash, he plunged into the dark water below him, wind whooshing out of his lungs. It was so cold! He panicked, flinging himself around. Which way was up? His foot kicked something in the water—something that wasn’t rock. Something fleshy. He splashed around even harder, his fingers finally brushing the stone above him.

Hands grabbed him, pulling him out of the water. Matt and Sweet Pea.

He spluttered, coughing and gagging for air, doing his best to increase the distance between himself and the water. His lungs felt like they were on fire, and it was all he could do to control the spasms as his body expelled liquid from his airways.

“Hurry, Jacob!” Gallus called. “That may have been Eetu water!”

Jacob nodded, jumping to his feet.

Then Matt screamed, and without thinking, Jacob looked back.

The most awful, frightening thing he’d ever seen peered at him from the water. Spikes protruded from the sides of its narrow face. Gills lined a thick neck. Before he could do anything, a pale, webbed hand flashed forward and gripped his leg. Beady eyes intelligently bore into his, and the colors for determination flowed in the air around the creature.

Jacob tried to jerk away, but the grip was too tight. The Eetu fish shrieked. It opened its fleshy jaws wide and lunged toward him, holding his leg in place. Thousands of teeth lined three rows inside its mouth. Jacob screamed, yanking his leg as hard as he could, scrambling to get away.

Just then, Gallus jumped down, swung his sword, and struck the fish’s arm. It shrilled loudly and dropped Jacob’s leg, but didn’t appear damaged. It jumped forward again. Gallus was ready. He struck the creature over and over again with his sword, but the fish ignored him.