Okay, I've left you hanging long enough XD
Kurtis could feel the cold water reaching his ankles, slowly ascending to his knees, and the rest of his body. He turned to Lara quickly. "Any ideas?" he asked.
"Not one," she admitted.
"I can get us untied," he said, "but I don't know where to go from there." They glanced about frantically as the panel descended and the water rose to their hips. "The water is obviously coming from somewhere…"
"The sewer pipes?" Lara asked speculatively.
They glanced behind them as the water rose to their stomachs. There were three wide pipes along the walls sending the water into the airlock. Obviously, the water pressure wouldn't allow them to get out that way – they would have to manipulate it somehow. Then, the idea fell upon Kurtis. "It's going to be hard," he said quickly, "but I might be able to push the water back. We can follow after it."
"That's going to take a lot of energy…" Lara said nervously.
"If it gets us out, it's fine," he said passively.
He outstretched his bound wrists towards the pipe as the floor continued to lower. Wait for it, he though carefully. "When I tell you, you need to swim forward," he directed to Lara. "Get close to the pipe."
Without a second question, Lara waded through the water towards the pipe as the floor continued to lower. She faced Kurtis as he continued to wait. Then, he turned to her. "Go under," he said quickly.
Lara drew in a deep breath and then went under, swimming towards the pipe and through the entrance. It was a difficult task, swimming against the current, but she managed to make small progress. Then, she felt an intense force pushing her forward. She knew Kurtis was helping her. She opened her eyes, watching carefully, hoping for an exit.
From her peripheral, she saw a tunnel leading out through the left. She reached her hands out and gripped the cement edges, fighting against both the current and Kurtis's telepathic force. Then, the water pushed forward, and she saw Kurtis coming her way, his arms outstretched towards the water as he took heavy steps down the passageway. He struggled to hold back the water, fighting to keep his footing as he leveled with Lara at the left tunnel. Then, he quickly shoved himself aside. The water collapsed, shoving both him and Lara down the left tunnel until they reached a shallow air pocket.
"Good work," Lara applauded. Kurtis drew in deep breaths, weak from the lack of energy and the struggle. Lara looked up, gripping through the grates of the panel. She pushed it open, and then pulled herself out, back onto dry land. She turned and reached her bound wrists towards Kurtis to help him pull out of the sewer line. He kicked the hatch shut, drawing in a deep breath of relief as he turned to Lara. They remained where they were for a moment, dripping wet, cold, and exhausted. They held their gaze with each other as they panted for oxygen. Then, they both began laughing. "If that's the best Siamak can offer," Lara said, "then he's in for a trip."
Kurtis chuckled a bit, wiping the water from his forehead. "I think that's the epitome of irony."
Lara bent over, removing the switchblade from her boot and cutting the ties of her wrists. Then, she turned to Kurtis, cutting his bounds as well. She pocketed the switchblade as he rolled his wrists out of the kinks. Then, they glanced up, looking around. "Are we still in the Strahov?" Kurtis asked.
"Just outside of it, it looks like," Lara said.
"Lara, are you there?" Alister paged nervously.
"Here," Lara said. "We're alright, actually."
"Good," he breathed. "Where is Emma?"
"Still with Siamak," she said regretfully.
"So she's in Lemuria, then," he declared.
"What?" Lara asked quickly.
"The Strahov is empty," Zip said. "The only place they would be is in Lemuria."
"That's just a guess, though…?" Lara asked.
"The strange thing is that the portal is no longer active," Alister said.
"What do you mean?" Lara asked quickly.
"Somehow, Siamak managed to break the portal so that literal minds can enter, too," he said.
"So if there's no portal…what is it, then?" she asked confusedly.
"A celestial gateway," Alister speculated. "Regardless, it'll be your turn to set foot in Lemuria and…see the sights."
"Brilliant," Lara muttered.
"So it's back to Madagascar, then," Zip said. "We'll arrange for a flight to pick you up, if you guys can hold off for a bit."
"Of course," Lara sighed. "We'll be waiting. Do hurry."
Several hours later, after the long flight from Prague to Madagascar, Lara and Kurtis landed in the African jungles of the island. Nightfall was coming, and the stars began to dot the sky as the moon rose in the distance. Lara sighed. It was the third time they'd had to cross this area and tour the 'sights' about Lemuria. She was thankful, though, that Kurtis wouldn't have to go alone this time – she would be right by his side. She would see everything that had terrified him so.
Kurtis was more than thankful that the mercenaries had been naïve enough to not disarm them once they caught them in the Strahov – had they actually used their brains, they would've taken the Sword of Light from his person as well, and that would've been chaos, havoc to say the least. The sword was still strapped onto his back, waiting to pierce both Siamak and Karel in the guts and finally do away with them for good. Hopefully it actually works this time, he thought irritably. He wouldn't want to have a go with Karel in round five.
From where they stood at the end of the peninsula, they could see a bright glow in the temple in the distance. "Let's see how much damage Siamak managed to cause," Lara said, setting forward to the light. They walked the distance of the peninsula until they reached the descended path of the temple and set foot inside, standing before the intricate light patterns as they danced along the walls of the temple. "So this is Lemuria?" Lara asked, watching the glowing designs float about.
"The start of it," Kurtis sighed. "It's only going to get worse from here on in."
Lara turned to him. "You're not alone this time," she said.
He met her gaze, staring deep into her eyes with appreciation and relief. He drew in a deep breath, then faced the hallway that led deep inside. "Let's go," he said. They set forward towards the hallway that hadn't been there before, walking along the colorful path that led into the next dimension.
Lara watched as the colors swirled in strange patterns. This must be what an acid trip is like, she thought nervously. There didn't appear to be a path below her, and there were no walls around either. She stepped closer to Kurtis as they continued forward, waiting for something real to appear in her vision.
Kurtis removed the Chirugai from his belt, activating it as it floated before them. Lara exhaled in relief when she saw the glow illuminate a previously-unseen path that veered to the left. She'd only been inside Lemuria for a few minutes, and she was already ready to leave. "Now I see why this place was so difficult to bear," she said softly.
Kurtis didn't glance her way. "Yeah," he said softly.
Lara drew in a silent breath. "I'm…I'm sorry for all the times I was on your case about it," she apologized.
He looked back her way. "It's alright," he assured her.
It's not…she thought. But she wouldn't pry any further. Then, he immediately reached a hand back, stopping her. They stood still for a moment, then Kurtis took silent steps back around the corridor. "What is it?" she asked quietly.
"Siamak," he said.
"Is Emily with him?" she asked quickly.
"Yeah," he replied. "Getting her away from him is going to be a bitch."
"I can imagine," Lara muttered. "And I'm assuming guns are irrelevant in here?"
"Unfortunately…"
Lara sighed quietly. She had no other choice weapons without her guns. The only things that would work in here were telepathy, the swords, and the psychics' powers. Again, she felt useless. "So what's the plan?" she asked.
Kurtis peered around the corner, then pulled himself back, sighing in frustration. "Siamak has his sword with him."
"And?" Lara asked. "He's already activated the portal. What difference does it make?"
"Maybe there's more to it than we thought," he said. "I don't know what it could be, though…"
"Forget it," Lara said, shaking her head. "Let's just figure out a way to get Emma away from him. Once she's free, she can leave Lemuria, and we can finish him off."
"That's going to be a lot more difficult than you think," a voice called.
Lara and Kurtis turned on their heels, facing the enemy, Karel. Lara impulsively reached for her gun, training it on his head. Karel chuckled in amusement. "You think you'd learn about those unsightly weapons, Miss Croft," he said.
"Wishful thinking," she chided. "I'm hoping one day it will work."
"What do you want, Karel?" Kurtis asked irritably.
"The Black Angel must be stopped," he said.
"You mentioned that," Kurtis said dryly. "What else?"
"I'm offering you my help to stop Siamak," he said.
Kurtis scoffed. "Thanks, but no thanks," he said. "You're useless anyway, remember? You practically don't even exist."
"Is that so?" Karel asked, raising his arm. His fist began to glow with green energy. He shot a bolt of energy towards Kurtis, who narrowly dodged it, staggering backwards towards the wall. Karel lifted his fist again, preparing to plunge him with another bolt of energy, but Lara interrupted. She stepped between Kurtis and Karel, keeping her useless weapon pointed at his head. "That's enough," Lara said. "Somehow you've managed to join the rest of us in reality – how fortunate. Now what do you want?"
Karel slowly dropped his hand, letting the green energy deplete. "You can either take my help and stand a chance at seeing your darling daughter again, or you can refuse it and I can kill you both where you stand."
"What would be the benefit to you if we were dead?" Kurtis challenged, approaching Lara's side.
"Defeating Siamak would be more difficult, thought not impossible," Karel said flatly. "Consider it my gift to you."
"How generous," Lara said dryly. "So what do you propose we do?"
"I've opened a can of worms with Siamak," Karel began. "Where I thought he would be under my command to help me rebreed the Nephilim race, he wasn't. He clearly has his own objectives. Now, he must be stopped, before all psychics become his slaves."
"But you haven't explained the tasks at hand," Lara said impatiently.
"The Sword of Light is the only thing that can defeat Siamak," he said. "I will distract Siamak, acting as your beloved," he cooed, referring to Kurtis. "So long as his attention is focused on me, you will be able to defeat him."
"Not in Lemuria," Kurtis said, "and you know that."
"Why do you think he's here, fool?" Karel asked. "He knows that. This place is his safe base. You must lure him out of here."
"Then what does that leave you to do?" Lara asked.
"Maybe you're missing my points," Karel said irritably. "I will distract Siamak and lead him past the portal to reality. You must then defeat him."
"And what will become of you?" Lara challenged. "How do we know you wouldn't then just try to kill us?"
Karel's fist began to glow green again. "I could kill you now, if you'd prefer," he replied evilly. "It makes no difference to me."
"So that must make you quite the munificent soul, then, sparing us…?"
"Perhaps so," Karel agreed humorously. The flame in his hand depleted once again. "I will draw Siamak out." He turned to Kurtis. "You must wait just outside of Lemuria."
"And what shall I do?" Lara asked irritably.
Karel looked her up and down discriminately. "You're expendable," he said. Then, he turned on his heel, disappearing around the corner.
Lara raised her weapon angrily, preparing to fire. Her better senses took over, though, and she lowered her hand groaning in frustration. "I don't trust him for a second," she said, holstering her weapon.
"As well you shouldn't," Kurtis agreed. "We're only safe from him until Siamak is dead. Once that happens, he'll turn on us."
Lara turned away, thinking. "Perhaps if we trapped them both inside…"
"And how do we do that?" Kurtis challenged. "Siamak controls Lemuria. There's nothing we can do."
Lara sighed. "You're right." She turned to face him.
"I have a plan," Kurtis said quickly, "but I don't have time to explain it. Once Emily is alone, take her and stay here."
"Stay here?" Lara asked nervously. "Why?"
"Just do it," he ordered. He placed his hands on her shoulders, looking her in the eyes. "Trust me. Please." Lara continued to stare into his gaze, then pulled herself into his embrace, kissing him on the mouth. After a quick bidding of goodbye, they reluctantly separated. Kurtis turned and exited through the way they'd come, and Lara turned down a separate corridor to reach the arena where Siamak and Emily were, praying that whatever plan Kurtis had would pull through.
And we're getting closer to the final showdown everyone!! Only a few more chapters left =D