Still not L.J. Smith!
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The slide to Svartalfheim, the subterranean world, was more terrifying than anything they had faced yet. With each twist if the path, Jenny was sure she would slip and plunge God-knew-how-far to the ground.
But…there WAS no ground here. The thought made the ride somehow more frightening, instead of less. Falling forever, never ending…
Jenny shivered.
After an eternity – a forever of twists and turns and silent screams – she fell into a pile of rocks.
Wonderful.
The others picked themselves up alongside her and shook out aching muscles.
"Well, we're here," said Michael, wincing. Audrey kicked him in the shin. "Just so we're all certain on that point."
"So…what now?" That was Zach. "Do we look in every cave until we find it? 'Cause I doubt that will work."
Dee snorted. "We could get ourselves captured again… that would lead us to wherever the leader of this place is."
"No more capturing." Said Summer firmly. "Ever. At all."
Jenny stayed quiet as they bickered, still feeling guilty about leading them into a trap on Niflheim. So she was the only one who saw the shadow.
It rippled up, danced across the stone, and then scurried away. Whipping her head around, Jenny caught a glimpse of another figure, quickly ducking beneath an outcropping. She gripped Dee's arm.
"Uh…I think if we don't want to get captured…" She trailed off, but it was definitely enough to get her friends' attention.
"Look, over there. Behind…" The shadow reared up and swept towards them. "Never mind. I think we should RUN!"
They ran.
In fact, they were so intent on avoiding the shadows that they failed to notice when the sound of pursuit stopped. They ran, on and on and on until Summer slipped on a loose stone and tumbled to the ground.
"Where…are we?" She asked, struggling to her feet and looking around.
Jenny looked, too, and was amazed. They were in the largest cavern she had ever seen. An eerie silver light emanated from the ceiling, providing just enough illumination to see their surroundings.
The jagged rocks that loomed from the floor were easily ten feet high. A spreading underground lake, crystal clear, dominated the center of the cave, and the sound of water dripping drop by drop was the only thing that she heard.
The unearthliness of it was amazing – but she found herself grimacing and turning away.
"It's so… odd," breathed Audrey, staring at the ceiling. "Look…"
Jenny didn't. Instead, her gaze was drawn to a dark corner, wedged between two stone spires. Were the shadows still moving? No…but they were wrapped around something.
She took a step forward, extending her hand. And gasped.