Chapter Seventy Six
Megan
I was almost climbing the walls by the time I finally decided it was safe to make a move and almost forgot my bag in my eagerness to get going. I peered out cautiously to be sure the hallway was clear before stepping out, closing the door very quietly, and locking it. I wasn't sure why I went to such lengths, as far as I was aware I was the only occupant of this floor but it felt right.
I didn't relax until I was inside the passage and the door locked behind me and still, I stumbled in the dark until I found the entrance to the chamber, wishing all the time I had the reassuring bulk of Felix at my side. Instead, I reached inside my sweater, which I had donned as soon as the cold from the passages began to seep into my bones, and felt for Darius' ring clutching it in one hand as I searched for the oil lamp Felix had left ready for me with the other.
Putting the torch down I struck a match and lit the wick holding the lamp aloft and shivered as it illuminated the ominous stone pillar. For a second I wondered what it must have felt like to be dragged down here and feel the thick irons manacles snap shut around your wrists and ankles. To know you faced only pain and torture before certain death. Was the labyrinth full of the shades of those who had died down here? Were they even now watching me and wondering if I would get lost down here and join them?
Pushing such morbid thoughts away I moved to the center of the chamber and spun around slowly, wondering which direction to take. I closed my eyes and conjured up a picture of Darius hoping he would somehow lead me to him.
There was the slightest sensation against my fingers, the ones holding his ring and I thought at first I was imagining things. I dropped it and stood still, breathing deeply and trying to steady my nerves.
"Come on Megan, stop scaring yourself or you'll start seeing things too, you fool. Try to clear your mind and think, what would dad do in this situation?"
I swallowed as I thought about my dad, wishing he and mom were here with me right now. I missed them both so much I felt tears prick at my eyes and impatiently wiped them away with the back of my free hand.
The light from the lantern dipped and swayed as I felt my hand tremble and I held it tighter. Come on, pull yourself together and get a move on. I had already wasted too long dithering as it was.
I thought about all those people walking around far above me, the detested Alec, Jane, Sulpicia, Felix, and the rest. All those I had considered my friends and who still were for the most part. If only I had collected a gift from one of them that I could use.
As I touched the ring once more I felt it again, a faint tingling as if I were somehow connected to Darius through its presence, the warmth it had gathered from my body heat.
As I slowly turned once more experimentally I felt the tingling fade away, then become stronger again. Was it going to lead the way? Then I remembered Demetri, the tracker. Of course, I had his gift too even if I wasn't sure how it worked. Maybe if he had something belonging to the person he was looking for it would lead him to them. Praying that I was right and not just going crazy down here alone I walked slowly to the passage the feeling had indicated and made a faint mark as low down as I could with a magic marker pen I had brought along in my bag. I'd been using it to decorate my room at home with pictures only I could see once the UV light that had come with it was shining on the wall. Hopefully, no one else coming down here would think of such a secret marking.
Checking the mark showed up by shining the penlight on it I was relieved to see a faint glow where I had marked an M for Megan.
Pulling my bag up onto my shoulder I took one step then another and soon I was too far along to see the entrance when I turned back and lifted the lamp. With a final backward glance, I steadied myself and walked forward determined to keep hunting until I found Darius or die in the attempt then laughed softly as I realized how melodramatic I sounded.
Jasper
We had tried three different directions before realizing that it was an almost impossible task trying to find a body among the miles of tunnels and caves that had been created under the mountain.
"Major, we gotta come up with some kinda plan or we're gonna be here for fucking decades chasing our tails."
Peter was right but I didn't know what else to do, I couldn't just give up after promising Meg that I would save Darius.
Then the sat phone vibrated in my pocket and thinking it was Bella I pulled it out, eager to hear the sound of her voice and hoping against hope for some good news. However I was mistaken, I recognized a voice but it wasn't one I had expected to hear here and now.
"Major? I hope you don't mind, I asked Bella for a way to contact you confidentially and she gave me this number."
"Bella gave you this number? Why would she do that? What do you want?"
"There's no need to be so suspicious, Major. Believe it or not, I am on your side."
"I didn't know we had any sides."
Peter who had also recognized Felix's voice lifted his torch higher and swung it back and forth to see as far as possible in every direction as if afraid we might be ambushed but if there was anyone close by we would have heard something. No one was good enough at concealment and tracking that they could sneak up on us. We are far too seasoned as warriors for that to be possible.
"Well, your wife believed me so maybe you should hear me out. I am trying to help Megan."
I said nothing and he took that for my consent to continue.
"I believe I know roughly where you are, you and your friend, and as my hands are tied it is up to you to find and protect your daughter and her mate."
I flinched hearing Darius described so but I knew Felix was right. It was the only explanation for her actions over the past weeks.
"She is seeking the same thing you are and is down in the labyrinth right now. I asked her to wait until morning when it would be safer with everyone who could be a danger to her enterprise otherwise occupied but I believe her meeting with Alec might have pushed her into precipitate action."
"What do you mean? Did that bastard hurt her?"
"Not physically, but I believe he is bringing a lot of pressure to bear in order to force her into announcing their engagement in the next few days."
"What kind of pressure?"
"I went to check on her after seeing Alec and found her suite empty. Excuse me for snooping around but I did not like his expression. I found something hidden in her bag. Proof that Alec was telling the truth about having Darius a prisoner. I never thought he would actually subject her to such horrors but it seems that I was mistaken. He handed her one of his prisoner's fingers and I'm sure you can imagine what that did to her."
I was so angry I could barely breathe let alone speak and understanding this Felix didn't wait but continued with his story.
"As soon as I realized what had happened I went looking for her but I was too late to prevent her from entering the labyrinth and then I was called away. I only have a few minutes and I must tell you that I am not the only person who knows that your daughter is missing from her suite. As we speak there is a hunt for her within the citadel and I have no doubt that as a result, Alec will want to check on his prisoner although there is a small window of opportunity for Megan as he does not appear to know exactly where his prisoner is. I would hate for him to run across Megan by accident, for I fear if he is cornered he might strike out to cover his tracks."
"So where is she?"
"That alas, I don't know, but she will be marking her passage through the labyrinth in some subtle way and I was hoping you might guess what that is. I can tell you where she started from and I am guessing that you must have acquired a map however inaccurate it might be, so perhaps you can find her before he does. I wish I could do more but I am not at liberty to do so."
Peter was looking at me and shaking his head as if he didn't believe Felix was telling the truth and mouthing "it's a trap." but I shook my head. I could hear the sincerity in his voice and the fear he felt for Megan.
"OK. Tell me where to start and if you can, keep them off our backs as long as possible."
"I will endeavour to do so as far as I am able, but you must understand there is no proof that Alec has done anything and while some people here in Volterra are loathe to punish Megan there are others who would need to be persuaded that Alec is at fault. He has many friends and there are others who fear him."
I gestured for Peter to get the map out as Felix explained where Megan had entered this labyrinth and her initial direction and pointed it out to him.
Peter studied it and then pointed with a finger to the quickest router for us to intercept her if, and it was a huge if, the map was anywhere near accurate. We couldn't afford to be cautious any longer, speed was of the essence, so saying a curt thanks to Felix I put my phone away and we set off at a run ignoring the sound we were now making on the rubble-strewn ground with the speed of our passage.
Only when we reached an area where there has been a huge rockfall did we stop and I cursed. Glancing at the map I saw there was no way around it. If we wanted to have any hope of reaching Megan before Alec then we had to get through this. I just hoped it wouldn't prove to be too deep or it could take valuable time to clear, time we did not have.
Peter was already hauling rocks over his shoulder to land with a crash behind him sending splinters of rock shooting in all directions, one large shard just missing my eyes.
Hearing my curse he turned, "Whoops, sorry Major but I figured you wanted through ASAFP."
"I do, keep going."
There wasn't room for the two of us to haul rocks so I called Bella quickly to fill her in only to discover that she had learned most of it from Felix before handing him my number.
"I've booked a ticket on the next flight out to Pisa. I should land some time tomorrow evening. In the meantime, you take care of Megan. I'm going to speak to Carlisle and Sulpicia, find out just what the hell is going on there. And as soon as I get my hands on Alec I'm going to make that little shit wish his mom and daddy never fucking met."
I didn't have time to try talking her down but I did warn her to be careful. Not to throw any suspicion onto Alec until we had Megan safe.
"Marcus isn't going to believe anything unless you have proof and right now we've got squat."
I heard Peter shout to let me know he was through.
"I have to go, the way's clear again now. Take care. I love you, Bella."
I hardly heard her return that love, I was so eager to get going again not knowing how long a head start we still had if any at all.
Megan
The further I went into the labyrinth of passages the more frightened I expected to become but somehow I became used to the icy cold, the silence and the solitude because I knew instinctively that I was going in the right direction. That every step was taking me closer to Darius and once I found him I would never ever let him go again whatever it cost me.
I also sensed that I had allies down here. My dad was here somewhere and I knew he would find his way to me if I needed him. The question was how long would it be before anyone else knew I had vanished? I should have waited like Felix had cautioned me until I knew the coast was clear, but I couldn't. Not after Alec's visit. I would rather be lost down here for eternity or captured and put on trial for my life than live another moment under his vindictive and sickening control.
Whether anyone believed me or not I would tell them of his treachery, his sick demands and his imprisonment of Darius. The ironic thing was that the one person who would have believed me without question was no longer alive to do so. I still felt guilty for my part in Aro's downfall although I had never wanted or planned it. He has been good to me along with Sulpicia and right now I could do with all the friends I could get.
Stopping to make a mark as I turned another corner and found myself confronted by three openings I touched the ring again. "Come on Darius, tell me which way to go. Help me."
Once again I felt a tingle as I approached the third ominous opening and I was about to step through it when something told me that I needed to move faster. I could feel danger speeding its way towards me and I took off at a slow run, determined not to be beaten to my goal.
Keep safe in these dangerous times everyone. Posting may be a little less regular as life is difficult right now but I'll do my best. Love Jules x
