Not How It's Supposed to Go

Feeling no better, Runa wondered what force had opened that door and why. Seemed an awful lot like an open invitation to a deathly trap. She'd been to a few too many of those lately. And you'd have a good case arguing that one was plenty for a lifetime.

The hallway was also suspiciously silent. That constant accursed hum and clonk which formed the bulk of the atmosphere in these ancient dwarfish tombs was the only sound to accompany their ginger footfalls as their wordless company slowly slid forward. Visually there wasn't much to mention, artless stretch of adorned masonry, circular brazen scones for those green lights, the floor interspersed with brazen panels. Brazen pipes across the ceiling . . .

Yeah, it didn't take long in one of these things to pick up on the general theme. Brass. Brass, brass, brass. Brass up the ass.

She held the rear, with Ariela close up in front of her. Erik was a little farther out, and Ariadne, whom they'd graciously let take the lead so that the girl wouldn't sulk, at a spitting distance from him. From the start, she had put some distance between her and the rest, as though their company wasn't quite up to her standards.

Runa shook her head. Young as she was, there was a limit of how much uppishness could be overlooked in a company such as this. Had these been her usual circles, someone would've chewed the girl out by now. I'd quite like teaching her a lesson myself.

She grinned. Make that two.

Ariela could not describe the feeling that had overtaken her. The only word she could think of to depict it was drawn. Like the place itself was calling her name, beckoning her deeper into its maw to plumb its mysteries.

The rational part of her understood, of course, that she was only sentimentalizing it. What was happening was the usual thing, how she had always approached any chance of increasing her knowledge. As if, poetic license allowed, some spirit had possessed her and was pulling her in to reveal untold secrets. As if the explanation to the secrets of the universe, the answer to all those ever-nagging questions plaguing her, were right around the corner. Or, more like it, right around the next turn of page.

That was the obvious difference. This was no book, this was an ancient ruin containing who knew what dangers. Whatever they were, they were bound to be worse than a papercut. Rationally thinking, she should have been afraid. She was always afraid!

But not now.

She was also well aware of the tensions between the others, especially between Runa and Ariadne, but where she would have normally been wracking her brain for a solution to get them to get on, now she barely paid it any mind. This place, whatever it was, had her in its hold. Overshadowing all worries which usually beset her. She should have been relieved. Maybe she was. But she paid that no attention either.

Erik was irritated. He was simultaneously trying to keep up with the obstinate mage and not let the rest fall too far behind. He felt as though Ariadne was doing her best to put distance between herself and the rest while at the same time Runa was trying to walk as slowly as she could. It didn't take psychic abilities to be able to tell that the two women didn't exactly get along. Honestly, he couldn't really blame either, as he if anyone knew what a handful Runa could be, and it wasn't as if he got on with Ariadne particularly well either. But at least he was trying, which was more than you could say for the two.

And poor Ariela, she probably felt torn between the two, always doing her best to mitigate between everyone. Sensitive as she was, he could only imagine how much stress it gave her.

Bet you'd like to relieve her stress, wouldn't you?

Erik found himself smiling. It wasn't a self-defeating, scornful thought, but a playful one. He did, however, make a point of refraining from answering his own question.

He knew the answer anyway.

In spite of himself, he next found himself eyeing the curve of Ariadne's hips. Then, with a pang of guilt, he realized that he was quite literally hovering between Ariela and Ariadne. As if trying not to lose sight of the explosive, surprisingly seductive, and decidedly beautiful mage, while still trying to keep the gentle, intelligent, deeply endearing and damnably adorable scholar as close as possible. As if he really could not decide which one, and perhaps which side of himself, he was more prone to side with.

Can't I have both?

He almost slapped himself.

No, you can't.

Ariadne sniffed, resisting the urge to look over her shoulder. What was taking them so long! From the start, Ariadne had tried to pick a slightly faster pace, by way of hinting at the rest to catch up. Was it her fault that they failed to get it, or then just chose to ignore her? She for one was not going to say anything.

Seemed as if Erik at least was making some modicum of effort. His steps sounded a little closer, the unmistakably clunky gait of a large man.

In spite of herself, she smiled a little. Yeah, in truth the man was probably just trying to keep the posse together. But in her mind it was she who gave the extra spring to his step. I got to him after all! He lusts after me, just like every other male with eyes in his head and the head screwed on straight. Can't resist my charm very long, now can you? We'll, you're only mortal . . .

Yes, she was probably only congratulating herself out of frustration. Using whatever thoughts normally helped her moods. Aggrandizing her sex appeal. The irresistible Ariadne. Turning the sternest men into stuttering pudding since . . . well, perhaps not that long. But anyway.

Part of her had become obsessed with making Erik see it too, she realized. She wanted to see that familiar look in those eyes. She could practically see it already. While trying not to think about how the brawny man must have looked without clothes. Hmmm, maybe a bit hairy for my taste. But at least he seems to be hung like a—

Trying not to think about it!

Even before she realized, she did steal a look over her shoulder. She caught Erik's eyes. Gave him a brief, but loaded smile; and before he recovered from the attack, turned back around. Let's see you figure that out!

The smile never left her lips. Yes, she was feeling quite wicked. Kind of cruel, honestly. After all, did she not mind that Ariela, that poor earnest little mouse who most likely had never even lain with a man, had set her booky little sights set on him? Did she not feel just the tiniest twinge of guilt? Hey, as they say, in the war of love you take no prisoners!

She frowned. No, that wasn't what they said. What was it?

Well, regardless of what they said, it wasn't as if—

A sudden sound obliterated her train of thought. A loud click, somewhere above her. She stared, prepared to receive an attack.

But there wasn't any. She turned around. Erik had stopped too, scowling.

"Did you hear that?" she asked.

The floor gave out from underneath her.

"Ariadne!"

It all happened so fast that Erik's reaction came lamentably late.

He had barely recovered from the stunning grin Ariadne had suddenly flashed him, and then proceeded to wonder about what plot the sly little vixen was now harboring, when the sudden clicking sound had stopped them both in their tracks.

And then that brazen panel on which she'd stood had disappeared. Well, not disappeared, he realized now that he was bolting toward it, but opened up, as it was in fact no panel at all but a trapdoor. The tips of Ariadne's fingers were still visible, white from holding onto the edge of the hatch. There was enough ridge there to grab hold of, but she would not be holding on much longer.

Erik threw himself forward, sliding the last bit on the smooth stone to grab her arm. The stone was actually a bit too smooth, and for a second he was afraid that he would simply crash on Ariadne himself and plunge them both to their deaths.

But as luck would have it, his judgment of distance was just right and he managed to get ahold of her by the wrist and under one arm. "I got you!" Feeling very satisfied as he said the words. Strong. Like a hero.

Their eyes locked. Within a fraction of a second Erik's inner sentiment went from heroic to . . . mush. That look on her face. My gods, she looks so beautiful! Suddenly so earnest, stripped of her usual haughty veneer, and by the Divines did that actually really suit her. Fear rimming her chestnut eyes as she helplessly dangled there, nothing but his brute strength as her—

There was a deafening noise, like a wind howling through a tunnel, only somehow inward. That strangely becoming look of fear in Ariadne's eyes bloomed into downright terror, decidedly less becoming. She screamed.

And pulled him in.

"Erik!"

Runa couldn't even say if it had been her scream or Ariela's. Possibly both. Her entire body feeling numb and cold, she sprinted like her own life depended on it, then watched helplessly as Erik suddenly vanished into the pit, as though sucked in!

Like Erik before, just with considerably less grace, she crashed to the floor to slide the last stride and a half. But even before that, the trapdoor which she'd taken for decorative paneling, slammed closed to cover the hole that had swallowed the man she considered her big brother.

"Fuck!" she screamed. Trying to get her fingers wedged underneath the door. Might as well have tried prying off a piece of the floor. "Fuck!" She pounded on it, not caring how much it hurt or how futile it was. "Open, motherfucker!"

The trapdoor did not listen.

And just like that, Ariadne found the man on top of her—just as she had imagined only seconds ago. Well, except that they were both clothed.

Main thing was, they were alive!

They stared at each other at close distance for half a dozen heartbeats, breathing heavily from screaming their throats raw just a few short seconds ago. It all felt very intimate.

"What the hell was that!" Erik cried, delivering some spittle in Ariadne's eye.

A little too much intimacy.

"Get off me!" she barked, pushing him aside and wiping at her face. Surprised her temperament returned so soon after she'd been certain of her sudden demise.

Erik did not seem too offended. "Can't believe we're in one piece!" He felt himself all around, as if to determine if his assessment was indeed correct.

Alive, yes, but where? Turned out the chute had very soon started curving outward, a slide rather than a drop, and thus explaining why they were both still breathing. "We're in one of those tubes!" Ariadne realized big enough to sit up comfortably. She peered up the slope. There was a sound, she realized, of banging not originating in the ancient machinery. Unless the machines were yelling profanities as well. "That's Runa's voice."

Erik shouldered past Ariadne to cry up. "Hey! Hey! Runa! We're down here! We're okay!"

"Shhh, listen!" Ariela's heart jumped in her throat as she thought she recognized Erik's voice down the hatch.

Runa stopped banging and snarling.

"Can you hear? We're ok!" A metallic echo muffled by the trapdoor.

Ariela's cheeks hurt from the wide grin as their eyes met. "It's Erik! They're alive!"

Runa pressed her mouth against the edge of the trapdoor. "Erik? Can you hear me!"

"Yes!" came Erik's reply. "Look, it's a bit of a rough ride but you can safely slide down."

Runa's brow creased. "Even if we could, no chance," she muttered. "The door is closed! It won't budge."

"Maybe if we step—"

Runa silenced Ariela with a wave.

"Damn!" Erik clawed at his beard. Behind him, the tube turned to the left. It must lead somewhere. "Ok, we'll find a way forward! If you keep going there must be some other way down." It occurred to him to suggest them they try stepping on either the same door or a different one, but thought better of it. "Okay?"

That's reasonable. Runa eyed with distaste the panels or trapdoors or whatever they were which yet lay ahead. They would not be testing them. "Sounds like a plan!" she shouted down.

Ariela looked worried, chewing at the corner of her lower lip. So cute, fretting about Erik. With a warm smile Runa laid a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright," she said. "We'll find them."

Oh. Ariela felt a pang of shame. As soon as she'd heard Erik's voice she'd stopped worrying, confident that the man would be keeping himself and Ariadne safe—or perhaps the other way around.

Instead she started fretting about the likely complexity of this place. And not only that, but the fact that it seemed to be boobytrapped. A trip to the library this wasn't going to be.

But yeah, guess she should have been worrying about her companions instead. She felt almost guilty that Runa had to go out of her way to encourage her.

She donned what she took for a brave smile and patted Runa's hand on her shoulder. "Thanks, Runa. I know."

That seemed to satisfy the woman.

Runa was pleased with her ability to soothe the scholar so easily. She was the first to admit she was no good at all that emotion stuff, but there were times that she surprised even herself. But that was Runa Fair-Shield for ya: ever unpredictable, ever full of surprises.

How did anyone ever manage without her around?

"Well, that wasn't long," Erik said as they exited the conduit. At the end waited yet another hallway, similar to the one they'd fallen down from, just thankfully without the brazen squares, be they panels or trapdoors.

"You certainly have a knack," replied Ariadne as she came to stand next to him, smoothing the creases of her robes, "for stating the obvious."

Erik scowled. "Don't you ever have anything nice to say?" After the fall, after saving her life—well almost saving her life, or in the least imagining having almost saved her life—she was still giving him the attitude. And he for one was getting mighty tired of it.

Ariadne's brows went up. "Well, someone is feeling cranky."

Erik puffed out in astonishment. "Wh— wh— That's fresh! Coming from . . . little miss . . . huffypants!"

"Excuse me! " Ariadne planted her fists about her hips. "If tumbling down some sewage pipe doesn't exactly fill me up with jolly good giggles and thrills. All because some bumbling oaf chose that moment to throw himself on me."

Even Ariadne had to admit she had gone just a tad too far with that one. But that was the thing with her mouth: when her temper flared, there was just no accounting for what came out. And really, it was his fault for starting to call her names! Excuse me if I'm not quite the soft, simpering pussycat your studious little girlfriend up there is!

Those fist on her hips? Well, she was now intent on keeping them right where they were!

Erik waved his hands, comically upset by her accusation. "There was a . . . you know, a wind of some kind."

"A sucking wind?" There was no denying that something like that had indeed been behind their fall, but then this wasn't really an argument of facts, now was it.

"Whatever you call that." He scowled, so incensed that Ariadne actually had to suppress a smirk. "And hey—I saved your life!"

Ariadne only gave him one artfully cocked eyebrow, speaking volumes. Did you really? How 'bout you think that over again. She had very expressive eyebrows.

"Well . . ." Now Ariadne did allow herself to smirk again, as the man clearly realized his error. "I could've!"

Ariadne snorted.

"But now I'm thinking, that—" Erik fumed. So serious! "That maybe I shouldn't have! You know . . . tried."

Ariadne stopped smirking and instead narrowed her eyes. Then she took one stride and grabbed Erik by his arms and pushed him hard against the wall. The precious astonishment in his eyes!

What was this now?

We'll see.

Erik gaped. The girl was surprisingly strong!

For minute they just stared at each other, her face right next to his with that unrelentingly fiery gaze locked into his. Then her face softened, a little smile playing about her lips. "So you think you're my hero, do you?" she said. "That's cute."

Erik's mouth fell open. He could feel his heart pound hard in his chest. A warm glow alighting in his chest and abdomen, one that could have been trepidation or arousal in equal measure. It made him feel weak, and somehow such a feeling seemed so inappropriate for a big, tough man to have.

Ariadne's other hand went up to brush at his hair, fallen by the side of his face. "A big, strong hero," she said, tone condescending as if speaking to a child.

The glow definitely reached lower than his abdomen by now!

She caught him by the jaw. "Well, there's many kinds of strengths. You've seen the things I am capable of."

She left a pause there, as if giving him a chance to say something. He had to admit that nothing presently came to mind.

She shook her head, studying him. "You poor man. Think just because of your muscles and your sharpened steel you are stronger than me? Well, let me tell you." And she pressed her face right close to his. Gods, even her breath was lovely! And her eyes, they were like a pair of nails holding him in place. "You are wrong. I am stronger. Much, much more powerful than you can even imagine yourself being!"

Erik licked his dry lips. He wanted to kiss her so bad. No, he wanted her to kiss him! This is not how this is supposed to go. Is it?

"Powerful enough," she said, stroking his face now, "that I could just fry you any time I wanted. In fact . . . " She took his chin in her fingertips and tilted it so that his head hit the wall. "I could just about do anything I wanted to you."

By now, Erik was as hard as a rock. Yes, he loved strong women. He'd slept with plenty of them. Had bruises from fucking like he'd been in a fight. But he didn't think that he'd ever felt threatened by a woman before. It was surprisingly exciting.

And yet . . .

At that moment, he thought he could see Ariadne's mask cracking. She was trying just a bit too hard. Showing her age, perhaps.

Whatever it was, the spell was broken.

But he wasn't quite done. He placed a hand on her hip, saw that infinitesimal flinch, and grinned. He moved the hand up her side and then slowly but deliberately peeled off her hand and fixed a firm stare down on her—he was still quite a bit taller. "You could, couldn't you?" he said, his voice steady. While keeping her hand in his, feeling how much more physical strength he had over her, he in turn brushed her cheek with the back of his other hand. "And does that turn you on?" he asked, leaving a pause for his words to sink in. "Because it does me."

His smile grew as her expression melted. Yeah, nice try. But she was still way too inexperienced to play these kinds of games with toughened, full-grown adults. Compared to him, she was soft.

That, however, didn't make him any softer . . .

Ariadne felt her knees grow weak. It had been fun while it lasted, toying with him. On some level, she had much enjoyed seeing him suddenly turn feeble in front of her. In another way, however, it had been a little disappointing. And while his comeback felt disappointing in a different way, her power slipping away, more than anything she was relieved. As if he had proven himself to her. She did not want a man be weak compared to her, she realized. Yet, it had also given her an unprecedented sort of thrill. Having someone be powerless in front of her. The feeling was . . . intoxicating!

Still, as his face shifted, as he said those words . . . By Dibella he could have me right here and now!

He almost did it. Almost clutched a handful of her hair and pulled her lips against his. Almost flipped around so that he could press her against the wall. Almost slipped his other hand underneath her robes. Almost pressed himself against her leg so that she could feel just how he felt about her . . .

Almost. But not quite.

For the thought of Ariela's face penetrated this mind. Those intelligent and unassuming eyes. That earnest look she had. Her shy smile. The way the skin creased on her forehead and around the eyes when she was deep in though. And he imagined that face crumbling as she learned what he had done. That disappointment and bold dismay. He imagined seeing her heart breaking.

Maybe he was just being presumptuous. But it was enough to quench that fire.

Ariadne was lovely. Very lovely. But she was not the one he wanted.

He brushed Ariadne's face. Gave her a fond smile. "Anyway. I forgive you."

What?

"You . . ." At once Ariadne's emotions were like crowd of people trying to simultaneously cram through the same narrow passage. The one that came foremost, however, was indignation. "You what?"

"No hard feelings." Erik pressed her back with ease, then took her by the shoulders and squeezed lightly. "You were just upset." And he patted her and turned away.

Ariadne blinked. This was not how it was supposed to go!

Yet, for once she could not think of a good reply. So she just fumed impotently.