Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 121924 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121924 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Rats.
Little bumps rose on my nape and arms. I didn’t fear the rodents, but I didn’t have any interest in walking among them either. Unfortunately, I had no choice.
I counted to three and then took off at an awkward run, splashing through the water. There was no way to jump over the heap, so I had to pretty much trample over the rats. Some squeaked and scuttled over my—
I flinched with a hiss. One of the little shits bit my calf.
I didn’t stop. I kept running until I’d cleared them, sending water sloshing everywhere. Halting to pull in a centering breath, I snarled at the squeaking assholes, even though it would be fair to point out that they’d been minding their own business until I trod over them.
Feeling the water lap against my mid-thighs, I right then realized that the ditch was deepening. Worried that that could continue, I fished my drinking pouch out of my pocket and gripped it between my teeth. No way did I want any fetid water making its way in there.
I pushed my way through the water; it seemed to suck at my legs, and every step was weighted by the mud. Thank the gods I had become used to ignoring the throbbing pain of blisters, because I was sporting some on my heels right now.
The ditch began to thin slightly, but I could still see no end in sight. The further I walked, the deeper it became. As such, my breeches seemed to grow heavier with every step.
I froze as something brushed along my thigh beneath the water.
Ah, hell.
Gripping my pouch more firmly with my teeth, I sped up, determined to get away from whatever it was. I wouldn’t think about the fact that I wasn’t alone in the ditch. I wouldn’t wonder what creatures could be causing the air bubbles. I wouldn’t pay attention to how harsh the cool temperature felt against my damp skin.
Spotting something further along the passage, I squinted. I couldn’t make out what it was, other than to be sure that it was dark. And so very still that I doubted it was anything living.
I shoved aside the short curls sticking to my forehead as I kept on trudging through the water. Soon, a strange tang scented the air. A new sound also emerged. The gurgling of an underwater river.
The gurgling became louder as I neared the dark ‘something’ waiting up-ahead. A something that turned out to be a muddy heap.
I flexed my fingers beneath the water. How was I supposed to climb a sloppy mud hill? Probably with major difficulty.
At least it wasn’t teeming with insects and tiny bones.
I stuck my fingers into the mud for purchase … and green, smelly liquid oozed out of the holes. I groaned, snatching back my hands. Oh, give a girl a break.
Worse, beetles and worms followed behind the liquid.
I juddered, wishing all manner of curses on whoever had created this damn labyrinth. Figuring—since the mud would easily sink beneath my weight—that it was best to move quickly, I scrabbled up the hill as fast as I could.
The green shit stuck to my fingers. The mud embedded itself beneath my nails. The insects crawled up the godsdamn sleeves of my tunic.
I cleared the hill and quickly scampered down it. It was then that I saw the river. Like the earlier trench and the pool, it sliced through the passage.
It was also blood-red.
After shaking the insects from my body, I wiped the goo and mud on my breeches as I crossed to the edge of the river. And as the rich coppery scent hit me, I became very aware that this didn’t just look like blood. No, it was blood.
And there were dead rats floating in it.
Fuck my life.
I could all too easily understand why this place had earned the title ‘Nightmare Caverns.’ There was something so very sadistic about the labyrinth. It seemed built to play on your fears, drain your strength, and strangle your will to go on.
I’d known that the Sovereigns could be cruel, but to send down here those who upset them felt like a whole other level of callousness. And to actually trap a person here, a person Minos had first cursed to forever be a mindless beast, seemed beyond evil.
Batting those thoughts aside, I pinned my focus back on the river. It was too wide to be cleared in a single leap. Which meant that I’d have to use the series of wall ledges—they could act as a staircase of sorts.
Skimming my hand over the rough wall for balance, I stepped onto the first ledge. The soles of my boots were slick with mud and slime, so I slowly but carefully moved from one ledge to another. It was—
I slipped on the middle ledge.
I planted my feet firmly to steady myself, a panicked gasp splitting my lips … and my water pouch went toppling into the blood below. I stared down at it. “Fuck.”