Descent (A Hidden Wings Novella: Prequel) (13 page)

But I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.
I knew the Fallen must have heard the dogs, and would be here soon, so I pulled myself past them, into the doghouse, and tucked myself into a corner.

Bill and T
ed followed me, and began licking my face. I tried to push them away, but suddenly a deep growl rumbled from Ted.

He too
k off outside snarling and snapping like rabid, bloodthirsty beast. Bill followed behind, furious at whom or whatever had entered their property.

If I didn’t know
these dogs I would have been completely terrified. They were huge and scary, and I prayed that these dogs would be my saving grace. Hopefully the Fallen would think that no one would dare enter these beasts lair.

Samuel.
My thoughts went to him. I hoped and prayed that he was safe, and that he would return to me.

Right n
ow, if they found me, I was helpless to fight back. There was nothing I could do, and nowhere to run. I was too weak and exhausted, and needed sleep to rejuvenate. With rest…Immortals heal, but I was only half Immortal, so I needed a lot extra. 

I curled up
in the corner and shut my eyes. Even with my two guard dogs outside barking loud enough to wake the dead, the world around me faded to black, and I fell fast asleep.

Chapter Eleven

The Awakening

Samuel’s body laid
lifeless on Montem Mortis for three whole days.

But then something happened. So
mething magical. Something that Lucian had not expected. His eyes fluttered behind his eyelids, showing signs of life.

Samuel was alive!

Apollyon
had pierced his chest, but missed his heart. You see, there is only one area around the heart in which his sword could have entered, and it needed to be precise. A few millimeters in one direction or the other would have resulted in death.

Trust my sword.
Those were his words.

Apollyon had been
secretly practicing and mastering the skill which could injure, but not kill. So close to the heart, that onlookers would think it fatal. And then, when he applied a little pressure to the heart with the inserted blade, he could stop the heart from beating for a few moments, causing the victim to appear dead, when in actuality it was as if they were being put into a coma.

He saved Samuel’s life.

Samuel slowly peeled his eyelids open, and every cell in his Immortal body began to scream out in anguish. One arm, both legs, and multiple ribs and backbones were broken. Lacerations and bruises from the fall down the sharp, rocky mountain covered his body. His back felt ablaze, open and bleeding where they had severed his wings.

His w
ings could grow back, as long as he was still alive. But growing back a full set could take months. Being stuck in the Underworld, where time was much slower than in the mortal world, would mean years of being away from Alaine.

Samuel
tried to move, but experienced a pain so excruciating he almost passed out. He needed to find a place to heal, a place to rest, but that was easier thought than done. He was halfway up a steep mountain, covered with razor sharp rocks, and badly injured with no wings.

But still, the first thing o
n his mind was Alaine. He wondered if they sent someone after her, and if she made it out safely. It was the thought of her, and seeing her again, that gave him hope; despite the pain he decided to keep trying.

Inch by
painful inch, Samuel willed his broken body to move. He needed to find shelter, and knew it would be nearly impossible in this Hellhole. But as he pulled himself over the rocky terrain, he noticed something. Tiny white stones carved into the shape of arrows, which could only be seen if one was close enough to the ground. They were set six inches apart from one another, and all seemed to be leading in one direction.

Samuel
hoped it wasn’t leading him to danger, but there was something inside of him which told him otherwise. Someone had taken the time to carefully carve these stones, and then deliberately and specifically place each one in an area which was the easiest to travel.

He
painstakingly pulled himself over razor sharp rocks, following the stone arrows around a rocky bend. They were leading him to a small opening in the side of the mountain. The jagged entrance was barely wide enough for a man to fit, but the top of the entrance had a large stone jetting out, so no one above would ever know it was there.

This was going to be the most difficult task he’d ever had to face
: to squeeze through the small hole with two gaping wounds on his back, and a broken body.

Samuel was starting
to black out. He was dehydrated, and the heat was getting to him. He knew it would be hell to survive without food or water. His lips were cracked, and his mouth and throat were so dry it felt like sandpaper when he tried to swallow whatever little saliva he had left.

But
he’d have to worry about that later. Right now he needed to focus on getting inside that cave before he was noticed.

Samuel:

I
thought I was dead. I thought I’d never see the light of day again, but I was wrong. Apollyon saved my life. I just hoped that one day I’d be able to return the favor.

I had
been through my share of injuries, but this pain was nearly unbearable. I knew both my legs were broken, along with multiple ribs, and my left arm was bent abnormally. I was covered in bruises and lacerations. If I hadn’t been so brutally battered, or lost my wings, my body would have been able to heal much faster. But because of these massive injuries, the healing would take some time. I would need to rest, and I would eventually need to find food and water. 

I prepared myself
mentally, and thought on the only things that gave me strength. Alaine and Emma. They were the only two in my life who made the suffering worthwhile, and it was only because of them, that I promised to survive and make it back to the mortal world to look after them.

As much as it would break my heart
, I knew I would never be able to return to Alaine, or tell her that I was alive, knowing she would risk everything to be with me. That was something I wasn’t willing to do: to put her life in greater danger because I was in it. It was obvious that Lucian had a deep seeded hatred for the Nephilim, and if he found out that I was back in the picture... the thought was beyond horrific.

But this was in hope
that Alaine was still alive. I wouldn’t allow my mind to think otherwise. In my mind she was safe, and had escaped all danger that came her way. She knew what to do. She knew how to get away. If I had an ounce of faith left in me, it would be in her.

The only
way I could get into the cave was sideways, because the entrance was shaped like an oval. I’d have to keep my back on the less jagged side.

I
propped myself up as close as I could to the entrance, and stuck my arms inside. I then put my head in, and pulled, twisting my body to the side. I gasped for breath. My broken body screamed with a stabbing pain. The top of my chest was pressed up against one edge, and I braced my arms against the inside walls of the cave to pull the rest of my body through. I took in a deep breath and focused. I exhaled and pulled. Pulled with all my might.

The sharp rocks tore into my skin, but I couldn’t stop. I gritted my teeth
in pure anguish, and squeezed my broken ribs through.

Halfway…but the pain.

I felt warmth run down my back. My wounds had been torn open again.

I began to black out, and knew I
needed to pull myself all the way inside.

My legs were broken so
I couldn’t put any kind of weight on them. My arm was also broken near the wrist, but I could still use the strongest part, above the elbow to help pull me through.

I
took in another deep breath and pulled. With all my might I pulled the rest of my body through the dark hole. The torturous pain from my broken legs, combined with the burning agony from my opened wounds was unrelenting.

My world went black.

When I came to, I was confused, but the pain quickly reminded me exactly where I was and what had happened. I rolled to the side to let what little light there was, shine in on the inside of the cave.

It was a
perfect squared area which measured about twenty-feet by twenty-feet.

As my eyes
began to focus I started to think I was hallucinating. At the back corner of the cave was a small bed laid out on the ground, which had a pillow and blanket folded atop. To the side of it was a large wooden crate, and next to that were five extra-large skins, which were used to hold drink. They looked as if they were filled. I needed to drink, and I hoped there was strong drink in one, to help numb the pain.

Now, the
daunting task of dragging myself twenty feet across the cave floor, and then getting my broken limbs onto the bed. It would have been impossible if the thirst didn’t drive me there.

The journey across the cave was torturous and prolonged. My
teeth were gritted so hard I thought they would break, but even with greatest difficulty, I finally made it.

I rolled onto the
bed which was soft, and much nicer than the rocky floor, and I wondered who my saving grace was. Was it Apollyon?

I reached for the first skin and opened it. It was water and as soon as it touched my lips, it brought me back to life. I drank and drank, wetting my parched mouth and throat.

I then lifted the lid to the crate sitting next to me, and found that it was filled with food. B
read, dried meat, dried fruit; things which would not spoil easily and enough to get me through the healing.

There was
a small note folded on the top:

If you are reading this,
Congratulations on surviving and finding the cave. You should be supplied with enough food and drink until you heal. The darkest skin holds the strongest drink. Drink, rest, and leave as soon as you can.

It wasn’t signed, so there was no way I would be able to find out who had saved me. I just hoped
that if they were ever put in this position, that they would be given the same grace.

I knew the only way I
could leave this wretched place would be with my wings. The porthole was much too far, and the Underworld was completely barren, which made being seen almost eminent. I couldn’t risk it. I’d be confined to the cave for however long it would take to regrow my wings.

I
just hoped, with every ounce of hope left within my broken body that Alaine was okay.

Alaine: