key-of-pearl

Her thoughts pulsated through him, frantic, desperate, pleading for him to stay behind.__ won____an__,_ he murmured. __f you__e going, so am I.__he exhaled a laborious sigh and flung her arms around his neck; her warm breath fanned over his skin as she tightened her grip. __f you die, Andrew, I__l track you across multiple dimensions just to say I warned you,_ she cautioned, voice tender.

An ear-splitting screech pierced the silence, followed by another, striking his ears like metal against a hollow bell. The woosh woosh of wind being displaced brought Andrew__ attention skyward, and a glacial gust of paralyzing terror raced up his spine. The creature opened its mouth, and a blazing shaft of fire bellowed from above. Andrew barely had enough time to back beneath an awning for protection. Egnatious and Sebastian dove to the side while Firen sidestepped her impending doom, raising the katana in challenge.The screeching returned, except now the howls were coming from every direction.Firen__ chest heaved. __id you see that?_ she asked, her stormy eyes glinting with rapture and daring as she held her katana out, preparing for the next attack.__id I see the dragon?_ Sebastian asked, hysteria dangerously rising to the surface. He stood and brushed himself off. __es, I bloody well did see that enormous, scaly, fire-breathing dragon.

Where are you taking me?_ Andrew demanded, whirling on the Ferryman. His muscles tensed, hands curling in and out of fists.__o my master._ The voice was ghostly, whispers of black ash and death, words cold and detached.He had an idea who that was but asked anyway: __nd who is your master?__o answer came.Andrew__ insatiable rage rose up and swallowed his grief like a yawning ocean mouth, the darkest depths surging to the surface to form a mighty tidal wave. He closed the distance and seized the Ferryman__ gaunt wrist. There was no substance, no life beneath the cloak. The Ferryman slowly turned his hooded head, and Andrew found himself looking into the black hole of a self-contained night. The olfactory of decay was a punch in the face. Andrew released the Ferryman__ wrist and hastily stepped back, rocking the boat as he put distance between him and the unnatural wind spilling from the gaping orifice. Andrew shivered, the tiny hairs on his neck saluting. The cloaked head faced forward again, and the wind died away.

He strained his ears, and the darkness felt heavier than before. Oppressive.__e__e hungry._ That came from behind him.__hey smell tasty,_ a voice to his left hissed.__ don__ like this,_ Andrew said, feeling like the world around them was spinning with voices, taunting, echoing them.__ don__ like this,_ a voice parroted. __ don__ like this. I don__ like this. I don__ like this.

I think I found your vampire,_ Andrew said, except this time he wasn__ so amused.However, Gabriella was, her smile huge as she laughed, the sound a trill in the densely packed cold air.__ou think this is funny?_ The words came out surly, but Andrew couldn__ stop his lips from twitching over her amusement.__ thought they__ be bigger,_ she said, stifling another round of giggles. __re you okay?___ust a flesh wound.

What are you doing?_ Egnatious asked, eyebrows furrowed as he watched Gabriella do a flip.Firen mimicked Gabriella and turned to Egnatious. __un times. Go with it._ She didn__ even crack a smile, though her body language said she was laughing on the inside.Instead of following their act, Egnatious simply dove for an outcrop just as it began moving away. He nearly lost his balance, but Firen caught his flailing arms.__re you having a seizure or something?_ she jested, displaying a rare vein of humor.Egnatious sent her a queasy glare.

Burn wounds always elicited pain more terrible than anything else he had ever endured. He didn__ relish the idea of forcing himself to suffer through such agony. But it was necessary. Earth depended on them taking possession of the key. __t__ the only way out,_ Andrew reminded him.__ understand that, but____he trials we have faced thus far have been minimal,_ Andrew said, cutting off Sebastian__ retort. __hat we seek is the key to the universe. You didn__ expect it to be easy, did you?