A Job From Hell (Ancient Legends #1)

reached an opening in the wall
and squeezed through into yet another corridor. He didn’t let go of me until we
halted in front of a huge door of polished metal.
    Devon opened his mouth to say something
when I lifted a hand to stop him. I’d heard enough. Now, I needed time to make
sense of his words. “Aidan’s your sworn enemy,” I said, “so it’s hard for me to
trust you.”
    “You trust him more? That’s disturbing.” The
door opened. Devon let me pass through, following a step behind. I took in the
narrow stony passage with torches lit on both sides of a long aisle, marveling
at how much it resembled the others we had passed. We walked in silence for a
while, the dull thumps of our boots echoing from the walls.
    My mind reeled. There were so many
questions I wanted to ask. Did Aidan say anything? Did he know about my deal
with the Shadows? But I kept quiet, praying Devon would get the hint and keep
his mouth shut too because I couldn’t deal with more reproach and mind control,
until we reached a great hall with a marble altar set up in the middle. A strong,
chilly breeze swept my hair across my face. My heart started to race, hammering
against my ribcage. Judging from the distance we had put behind us, we couldn’t
be anywhere near the open space with its blooming trees. The scent here was
different too, less flowery, more earth-like and damp, just the way a mountain
would smell in the cold Scottish summer. Gazing around, I searched for the door
to freedom. If I could just see it, I might be able to distract my captors and
make a dash for the woods.
    “You’re shivering. Here. ”
Devon took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders. I mouthed a thank-you,
careful not to give away my enthusiasm at being so close to a way out. His obliging
attitude was part of his plan to sway me in the Shadows’ favor. On the other
hand, why would he want to deceive me when I was already cooperating? I was
being paranoid again. He said he liked me. I wondered whether his words meant
more than he let on. I took a deep breath and focused my attention back on our
surroundings.
    Devon led me past the altar to an opening
in the wall, like a giant hole. Behind it stretched darkness. The dim light of
the torches barely cast enough light to illuminate our way as we walked
through, entering yet another corridor in this maze. A shiver ran down my
spine. Even though I knew it wasn’t from the cold, I wrapped Devon’s jacket
tighter around me.
    “You okay?” Devon whispered, grabbing my
hand again.
    I nodded, but didn’t pull away. We entered
another open space. From the corner of my eye, I thought I saw motionless shapes
leaning against the walls, surveying our every move, waiting in silence as if
they, too, were carved of marble like the altar we passed. Had they followed,
or did they keep guard? Either way, there were so many of them, even if I found
a way out, how far would I get before someone spied me and raised alarm?
    At the far end of the space, a dais of
stairs led to an upper platform with a door. Devon pressed his palm against a
carved triangle. Light flickered where his skin touched the wood, and the
hinges moved with a loud groan. We entered a rock chamber, and the door shut
behind us.
    Holding my breath, I looked around. More
torches illuminated the vast room. Oriental rugs, in the color of autumn
leaves, covered the stonewalls. Thick logs burned in the huge fireplace to my
right. I turned to the girl and the man seated on ebony thrones overlaid with red
velvet when Devon hissed in my ear, “You’re about to meet our queen, Deidre. Keep
your head bowed.”
    Doing as he ordered, I caught a glimpse of
ivory skin and silver hair that spilled onto her dress, surrounding her elfin
figure.
    “I want a better look at the girl,” Deidre
said, her thin child-like voice ringing a bell.
    “Go,” Devon whispered as he gently pushed
me forward, bracing me when I stumbled.
    Deidre held out a hand and whispered, “Come
closer.”
    I looked up, my gaze shifting to the
bearded man sitting on the throne, pale and unmoving. When he didn’t even
blink, I turned to the girl, taking in the hip-long, silver hair, smooth skin
and dainty physique. She looked barely older than twelve, but something
glittered in her black eyes; old knowledge, pride and something else I couldn’t
pinpoint.
    Deidre drew a sharp breath, then lifted one
hand, motioning me to take a step forward. “This is Amber?”
    “Yes, Deidre. She