Dagon Rising(75)
“You’ve been saying that from the beginning.”
“So I have,” Amethyst agreed. “But it has never been more crucial than it is now, so pay attention. Diamond and Ruby will enter the chamber and eradicate the threat. Under no circumstances should you, Clark, or the rest of you follow them. This is especially important in regards to you, Tony. We can’t afford to lose you now.”
“You brought us along as hired guns,” Clark said, “and now you want us to sit it out in the last quarter of the game with thirty seconds left on the clock?”
“Absolutely. Both of you have a role to play, and you can’t play it if you’re dead. Let Diamond and Ruby handle the Dark Ones. I’ll remain here with you. We will engage the enemy only if they break past Diamond and Ruby’s defenses and approach us.”
“Do you hear that, Wade?” Susan clasped his hand and smiled. “We get to stay here.”
“Y-yeah,” he replied, glancing at Jennifer in concern. “I heard that, Susan. You sure you’re feeling okay?”
“I’ve never felt better. It’s wonderful. You should try it. My eyes have been opened.”
“I was afraid of that,” Ruby muttered, elbowing Diamond. “You shouldn’t have used a calming spell this close to the doorway. The psychic backlash is too strong. Dagon’s presence is impacting her mind.”
“Are you saying our friend has gone crazy?” Jennifer asked. “What kind of—”
“Once Diamond and Ruby have cleared the chamber of hostiles,” Amethyst continued, interrupting her, “Tony and Clark will approach the portal. At that point, Tony, Ruby will give you your final instructions.”
“Why not give them to me now?”
“In case something goes wrong,” Ruby said. “We may need to change things or think on our feet.”
Tony stood up. Clark followed his lead. Both men unshouldered their weapons.
“Let’s do this shit,” Tony mumbled.
Wade raised his hand. “Um, not to interrupt or anything, but do we get some rifles, too?”
Amethyst shook his head. “We have no weapons for you, unfortunately. As I said, it would be best if you remained here. Keep in hiding behind that rock.” He pointed to a huge rock near a curve in the tunnel. “There’ll be so much commotion, the Dark Ones will barely notice you.”
Susan tugged at Wade’s arm, leading him toward the indicated hiding place. “Come on. It will be fun.”
“You know,” Wade whispered, “I think I liked you better before.”
Jennifer stood rooted to the spot, unsure of what to do. The roaring of the Dark Ones snapped her mind out of her reverie. Impulsively, she reached out to Tony and planted a kiss at the side of his mouth.
“I like that,” Tony said, “but this really ain’t the time, you know?”
“Be careful,” she said. “I don’t understand what’s going on, but whatever it is you have to do, you can do it.”
“Yeah, I can.” Tony looked at her with a faint smile on his face. Jennifer felt something pass between them—it was definitely a strong physical attraction. “And I’ll be back. You just wait here.”
Jennifer stepped back, joining Wade and Susan behind the rock. Diamond nodded at the three scientists. “Be quick now. Hide yourselves.”
Amethyst directed Tony and Clark to move into the shadows with him. Jennifer watched them meld into the darkness. One minute they were there. The next, they weren’t. Ruby switched off her flashlight, plunging the entire cavern into blackness.
Jennifer, Wade and Susan huddled together in the darkness. Jennifer felt Wade’s sour breath hot against her cheek. He was breathing heavily. By contrast, Susan seemed calm—almost stoned. She hummed softly to herself in a lilting, singsong voice.
Jennifer wasn’t sure how long they sat there, hiding behind the rock and listening. Waiting. For long moments, the only sound was the muffled entreaties of the Dark Ones, engaged in their bizarre ritual. Then a series of rapid gunshots exploded, rumbling through the chamber. They flashed in the darkness as another round of shots followed. The Dark Ones screamed in pain, their enraged cries almost drowning out the gunfire.
Jennifer heard Ruby chanting in a loud, strong voice. Jennifer frowned, trying to figure out what language the woman was speaking in. Not English, certainly, nor any other tongue Jennifer was familiar with. This language sounded guttural and old. Primordial.
More gunshots followed and then the Dark Ones began to scream. Jennifer had never heard anything like it, not even during the assault at Peachbottom. The Dark Ones sounded terrified. Ruby’s arcane chants grew louder. Seconds later, Jennifer felt a slight breeze against her face, crouched as she was behind the outcropping.