Suddenly, yet another tentacle sprang up from behind Lore and knocked into him. He was airborne for a moment, before he splashed into the water. It wasn’t very deep, and his head cracked into the rocky bottom. He came up spluttering, heart thundering, blood pouring into his left eye.
He knelt, slightly dazed, pain tearing through his head.
It only took him a second to know that nothing was broken. He pushed up and got one leg beneath him. Madeline needed him. His woman needed him.
Lore fought his way back to the walkway. A second later, another tentacle flopped in front of him, making him leap backward. Quickly, he climbed up, leaped onto the tentacle, and ran along it. It moved beneath him and he moved faster.
He’d lost his sword when he’d fallen. Now, Lore reached for the powders on his belt. He hoped their small, protective pouches had protected them from the water. He grabbed one and tossed it. The smoke exploded right in front of the creature’s face, and it made a sound eerily like a cough. Then it started jerking around wildly.
Lore wrapped an arm around the tentacle, holding on, and yanked out the knife strapped to his thigh.
He heard shouts behind him and glanced back. Galen was also running across another tentacle, headed toward him. As he neared, the imperator leaped into the air. Lore’s breath caught and he watched as Galen raised his sword above his head. Fierce and focused. That was Galen. He crashed down onto the creature and brought his sword down.
Lore lifted his knife and let go of the tentacle. He jumped up and jammed the blade into the creature’s mouth, digging into soft flesh.
The next thing Lore knew, Saff was beside him, running with impeccable balance. She lifted her staff and slammed it down into the creature’s yawning mouth.
The water monster made a horrible noise. The agonized noise of a dying creature.
It bucked violently, and it knocked them all off. Lore had the sensation of flying again, before he hit the water. He came up, murky liquid streaming off him, and saw the creature lifting Madeline up high into the air. Then, its tentacles all drooped as it died. Madeline was released, and she hit the water with a splash.
The monster sank back down into the water, leaving only a few ripples on the surface of the pool, almost as though it had never been there.
Lore ran through the water. Madeline was floating facedown, and wasn’t moving.
He reached her, pulling her into his arms and turning her over. He shoved her sodden hair off her pale face.
“Madeline!” His hands were shaking. “Drak, please open your eyes.”
Her eyes opened and inside them, he saw suffering.
“Lore—” It was a harsh, pained whisper, blood dribbling from the corner of her mouth.
“Hold on!” He moved toward the edge. “I’ve got you, dushla.” Finally, he climbed out onto the walkway, the others there to meet him.
Galen reached for her, laying her out on the ground. Lore swallowed. Her clothing was torn in places, and he could see bruises developing, mottling her body.
Galen pressed his fingers to her neck. His jaw tightened, his icy gaze meeting Lore’s.
“She needs the regen tank. Now!”
Lore lifted her lifeless body into his arms and ran.
***
Lore sat in the infirmary beside the regen tank.
The rectangular glass reservoir was filled with a thick, blue gel that facilitated healing. They were very expensive to buy and maintain, but Galen had invested in three of them, to keep his gladiators in peak condition.
The center tank held a slim, dark-haired body.
Medical was deathly quiet, except for the occasional beep of some equipment nearby.
Madeline had died.
Lore dropped his head into his hands. Only steps away from the House of Galen, he’d felt her heart stutter and her breathing stop.
Drak. She’d been floating in the tank for hours. The healers had assured him that she was alive and healing, but until he heard her voice, he couldn’t quite bring himself to believe it.
They’d fought. He’d driven a wedge between them before the mission, and she’d almost lost her life.
He’d almost lost her.
He moved and felt a sting above his eye. He hadn’t let the healers work on him, wanting all their attention on Madeline. Someone had cleaned most of the blood away, at least, and brought him a change of clothes. He still smelled like sewer, though.
Lore turned his gaze to the tank, watching her floating there. She looked peaceful now, but he’d never forget the sight of her caught in that monster’s tentacles. And the sound of her scream as it had crushed her.
Suddenly, her body jerked. He straightened. She jerked again.
Lore raced to the tank, reaching over the edge to pull her out of the blue regen gel.
“Take it easy. I’m here. You’re okay.” He helped her out and into his arms. She looked a bit dazed and confused. He took the clean towel that was ready and waiting for him to use, and gently wiped the gel off her skin. Then, he pulled the blanket off a nearby bunk and wrapped it around her.