After plummeting from a great height, Jayla lay crumpled at the bottom of a deep pit. It was there that Paul discovered her and carefully carried her into a small, seemingly abandoned side room. He quickly barricaded the entrance with a magical ward, a small metal orb that repelled creatures from the area. Setting up a two-person sleeping bag, he gently placed her on it and began administering first aid. With a healing potion in hand, he applied it to her, feeling a wave of relief that she was unconscious, allowing him to reset her broken and dislocated leg.
A sharp crack broke the stillness of the room, sending a wave of panic through Paul as he feared discovery by the entity responsible for the tunnels. He tried to pour water into her mouth, but she wouldn't swallow, prompting him to take a sip and feed it to her directly. Her dry throat instinctively swallowed the water, and at that moment, she stirred, her eyes fluttering open to see Paul's lips close to hers.
Her hands shot out instinctively, shoving his shoulders back and sending a splash of water cascading over her face. She coughed and gasped, frantically wiping the droplets away as she tried to prop herself up, only to be brought down again by a surge of pain that washed over her.
Paul assisted her in settling back down, gently pressing a cool cloth to her sweaty forehead. "Take it easy, you're still healing from that fall," he said, his voice softer than usual. "I'm going to scout the area, see if I can locate the others, and figure out what this place is all about. I've set a ward on this room, so you'll be safe while it's up. I won't be away for long; I'll return well before the ward needs to recharge."
She grabbed his arm, halting his movements and he smiled at her reassuringly even though he didn't feel sure of himself in the least, he put on a brave face. "Everything will be alright, I just want to check out the area really quickly and then I'll be right back. He pulled a rover from his bracelet and then he got on. It was a metal vehicle not much bigger than him, designed to go over rough terrane and it was fast. The carriage had a few of them just as it had a few of the watercraft he'd grabbed one just for this purpose. He pointed his midnight blue wand at himself and then he shrank along with his wand and the rover, he tapped again and shrank further until he was no larger than a pea. He waved up at Jayla and then headed towards the exit at a fast clip. Then he was out of the room, being the person who was registered as the owner of the ward, he was free to come in and leave as he pleased without triggering it. Unfortunately, Jayla was not, but he wasn't going to tell her that.
He knew he'd have to justify his actions if she caught on, but he hoped it wouldn't come to that. Paul maneuvered the small rover out of the room and across the rugged terrain to a chamber on the opposite side of the hall, where a massive ant occupied most of the space. Behind it, enormous eggs were emerging, and large ants were busy transporting them away. It was clear that countless ant eggs were hatching in a chaotic pile. He noticed a faint glow emanating from the queen ant's abdomen, and he felt an irresistible attraction to it. This was undoubtedly the shard of the subjugation stone, and they were finally going to make some progress.
Were the ants always this enormous, or did the shard somehow trigger their growth? He retrieved a beacon from his bracelet and secured it in the corner of the room, pressing the button on top to activate it. This would help the others pinpoint the shard's location as well. With a sense of urgency, he slipped out of the room, keenly aware that he wasn't equipped to confront any threats.
He then drove back to where he had left Jayla, placing another beacon, confident that the others would soon be able to find them once they navigated through this area. Upon returning to Jayla, he was relieved to see her still resting and had managed to pull some water from her supplies. Using his spell, he enlarged himself, stowed away his rover, and settled down beside her in a comfortable silence.
With a smirk, Jayla said, "Well, look at you! Turns out you ain't half as irritating as I first imagined."
He gave a nonchalant shrug. "People are complex; there's always more than one side to them."
"Spill the tea! What kind of little troublemaker were you back in the day?"
"What's got you curious about something like that?"
"Just curious."
He took a moment to gather his thoughts. "I was a real piece of work. The kind of kid that made other parents nervous about their kids hanging out with me. I was the troublemaker, always getting into mischief and doing things I shouldn't have. I had a mouth like a sailor because I loved the look of shock on people's faces. I'd climb the tallest trees and drop acorns on unsuspecting passersby, ride mattresses down the stairs, go down waterfalls in barrels and all sorts of things. I was constantly breaking one bone or another, it was a wonder that I survived my childhood.
I fixed up a beat-up motorcycle and rode it around when I was fifteen, keeping it for a few years. I've tried hang gliding, bungee jumping, and played a lot of sports. I had a solid group of friends growing up, but we all drifted apart after high school. I went to trade school to become a mechanic since that's always been my passion.
I dabbled in smoking for a bit, but I quit when my mom passed away from lung cancer just before I hit high school. My dad was the smoker, not my mom—she couldn't stand the smell. But he was a jerk, blowing smoke in her face just to annoy her, thinking it was a joke. She's the one who ended up with lung cancer, and he's still around, joking about how healthy he is because he smokes. I haven't forgiven him for what he did to her or how he acted at her funeral, and I'm not sure I ever will. I don't even know if I'll get another chance." Paul rubbed his face with his hands and ran his fingers through his hair. "Life's a strange ride, always taking turns you never saw coming."
Jayla paused for a moment, her hand hovering near him before she finally placed it on his shoulder, giving it a gentle rub. "I wish I could tell you that the ache of loss fades completely with time, but the truth is, it lingers. You might be going about your day, feeling content, and then out of nowhere, something small—a smell, a memory, a familiar spot—can bring that pain rushing back, sharp and unexpected but I'm here for you if you ever want to talk."
They lingered in their conversation, speaking softly and enjoying each other's company as Paul carefully treated her wounds. In a moment of shared silence, Jayla became aware of how close they were, and before she could second-guess herself, she leaned in and kissed him. It was a moment that felt authentic, vulnerable, and safe, a stark contrast to the emotional distance she had felt for so long. The kiss was powerful, charged with raw emotion and an undeniable connection, igniting a spark within her that reminded her of the passion she had lost since her last relationship had ended so tumultuously.
Just like that, reality smacked her in the face. "What was I thinking?" She quickly covered her mouth and pulled back, saying, "I'm really sorry, that was so inappropriate of me!"
Paul gently cupped her chin, gazing deeply into her eyes. His gaze flickered to her lips as he leaned in slowly, ensuring she was comfortable with his approach. After a brief pause, he leaned in closer, their lips barely brushing before he pulled back, giving her a moment to process the intimacy of the moment. Then, with renewed confidence, he pressed his lips against hers more firmly, playfully nibbling her bottom lip, causing her to melt against him.
Her heart raced, questioning whether she was truly allowing this to unfold, yet she didn't pull away. As he caressed her cheek with his other hand, he deepened the kiss, teasing the entrance of her mouth with his tongue. She responded by parting her lips, inviting him in, and wrapped her arms around him, her fingers weaving through his hair.
Suddenly, a squeaking noise broke the spell, and they caught a glimpse of movement from the corner of their eyes. They pulled apart to find Aria standing there, her eyes wide with confusion, a lost expression etched across her face.
Coming Next Time: Battle for the Shard