Read Online 1304 The Harbinger (The 13th Floor) by Christine Rains - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Christine Rains
Ads: Link
only need to go two hundred feet or so.”
“You’ll drown. No, you can’t do it.” Sam picked up another rock and chucked it into the water. It plopped with a splash and didn’t fall out. Splotches of water soaked into the sandy ground as the only evidence that both the river and the booby-trapped path were of the same realm.
“I can hold my breath.” Meira assured him. The thought of having her head underwater as she was flying was more than a little unnerving, but she could do this. Sam trusted her to get him through the labyrinth. She would do it.
“Do you think, maybe, if you helped me up into the river, I could swim? The rock didn’t fall out.” Sam tossed up another bigger stone and it plopped into the water too.
“Maybe, but I don’t want to chance you suddenly falling to the ground onto a mine. I wouldn’t be able to grab you fast enough.” The image that produced in her mind was not a pleasant one. “I can do this. Don’t worry. I’ve never dropped anything before, and I’ve flown with much heavier things than you.”
“Okay. I trust you.” Sam crouched down and wrapped his arms around his legs.
He didn’t need to say the words, but they meant more to her than anything else at the moment. After everything that had happened, Sam still trusted her. Those three little words strengthened her. She spread her wings and puffed out her chest. She would make certain he won back his soul.
Meira started closer to where they had exited the illusion of his apartment. There was no river there, and she could build some momentum. The faster they got to the exit, the better.
She flew up and dipped down under the water where it started. Her feet opened wide and locked around Sam’s shoulders as she zipped over him. The added weight didn’t slow her or even make her breathe harder.
Lifting him, she took in a deep breath as her head hit the water. It was cold. Shockingly so. Her instinct was to gasp, but she couldn’t stop to catch another lungful of air.
The water was salty and stung her eyes. Even close to the surface, Meira could barely see through the murk and the blurriness of her vision. She was flying blind.
Just keep going until she hit the end. She could breathe when they reached the exit.
Something tugged on her hair.
No, not tugged. It caught on something and yanked when she kept going.
Her wings pumped harder. For all she knew, Zeus could’ve set a leviathan in this water.
Sam needed her. Her lungs burned more than her eyes. Almost there. They had to be almost there.
Meira’s head slammed into something hard. There was no stopping the gasp for air as she flailed, dropped her load, and fell back. Then she was thrown back even farther. There was no boom, but the world went silent and black.
She was vaguely aware of falling to the ground. No. Not to the ground, but into the river. The impact was just as jarring. With her wings spread out, she floated and coughed up stale sea water.
Willing herself to stay as still as possible as she ejected the water from her body, she blinked rapidly, trying to clear her eyes. Her feet flexed, open and empty. Sam. No.
“Sam!” Meira gurgled and moved to sit, but as she sank a little, she realized it was a terrible idea to move around so much. With her body spread, she floated and wasn’t in danger of touching anything not just under the surface. She shook her head trying to clear her ears and eyes.
“Meira!” Sam’s voice seemed far away, but it was his voice. He was still alive. “Stay still. Breathe.”
Coughing a bit more, Meira took in several big lungfuls of air. The taste of salt lingered in her mouth. Her feathers were soaked and would be no good for flying until they were cleaned and dried, but her light bones assured she stayed afloat.
“Can you hear me?” Sam called. His voice was clearer now even though it sounded as though he were in a tin can.
“Yes.” Meira was hoarse and suddenly very thirsty. Her blurry vision was
“You’ll drown. No, you can’t do it.” Sam picked up another rock and chucked it into the water. It plopped with a splash and didn’t fall out. Splotches of water soaked into the sandy ground as the only evidence that both the river and the booby-trapped path were of the same realm.
“I can hold my breath.” Meira assured him. The thought of having her head underwater as she was flying was more than a little unnerving, but she could do this. Sam trusted her to get him through the labyrinth. She would do it.
“Do you think, maybe, if you helped me up into the river, I could swim? The rock didn’t fall out.” Sam tossed up another bigger stone and it plopped into the water too.
“Maybe, but I don’t want to chance you suddenly falling to the ground onto a mine. I wouldn’t be able to grab you fast enough.” The image that produced in her mind was not a pleasant one. “I can do this. Don’t worry. I’ve never dropped anything before, and I’ve flown with much heavier things than you.”
“Okay. I trust you.” Sam crouched down and wrapped his arms around his legs.
He didn’t need to say the words, but they meant more to her than anything else at the moment. After everything that had happened, Sam still trusted her. Those three little words strengthened her. She spread her wings and puffed out her chest. She would make certain he won back his soul.
Meira started closer to where they had exited the illusion of his apartment. There was no river there, and she could build some momentum. The faster they got to the exit, the better.
She flew up and dipped down under the water where it started. Her feet opened wide and locked around Sam’s shoulders as she zipped over him. The added weight didn’t slow her or even make her breathe harder.
Lifting him, she took in a deep breath as her head hit the water. It was cold. Shockingly so. Her instinct was to gasp, but she couldn’t stop to catch another lungful of air.
The water was salty and stung her eyes. Even close to the surface, Meira could barely see through the murk and the blurriness of her vision. She was flying blind.
Just keep going until she hit the end. She could breathe when they reached the exit.
Something tugged on her hair.
No, not tugged. It caught on something and yanked when she kept going.
Her wings pumped harder. For all she knew, Zeus could’ve set a leviathan in this water.
Sam needed her. Her lungs burned more than her eyes. Almost there. They had to be almost there.
Meira’s head slammed into something hard. There was no stopping the gasp for air as she flailed, dropped her load, and fell back. Then she was thrown back even farther. There was no boom, but the world went silent and black.
She was vaguely aware of falling to the ground. No. Not to the ground, but into the river. The impact was just as jarring. With her wings spread out, she floated and coughed up stale sea water.
Willing herself to stay as still as possible as she ejected the water from her body, she blinked rapidly, trying to clear her eyes. Her feet flexed, open and empty. Sam. No.
“Sam!” Meira gurgled and moved to sit, but as she sank a little, she realized it was a terrible idea to move around so much. With her body spread, she floated and wasn’t in danger of touching anything not just under the surface. She shook her head trying to clear her ears and eyes.
“Meira!” Sam’s voice seemed far away, but it was his voice. He was still alive. “Stay still. Breathe.”
Coughing a bit more, Meira took in several big lungfuls of air. The taste of salt lingered in her mouth. Her feathers were soaked and would be no good for flying until they were cleaned and dried, but her light bones assured she stayed afloat.
“Can you hear me?” Sam called. His voice was clearer now even though it sounded as though he were in a tin can.
“Yes.” Meira was hoarse and suddenly very thirsty. Her blurry vision was
Similar Books
