CHAPTER ELEVEN

Deep underground, Lore, Octal, and the Immortalists trudged through the debris of the destroyed castle, heading in the direction of the caves. The smell of airplane fuel and smoke wafted behind them, a pungent reminder of the ordeal they had endured.

They reached the jagged mouth of the dank caves. The silence from within them was thick, almost tangible. The only sound was the steady trickle of water coming from far away.

A sensation inside Lore told him that Scarlet and Sage were not to be found. He pushed it away and gestured for the Immortalists to enter the cave.

“Search everywhere,” he said, feeling a wave of desperation inside his gullet. “Do not stop until you find the girl and my cousin.”

The small army began filing in, weaving past the stalactites that hung from the ceilings. The rock face was damp and slippery underfoot.

Lore shivered as he watched them go. It was cold in the caves and there was an eerie vibe, like the very stone held secrets. Lore started when Octal c