Wilde's Army by Krystal Wade Read Free Book Online Page A

back.”
    “And then what would we tell Arland when
we
find him?” Flanna laughs. “Just go, but be careful.”
    Keeping my eyes open, I drop to my hands and knees then crawl into the cave. I have no time to be afraid, no time to search for the black bands. I follow instincts and use my Light to guide me now.
    “Arland? Brit?” I call.
    My quivering voice echoes, betraying my nerves, my fears.
    The tunnels are about three feet wide and four feet tall. I cannot imagine how daemons could have gotten Arland and Brit in here without a struggle, but I don’t see any signs of one. No blood, no tracks … nothing.
    The path makes a sudden, sharp slant downward. A hill so steep, it takes all my strength to keep from sliding forward. Turning around, I crab-walk down the slope; my muscles twitch and burn from holding myself up.
    When the ground levels out again, the walls open into a large space and reveal three possible paths. I stand, close my eyes, and search for the bands—they lead to the right.
    “Arland? Brit?” I call again.
    The deeper I get, the creepier this situation becomes. A constant hissing noise grows louder and louder. Instead of getting colder the further underground I get, the cave fills with a damp, warm air.
    I shudder. Goose bumps prick up my arms and raise the hairs on the back of my neck. The walls close in again; I return to my hands and knees. Time drones on. I don’t even know if I’m following the right clues, but I will not give up on Arland and Brit, on love, or on family.
    Another hiss echoes in front of me. I try to place why the sound is so familiar, and then it comes again—louder. Hissing is not a normal sound for a cave. It reminds me of … collecting eggs from the chicken coop, but why?
    Again the sound echoes.
    When I was seven, a black snake lashed out at me when I was gathering eggs from under a chicken. The snake was using the hen’s warmth and eating her eggs; snakes are smart, vile creatures. But this sound is too loud to be any normal snake.
    Serpents
!
    Perth said he’s never seen them outside the water, but of course they come out, and what better place than in a low cave next to a river?
    My hands and knees propel me forward at an alarming pace. I shouldn’t rush into this when I know nothing about what I’m going to face, but the thought of the daemon being near my sister or my love is my driving force. Closing my eyes, I look at the ground to make sure I’m still on the right path.
    I am.
    “Arland? Brit?” I yell.
    The hiss is deafening, making me pause in my tracks. I listen for any other noise that might give me information I need, but cannot hear anything else, so I continue crawling. The walls open up again. My fire fills the space ahead of me, revealing something I’ve never imagined.
    Standing at least forty feet tall is the biggest snake I’ve ever seen. It looks like a cobra with brown and white scales the size of tables. Its hood is puffed out, and it hisses at Arland and Brit. They appear to be tied to the wall by their arms and legs, but there’s no rope. Closing my eyes again, I see the pulsing black bands covering almost every inch of their bodies.
    I have no sword.
What was I thinking leaving it with Cadman
? The fire rages inside me. Arland and Brit turn their heads in my direction. Their eyes widen when the serpent follows their gaze.
    I need you, magic. Fill this cave and burn that daemon
.
    Sprites peel themselves from the ceiling, from the dirt floor, and from pools of water around my feet. At first, they maintain their natural shape—like rocks, dirt, and beads of liquid—but when they see the serpent, they turn into balls of blue flames then swirl around him. He spits, hisses, then snaps at them as they drive through his body.
    Using the distraction caused by the sprites, I run along the path leading to the wall where Brit and Arland are bound. There are so many bands wrapped around their bodies, I’m afraid to touch them.
    I need more.