My Hockey Alpha by Eve Above Story PDF

Chapter 0719 Nina

The very idea of tunnels made me feel claustrophobic. After what Edward had done to me beneath Mountainview, I couldn't even begin to fathom willingly going into any kind of tunnels. Ever.

And yet, here I was, bravely marching into a cave in search of my friend.

What could be a more noble cause, right?

"Mila created these networks when she took over a hundred years ago," Daphne explained in hushed whispers that bounced off of the walls as she led Enzo and I deeper and deeper underground. "She says that her fire created the tunnels, but... it was really slaves."

"Shocking," Enzo replied sarcastically. His voice echoed back at us in waves, but we weren't too worried about sound. Not yet, at least. These networks of tunnels were so enormous, working their way through an entire mountain, that it would be a good while until we ran into an entrance to the actual palace itself.

But still, we all flinched out of instinct at the sound of his voice bouncing back to us.

"Why underground?" I asked.

Daphne shrugged and held her torch a little higher, casting flickering lights across the blackened walls. "Easier to lock up, I guess. No one can hear the screams of the damned. You know, that sort of thing..."

"And her followers," I muttered. "The really devout ones who live here with her?"

"Brainwashed. All of them." Daphne shuddered. "The only reason why the ones on the outside follow her rule is to not piss her off. The ones inside, though... they haven't seen the sun in so long, they think she is the sun."

I shuddered as well. Daphne hit it pretty much spot on; those cult-like followers of hers certainly did seem to think that the entire world revolved around her.

"You know, when I fought that bear," Enzo chimed in, quieter this time, "I thought I saw something in its eyes. Something unnatural."

"Could be a number of things," Daphne explained. "Lack of sunlight, magic, that sort of thing. I've always theorized that there's something in the water down here."

that Mila puts in the water to keep control?"

shoulder at

of the palace now. The walls turned blacker and more shiny, and the torch reflected off of them like

as I walked, feeling its smoothness beneath

a tyrant queen, her underground palace could have been

to permeate throughout the very pores of this

the tunnels began to dip downwards. At some

didn't need to communicate; we knew the drill. Hoods up, stances low. Enzo and I used our night vision to

began moving through the tunnels. It was a little easier this time; fewer guards, because they were mostly out looking for us.

seemed like hours of sneaking through the dark tunnels. She jerked her head toward a low door that

of winding stairs.

grew warmer and thicker, and the walls seemed to close in on us. I felt my heart beginning

could jump out at

down another series of winding passages. Daphne knew the way well, thanks to her superior

And I felt a breath on the back

whipping around as my hand clamped over

one. No Edward, no Mila, not even the damn shadow

and a tunnel that

that she and Enzo had stopped and were staring at me. I nodded and jogged to catch up with them. When I got close to Enzo, I wrapped both of my arms around

I could hear. "I thought I heard

a lie, but I think I was lying more to myself than to Enzo. "It's

closer, into his warmth

"Here we are."

the end of a long passageway. Somehow, I had expected... more than this. A giant archway,