Huffing a derisive laugh under his breath, Blayk said, “He came back from his journey of self-discovery with an even bigger ego than before, plus a grossly distorted reality. He’d like to think of us as Batman and Robin, but I look a hell of a lot better in black, and he is absolutely the yellow tights guy.”
After beaching the boat on the sand, Ryan knocked on the door to the cabin.
Bennett scanned the horizon while Blayk checked the rocks. Voice at a graveled whisper, Blayk said, “He’ll want to ensure you’re past the point of no return before he shows his face. And when you least expect him. I don’t know what’s in that prophecy, but he’s afraid of you.”
“And when he realizes you’re not where you’re supposed to be?”
“I can’t wait to see the look on his face. Narcissistic asshole.” Blayk ducked back out of the way, tossing a pillow onto the bed and pulling out a book.
Bennett swung open the door and booked it to the far overhang as if the sun nipped at his heels, in case Calloway was already watching.
Deep in the shadow, the overhang was more of a shallow cave. Bennett traced his hands over the wall. Like an inverse lava dome. Cool under his hand, the rock was completely unaffected by ambient temperature.
Ryan jogged up behind and scanned for signs of an entrance. “Nothing out of the ordinary.”
Nodding, Bennett followed the rings to the center where the magma had heated and cooled, the weakness causing sloughing. But reversed from what it should be. One of the curves was more jagged. His finger pricked on a shell. “Huh,” he mumbled out loud.
“What?” Ryan came over to look. “Cool. Fossil.”
“This is volcanic rock. This fossil shouldn’t be here.”
“Um, what?” Hands on his hips, Ryan stepped back and squinted.
“My dad’s a geologist as old as the rocks he studies, and eternally a verbose educator. If you ever want to hear about how much the fossil record of eroding Cenozoic turbidites can teach us about ancient sea life, I have the entire lecture memorized.”
“I’ll call you next time I can’t sleep.”
“Call my dad; you’ll make his year.” Stepping back, staying inside the shadow, Bennett searched for more inconsistencies. At the edge of the curves, another layer of sandy, rippled rocks, and a cluster of fossilized oysters jutted out. “Hey, this did used to be a river, well, an estuary, and not a natural one.”
As he manipulated a prominent cluster of oysters, the ground beneath them quaked. Rattling so heavy he had to clench his jaw, or his teeth would vibrate out of his skull, the circle in the center of the rock wall involuted, rock grinding against rock as it twisted in on itself until an opening formed, just big enough to crawl through.
Inhaling as he stared into the midnight blackness, the wintry breeze chilled his skin. Turning, he nodded to Ryan. “You’re on lookout.”
At his side, Ryan pressed his hand to the edge of the doorway. “Hell no. You’re not doing this alone.”
“Designed for me, remember? Chances are pretty damn good there are traps in there that you won’t be able to survive.”
“Probably. How about I go in as far as I can, and I’ll turn back if things get dicey?”
Bennett’s gut clenched as he imagined the consequences. “I know I’ve fucked up enough, going out on my own. Hell, you know I hate admitting it, but this prophecy is why. I’m fated to go alone.”
Scrunching his hand in his hair, Ryan cussed and stepped back. His fists balled at his sides and he paced up and down the beach before returning. “I can’t pull through the veil, so close to a demon, or he may sense something and try to follow. You go in there, and you need help? I have to go after you the old-fashioned way.”
“I know. I swear, I’ll call for you if I need help.”
“Even a damn paper-cut.”
“If I stub my toe, I’ll cry for you to come kiss the booboo.”
“Jackass,” Ryan ribbed and stepped back. “Hang on,” he said as he disappeared into the boat. A few seconds later, he returned with a spare line. “Here.”
Bennett shrugged and adjusted his sword and shield on his back. “I’m not stupid though. I’ll come get you before waking Tromos.”
Checking his watch, Ryan scowled. “You’d better. If you’re not out by dawn, I’m coming after you.”
“See you in the morning.” Ducking into the opening, he crawled over the subzero rock into the darkness.
Challenge number one, apparently. Few could resist such frigid temperatures. Ice prickling into his fingertips, he grimaced; the cold wasn’t exactly pleasant.
