Book Seven: Chapter 117

“They are. Those two are having the time of their lives, right now.” They descended the stairs, which only made one revolution before terminating in a six-sided chamber similar in size to what was on the surface. In the middle of the room was a hexagon engraved into the floor and decorated with gold leaf. “We can take this,” she said, pulling him tight against her. “Unless you’d rather use the stairs.”

“What is it?” he asked as he stepped onto the hexagon. The ground rippled like the surface of a pond, and then the six-sided platform descended. They were surrounded by polished stone as they continued deep into the earth. Sweat beaded up on his head, which he wiped away. “It’s really hot down here,” he said.

“It’s a volcano. Of course it’s hot.” She moved to stand in front of him, her hands reaching for his face. In her reptilian eyes, he watched as tears formed. “Mike, I...when you were shot...”

He pushed his forehead against hers. “I’m really sorry,” he said, his