Page 49 of Into the Abyss
“And we will, but you need a break.”
“I’m fine.”
“The dark circles under your eyes sayotherwise. We have no idea how much time we’ve spent in the Abyss,and you’re exhausted.”
“But—”
“No buts. You won’t do anyone any good ifyou’re too exhausted to go on.”
He had a point. I was also hungry, but Ididn’t tell him that. I hadn’t seen any wraiths in the Abyss, andwe couldn’t waste the time it would take to return to Earth andfeed. I wasn’t so famished that it couldn’t wait.
Leaning against the rock wall, I slid downuntil I settled on the pretty rocks that were as out of place inthis land as the grassy field. Lifting his hand, Magnus rested hisfingertips against the ceiling and stretched his back as he studiedthe entrance. His posture remained casual, but he couldn’t hide histension from me.
I couldn’t help but admire him as he moved.I desired this man, but I was also beginning to realize, I likedhim too. Maybe not in the beginning, but the more I got to knowhim, the more I admired his strength, determination, and loyalty tohis friends. He’d stepped into the Abyss fully distrusting me andbelieving he was putting his life in the hands of an enemy, yet hestill did it. There weren’t many who could claim they would do thesame.
He’d also sought to protect me by placinghimself in between Olgon and me when he had to know Olgon would bemore likely to go for him than me.
When he turned back to me, I glanced awayand focused on the rocks again. “These rocks, that field…”
“What about them?” he asked when my voicetrailed off.
“They don’t fit here.”
“No, they don’t.”
“But somehow, theydofit. Does thatmake sense?”
Magnus’s gaze ran over the walls beforesettling on me. “No, but you feel things more deeply than me, andyou are tied to this land.”
“I am,” I muttered not overly thrilled bythe prospect. The grass, these rocks, and the waterfall werebeautiful. The rest of this place made me itch to scrub the skinfrom my body.
Resting my cheek on my knee, I gazed at therocks as I tried to puzzle out their presence here. Sleep tugged atmy eyelids, I resisted giving in to it, but I wasn’t sure I couldstay awake for much longer.
“What is Absenthees?” Magnus inquired.
“Huh?” I asked and lifted my head to blinkat him.
“The jinn with your parents, they said theywould find you and bring you back to Absenthees. What is that?”
“I don’t know,” I said and stifled a yawn.“That’s the first I’ve ever heard of it.”
“Hmm.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I’ve been wondering about something sincewe escaped the jinn. The jinn are called forth by desire—”
“Averystrong desire. It’s not asimple one but one so deep it’s all-consuming.”
“And when the jinn finds this yearningcreature, they get them to make a wish and ensnare them.”
“Yes.”
“So how were they able to draweveryonein camp into the Abyss if onlyoneperson ordemon made a wish?”
“The wisher must have worded it in such away that their wish included more than themselves in it. A groupwish can draw more than one into the Abyss,” I said.
“So, if someone said something like, I wisheveryone in the camp was anywhere but here, it would affecteveryone?”
