The energy drain from the flame caused Lydia to stumble. Had Shenyo not picked her up, she would have tumbled over the side. He seemed an endless source of strength and she found that she was happy to rely on him. As they neared the light at the end of the tunnel, Lydia breathed easier as if she had forgotten that there was any world except the one that was on fire.<br/><br/>In the crumbling basement, she blinked against the light, trying to take in what kind of structure they were in. Shenyo’s arms tightened around her and she felt the tension run through him. Lydia didn’t need any words to shift her attention. The sharp metallic tang of blood drew her.<br/><br/>A large group of people, whether they were human or not, she couldn’t tell, were gathered around something. They seemed oblivious to the presence of the two who had burst from the bowels of the Earth. Slowly, Shenyo lowered her to the ground. Lydia’s feet had no sooner grazed the stones than the heads turned toward them, but oddly, one at a time, until all eyes were on them.<br/><br/>The eyes, Lydia noticed, were full of agony. Misery was etched on these faces and hopelessness marked their bodies as indicated by the sagging shoulders. She eased back to stand just behind Shenyo’s right arm. Would these be the soulless ghouls who would rend them apart in search of their hearts and brains? Were they newly turned vampires or had they burst in on a blood bank in the form of human cows for the nobles? Or were they humans who had seen too much misery, death and destruction with nowhere to turn and no one to champion their cause?<br/><br/>The two groups, the people and the magical couple, stared at each other. An impasse was in progress, both wary to make the first move.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>