25

Philip brought up the rear of their group, while Seth led the charge through the tunnel. Seth knew where they were going, but it still irritated Philip to have him along. He wasn’t sure his grudge against the guy was fair. He didn’t have to be in charge all the time, but he needed to know that the person in charge knew what he was doing.

Philip didn’t know Seth from Saul.

The light of the torch cast shadows on the hard-packed dirt walls, and the cool air gave him chills. Philip shuddered. He hated heights, but he hated being trapped underground just as much. The smell of wet earth was strong, almost choking him, and panic filled him.

And this tunnel went all the way from Ezekiel’s villa to the city. Who would build something like that, and why?

Skye walked quickly in front of him, but she sniffled every few seconds. She hated leaving Leah behind, but when they got back to London, Leah would already be lost to them.

He would have hugged her—comforted her—but the small tunnel made it impossible. Losing people was harder on her than he’d ever realized. The guilt he’d been feeling off and on for the last few days came back full force. This time he didn’t push it away. He was done being a jerk to Skye and everyone else who didn’t bow down to him. From here on out he wanted to be better. More like Skye.

He might even go to church with her when they got back home. All the talk of a one true God versus the gods of the skies had him thinking about who he should be worshipping.

“There’s a large cavern ahead,” Seth said. “It has a small pool. We can stop and fill our water skins.”

Philip fingered the water pouch slung over his shoulder. Ezekiel had given it to him before Skye burst into the room. He’d also given him a small sack of food and other supplies.

They rounded a corner, and the pool gurgled in front of them. They would have to step over it to keep moving forward.

Seth moved to the water. He handed the torch to Philip, and Philip stepped around Skye to take it. The cavern was large with a high ceiling and a small hole at the top that let in a stream of sunlight. Thinking about the sun shining high above them while they walked in darkness below ground level was strange.

The water in the small underground spring was clear, running steadily from one side of the cavern to another, disappearing under a rocky ledge.

As Seth filled his water skin, Philip glanced at Skye.

She’d wiped her tears away and moved to dip her hands in the water. She dipped water out and sipped it from her cupped hands.

When Seth finished, he took back the torch, and Philip hurried to fill his own water pouch. He squatted, drinking water and letting his pounding heart go quiet.

Had they made it away undetected? They had no way of knowing, but it didn’t look as if anyone had followed them into the tunnel.

“Seth.” Skye’s voice echoed in the cavern, breaking the silence. “Why are you helping us?”

Philip twisted around and peered up at Seth. Skye had asked a good question. Why should he care what happened to two outsiders?

Seth frowned. He shifted in the dusty, rocky ground of the cavern.

Skye took a deep breath. “Leah had become my friend. She helped me, and it cost her. Now you are helping me, and I can’t stand the thought of losing someone else. So I need to know why you’re doing this.”

Seth’s raised brows mirrored Philip’s feelings. Skye never stopped surprising him. He hadn’t even looked at it the way Skye was presenting, but it made sense for her to be apprehensive.

Seth stepped closer. “At first, I believed you must be Hebat.” He spoke to the ground, and his words came slowly. “My father believes in one true God, but I have not been sure of this. However, when I helped you in the streets of the city, I knew you could not be Hebat. It made no sense for Hebat to wander through the city. I did not know why you should run away from Saul, but something deep inside me warned me to keep your secret. The next day I heard about the plans to raid Ezekiel’s villa, and my father sent word for me. My father explained that Saul’s plans were wicked. My father’s words resonated within me.

“Someday I will take my father’s place on the council. We need council members who are wise and trustworthy. I aspire to this, and it is why I help you now. We cannot allow Saul to do the thing he plans.”

His answer satisfied Philip, but Skye bit her lip. Philip stood from his crouched position as Skye answered.

“And what about now? Have you decided what you believe about God?”

Seth’s frown deepened. “I do not know. Saul is willing to sacrifice an innocent girl in order to advance his own greed. He is not working to please these gods he claims to believe in. How can I believe in them?”

Skye stepped closer to him. Closer to the flame.

Philip watched, curious. He didn’t think like her, and he had no clue what she was up to.

“The gods aren’t real, Seth. I hope you’ll follow your father’s path.”

Seth studied her in a different way than Philip had noticed him doing the other night on the streets of the city. He wasn’t a guy filled with awe and admiration anymore. Now he was listening. “You say this because you know the future.”

“Yes and no. A Messiah will come and save mankind from their sins. His name will be Jesus, and He will be God’s son. He’ll be God’s own spotless lamb. A sacrifice to end all sacrifices. He’ll happily pay the price for us.” She stopped and sighed. “I’ve never seen Jesus, but I know He came—or will come. I just have to believe.”

Seth looked away, toward the cavern’s exit. After a few seconds, he took a step away. “We should keep moving.”

Skye met Philip’s eye, and he shrugged. She gave him a small smile then followed Seth, and Philip brought up the rear again. He hadn’t ever heard Skye talk like that, but she did things like helping the poor and attending church services at the soup kitchen. His admiration for her grew even deeper.

They walked for what seemed hours, but Seth led them on. They stopped once to eat before moving on again. They were silent, until Seth stopped at a rickety ladder.

Seth motioned for Skye to go first, but Skye pulled away. “Wait.” She glanced nervously between them.

Philip didn’t like the looks of this. “What?”

“I don’t want to go right to the tower.”

Not go to the tower? She wanted to rescue the girl who was being sacrificed in her place. He should have known.

“Skye, the longer we’re in the city, the higher the chance of being caught.”

“I just want to see her. See if we can help her,” Skye pleaded. He’d never seen her want something so badly. He’d never seen her eyes so sincere, so desperate.

He swallowed the emotions building in his throat. “It’s too dangerous. All of this has already happened, don’t forget.” He paused. What he was about to say was probably way too cruel, but it had to be said. “Skye, in our time, she’s already dead anyway.”

The torch’s flames couldn’t hide the color draining from her face.

Her gaze darted between them as if trying to agree with what he’d said. “You’re right. I know, you’re right.”

His stomach cramped up, and he hated himself. “Never mind. We’ll try. We’ll make it fast, see if there’s anything we can do. Then we’ll go.”

She bit her bottom lip. “Are you sure?”

Yes, he was one thousand percent sure. He nodded.

A small smile broke across her lips. “Thank you,” she said softly.

Soft. It described the person he’d seen since they’d been stranded here. How had he missed it over the last few years?

Seth stayed quiet during their debate, but he helped Skye as soon as she was ready to go up. Once she’d reached the top, Philip turned to Seth.

“Who next?”

Seth looked toward Philip. “You should go first, and quickly. We will leave the torch here. The fire will only draw attention in the city.”

“Right.” Philip grabbed the ladder, but before he could start climbing, Seth stopped him with a hand on his arm.

“You must never forget the way you feel here in this land.”

Philip frowned. “What?”

Seth didn’t let go. “Your friend has a good heart. She deserves much. Do not forget that.” Seth kept Philip’s eye, not letting his gaze wander until Philip pried his own glance away.

Weird.

He climbed quickly, meeting Skye in an old shed that led to a darkened alley above. They’d been in the tunnel for a long time.

“What took you so long?” she hissed. “Someone already passed by, and I had to hide behind garbage.”

“Sorry. Seth wanted to leave the torch behind.” And give him advice on his love life, apparently. Funny that dudes did that back in the ancient days, too.

Seth joined them a moment later, and they closed the opening to the tunnel then left the shed. The alley was small, squished between two rows of tents. They must be near the marketplace.

Seth’s father had been right. The festivities were louder than ever. Skye was in danger, and they needed to find their way out, fast. “Which way to Saul’s?” Philip asked Seth.

Seth glanced up and down the alley and then looked above them. “Go right.”

Philip took the lead, jogging through the dusty street until he came to the corner.

Skye pressed against him, trying to see what was going on.

“It’s the festival,” he said only loud enough for Seth to hear.

Seth frowned. “We will have to go through the crowds. Saul’s home is three streets over, I believe. If we get separated in the masses, just keep moving forward.”

“Right.” Philip took a step toward the main street, but froze. A ladder climbed the side of the building across the alley. An idea formed. “What if we jump roofs?”

“Jump roofs? In these things?” Skye held the skirt of her robe out around her.

He’d done it once, he could do it again. “It’s the best way to keep from being seen.”

“Not necessarily,” Seth said. “Saul is looking for you. He most likely has watchmen posted.”

Philip wasn’t willing to give up on his idea that easily. “I’ll climb up and see what I can see.”

Seth’s eyebrows pulled together as though he was a dad who was unhappy with his son’s life choices. Whatever. Philip didn’t answer to him.

Climbing as fast as he could in the brown robes, he worked his way to the top and looked around. It was dark on top of the two-story building, but the stars burned overhead, lighting up the night. There was no one on his own rooftop, and none on the handful he could see around him. Lights danced from below the buildings as noise from the streets filled the air.

They would be safer up here than in the crowd, and if worst came to worst they could climb down before any guards caught them.

He leaned over the rooftop but couldn’t make out Seth or Skye.

With a sigh, he climbed back down to give them his opinion. His feet hit the dust, and he turned to search for them. No Skye, no Seth.

Adrenaline pulsed through him, and he sucked in an angry breath. Seth set him up. Tricked him and lied to him. And Philip hadn’t caught on? Wouldn’t Dad be proud now?

Philip ran around the corner, looking both ways, but Seth and Skye were gone, lost in a crowd, and Philip had no idea which way they’d gone.

No, that wasn’t true. Seth said Saul’s house was three or four blocks straight ahead. If Seth had kidnapped Skye, he’d take her to Saul. If they weren’t at the villa, they’d be at the tower. Philip ran straight ahead, plowing toward the next street.

He stopped and turned, looking across the city and toward the tower that rose and could be seen clearly, even in the dark. His mind reeled as he kept moving. He shoved his way through the crowd. If Seth was taking her to the tower, they might sacrifice her before he could get there. But what if they weren’t taking her there right away?

He ground his teeth and continued running, determined to do whatever it took to save her.