The monster was dead.
Probably.
It hadn't moved in twenty seconds. No last twitch. No cursed final breath. No dramatic explosion of acid. Which, in this place, basically counted as a miracle.
Merlin didn't look back.
Mostly because he didn't want to see Nathan's face. There was a certain brand of expression that said he was both deeply impressed and increasingly suspicious of him, and Merlin had hit his quota for that today.
Also, Elara's stare had weight.
He could feel it at the back of his head like she was trying to decide if he needed a conversation or an intervention.
'No, thank you,' he thought. 'Not taking feedback at this time.'
The corridor sloped deeper. The green light kept changing, duller now. It used to glow like algae. Now it just looked sick. Sick and judging them.
Dust shifted underfoot. The walls pulsed once.
Nathan coughed. "Uh. Is it just me, or is the ground… breathing?"
Merlin didn't answer.
Because yes.
It was.
Unfortunately.
