The Goblin Bride (Beneath Sands Book 1)

her brother’s voice. It was a croak. A husky whisper that made her realize just how nervous he really was. His hand tore at the paper gently. It was as foreign to them as wooden floors. Paper had no purpose here.
Jane could see that his hands were shaking.
  His eyes scanned the words, reading as Jane and Willow could hardly do. His face went even whiter if that was even possible. His lips blended into the rest of his face, and for a second Jane leaned forward to catch him if he suddenly fainted.
  “I made it.”
  The words were so quiet Jane had to ask, “What?”
  “I made it!”
  The entire family jumped up then, shrieking and yelling at the top of the tent. He had made it. She had known he would make it. Luther was the smartest man she had ever known and he tried so hard. Their lives would change now. They could go to the City, he could live a happy life, Willow could go to school. Everything was different now. From now on, they wouldn’t be miners. They wouldn’t be the lowest of the low. And all because one boy dreamed hard enough.
  “Willow,” she turned to her sister. “Go look how much money we have. We have to buy transport to the city!” She turned back towards her brother. “When?”
  He held the paper up to his face again, scanning the words quickly. “As soon as possible. They want to get us placed immediately.”
  They could leave now. They could leave this dismal place with memories of their mother dying in the corner and their father’s blood on the ground beneath their feet.
  Willow dragged out the pouch that they kept their money, dumping its contents onto the table. Jane slung an arm around her brother’s shoulders, whispering her praise as they both watched the youngest count. It was a start to a better education for her. The more she practiced the less she would have to catch up.
  “We’re short.”
  She must have heard wrong. Jane blinked at her sister, shaking her head. “We can’t be short. I checked it just a week ago. You’re counting wrong.”
  “I’m not bloody counting wrong!” Her sister gestured at the matching stacks. She was right. Jane counted herself then, wondering where the money had gone to. It had been here.
  “Could it have been the water last week?” Luther asked quietly.
  “Or the new blanket for me.” Willow was the next to remind Jane of their expenses.
  “It could have been the meat I bought a few days ago too.” Jane ran her fingers through her hair, slumping back against her brother as the three of them stared down at the damned shining money that was their ticket out of this sand encrusted hell hole.
  “Well.” She said quietly, the excitement of the moment suddenly dimming in light of this. They had to get to the city, and as quickly as possible. Luther could be replaced. He was just a charity case, and though he was a very smart young man, there were plenty of people who could take his place.
  “One more day in the mine.” She said quietly. “I can fix this. Just one more day in the mine and we’ll have enough.”
  Jane placed her hand on Luther’s shoulder to give the boy a squeeze. “We’ll do this. You’re going to the City. You’re going to save our family. I promise.”

CHAPTER THREE
  “I THOUGHT YE said ye weren’t coming back?”
  She let out a sigh, placing her helmet firmly on over her brother’s hat. “I hadn’t planned on it. But you know how it goes. The promise of riches untold and all that nonsense.”
  The words didn’t have to be said with so much sarcasm. Simon didn’t deserve the brunt of her anger, but she was frustrated. Her body was showing signs of wear and tear after only 2 weeks down here. She was bruised, scraped from falling, and at the end of the day she was just tired. Jane wanted to curl up in a ball and sleep for a week. Even if she managed to do that, she wasn’t sure if sleep would ever be enough.
  “Ah laddie, once you join the mines you never leave.”
  “I think I’m starting to understand that.”
  “It ain’t so bad. I’ve met a lot of good people down here.” He sniffed loudly as the rest of the crew gathered into the elevator.
  “I’m just lucky they let me come back for another week.” She said quietly, her hand reaching out to hold onto the edge of the elevator. Even after a few weeks of riding down this blasted thing, she was still frightened every moment it moved. It felt unnatural.
  Simon reached out to knock a fist against her helmet, leaving her teeth rattling. “Ah they weren’t gonna let a hard worker like ye slip away!”
  She had a lot of energy that she put into her work, but Jane knew alone she would not have been able to keep up with the others. The combined effort of the two of them would always beat the others. If the Company knew that they weren’t working on their own, Jane likely would not have been rehired.
  Finally they reached the bottom and she was quick to trail Simon as they started walking off.
  “Simon?”
  “Hmm?”
  “Are the rumors about the goblins true?”
  He stopped moving for a second, shocked into standing stock still to stare at her. “Now what ever got that idea in yer head, laddie?”
  She shrugged. “I’ve heard the rumors. You’ve been down in these mines for years. Surely if anyone knows whether or not the rumors are true, you would.”
  The look that crossed Simon’s face made her nervous. She hadn’t seen the big man get uncomfortable before. He was always so forthcoming with any questions she asked, and always jumped to tell a story. She had thought he would launch into some ridiculous tale like the rest of the people that talked about the goblins. She was certain that he would