“Just his books. There are so many wards in this place, I worry that I may trip over something.”
As they entered the office, Andre was putting on his coat as if leaving. “Good evening, Darion. Becca.” He nodded in acknowledgement.
“I brought Becca,” Darion said, “to help with the writing.”
“That’s fine. I didn’t get to read last night’s notes. Did you make any progress with the new book?”
“Yes, some interesting material on dimensions.”
“More than one?” Becca couldn’t hide her surprise. She’d always assumed the demons came from some other realm, dimension, or plain hell itself. “What does that mean? More demons?”
“My findings aren’t conclusive,” Andre answered. “But it’s definitely worth exploring.”
A cold dread poured down Becca’s back. “Why would you want more demons in this world? You rarely use any as is.” One aspect she loved about this community was the absence of those nightmarish creatures.
Andre cocked a brow. “What gave you that idea?”
“There are no Soultorns here. I’ve never seen a pet demon.” Becca remembered Lance telling her about Andre’s demons, but she’d never seen them.
Dirt and rocks crumbled and fell off the wall. Becca shifted backwards, grabbing onto a chair. A sinking feeling in her gut told her she shouldn’t have brought this up. On the other hand, part of her wanted to know who Andre really was. Dust rose in the air, and Andre smothered it with a hand. Sections of the wall cleared, showing small concave prisons, each containing its own demon. Inside were the salt outlines of small pentagrams.
Andre didn’t move, the demons still at his back, and his face showed nothing. “I detest demons as much as you do, but when it comes to protecting my people, I do what I must. I don’t care to look at them, so I bury them in the walls.”
“Convenient,” Darion said.
Creepy was more like it.
“Is that why you want to learn about other dimensions, to find more demons, more power?” Was that the wisest course of action? More demons in this world would tip the scales against Mundanes even more.
“Possibly. But who knows what is out there?” Andre finished buttoning his coat to leave.
Someone knocked on the door. Andre opened it and greeted one of the guards. He had a youthful appearance with blond hair and sweat collecting on his brow.
“What is it?” Andre asked.
The guard glanced tentatively at Becca and Darion. “It’s Nikki.”
Surprise or maybe panic stole all the noise in the room. The guard’s gaze skittered nervously around.
“Go on, son.” Andre spoke calmly, but Becca could feel a power radiating off him.
She glanced at the row of demons still exposed and realized how much power flowed through him.
“She’s missing. Doc asked us to look for her. I can’t find her inside, and Leon wanted me to ask you to meet him outside.”
Andre didn’t speak. He covered the demons, putting them back into their dark prisons, and then left, dust stirring in his wake.
CHAPTER 31
A ndre had never found the cave walls so confining. He’d grown up here, creating this world with his own hands. Now, he considered tearing it all to pieces to find his daughter.
He pushed out his magic, trying to sense Nikki’s. She and Leon were the only people he could sense like this, presumably due to their genetic bonds. Leon’s magic pulsed on the beach, but there was no sign of Nikki anywhere.
He plucked a nearby stone from the wall and gripped it in his hand. He struggled to maintain his composure as he continued out to the beach. There was no sense in starting a panic, not with the threat of war already so close.
The evening sky and salty breeze greeted him. The moon hid behind scattered clouds, and Andre prayed those clouds would hide his daughter from danger tonight as well.
Leon stood staring out at the beach, hands clasped behind his back.
“Where is she?” Andre demanded. He wanted to force his magic on his brother, to force him to look at him. But despite Andre’s power, he couldn’t force his brother to do anything. “How could she be gone?”
“Your daughter, like you, is quite capable of anything.”
He dreaded the response to his next question as he could almost guess the answer. “Where did she go?”
Leon slowly turned. “I don’t know for certain. She checked out a pack and said she was getting it for an assignment you gave her. They had no reason to doubt her. She left shortly after Caleb did.”
“She left.” A heavy weight pressed on his chest, and the waves rose behind him. People often marveled at his strength and magic, but his power was nothing if he lost her.
“Calm yourself. I don’t have time for a swim.”
Andre closed his eyes and calmed the current behind him. Leon was right. He had to think rationally.
“Why would she go with him?” Echoes of their earlier argument surfaced.
“The only thing I can think of is her relationship with Caleb.”
“What relationship? I didn’t know Nikki was seeing anyone.” Andre fisted his trembling hands.
“It’s not what you think.” Leon shook his head. “I would have known otherwise. But she favored him. Maybe that was enough?”
Andre turned from Leon, rubbing his head and recalling their final words to each other. “I did this.”
“What?”
He had to face what had happened. “We got in a fight. She wants to fight, to train. I refused. She left to prove me wrong.”
Leon took a deep breath. “Great time to rebel. Couldn’t she just get a tattoo or something?”
Andre glared at Leon. He’d always watched over his niece, helping to take care of her since Andre’s wife had passed. But it wasn’t the same as having your own daughter. “We need to find Caleb. I only sent him off a few hours ago. He couldn’t have gone far. I struggle to see why he’d agree to take her.”
“Caleb is a good man...” Leon looked up at his brother’s face. “But your daughter is stubborn. He would have brought her back if he could have.”
“Or they’re both dead.”
“I can leave right away. I have my bag ready. They only have a couple hours head start.”
“Maybe…” Unless Caleb covered his tracks and Nikki’s magic, then they could hide from magic or men. Andre didn’t add his true thoughts, for Leon already knew the enormity of what was at stake.
How could Andre send his brother, the best warrior and military strategist, to find his daughter when their whole community was under the threat of attack? Andre couldn’t even go. The children. They would be defenseless without them. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing mind, and tried to figure out a way to save her. He had nothing.
“We can’t go.” He spoke so softly because he didn’t want to believe it himself. “We are their only defense.”
For the first time, he felt weak, like maybe he wouldn’t be enough to save everyone. Being a leader is making the hard choices was something his father had often said to him. There wasn’t a harder choice than this.
“We can send others though. I have a few men at the ready, if needed,” Leon offered.
“Can we spare them?”
Leon hesitated. “We will make do.”
“Send them. Have them watch for approaching forces as well, and then return to report.”
Leon called a guard over to give instructions while Andre moved to the sea, watching the dark waves. The energy they created soothed him. He could feel the waves travel on forever. Leon returned to his side.
“Are we insane, brother? Can we really make this stand?” Andre asked his brother, not his military commander. “Maybe we should run and hide.”
“They would find us,” Leon replied. “And we would never rest again.”
“We will evacuate the women and children. They will be protected, and the Mundanes are easier to hide.”
“With
Becca and Darion, magically we’re stronger than ever before.”
Dread hung heavy in Andre’s stomach. “It’s nothing to the power of the coven.”
“I know. The coven may be strong, but are they smart? They haven’t had to fight much. Their parents won their wars for them. They’re cocky. And we’ve been training for years. Who knows?”
Andre almost laughed. “Who knows? Is that your official position?”
Leon looked at him, his face serious, but his eyes full of emotion. “Any time I approach a fight, I ask myself is this worth dying for. Because no matter how much I train, death hangs over me, watching and waiting for its turn to snatch me.”
Andre had no idea Leon thought so much about his death, but it didn’t surprise him.
Leon turned forward again, letting his words carry on the wind. “Everything we do here, striving to live, to make a new world… Maybe grabbing those kids triggered all of this, but this fight has been years in the making. And this is one fight I’m ready to die for.”
Anger, fear and frustration built in Andre as he gathered magic and released it into the ocean. Waves rose and fell far out at sea, crashing with a ferocious beauty. “I understand what you’re saying, brother, but I’m not sure if I’m ready for you to die just yet.”
“We don’t always get a say.” Leon’s answer was barely audible, his words stolen by the wind and carried out to sea.
Becca rubbed a cramp out of her hand then sipped her warm tea. It was getting late. Darion placed the ancient text they had been working on back on the bookshelf.
Unease tightened her stomach as she thought about what they had been translating. The book spoke about the first man who opened the demon dimension, Lazario, and the temples and old magic from the south. Her skin crawled while imaging a world full of demons.
“Do you think this wise?” She motioned to the pages in front of her. “Translating this into English to give others more power?”
“Those in real power already know all of this. We’re trying to give the rest a chance.” He gave a wide yawn.
“But does it matter right now? Maybe we all should focus on preparing for an attack.”
He didn’t answer.
Exhaustion weighed down her limbs, but she wasn’t ready to leave Darion yet. She was grateful. These past several hours were the longest she’d spent alone with him since arriving at the compound.
“I think it matters, especially with the threat of Ryma. We need to have copies that are protected.” Darion slumped back into his chair. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about your training with the other magicians. Do you have any idea who could leak information to Ryma?”
Becca flipped through those she could recall, but there were several people she’d never even worked with. “I don’t know, really. I’m not the epitome of a social butterfly.”
“True,” he said with a smile. “I think Andre puts too much trust in Jemi, and they are both too close to these people. Get a list of everyone tomorrow, and we’ll see what we can find.”
“I know I can’t sense power well yet, but most of the people in there aren’t very strong. There are a few, but—”
Darion leaned forward. “Remember when your magic first flared?”
“Yes.” How could she forget? They were trying to save Caleb and at the mercy of a powerful Soultorn. Its fiery death still haunted her.
“People can hide their magic. Conceal their powers. You need to push them.”
She blinked, unsure she was hearing this correctly. “So fight everyone, piss them off, and get them to show me all their magic? Sounds like a fun day.”
He stood and grabbed her hand, pulling her out of her chair and into his arms. The mix of sweat, smoke, and mint from his tea mingled in the air. She worried if she fell into his arms, she wouldn’t have the energy to pry herself free. But his face, mere inches away, drew her in.
“You don’t have to distract me. I agree it needs to be done.”
“Maybe you’re distracting me.” He leaned in to nuzzle her neck.
“I’m not looking forward to Andre catching us.”
He stepped back, but didn’t release her hand. She followed him out into the now dim corridor, his hand tight around hers. As they walked through the nearly empty halls, neither of them spoke. Becca clung to his hand and considered the task ahead. She’d work on it after she slept.
In front of her door, she turned and wrapped her arms around him. “Goodnight.” She hated saying it, hated leaving.
He leaned forward and placed a light kiss on her lips. “Love you,” he said simply and then turned back down the dark hall.
Her chest ached as he walked away, not only for his touch but for the future. Life had finally started coming together for them all, and now Ryma threatened to take it all away from her. Suck it up. She knew better than to fret on the future. The present held more than enough troubles, and she had work to do.
A dim light shone from the bathroom while the rest of the bunk room occupants slept. She changed into warm sweats and used the bathroom before heading into bed. Her head hit the pillow with thoughts of what they spent the night translating. Images of temples, foreign countries, and demons mingles into her dreams.
“I’m almost done,” Nevada told Peter as he worked on his face. “I should be able to finish up tomorrow.”
Pain seared Peter’s skin, but he bolted up at Nevada’s words. “No. Finish it tonight.”
“I know you want to look your best for Ryma tomorrow, but my demons and powers are drained. Even I have my limits.” Nevada brushed his palms against his jeans.
Ryma was coming tonight, a battle planned for the morrow. He wasn’t bringing any of the elite from the coven. The older generation hated to dirty their hands anymore. Ryma would be enough of an army to easily take the rebels.
Peter wanted to find Darion, to see the surprise on his face when he saw his unscathed face. Then he’d laugh as he killed him. Easy enough.
Peter didn’t care about Nevada’s weakening power. This needed to be finished tonight. He reiterated his previous comment with a push of magic. “No. You will finish tonight.”
“Even I can’t get water from rocks. I have nothing left.” He shrugged his shoulders in defeat.
“Jose.” Peter called his newly formed Soultorn to his side, a Hispanic fellow with a mousy face. Not his first choice, but necessary nevertheless. “Fetch me one of the new hires from outside.”
Unreadable emotions flashed in Nevada’s gaze.
Peter ignored them. “I’ll feed your demon, and then you can continue.”
“Willing to do anything for a pretty face?” Nevada’s cockiness reappeared. “Tomorrow isn’t a beauty contest.”
Peter pushed his magic forward and shoved Nevada against the wall using an invisible hand to tighten around his throat. Nevada’s defenses were gone since he’d exhausted his power healing Peter. Which made it easy to knock the idiot down a peg or three.
“You don’t understand anything.” Peter slowly stood on his feet and walked towards him. Nevada didn’t struggle, though his breath came out in harsh gasps. “Finish a job for once in your life.”
His Soultorn returned, an unconscious man hanging over his shoulder.
“Now feed your demon, or I’ll feed you to mine.”
CHAPTER 32
O ne of the last ones to wake, Becca stumbled out of bed exhausted, haunted and troubled by her dreams. The haunted images remained etched in her memory even while she struggled to discern reality from nightmare.
She dug around the shared closet to find a clean shirt and the jeans she’d worn yesterday. Once she found a brush, she ran it through her hair and then wove the strands into a braid to keep it out of the way during training.
With no time for breakfast, she grabbed a coffee and briefly searched for Darion in the cafeteria. No luck. Rubbing her arms, her thoughts went back to yesterday in the caves. She didn’t let herself dwell too long on Darion. Today she had a job t
o do.
Inside the training center, the warm smell of bodies already permeated the air. People worked together in small groups.
“Ready to get to work?” Lance greeted her with his usual jovial expression, obviously feeling better.
“Yeah, I was wondering if I could work with some new people today?” She hoped it didn’t sound too forward
“Why? The kid bugging you?” He referred to Navina.
“No. I want to try my powers out on different types of magicians, especially with what’s going on.”
He looked over at the others who were training, quiet for a minute. “You’re right. We should mix things up a bit more. Leon stopped by earlier and took a few people, but there are enough left.”
He turned and called everyone over to explain the new training schedule for the day. A few soft moans and eye rolls spread throughout the group at his schedule explanation—short fights, rotating partners each time, creating a perfect opportunity to learn different opening strategies. The complaints mostly came from the large group of teen boys in the back.
The morning flew by in an exhausting blur. Becca found she was often surprised by others’ power. Each time, they pushed her in different ways. Elizabeth had consumed most of her waking moments, but now, Becca would be fighting side by side with these people. They all depended on each other to live or die.
She started working with one of the boys, Steve, a lanky boy whose powers were still emerging. His standoffish attitude fled, and a determined scowl tightened his face. It didn’t last long.
While keeping her magical protections in place, Becca took him down in a few moves and then locked on to his mind. She couldn’t sense much—rage dominated his emotions like a storm at sea. Probably from being beaten so easily.
Lance called the fight, and she offered him a hand up. “Good fight, Steve.”
“Don’t mess with my mind.” He pushed aside her hand.
“If we get attacked by a coven, they’ll fight any way they can,” she reasoned, but understood his anger. The idea of being mentally controlled or prodded sickened her, but they all would end up doing a lot more if called upon. This would be war.
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