by Tricia Barr
“It’s false. This isn't the first time I've been at the center of a rumor. And like you said, I wouldn't be stupid enough to do something that... well, stupid.”
General Dracul’s gaze bored into her as he studied her. And she let him. Show no fear.
“Is that your final answer?”
“Yes. My dad would kill me if I did something like that, and I wouldn't dare betray you, sir. I have enough on my plate. And I know you don't care, but I just got Nik back. I wouldn't risk losing him again.” If this shifter thing didn't work out for her, acting might be her calling. She was proud of that performance.
General Dracul fisted his hands below his chin and stared several minutes too long.
“Major Peters, reenter.”
The major entered with a sour face as he took his place behind Juliet.
“Let me be clear, I do not tolerate dishonesty, Miss Quinn. If we discover these rumors are indeed factual, you will be sorry. Consider this your warning.” He glanced at his officer. “Major, return Miss Quinn to her father. I'm sure she has so much to tell him.” And it was over. With a wave of his hand, they were dismissed.
The walk back to her dad’s office was awkwardly silent—although, silence was preferable to speaking with the major. When they finally reached the door, Major Peters gave her a long, stern look, then spun and marched away.
Juliet entered the office without knocking, plastering her back on the closed door. Malachai rushed over and wrapped his arms around her. She trembled against her father, soaking in his warmth.
“We have to get him out of here,” she whispered. It seemed impossible, but now more than ever the risk was worth it. She needed to be smarter than General Dracul, or he would catch her and her friends.
“Shhhh.” Malachai’s breath caught Juliet’s curls as he gently rocked her. “It’ll be okay.”
Juliet nodded, pulling back and taking a deep breath.
“About your question regarding the general and his abilities...” Malachai said.
He had Juliet’s attention. “Yeah?”
“If he’s abused that ability in the past, there doesn’t seem to be any evidence of it.”
“No? Not even Delphine?” Juliet wanted to swallow her words as soon as they came out, but she couldn’t take it back, even if she tried.
Malachai shook his head. “She’s a seer, Jules. Acting out of character doesn’t necessarily mean she’s being influenced—at least not by another shifter.”
Juliet stared at her hands. She hated to even think it, but part of her had hoped to catch the general in some evil deed so she could get him thrown out. That’s how he’d gotten rid of Oberon, after all.
“But hey, good news. At least the man’s still playing fair.”
“But that means Delphine turned her back on us.”
“You don’t know that. The woman has mad intuition. I’m sure she’s just doing what she thinks is best.”
“You’re probably right.” And at the very least, it gave her hope that her dad would help her set everything right again. He’d already come this far. Maybe once her group got somewhere, she’d bring Malachai in on the plot to get Oberon back.
Chapter 36: Myreen
Myreen used the same method of escaping her guards as last time, letting them think she was eating lunch with Ty only to escape through the servants’ access. She only had to use her siren voice on one servant in the hidden stairwell, as the woman was heading up to find out what Ty wanted for lunch just as Myreen was coming down.
Once safely through the kitchen, Myreen walked past the dining hall door without looking, hoping Kenzie saw her. She’d already sent a text to Kenzie—only to get a reply from Leif. That girl had a funny way of trying to help. Giving her smartwatch to Leif just before trying to execute an escape plan? Myreen shook her head and smiled.
Myreen made her way to the Grand Hall and sat in a chair to wait, pulling out her tablet so she didn’t look lost. The area was fairly vacant. A few bodies wandered around, patrolling the grounds, but they payed more attention to what was outside than what was within.
A few minutes later, there were footsteps on the stairs, and then Kenzie’s shock of copper hair came into view. The two exchanged a look, and then Kenzie headed down toward the Initiate quarters. Myreen took her time, getting up, putting her tablet away, and stretching, before following Kenzie.
Kenzie grabbed Myreen’s hand as she descended into the first common room, which was empty, thanks to it being lunchtime on a school day.
Kenzie gave Myreen a knowing smile. “Is it time?”
Myreen nodded, excitement and nerves roiling through her. She just wanted this to be over, to be back in the safety of the Dome, back in some semblance of normalcy. Not that she thought anything would be entirely normal ever again.
“Okay, I’ll get Piper and Ty and Leif. We’ll meet you at the rendezvous point.” Kenzie nodded and turned to leave, but Myreen grabbed her arm.
“Wait. Do you have any magic for... I don’t know, luck? Or to calm my nerves.”
Kenzie laughed. “Sorry. Not that I know of. But you’re gonna do great. You’re the big bad siren, remember?”
Myreen sighed, but she smiled, giving Kenzie a nod. I can do this. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“One more thing. Do you mind sending Leif a message to let him know I’m on my way? Just send it to me. I gave him my smartwatch.”
Myreen rolled her eyes. “Yeah. I’ll do that. And I figured out what happened to your smartwatch when I tried to message you earlier.”
“Whoops. Can’t blame a girl for trying, can you?” Kenzie gave Myreen a cheesy smile.
Myreen chuckled and shook her head.
Kenzie threw a final wink as she headed upstairs. Myreen went the opposite way, into the bowels of the citadel, her heart hammering against her ribs. The guards were the same, making her job easy. Her siren abilities still worked their magic, allowing her to come and go unnoticed.
She kept her eyes averted as she walked past other prisoners. She couldn’t afford to add anyone else to their plan. As it was, she still had doubts about bringing Piper with them. But Kenzie said she’d take care of it, so it was out of Myreen’s hands.
Kol and Char threw off their feigned fatigue and injuries when Myreen walked in, rising with an eager expectancy.
“You have a plan?” Kol asked, his eyes bright and hopeful.
Myreen smiled. “We’re leaving now.”
Kol blinked and Char’s mouth hung open. Char glanced around the room. “Are you sure?”
Myreen nodded. “Kenzie’s gathering a few more people. They’ll meet us on the roof. We’re going to fly out of here.”
Kol smirked. “Because flying is better than swimming?”
Myreen laughed, Char looking between the two.
“Okay. First things first; let’s get you out of that cage.” She went to the guard at the front of the dungeon, summoning her melodic voice and said, “Unlock the dragons’ cell and release their bonds. You will not see them leave, or notice once they’re gone.”
The guard nodded, a vacant look in his eyes as he set about doing her bidding. Kol and Char pulled the fake bandages off while they waited, then carefully stepped out as the door popped open.
Kol threw Myreen a smile once he was free. “It feels good to get out of that cage.”
Myreen nodded. “How do you feel?”
Kol shrugged, but Char stepped forward. “We’re okay, but if we’ve got time, a little more healing would go a long way.”
Myreen nodded. “Any chance either of you can summon your fire?”
“Maybe.” Kol held out a hand, sparks and puffs of smoke appearing, but not enough for her purposes.
Myreen shook her head. “No worries. I brought backup.” She fished the lighter she’d brought with her from her pocket and handed it to Kol, who lit it. Myreen called on her healing powers, pulling the light from the flickering flame and sending it to Kol and then to Char. Color warmed
their cheeks, the dark circles under their eyes lessening. If it weren’t for the grime, tattered clothes, and messy hair still marring their appearance, they’d probably look like themselves again. Myreen nodded, and Kol let the lighter snuff.
“What’s next?” Kol asked.
“Any chance that brought your powers back?”
Kol looked to Char with a smile. “Shall we?”
Char nodded, and they both held out their hands. Their eyes glowed a luminous blue as they used their powers to summon blazes that burned bright.
Myreen clapped, then looked around the room. “Okay, maybe that’s enough for now. I don’t know if they have a fire alarm system down here.”
Both fires extinguished, but both Kol and Char had a gleam in their eyes. Jealousy reared its ugly head, and Myreen turned away, putting a hand to her chin to try to make it look like she was just thinking. Even after everything she’d heard—and what Kol had directly told her—part of her wondered what that relationship held. They obviously had history. But now wasn’t the time to sort out feelings. They’d talk once this was all over.
Myreen took a deep breath. “Here’s what I’m thinking. I know Kol can make himself invisible as a dragon, which I know isn’t common, but I’m hoping you can too, Char?”
Char shook her head, her eyes wide-eyed like the question was ludicrous. “No. Not possible.”
Kol piped up, the smirk on his face making Myreen’s heart catch. “Actually, now I can make myself invisible as a human, too. I don’t have to be shifted to access it.”
Myreen’s brows shot up. “Okay, well that makes sneaking you around a little easier.” She turned to Char. “But we’ll have to take you to Kenzie’s room and clean you up. If you blend in, it’ll be easier to try to sneak you out. We’ll just have to stay away from vampires. But we’ll have to do that anyway, since I don’t think invisibility includes your scent.”
“Wait,” Kol said, his face advertising deep concentration. “Maybe I can make Char invisible, too? I discovered by accident that I can disappear in human form. I’ve never tried making anyone else invisible before—shielding them, sure, but not making them disappear—but it’s worth a shot.”
Myreen nodded. “Okay. Give it a try. If that doesn’t work, then we’ll go with a disguise for Char.”
Kol walked to Char and placed a hand on her shoulder, then closed his eyes. After a few moments, Kol disappeared, and like slow motion, invisibility enveloped Char.
Myreen’s mouth fell open as she stared at the emptiness. Not even a glimmer of their forms gave their location away. If she hadn’t just seen them disappear, she would think that space was empty. As it was, it was still difficult to convince herself they hadn’t moved. “That’s amazing! Do you think you can keep that up? We just need to get you two to one of the elevators.”
“Yeah, I think so,” Kol said.
His disembodied voice floated from where she’d last seen him, and she felt goosebumps prickle her arms. So weird. Myreen wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly aware of just how cold it was down here. “What happens if you let go of each other?”
Char materialized, stepping away from where Myreen had last seen her as if walking through a portal.
“And touch her again?” Myreen said.
Part of Char’s hand disappeared as Kol took it, and after a few tense moments, Char disappeared too.
“I can touch her while invisible, but it doesn’t pass on unless I push the invisibility on her,” Kol said.
Myreen felt the little green monster flaring to life again, but she stamped it down. He wasn’t holding Char’s hand out of want, but out of need. Whether he liked it or not could be sorted out—later.
“Ready when you are,” came Kol’s voice again.
Myreen gave a nervous giggle. “That’s going to take some getting used to. Okay. Let’s go.”
Nodding to the guards, she left, assuming Kol and Char were following. Not like she could see them. They moved quietly, but every now and again she could hear shuffling against the cold concrete. She cringed as she thought about their bare feet having to walk across the freezing floor, but there was nothing she could do about it right now. They’d be out of here soon. They’d worry about shoes then.
At least their fire had been restored. Hopefully that would keep them warm. They’d need it, especially once they got outside. She was glad her smart clothes had survived everything, otherwise she’d be freezing for sure.
It felt like the dungeon had tripled in length, so Myreen was relieved when they finally reached the stairs leading out.
But one of the guards standing there was different, and he looked at the other vampires with his brows creased. “Does anybody else smell that?”
“What is that?” said another vampire, whose name Myreen had never bothered to learn.
She had a sickening sensation as she realized these vampires might all be dead by this time tomorrow. But she couldn’t let that stop her. As far as she knew, they willingly followed Draven. And he was a monster.
Myreen closed her eyes and summoned her siren voice, focusing on the vampires. “No one here has seen or sensed anyone or anything unusual. Your orders are to stay in this room until your shift ends.”
She opened her eyes to see the vampires as their gazes unglazed, and they all stared past her as if she wasn’t there. Myreen let out a pent-up breath and marched up the stairs, keeping her pace steady and unhurried. Just a few more floors and they’d be home free.
“You two still with me?” Myreen whispered as they came into the common room. She sighed with relief as warmth flooded over her. Thank goodness the human quarters were heated.
“Yeah, we’re still here,” came Kol’s voice from the space next to her. It was so strange having him right there, but not being able to see him. He was so tall, it almost seemed like his voice was coming from the ceiling. If she wasn’t so nervous, she’d probably be giggling.
“Okay, there are three more levels of human quarters, then the Grand Hall. From there we’ll either need to go to the main elevator in the Grand Hall, the next stop above the two school levels, or we’ll need to head through the kitchen to take the servants’ access. I’d rather take the kitchen route, but we’re going to have to see.”
“Way to plan this out,” came Char’s voice, followed by an oof. “Not cool, Kol.”
Myreen stifled a smile. “I’m sorry it’s not better planned out, but we’ve got a lot of people we’re trying to rescue.”
“Wait. Who else is coming with us?” Kol asked.
“My little brother, for one. And Kenzie found an Initiate who wants out. Plus, we’re rescuing the vampire who’s been helping protect the Dome. His name is Leif.”
“Wait. Hold that thought about a little brother. So Oberon really was dealing with a vampire?” Was that anger lacing Kol’s words?
Myreen sighed. She’d forgotten this was all news to them. “Yeah. But he’s one of the good guys. Kenzie knows him, too.”
“I’m still not entirely sure I trust the selkie, either,” he grumbled.
“Well I do. She’s sacrificed a lot to try to get us all out.” Maybe too much. But Myreen didn’t want to think about that, either.
“And you have a little brother?” Kol asked, concern in his voice.
“Yeah. Half-brother, really.” She looked down at the floor, not bothering to offer any more information. She didn’t know how Kol would react to bringing Ty with them, especially knowing he was Draven’s son, but it wasn’t his decision to make. She could feel his eyes still on her. “Come on. We don’t want to waste any time.”
“Right.”
They started up the stairs again, this time a little faster. Myreen’s pulse raced, and she started taking the steps two at a time, just so they could get to the top more quickly. The need to be out of there was building, becoming almost impossible to ignore.
“Maybe not so fast,” Kol whispered. “Char and I can’t keep up while we’re linked like this, a
nd I don’t want to drop my concentration and expose us.”
“Right.” Myreen slowed back down, but it gave her more time to think, more time to worry. She wondered how Kenzie was faring, if she’d gotten everyone to the roof yet.
Finally, they made it to the Grand Hall. Myreen held a hand up as she peeked around the corner. There were more people there than normal, and Myreen looked at her watch. Shoot. Lunch break was over. That meant both the kitchen and the way to the elevator would be busy. And to make matters worse—
“Myreen!”
Myreen stiffened as a familiar guy came over. It took her a moment, but then she recognized the vampire who’d been feeding on Kenzie—Adam. Myreen took a few steps forward, waving a hand at Kol and Char in the hopes they’d take the hint and back up a bit. She felt a welcome flare of anger as she looked at the guy who’d helped make her friend’s life miserable. Maybe that would help mask the fear lacing every move. “Hey.”
“Have you seen Kenzie?” He ran a hand through his hair, his stance casual.
Myreen crossed her arms, her foot beginning to tap. “Not today.”
“Oh. I saw you coming out of the human quarters and thought...”
Myreen shrugged. “Draven made a suggestion. I decided to check it out.” She didn’t know if Adam knew that Draven thought she should date Kendall, but he’d been forthcoming with plenty of other information about her.
“Oh. Okay. Well, thanks.” Adam turned to leave, then turned back. “Aren’t you supposed to have some guards?”
Myreen gave a nervous chuckle. “Oh, they’re right— Wait. I think I see Kenzie.”
“Where?” Adam’s head swung around.
“It looked like she was going to class.”