by B N Miles
Cassie, his Cassie—this wasn’t even her world. She was willing to do so much for him, for everyone else, and she had no real attachment to any of this beyond their immediate family. She wanted her cousin back, of course, but everything else, all the pain and the suffering, that was all for him.
All because she loved him.
He remembered her in that prisoner transport, kneeling down, staring up at him with those enormous, beautiful eyes, and he remembered how he’d felt—excited, confused, and above all, like he’d finally found something worthwhile.
He still felt that with her every day.
“We’re going to get through this,” he said, walking back to her. “All of us, we’re going to get out.”
“You don’t know that. The others—”
“Are going to be okay. Izzy, Allie, all of them. They’re going to be okay.”
She nodded, stared up at him, then laughed. “Sometimes I wonder what my life would like if I hadn’t left my world.”
“Boring, I bet.”
Her laughter slowly died, but a smile remained. “You’re probably right. Boring, and awful. I’d be married to some asshole.”
“And I’d still be wasting away behind a desk.”
“That’s right. You’d still be a Marshal.” She tilted her head. “Do you miss it?”
“I do,” he admitted. “Sometimes I think I’ll go back, when this is all over.”
“When it’s all over, we can do whatever we want.” Her smile faded then and she shook her head, but she didn’t say a word.
She didn’t have to. Jared kissed her, pulled her tight against him, and held her there. Lumi drifted past them, over the ashed bodies, and reached the end of the hallway. Jared released Cassie and turned, her fingers slipping from his grip as he walked to join Lumi. They stood at a junction, the hallway splitting left and right, both sections dim and empty, covered in a simple gray and black geometric carpet.
“Which way?” he asked.
“We could split up.”
Cassie joined them. “No way. We stick together.”
“Left then,” Lumi said. “I have a good feeling about left.”
Jared nodded and started off in that direction.
The rumbling continued. It felt as though the floor was going to cave in beneath them. He stayed close to Cassie in case he had to make a quick move to save them while Lumi moved further ahead. He worried about her, at least a little bit—he wondered how much that conversation with her uncle affected her, and he knew that things weren’t going to be easier going forward.
This was personal for her. The Medlar were a faceless, anonymous bunch of assholes in Jared’s mind, but to Lumi, they were her family. She grew up with these people, and even though they were abusive bastards, it still had to be incredibly hard for her to press forward despite everything trying to hold her back.
The past was a weight that wanted to drag them all under. Even Jared felt it sometimes, when he thought back to his family, to his sister and his uncle, to everyone else in that old, fucked up house. There were good memories mixed in with the bad, but he’d been treated better than Lumi had been.
The hall stretched on for what felt like forever. Ahead, it terminated in a set of doors. Lumi hesitated for only a second before pushing them open—and instantly an explosion rocked the ground around them.
She was flung off her feet. Jared reacted instantly, wrapping them all in the strongest shields he could manage, but the force of the explosion threw him backwards. He stumbled and lost sight of Lumi and Cassie, a growl of frustration on his lips as he smashed into the floor and rolled backwards. He struggled to his feet, holding onto the shields like his life depended on it, and looked around wildly as the smoke began to clear.
He heard laughter at the far end of the hall.
Cassie lay a few feet away. She held up a hand and struggled to her feet as Jared ran to help her.
“I’m okay,” she said. “I’m fine. Your shield got me.”
“Lumi?”
She shook her head.
He scanned the hall and he spotted her, standing in the midst of rubble and smoke, her body practically glowing. Beyond her stood another figure, a man wearing an Adidas jogging suit, white stripes on black. He held a long, curved sword in one hand, which looked completely absurd and useless to Jared—it made no sense to bring a damn sword to a fight with Magi.
But then man laughed again, flicking the sword with his wrist, and the ground rumbled around him. The floor shook, and Jared had to steady himself on the wall.
“Lumi!” he yelled, walking toward her.
She glanced back. “Don’t worry,” she said. “It’s only Cousin Heath.”
Cousin Heath cackled as his long hair glowed around him. Small chunks of rock floated in the air, and Jared felt him pull in massive amounts of power. Lumi did the same, wreathing herself in the stuff, making her glow a beautiful blue-green shimmer like the aurora borealis.
“End of the line for you, Lum,” Heath said, raising his sword. “I’ve been dreaming about this day for a long time.”
“You never did beat me in a fight,” Lumi answered, fists clenched.
“That was a long time ago. I’ve learned a few new tricks.”
Heath attacked, a blur of motion running through the rubble toward Lumi. She threw her hands forward and fire raged toward the Magi, but he sliced through it with his sword, each blow of the blade sending bursts of air that blocked the fire and sent it careening behind him. Jared stepped up to help, but Lumi waved one hand at him, then leapt forward to meet Heath.
The sword smashed down her forearm. Jared let out a strangled shout, but the blade bounced off hardened air as Lumi released a bolt of lightning at close range. Heath redirected the lightning, sent it smashing into a wall, and struck at Lumi with his own fire. She sent it spinning away with a burst of air as Heath sliced at her with his sword again.
Jared watched their dance, stuck between fascination and horror. He’d never seen Lumi fight like that before, switching between memgrams effortlessly and faster than he would’ve guessed, all the while defending herself against an edged weapon at close range. She was like a dancer, turning and blocking and countering Heath’s attacks, their magic sparking and exploding, destroying the building around them.
He wanted to help, but he knew Lumi would never forgive him if he did. Instead, he turned and grabbed Cassie.
“Come on,” he said.
“We can’t leave her.” Cassie’s eyes were wide.
“If we stay here, we’ll get buried under the damn rubble.” He tugged her away, back toward the hallway junction. “Come on, she can handle it.”
Lumi let out a grunt as Heath’s sword sliced down an unprotected section of her thigh. It was a shallow wound, but blood dripped down her leg, and Heath laughed manically.
“You little bitch!” he cackled, but Lumi wiped the smile off his face with a vicious magically reinforced fist to his gut and a forehead to his nose. He screamed in pain as he sliced upward with his sword, narrowly missing her. Lumi tried to finish him with lightning again, but he redirected it, destroying another section of the floor.
They looked like bloody, glowing gods floating in an empty void.
Jared pulled Cassie away, walking quickly. He knew Lumi would be fine and she’d understand. They couldn’t stay, not if they wanted to reach Wade before the ritual began. That was why they’d sent Heath in the first place: to distract them from their real goal.
He heard another shout and looked over his shoulder as Lumi cracked a fist across Heath’s face then wrenched his sword away. Before he could see what happened next, the floor broke out from beneath them and they tumbled downwards.
Jared let out a shout, but strangled it off, turning it into an angry growl.
“We can go back for her,” Cassie said. “It’s not too late.”
“Come on.” He turned away, heart racing, bile in his throat. “We have to find Wade. She’ll be okay. I can s
till feel her power.”
It was true: Lumi pulsed and flared like a neutrino star, shooting energy in all directions. She was glorious and incredible, and though Jared loathed to leave her behind and hated himself for doing it, he knew it was the right call.
They reached the junction again and turned left down the only other hallway. It was completely empty save for the overhead lights and thick carpet. Jared thought his breathing echoed ahead of them, but he knew that was only a trick of his anxious mind. Cassie stayed close to him as they approached another set of doors.
“They could be trapped again,” Cassie said. “Another explosion, maybe.”
Jared wrapped them in hardened air. “Let’s find out.” He reached out and tugged at the handle, pulling the door open.
29
They stepped into a large, open room, and Jared sucked in a breath of pure surprise.
It was just like Arizona, just like the last facility. Runes were etched into the ground and lines of power connected each node. In the center of the vast, cavernous space that must have spread across most of the facility’s upper floor, was a single altar drenched in light.
A body lay suspended in the air above it, arms dangling to the sides, back arched, face beatific and unconscious.
“Wade,” Cassie said and started forward.
Jared grabbed her wrist. “Wait,” he said. “Hold on.”
The room looked empty, but he knew that couldn’t be true. Some of the runes glowed a strange, orange color, and the lines between them filled with light like sand falling into an hourglass. Jared stepped forward, into the ritual space, testing the boundaries, but nothing happened. The buzzing hum was louder in there, loud enough that he was worried he wouldn’t hear Cassie right beside him.
Movement to the left caught his eye. He turned as two people walked toward him. One was a woman, tall and slim, with long dark hair and round blue eyes. She looked just like Lumi, except stretched out, elongated, and her Magi mark wasn’t nearly as deep.
The man though, he was interesting. His mark was a purple-black, so dark it almost blended in with his suit. He had long gray hair pulled back into a ponytail and walked leaning on a cane. Jared knew him instantly, though he’d never seen the face before. It was the man’s eyes that gave him away: sharp and focused, in control and not remotely worried. Those were the eyes of a man used to running the world.
Those were the eyes of Maurice Medlar, the head of the Medlar family.
“Jared Bechtel,” Maurice said as the pair stopped ten yards away. “I’m glad you showed up. Really, I am, it’s been such a fun time toying with you.”
“This is over,” Jared said. “Let Wade go.”
“The Worldhopper?” Maurice tilted his head. “Why in the seven seas would I ever do that? He’s such a delightful little scamp, that one.”
“Let him go,” Cassie said, hissing the words. “You’re finished.”
“Finished?” Maurice laughed. “I think you misunderstand what’s going on here. Did you run into my nephew, by the way? I sent him out for chocolate milk and he hasn’t come back.”
Jared frowned slightly. “Lumi’s dealing with Heath.”
“Oh, too bad. Heath was a good boy. Liked that stupid sword too much though.” Maurice seemed to brighten. “When will Lumi arrive? I do miss that dear girl. So powerful and unique.”
Jared found he didn’t know what to say. The man seemed only half there, like he was only partially aware of what was happening around him. He thought back to the conversation with Terence and realized Maurice really was insane.
“Go get Wade,” Jared said, speaking softly. “I’ll hold them off.”
“Are you sure? I don’t like this.”
“Do it.”
Cassie started toward the altar. She went slowly, picking her way between the runes and the glowing lines of power. Maurice watched her with a strange look in his eyes.
“That girl’s going to get hurt,” he said. “Really now, Jared. You’re sending her?”
“I’m going to make sure you can’t start this.”
He looked confused for a second then glanced at the woman by his side. “I’m not going to stop anything. Isn’t that right, Krista, dear?”
“Yes, sir,” she said.
“Shall I tell him about our guest?”
“I think he’s about to find out, sir.” Krista’s face remained blank, almost neutral—so much like Lumi. For a moment, he concentrated, and he could still feel Lumi’s power nearby, which meant she was probably okay.
Another figure detached itself from the wall nearby and came to join them. He was a tall man, nondescript, with a hooked nose, and Jared recognized him with a jolt.
Lord Roth.
He took a step back in surprise as the ancient Vampire joined them. “Hello, Jared. It’s been such an awfully long time. I did miss you, truly.”
“What is he doing here?” Jared asked, fighting panic. He remembered being tied to that chair, blocked and helpless, and for one second, he was frozen by the memory.
“This is my friend,” Maurice said. “He’s here to help make sure the ritual goes as planned. Right, Roth?”
“Yes, of course, Maurice.” Lord Roth smirked at Jared, showing his fangs. “And you are an unwelcome guest at this time.”
“Oh, we should take care of him then,” Maurice said. “I haven’t had fun like this in ages.” He stood up straight and held his cane up. The woman took it from him and leaned it against her shoulder like a rifle.
The old Medlar man stepped toward Jared, cracked his neck and his knuckles, and grinned wildly.
Lord Roth laughed. “I’m tempted to see what you can do, Maurice. The rumors have been quite interesting.”
“Feel free to watch. I haven’t gotten to use my power in a long time.”
Maurice began funneling priori, sucking it in like a vast whale swallowing ocean water. Jared clenched his jaw and drew his own power into him, ignoring his Need, his exhaustion, his anger and uncertainty, and faced down the Medlar bastard.
Cassie drew closer and closer to the altar, and he knew all he had to do was keep Roth and Maurice away from her until she could rescue Wade.
Maurice attacked first. He lashed out with a wild flame that burned half the floor as it rushed toward him. Jared turned it to the ceiling, breaking a hole in the plaster. Moonlight poured inside as Lord Roth came at him like a bullet.
If he hadn’t been able to call forward a second memgram, he would’ve been dead. He barely managed to rip a bolt of lightning toward the Vampire, knocking him sideways as he turned to block another flame from Maurice. Roth came again, and Jared sent a wall of spiked ice rolling across the floor at him, forcing him backwards until he smashed through it.
He staggered as Maurice hit him with a sledgehammer of air. He growled in pain, frustrated as deflected another attack from Roth instead of countering Maurice. The Vampire hissed as a flash of fire ripped across his front, and Maurice took the opportunity to hit Jared’s flank with a burst of lightning, staggering him sideways and nearly shattering his shield.
He grunted, breathing hard, and glanced over at Cassie as she cautiously approached the altar. Wade floated there like he was caught in a net, hovering a couple of feet above the stone edifice. Jared clenched his fists as Lord Roth moved to the side, attempting to flank him while Maurice grinned like a maniac.
“I haven’t had this much fun in a long time,” he said as he flashed several bolts of lightning at Jared, who had to back up to redirect the power while keeping Roth in his line of sight. “It’s been so many years since I tried to kill someone with my own power, I forgot how satisfying it could be.”
Roth attacked, fangs snapping in the air as Jared forced him back with fire, letting his shield accept an impact bolt from Maurice. It knocked him sideways and he lost his footing, tripping over a long trench carved into the floor. He staggered and nearly fell before catching himself, but it was too late. Roth recovered in the time it took Jared
to get his footing, and he flashed into his face, slamming himself against Jared and knocking him to the ground.
His head bounced against the ground and he saw stars as he gasped for air. He had only a moment to toss up a weak shield in front of him as Roth slammed into it like a wild dog, eyes wide and gleaming with joy. Jared barely held the Vampire back.
Maurice loomed into view. “Looks like the fun’s over, though.” He pouted like a child then pulled back his hands, gathering electricity between his palms.
Jared was pinned. He needed his strength to keep Roth’s jaws from his throat, and he couldn’t block or redirect a close-range bolt like that from Maurice. One way or the other, he was going to be killed in a moment, and he turned his head slightly, looking away from Maurice and the slobbering Roth, over toward where Cassie stood, reaching out for Wade.
She looked beautiful. Her red hair fell in rivers down her shoulders and the light from the altar made her skin glow. Her full pink lips and the curves of her body made him smile, and he remembered the hours they spent together, talking, laughing, kissing, making each other feel good. He remembered all of his girls, Lumi and Nikki and Jessalene and Izzy and Penny and Allie and Kerrin. He’d miss them all, miss the life they could have had together—but as Cassie reached out to pull Wade from the light, he knew it was worth it, knew he did all he could to stop this madness.
As Maurice brought his hands down toward Jared, a figure slipped into view and grabbed him by his hair.
Maurice choked with surprise and released his power too soon. It fizzled in a bright spark, his concentration broken. Jared felt it like static on his skin.
Nikki stood behind him, her hair and clothes covered in blood, a manic grin on her face as she wrenched Maurice’s head back.
“Well now, darling,” she whispered. “Looks like you’ll be a lovely snack.”
She sank her fangs into his throat as he screamed.