by Allie Burton
“Don’t answer.” She poked the rock in his general direction. “This would be easier if I could see you.”
He lifted his hands and tugged her arm, wanting her to find the handcuffs by touch.
She grasped his wrist and poked around. “Here.”
He stayed still so she could locate his wrists and the handcuffs. He’d communicated what she needed to do when they’d come up with the plan.
She scraped the rock against the meteoric iron. “Like this?”
The scratching noise echoed through the room, bouncing off the walls. Anxiety bounced through him.
“Is it working?” She could feel the rock on the metal, yet couldn’t see the progress she was making. And he couldn’t answer.
The chemical heat melted a groove in the handcuff metal, creating a ridge that got deeper and deeper. The metal wasn’t very thick, because the meteoric iron confined his powers, so it didn’t need to be. He couldn’t break out if the handcuffs were thread thin. Which was what Demetri counted on. The bars of the cage were thicker and stronger, and it would take hours to cut through. One step at a time.
“I’ll assume it’s working if you don’t pull away.” Neffy kept sawing and sawing.
The metal broke and separated. The noise wasn’t loud, just freeing.
His taut muscles relaxed for only a second. There was no time to celebrate.
With his free hand, he took the rock from Neffy. He didn’t have super strength, but he had muscles he’d gotten the old fashioned way through hard work and his right wrist was no longer confined. Pinching the rock between his fingers, he scraped the metal circling his other wrist. Back and forth. Back and forth.
The metal broke and fell off. Lightness filled him. He rubbed his wrists. Concentrating, he became visible again so Neffy could see him. “Thank you.”
Her glance took in his appearance. “Now what?”
“I’m going to jump to the window, make sure everything’s clear, and come back for you.”
“Come back for me?” She spotted the high window, and her jaw dropped. “I can’t get up there.”
“I’ll carry you.”
“And then what? We jump from roof to roof?” She made it sound as if he was crazy.
He didn’t have time to give her a lesson in the powers of the Soul Warriors. “Pretty much.”
“I’ll slow you down.” She pushed her lips together in a stubborn pout, reminding him of CC. “I’d rather you find Cleo and make sure she’s safe.”
“You really do need insulin.”
Neffy’s entire body trembled. The pallor on her face resembled a ghost. The veins on her hands stood out, and her wrinkles were more pronounced. “Yes.”
He clenched his fists. She was right—taking her with him would slow him down, but he refused to leave her behind. “Let me unlock the skylight, scope the area, and then we’ll decide.”
He’d decided. He wasn’t leaving without her. He’d need to find a way to convince her.
Bunching his muscles, he flexed at the knees and let himself fly. He jumped up and up. The sensation was nothing new, yet he felt like a newborn trying out his legs for the first time, because his powers had been trapped for such a long time.
He grasped the edge of the window and pushed on the glass. CC had left the window unlocked. The window didn’t open. He shoved the glass again.
Rope covered the window, and the glass couldn’t break through. The golden rope twisted and tangled across the entire roof. Knotted the entire building.
The Knot of Uset.
The hope he’d held since being freed from the handcuffs emptied, putting him under a different lock and key. Babi must’ve captured CC and put the Knot to use, tying them in the building.
“The building is completely wrapped with the Knot of Uset.” Antony knew the Knot’s capability to stretch and lengthen. He’d seen CC manipulate the rope before.
“You can’t get out?” Neffy stretched her neck, watching him dangling from the window.
“There’s no way to escape the Knot of Uset.” Antony let go of the ledge and let his body crash to the ground.
Crashed with his optimism.
The door to the third floor opened. Antony quickly turned invisible again, and held his wrists together as if he was still handcuffed.
Khepri marched in, followed by Demetri and Babi.
Antony’s heart spasmed, shooting sharp lasers of agony. If Babi was here, and the Knot tied around the building, that meant CC was back in his clutches.
Twelve other men dressed in white robes with hoods stepped into the room. The foreboding procession wasn’t good news.
Antony’s outlook blackened. Agony scored a direct hit on his soul.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Cleo
The Soul Warriors surrounded the building on Maiden Lane. I’d given each of them a piece of the Knot of Uset tied in the Tyet form that would let them go through the tied building and escape again. I held one extra Tyet piece for Antony, tucked into the leather jacket Olivia had given me to wear, so he could escape before the entire building imploded.
Expanding my piece of rope, I’d wrapped the building housing Demetri’s shop like a Christo sculpture. The rope twisted and tangled and tied the doors and windows shut. There was no way to escape the net the Knot of Uset had made, unless you had a Tyet to slip through the magical protection. In sixty minutes, the Knot of Uset would pull taut, breaking the walls and the support posts of the building, destroying everything beneath the ropes. And everyone inside.
My tummy knotted, as if I’d tied the Knot of Uset on my insides. Worry tangled with doubt. Fear strangled terror, fighting for dominance. I hoped what I’d surmised from the moving frame images on the mirror was correct. I was risking our lives with my plan.
So far, the Tyet had worked. Each piece held its own magic. All the warriors were invisible and positioned around the high windows of Demetri’s building.
It was go time.
Terror trilled to a slight thrill. I was excited to start the fight—my first quest. And anxious.
I squeezed the extra Tyet like a lucky charm. This was the piece that would save Antony and get him out of the building alive. I placed the other Tyet, which was attached to the wrapped rope around the building, between my jean-clad legs. Sensing exactly where each Soul Warrior was positioned, I began the count in my head, knowing the warriors were connected and understood.
One…
Olivia stretched her shoulder muscles. I couldn’t see her. I just knew.
My muscles tightened.
Two…
Xander double checked his gear. He was on the opposite side of the building from me, yet I could sense his action.
My lungs scraped in air.
Three.
As if I’d yelled my loudest, the warriors moved into action at the exact same time.
The thrill clanged. Gripping the rope even tighter, I lifted my legs and swung. My combat-boot-clad feet crashed through the window. Shattering glass tinkled and fell, as window after window was broken. Each of the warriors smashed the other windows at the same time, the move perfectly choreographed in our minds.
Glass rained down on drafting table, dress forms, and the caged prison, showering the occupants below. Demetri, Babi, and about a dozen other followers of their beliefs jerked their heads up and used their arms to shield themselves from the glass fragments. White-robed people shouted. Ducked. Ran.
I rappelled into the third floor. Into the middle of the chaos. My Tyet rope lengthened with my need.
The other Soul Warriors did the same. I not only sensed it, I saw it. Each of the pieces of the Knot of Uset rope lengthened to the needs of the Soul Warrior gripping its strands. Olivia hit the ground. Xander flipped mid-air and followed. Piper landed, taking a fighting stance. Math measured his pace. Ash and Blaze, and Aria and Falcon and the others, entered the third floor through the windows, rappelling swiftly in a timed maneuver.
This is what I�
�d call making an entrance.
Every Soul Warrior except Antony. Because he was already trapped inside.
My pulse galloped, and my gaze swung to the metal cage. Antony was on his feet. His ruffled hair and angular face showed signs of tiredness. His deep-green eyes flashed with surprise and pleasure.
My heart softened at seeing he was alive.
He prowled toward me and halted. “Watch out!”
A white-robed follower charged. The followers must’ve been anointed, and could see me and the Soul Warriors.
My chest screeched, panic pelting me from the inside. This battle was real.
I whipped my piece of rope out, slashing. The rope thinned and crackled with its power. Similar to how it had reacted at the professor’s house, the whip slapped the follower on the leg.
“Ahh!” He crumpled to the ground.
My gaze focused. The battle coalesced on all sides. Warriors against followers. Super powers and strengths. Magical relics against fists.
Blaze jumped on the drafting table and kicked his opponent.
Olivia pointed a finger and zapped a follower to the ground.
Xander used a dressmaker’s form like a battering ram.
Aria hefted the sewing machine, spraying needles at the enemy like gunfire.
And Piper tossed fireballs like baseballs.
A follower ran at me, swinging a sword with two hands.
My panic morphed to terror, streaking through my bloodstream and ordering me to run. Instead, I readied my rope whip, casting it back and slashing forward.
The rope stuck. It didn’t advance.
Terror pounded in my head, and I thought I’d faint. Dizzy, I ducked and whirled around to find a second follower had caught the whip. He held the sparking rope in his gloved hand. His sneer told me what he thought of my pathetic efforts.
Maybe I shouldn’t have come with the warriors. Maybe I should’ve instructed them how to use the Knot of Uset and stayed at the professor’s house. Except the Knot listened to me. I controlled it. I had the power.
I angled my head to gape at the follower with the sword. He grinned, showing crooked teeth. He plodded toward me this time, swinging the sword back and forth as if he was going to cut off my head.
The dizziness expanded throughout my entire body. I shook in my borrowed boots. Eek!
I glowered back at the guy holding the end of my whip. His smugness grew with each of my frantic heartbeats and tugs. He knew I had no defenses. My glare swung back and forth in a pendulum fashion. Paralyzed, I was caught between the two men with nowhere to go. Nothing to fight. No way to save myself.
Using my connection to the Knot of Uset, I ordered my whip to wrap around the man holding it. In rapid succession the rope coiled around him, pinning his arms down. I yanked the rope and it unwound and sent the man spinning. He fell to the ground.
With my whip free, I faced the second man who’d been delayed by another skirmish. He faced me, with the sharp sword glinting. I pulled my shoulders back and stood strong. This time I faced him with confidence. I could fight and I could win.
“Now watch me whip. Now watch me nae nae.” I sang to myself.
The guy in front of me fell to the ground. Ash flipped over my head and took out the guy behind me.
“Let the experts fight.” Ash flicked a short knife in his hand, presenting his skillful use. “You get the key and save Antony.”
Offended, I snarled a smile. This wasn’t the time to argue about my fighting skills. “Right.”
I spared a quick glance toward Antony, whose enraged expression exhibited his need to be in the battle, to be fighting at the warriors’ sides. His body appeared taut, and he leaned forward toward the bars without coming in contact. I wanted to run to him and tell him everything would be okay. That we’d be okay.
“Which one is Demetri?” Ash caught my attention.
Focus, CC. Focus. Demetri held the key to the cage.
I spotted my former friend and pointed, hatred building. “The one next to Babi, who Piper’s fighting.”
“Stay by my side.” Ash moved with agility and speed. “I’ll get you there safely.”
Listening to his order, I followed, equaling his pace. Ash had never liked me, yet he was protecting me so I could get the key and save Antony.
Each of the Soul Warriors worked in tandem. The Tyet from the Knot of Uset had bound them, but they’d worked as a team before. It was obvious in their precise movements and choreography. Envy skittered across my soul. I wanted to be part of them. Part of this.
Ash and I moved toward Demetri. The designer hid behind Babi, who was fighting Piper and Math. Piper released a fireball. The fiery liquid exploded on Babi. He grabbed his face and screamed. He crumpled to the ground.
Success sprung inside me and was cooled by an icy shiver. I froze with the coldness seeping inside. Babi’s skin had been burned from his face. Pieces hung from his cheeks and forehead.
I wasn’t a fighter by nature. Now I understood good versus evil. And Babi and his plans were evil.
Demetri cowered farther back, horror etched on his face. He was used to seeing beautiful designs and materials, not freak-show-worthy complexions.
Ash moved in on him. He tossed a knife, hitting Demetri’s thigh. The knife had been thrown with such force, Demetri fell backward. Writhing on the floor, he struggled with the weapon as blood poured from the wound.
I shuddered.
Pouncing, Ash throttled Demetri around the neck. “Get the key.”
Opening Demetri’s robe, sadness flitted through me. I’d thought he was my friend and he’d only been using me. I snatched the keys from his pocket. Without a second glance, I ran toward the cage holding Antony.
With shaky hands, I inserted the key and twisted. The small click was like the unlocking of my heart. We were going to get Antony and get out alive.
The cage door swung open and I hurried inside only to stop at the mound lying on the floor. The mound was a person shrouded in robes. A woman. An older woman with gray hair and gray eyes.
Stumbling, I let the Knot of Uset fall from my hands. “Aunty Neffy.”
Noting Antony who stood beside her in a defensive stance, I took a tentative step toward the woman. Falling to my knees, I checked to see if she was dead.
Before I could get close, Antony’s warning reached my ears. “CC, watch out!”
Panic shot up my spine. I turned.
Babi with his swollen, red, blistering face loomed above me. One eye was blackened shut. The other pierced me with deep loathing. He raised a long, broad, glowing sword. He was about to strike.
The panic scorched my chest and my insides shrunk with fear. I had nothing to defend myself or my aunt. I threw myself on her body and covered my head.
The strike never came.
I lifted my head fearing what I might see. Did Babi want to see my expression as I died?
Babi’s body thudded to the ground.
Antony stood over him with a satisfied expression. He rubbed a fisted hand into the palm of the other. He had two free hands.
Shock seized me. “You aren’t handcuffed?”
Shrugging, he held up his free hands. “I was saving it for a surprise. I mean, a surprise attack if one of the members came in the cage.” He did jazz hands. “Surprise.”
I wanted to throttle him and hug him. Settling for a relieved smile, I bent back down. “Aunty Neffy?”
The woman’s eyes flickered. “Cleopatra.”
Relief rushed so swift I didn’t even take offense at the hated name. I helped her to roll to her side. “How did you get here? I thought you were in Egypt. Are you injured?”
“She’s okay. She needs her insulin.” Antony helped Aunty Neffy stand and winked at me. “Let’s have the reunion later. There’s still a battle taking place.”
The clatter of chaos filtered through my mind. Metal on metal clanged. Warriors jumped and flipped and flew. Magic swooshed. White robes waved, but not in surrender.
/> I glanced at my aunt. “Aunty Neffy can’t fight. I need to get her out of…”
My heart stopped, thudded, and dropped into my stomach. I’d only made one extra Tyet to escape the building. A building that would implode in approximately thirty minutes.
I’d made the Tyet for Antony, not knowing Aunty Neffy was here.
My hollow chest echoed with indecision. My love for both boomed. Boomed in my heart and in my head.
Aunty Neffy or Antony?
Chapter Twenty-Four
Cleo
The booming echoed from my chest to my head. Doom wrapped around me and choked. I couldn’t choose who should stay inside Demetri’s building and die.
“Only one other person can get out of the building. It’s wrapped with the Knot of Uset and will implode soon.” My mind blew through the possibilities. We’d left the ritual sickle-shaped knife at the professor’s house to keep it safe. “The only way to pass the magical protection is with a specially-cut Tyet. I made the extra Tyet for you, but…”
My wary gaze strayed from Antony to Aunty Neffy.
“I’m old and have lived my life.” Aunty sounded defeated.
I couldn’t let her sacrifice herself.
The Knot of Uset had been wrapped around the building to secure anyone who tried to escape. This ensured we trapped Demetri, Babi, and their followers. The only one who had the ability to exit were the warriors, who each had a Tyet.
The fight raged around us. The warriors protected us from the robed men, guarding the cage’s gate as they fought.
“Your aunt.” Antony’s determined voice told me he’d save everyone before himself. “You have to give the Tyet to your aunt.”
My heart tore in two. “But—”
“Battling is what I do.” His stubborn chin jutted out. He considered my aunt and me. “Saving innocents is my calling.”
For goodness and light and love.
The last word stuck in my throat. Antony might not love me, yet he was willing to sacrifice himself for my aunt. My gaze connected with his. His soft, wistful smile speared me. He wrapped his arms around me, and his mouth came down on mine in a hungry plunge.