Showdown in Magic City (Magic City Chronicles Book 4)

by TR Cameron

  The older woman nodded and turned the corner to stalk along the next side of the room. “Wasn’t stealing the gems enough?”

  Morrigan tried to reassure her. “Could be it’s a different bunch. Could be anything, Mom, but we’ll figure it out. They’ll get home safe.”

  The phone on Sinnia’s desk rang unexpectedly. It was the one she’d specified should only be used for contact from the kidnappers. She picked it up, and Ruby and Morrigan moved to stand beside her. Ruby lifted her cell to the receiver and hit record as her mother said, “Hello?”

  The caller was male and seemed equal parts haughty and satisfied. “By now you know that members of your family were kidnapped. There is only one way they will return to you safely, and that is for you to follow my instructions explicitly.”

  Sinnia interrupted, “Why have you done this?”

  The voice didn’t answer, didn’t change at all. Probably a recording, going to everyone at the same time. “If you want to secure the release of your families, you will clear the Magic City Strip by eleven this evening. No police, no pedestrians, no federal agencies, no magicals hiding under disguise.” He emphasized the word magicals, and at that instant, she realized it wasn’t about money. “At midnight exactly, we will trade the members of your family for the three costumed vigilantes who have been terrorizing the town.”

  Ruby snorted inwardly. You mean messing with your plans, scumbag. You’re the ones scaring people. “If they are not present at the appointed time, instead of transporting your families to the Strip, we will transport them to the world in between. This will be your only warning.” It clicked off, and Sinnia collapsed into a chair, tears finally overcoming her.

  Ruby hit the buttons to forward the recording to Alejo, whose number she legitimately had in her civilian identity, then patted her mother on the shoulder. “Go home where our people can take care of you. I’m going to visit the sheriff. Morrigan, maybe you can join me and share information afterward?”

  “You got it.” They headed for the receiving room and portaled to their bunker to prepare, stopping on the way to pick up Idryll, who definitely couldn’t be excluded from whatever was to come.

  Jared took the turn to go cross-country toward the GPS coordinates he’d been given and shook his head. Although they were out in the middle of nowhere, they kept their conversation guarded. “So, the news about that kidnapping is all over the place now. I’ve gotten messages from a few different people.”

  Grentham, in the passenger seat, nodded. “Yeah, my phone’s been exploding with texts.” Jared felt the other man’s eyes as he turned fully to face him and said deliberately, “Wonder who’s behind it?”

  He was sure his partner shared his certainty that Gabriel Sloane, the man they were about to meet with, was the answer to that particular question. Being rebuffed by the casino owners clearly wasn’t an insult he’s prepared to bear with grace. Out loud, he replied, “Guess we’ll find out, eventually. On the news, probably.” He hit the brakes and stopped the SUV a dozen feet away from the familiar limousine, under the watchful eye of a semi-circle of security people.

  They clambered out, underwent the obligatory pat down, and climbed into the back of the limo. Sloane was alone there, surprisingly. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen the man without his wife by his side. His mouth was set in a thin line, neither upset nor gleeful. Cold probably describes it best. Really cold. And far scarier than usual because of it.

  The business-suited man nodded at their arrival. “I have jobs for you tonight.” He pointed at Grentham. “You will be my bodyguard until the night’s activities are over. You can use your magic or whatever to get supplies, but I expect you by my side, ready to go, within a half-hour.”

  Grentham looked as though he might say something in response, then clamped his jaw shut and nodded. Good move, partner. Sloane turned his gaze to Jared. “You will round up the assistance you require to ensure that several tractor-trailers make it to their designated locations. I don’t care who you have to buy or who you have to kill. Those vehicles absolutely must be where they’re supposed to be at the appointed time.”

  Jared replied, “Of course, Boss. If you have any more information to share, it could make our plans more effective.”

  His slight frown was like a warning shot. “Your constant failure has lost you the right to that information. Now, you’ll do what you’re told, when you’re told, and that’ll be the end of it. Maybe, once you rack up a lot of successes, you’ll be able to move a rung up the ladder toward your previous trusted position.” He stared at them for a second, then added, “Make no mistake. Failure now means death, but only after a long time of wishing you were dead. Now get out and get to your tasks.”

  They complied and walked over to the SUV. Grentham muttered, “Well, that was certainly something. Take care of yourself, and if you decide now is the time, let me in on it.”

  Jared nodded. He didn’t think they needed to run, but he would make sure he was ready to do so as soon as he returned to the city. “You do the same. Stay safe.”

  Grentham closed the portal from the security of his shop’s office and released a string of curses. Whether the fear that he was actively fighting off inspired them or his anger at the dismissive way Sloane had treated him, he didn’t like the feeling or the man who’d caused it. He moved to the wall on the side of the room that faced the adjoining business and whispered a spell. The illusion he renewed daily vanished, revealing a small set of dials, and he put in the proper code. A wall section, invisible in its seamlessness, opened slightly with a small pop. He pulled it open and hit the switch to activate the lights.

  His combat gear was inside, and he stripped down and changed into it as quickly as he could. Heavy cloth designed to stop objects from slicing through it formed the base layer, along with boots reinforced with metal in several locations. A thick leather-and-ceramic collar wrapped around his neck to protect him from strikes to the vulnerable areas it covered. A bulletproof vest was next, and a military web belt went on underneath. He slipped magazines filled with anti-magic bullets into leg pouches, one for his rifle and one for the pistol that rode at his left thigh.

  He withdrew the pair of axes he’d had since he was a teenager and had used on countless occasions. The blades were honed to a razor edge and kept that way with biweekly cleanings, and he was equally proficient with them in both melee and ranged combat. They slipped into protective sheaths at his hips, the handles pointing down and back. Last on was the rifle, a military model with a grenade launcher underneath. The strap that carried it contained half a dozen rounds of multiple varieties.

  He closed the closet and headed for the front of his shop. Okay, what would be best for whatever might happen? He chose a necklace with a moon pendant that held a shield spell, frost if he remembered correctly. Not the most powerful thing, but the best he had at the moment. He grabbed a pair of thick metal bracers and strapped them to his forearms. They would serve a dual purpose. First, they were strong enough to protect him from most handgun bullets unless someone was packing a big caliber. More importantly, their magic would activate when slammed together the right way. It generated a piercing noise that would explode the eardrums of anyone in a fifty-foot radius who hadn’t protected themselves first, according to the person he’d purchased them from. For emergencies only, in case it turns out he was lying.

  He portaled out of his office and into one of his pawnshops. His people lurched up at his arrival, and he nodded a greeting. “I’m gonna need your help tonight, boys. Link up with this collar so you can trace it.” They all touched it and concentrated to connect their magic to the item. “I’m heading out into the desert, but I want you to watch. If I don’t return to the city before dawn, no worries, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be here. If I am, you need to be close enough to intervene. Above all, stay hidden. No one, and I mean no one, can know you’re there. Finally, if you see me spread my arms wide like I’m planning to slam my forearms together, shi
eld yourselves.”

  One of them asked, “What’s the deal, Boss?”

  Grentham shook his head. “I wish I knew. All I can tell you for sure is that it’s probably going to be big, and it’s probably going to be bad. Stay on your toes, and maybe we’ll all survive until morning.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Ruby and her team were in the bunker with all of their gear laid out, ready for them to put it on and jump into action. Four hours to go. I never understood the phrase “time crawls” before this. The surrounding room seemed empty and barren in a way it hadn’t before, and her thoughts turned to Margrave, now safely ensconced in the abbey. At least they’ll take care of him, no matter what happens tonight. She wasn’t sure what the kidnappers had in mind but knew her chances of getting out of the situation alive weren’t exactly blowing the roof off the likelihood scale.

  Her sheathed sword lay on her lap as she sat cross-legged on the couch. Morrigan and Idryll had tried to talk to her a couple of times, but she couldn’t tear herself away from her ruminations. If they were logical, contained, focused, that would be one thing. However, her brain was rambling, babbling like an idiot. With an internal sigh, she drew the weapon and hurled the scabbard to the side, then settled the blade on her thighs and sent her thoughts inward.

  The beach materialized around her, with Shalia and Tyrsh standing nearby in their matching outfits. Ruby shook her head. “Not this, not now.” She made an effort of will and the scene changed, becoming a virtual version of an empty Magic City Strip, with only ghostly hints of the casinos bordering the sides.

  Shalia asked, “Where are we?”

  “My next battleground, and possibly the place where I die.”

  Tyrsh said, “So you have turned to us for counsel at this moment of challenge? Highly intelligent choice. You intuitively understand what we can be.”

  Ruby sighed. I’m so sick of secrets and puzzles. “Pretend that I don’t and explain it to me.”

  He clasped his hands behind his back with a nod. “Between us, Shalia and I have abundant experience in a multitude of things. Her approaches are more subtle, mine more martial, but both of us are equally deadly to those who would oppose us. Or our wielder.”

  “So counsel me, wise trapped sages.”

  The woman laughed, lower than she had the last time. Ruby got the impression she might’ve been putting on an act at their first meeting, attempting to seem less than she was. Subtle indeed. “Wisdom, maybe not. Experience girding for battle? Unquestionably. Let me guess. You feel afraid. Afraid for yourself, afraid for those who will enter the fray beside you, afraid for those bystanders who might be injured by your actions, or those who most definitely would be by your inaction.”

  Ruby grunted. “Right on the mark.”

  Tyrsh took up the conversation. “Somewhere inside, you’re criticizing yourself for feeling that way. As if you should be strong, should know everything about everything. Don’t try to deny it. People like us always face that moment.”

  “Yeah. I’m aware.”

  Shalia said, “It’s not about battling the fear, overcoming it, or denying it. Instead, you must be with it, accept its presence and move on. Doubtless, you’ve learned to do this with pain, to keep pushing regardless of what your body might feel. To even use it as fuel to push forward.”

  Ruby nodded. “True. But that’s easy because it’s me.”

  Tyrsh lifted a hand, palm up. “Exactly. Now you must grow, become bigger, accept this new challenge.”

  “The odds aren’t too good.”

  He laughed. “Oh, how many times I have gone into battle feeling that way. You may even be correct, but it doesn’t matter. You know what does?”

  Keshalla had drilled her endlessly on that particular topic. “Only my actions.”

  Shalia replied, “Exactly. Who you are is what you do. Not what you think, not what you believe, not what you say. Your actions tell your truth.”

  Tyrsh asked, “Have you decided what you’ll do?”

  Ruby nodded. “That part’s not complicated. Show up as I’ve been told to and fight.”

  The other woman shook her head. “If it were that simple, you wouldn’t have come to us. There’s something more.”

  The words jumped out of her as if they’d been itching to escape. “What if it’s not a fight they want? What if the price for freeing those they’ve taken is the surrender of my team and I?”

  Shalia clarified, “By surrender, you mean death.”

  Tyrsh observed, “This is a familiar conversation between us, is it not?” He didn’t wait for her to respond. “So at issue is the same question. What is your life worth? Of course, this choice isn’t only yours. If you do sacrifice yourself, will it save your friends? Will it save those your opponents have put in danger? Can you trust your enemies that far?”

  Her doubts crystallized, and she realized that was the issue she’d been circling without addressing. “No, I don’t think I can. I focus on whether I should choose to sacrifice myself, not on what would happen if I did. Of course, they won’t keep their word.”

  Her passengers nodded as one. “Then you have your answer. You cannot trust them, so you must defeat them.”

  Ruby opened her eyes, taking a minute to adjust to the real world. Her voice was raspy as she announced, “We’re not trading ourselves for them. We need a way to get the kidnap victims away from the scene.”

  Morrigan replied, “I’ve been thinking about that, too. Seems like it would be simple enough to have members of the families nearby under veils. They can cast portals underneath the captives’ feet from a distance, and our people fall to safety, maybe on some mattresses or something.”

  Ruby chuckled darkly. “Taking a page from your recent experience, eh?”

  The ghost of a smile fluttered across her sister’s expression. “Turns out I can learn. How about that?”

  “We can’t pull any punches on this one. When we hit, we hit fast. If things go right and they survive to be sent to prison, great. There’s no telling what other tricks they have planned though, and I’d rather not find out by losing someone we care about.”

  The others nodded, and Idryll replied, “Exactly what I was about to suggest.”

  Ruby snorted. “Of course you were. Carnivore.”

  Idryll bared her teeth in reply. The soft ping of an incoming signal startled her, then Demetrius said, “Okay. Get this. Our guy is back on the radar. All I’ve had for ages is the terrible music he listens to, but now he’s muttering to himself. Something about trailers and parking. I think they probably switched to texting for most communication, which means they’re seriously paranoid.”

  Morrigan interjected, “Guess Ruby will have to go on another date with him.”

  She responded to her sister absentmindedly. “Shut it. Tree, anything more?”

  “No, I have nothing else from him.”

  “Okay, pass that on to Diana’s team and Sheriff Alejo, please. Oh, and can you give us a flyover of the Strip?”

  Clicking sounded in the background. “Coming right up.”

  She grabbed her mask and put it on to await the feed, noting that the others copied her action. It took about a minute before the scene sprang to life. The wide pedestrian area that ran between the hotels was deserted. She’d never seen it that way, not even once, at any time of the day or night. It was a downright spooky spectacle. The drone flew the length of it, then circled and went higher, showing what was happening at the intersections with the casino walkways. Every access had a vehicle positioned across it, marked and unmarked cars and trucks. Standing at each was at least one person with a rifle, again, some in uniforms and some unmarked, but with the bearing of police. Accompanying each was a volunteer from one of the magical families that owned the casinos, or maybe a trusted staff member. They maintained force barriers to back up the police and ensure no one got onto the Strip.

  She asked, “Morrigan, can you coordinate getting the rescue in place?”

&nb
sp; “On it.” The drone swung around wildly and acquired a group of people walking down the middle of the pedestrian area between the casinos. She was concerned for a moment before she realized it was her mother and several other Council members. They strode along calmly, looking in all directions, presumably verifying that everyone met the kidnappers’ demands. She checked her watch and saw that the deadline for having it cleared was ten minutes away. She breathed, “Good work, Mom,” then removed the mask.

  Her sister coughed, and Ruby shifted her attention in that direction. Morrigan was rolling an arrow between her fingers, staring at the razor point on the end. She asked, “Do you think we’ll get them back?”

  She gave a slight shrug, more a nervous tic than a real movement. “I hope so. There’s nothing to be gained by killing them, but it’s not as if we’re dealing with rational individuals here. All we need is for them to honor the deal long enough for us to snatch our people away.”

  Her sister gave a vacant nod. “They?”

  “Goryo, for sure. Going after the armor has to be part of this. It’s too much of a coincidence otherwise. I’m not sure who else.”

  “The Aces Security guys.” She said it as a statement, not a question.

  Ruby nodded. “Probably. Still, there’s someone unknown behind them, pulling their strings, and that’s the person or people I’m most worried about.”

  Morrigan lifted the arrow. “I have a solution for that. A quiver full of them, in fact. Just show me who to shoot.”

  She had no answer for that, so she remained silent. When the clock hit eleven-twenty, they started donning their gear by unspoken agreement. At eleven-fifty, Ruby said, “I love you both. Stay alive, no matter what. I couldn’t continue if I lost either of you.”

  She locked her feelings down and pushed them as far into the background of her mind as they could go. “Let’s get moving.”