The Black Fortress

by E. G. Foley

Blazes, should he try Jake?

  Better not, he decided. The Dark Druids already had an unhealthy interest in the rambunctious ex-pickpocket.

  That left only one person as his last hope. Janos dragged his eyes open and frowned, his head throbbing.

  He really did not want to drag her into this. Besides, he told himself, it probably wouldn’t work.

  No, it will, his mind said. We’ve made contact before. Besides, she’s an empath. This is what she does.

  Not with you! the remains of his conscience retorted. Leave her alone. Stay out of the girl’s head.

  It was dangerous in more ways than one. After all, his proposed visit into her mind would offer her a glimpse into his head, as well.

  Hadn’t she already seen enough of the nightmare he was? Janos did not want that girl getting any more dangerously close to him than she already was, in his heart.

  But he knew he had no choice.

  Somewhere deep inside, he was still a Guardian, however inadequate; the Gryphon was being held prisoner here somewhere, and once the Order had the location, they could send a rescue team to break him out.

  Then Janos could fight alongside them. Maybe even kill that filthy Nephilim. Considering Zolond was gone, now was the perfect time to strike.

  With that, he shoved aside his foolish, halfhearted scruples and turned his attention to a far more appealing recipient for his message than old Balinor.

  Closing his eyes again, Janos leaned his head back against the wall, ignored the stabbing headache, and concentrated on a vision of loveliness that always brought a smile to his face.

  He focused in more tightly, feeling his way through the ethers until he sensed her in the distance, her brightness like a flame in the gloom of his existence.

  A happy little candle glowing in the window.

  So peaceful. So pure.

  He homed in on her light, flew toward her in his mind like a suicidal moth. Isabelle? he whispered into her awareness. Isabelle, can you hear me?

  CHAPTER 21

  An Uncanny Connection

  “Thanks for coming after me, coz,” Jake said as he jumped down off the rocks, then picked up his knapsack and slung it over his shoulder.

  Izzy smiled at him, still dusting off her hands from the climb down. “Of course.”

  She was glad she had managed to help him calm down and stop being angry about things he couldn’t control.

  She felt bad for her cousin, though.

  Jake was a fighter by nature, a headstrong young man of action. Being forced to sit and cool his heels while the adults supposedly handled the matter was clearly wearing away what little patience he possessed.

  As they walked back down the winding path through the zoo, leaving behind the stony pinnacle where Red’s molting nest perched, Izzy gave her wayward cousin a quick sideways glance, discreetly scanning him with her empath abilities.

  He seemed all right now, thank goodness. He’d been furious before—and nobody was safe around an angry doubler. Now she could sense him feeling sheepish for his outburst. He knew he’d acted badly, poor thing.

  She could also feel him dreading the thought of having to grovel to everyone, especially Dani. He’d never been very good at apologizing.

  “Don’t worry, she’ll forgive you,” she said with a knowing smile.

  Jake sent her a startled glance, his blue eyes uncertain beneath his straw-blond forelock. But he smiled ruefully. “Sometimes I wonder why you all put up with me.”

  “Ah, we’re your family, Jake.” She grinned and threw an arm around his shoulders. “We love you!” She embarrassed him with a big-sisterly kiss on the cheek that made him say blech and pull away.

  Izzy laughed. Archie usually had the same reaction.

  Then Izzy waved, spotting Dr. Plantagenet in the distance. Sometimes she came here to help with the animals, so the two of them were well acquainted.

  The Green Man had finished feeding the animals and was now sweeping the front stoop of the quaint little cottage tucked away in the zoo that served as both his home and veterinarian office.

  Izzy didn’t see Ogden, but then realized it was the hour when the troll-boy usually took Nuckalavee out for his morning gallop. Nightmare that he was, the water horse needed his daily exercise just like any other equine.

  When Izzy waved, Dr. P waved back, but she and Jake didn’t stop to chat.

  She nudged her cousin. “When you get Red back—and I do mean when, not if—be sure and have Dr. P give him a thorough exam to make sure he’s all right.”

  Jake nodded. “Good idea. I’ll do that. The Dark Druids better hope they haven’t hurt him.”

  “Don’t worry. You remember what Aunt Ramona said? He’s too valuable.”

  Jake gave her a glum look. “I hope so.”

  They exited the zoo beneath the arched wooden entranceway and set out across the lawn, heading toward the palace.

  Izzy savored the warm September sun on her face.

  The misty morning had blossomed into a gorgeous fall afternoon. The emerald greensward stretched out on all sides of them, and the woods that surrounded the lawns gleamed in a riot of jewel tones like one of Queen Victoria’s best necklaces. Topaz, ruby, amethyst…

  All of a sudden, she stopped in her tracks with a strange tickle in the back of her brain.

  She stared straight ahead, her eyebrows knitted, like she’d just remembered something important.

  Then she heard it. The voice was very faint.

  Isabelle! Can you hear me?

  Confused, she looked at her cousin. “Of course I can hear you. I’m right here. What?”

  “Huh?” Jake looked at her, scrunching up his nose.

  Izzy stared at him. “You didn’t say anything?”

  He arched a brow. “Er, no.”

  “Oh…” She frowned. “That’s odd.”

  He eyed her skeptically.

  “Never mind,” she said, but she had the strangest feeling of a nameless urgency inside. As if someone were desperately calling out to her for help.

  She could’ve sworn she’d heard someone call her name. But where was it coming from? She glanced uncertainly toward the palace, but didn’t see Mother, Aunt Ramona, or even Miss Helena trying to get her attention.

  Deciding she must’ve imagined it, she shrugged off the odd sensation. Jake gave her a strange look, and they walked on without further incident.

  Then it came again, more clearly now, but still faint.

  I’m terribly sorry to barge in on you like this, Miss Bradford, but I seem to have found myself in a bit of a pickle.

  This time, Isabelle stopped and pivoted to Jake. “What are you talking about? What pickle?” she demanded.

  Jake squinted at her, then started laughing. “What’s this about a pickle?”

  “You just said you were in one.”

  “No, I didn’t.”

  She studied him. “You didn’t?”

  Jake shook his head with a quizzical smile. “Are you feeling all right, coz?”

  Isabelle, please! I need your help.

  All of a sudden, a stabbing sensation shot through her head. She doubled over with a small cry of pain and raised both hands to her temples.

  Jake grabbed her elbow, steadying her. “Izzy, what’s wrong?”

  She couldn’t answer. Tears filled her eyes from the blinding ache in her skull. It felt as though someone had plunged a sewing needle right through her head.

  Jake was talking to her. “Izzy, what’s happening? Talk to me!”

  But there was another voice talking to her, faint and sardonic, so familiar…

  It couldn’t be. He’d gone back to his horrid vampire wives. He was hundreds of miles away.

  Forgive the intrusion, dearest. I don’t mean to frighten you. But I really must insist that you listen very carefully to me right now.

  Ohhh, she knew that voice. She couldn’t believe it, but went very still as recognition filled her.

  “Janos?” she whispered, and
her heart began to pound.

  “Janos?” Jake echoed, glancing around and looking even more bewildered than she was. “Where? What about him?”

  “Hush.” Izzy held up a finger to silence her cousin, her chest heaving as the pain began to recede.

  She had to concentrate.

  Can you hear me now? the vampire asked gently over the distance, obviously using his telepathic powers to place his thoughts inside her mind.

  He had done that only once before, to rebuke her when she’d tried to read him with her empath skills.

  “Barely,” she answered, steadying herself. “Where are you? What’s wrong?”

  I don’t have much time. I’m inside the Black Fortress—

  “What?!” she nearly shouted.

  Jake was staring at her like she’d gone mad, talking when there was nobody there. Of course, he did it all the time, with his ghosts.

  They’re watching me, Janos said. Again, I apologize for the intrusion, but this was the only way I could get your attention. I…hope it didn’t hurt.

  “It’s fine, I’m all right.” She waved it off. “How can I help?”

  I have a critical message you must take to the Elders at once. Will you do that for me?

  “Of course. Ready,” she answered, telling Janos in her thoughts, while her lips also formed the words so Jake could follow along.

  Her cousin stared and listened in confusion.

  Isabelle nodded to the distant vampire, concentrating on the voice within. “Go on. What’s the message?”

  Tell your aunt Ramona to ready a strike team. Wyvern’s up to something and Zolond’s not here. Tell her to send a team of Guardians after nightfall, and I’ll let them in. Now take out a pencil and paper, because I’m going to give you the coordinates for where the Black Fortress is currently located.

  Izzy turned to her cousin, wide-eyed. “Jake—pencil, paper!” She gestured at his bookbag. “Jake is here with me,” she told their vampire friend.

  Oh? Tell him I said hello, Janos said dryly while her cousin scrambled to pull paper and pencil out of his bag.

  Isabelle didn’t bother with greetings, reporting just the facts: “Janos is in the Black Fortress. He’s going to give us the coordinates.”

  Jake gasped. “Tell him they have Red!”

  “They have the Gryphon,” Izzy repeated.

  I know, Janos said. Tell Jake not to worry. I’m going to find Red and get him out of here. Tonight.

  “How?” Isabelle asked while Jake fished frantically in his knapsack for a pencil.

  No idea yet. But don’t worry, I’ll figure something out.

  At last, Jake pulled out a pencil. “Tell him Ravyn might be there somewhere, too, if she’s alive! And don’t forget about Tex!”

  Izzy repeated his reminders.

  Sheesh, anything else? Janos retorted.

  “Just give me the coordinates.” Isabelle nodded at Jake to write them down as she delivered them aloud from the vampire.

  Ready?

  “Go,” Isabelle said.

  Latitude: fifty-six degrees, twenty-eight minutes, fifty-eight seconds north. Longitude: two degrees, forty-three minutes, thirteen seconds west.

  Janos repeated the coordinates, and Isabelle echoed them aloud so Jake could double-check his work.

  “Got it,” her cousin said. One glance at him showed his eyes brimming with newfound excitement and the first real hope they’d had in months. “But where exactly is this?”

  Isabelle repeated the question.

  Scotland, somewhere east of Dundee, I believe. We’ve landed at some deserted, rocky beach overlooking the North Sea.

  “Why did the Dark Druids go there?”

  I don’t know. I’ll try to find out.

  “But Janos, what are you doing there?” she persisted.

  Long story, no time. Run and give the Elders my message. Make sure they get the team here tonight. Oh—and if I’m not already waiting for them outside the Fortress with the Gryphon, tell the Guardians to scale the north tower. I’ll let them in there.

  “How will you do that?” Izzy asked, amazed. It was so strange to encounter Janos like this—all business, very little joking around. And even less of his absurd, meaningless flirting.

  She realized abruptly that he was in Guardian mode.

  What do you mean, how? he retorted. Lord, you ask too many questions. Just go.

  “Janos!” she insisted.

  Yes, my darling? he said, as though striving for patience.

  Nevertheless, his breezy endearment made her toes curl.

  “Be careful,” Izzy said.

  He gave a wry snort of humor at that. Au revoir, cherie.

  “Anything else you want me to tell the Elders?”

  No. He was quiet for a beat. She could feel his dismay. I just hope they believe me.

  “I’ll make sure they do,” she promised.

  She felt his pleasure at her faith in him.

  I knew I could count on you, Iz.

  She smiled dreamily. “Anytime.”

  Right, then! Standing by until the team arrives. Think I’ll go and do a bit of spying. If I learn anything else important, I’ll contact you again.

  “I’ll be listening.”

  Same here. Now, hurry. We need to get this done tonight.

  “On my way,” she replied. But in truth, when she came back out from under the hypnotic connection he had somehow established with her over those hundreds of miles, she still felt woozy and dazed.

  Jake was watching her anxiously, holding the notebook. He tapped the numbers with the pencil. “This is where the Black Fortress sits right now? He’s sure?”

  She nodded. “He’s there.”

  “Why?”

  “He didn’t have time to explain. Never mind, Jake. We need to take those coordinates at once to Aunt Ramona. You’re faster than me. Go on, run. I’ll catch up in a moment. I’m still a little…lightheaded.”

  “Are you sure—”

  “Go. I’ll be fine.” She waved him on.

  Jake nodded, tossed the pencil into his bag, then shouldered it. As he raced off toward the palace, Isabelle could feel her cousin’s spirits surge.

  See, coz? she thought. I told you, have a little faith.

  For her part, Izzy was still in a state of wonder over what had just happened. She glanced around, turning to gaze at the northern horizon.

  Dundee, Scotland, was hundreds of miles away. She marveled at the focus her vampire friend must possess to have been able to contact her telepathically over such a great distance.

  It felt very odd, indeed, knowing he had the skill to drop into her mind whenever he fancied. However, she was grateful for his ability, because now the Order might finally get the chance they had needed for months to rescue the captives.

  The one thing that mystified her was why Janos had reached out to her instead of to someone like, oh, Dame Oriel. There were far more skilled clairvoyants here at Merlin Hall than her modest talent as an empath.

  But then again, she supposed, almost all of them mistrusted Janos. And Isabelle was sure that Janos trusted none of them.

  It was sad, the way he’d been vilified. He didn’t deserve it. Somewhere hundreds of miles to the north, the vampire prince was risking his neck for them all yet again, while everyone here called him nothing but a scoundrel.

  Thank you, she told him, wherever he was.

  Ah, anything for you, Izzy love.

  Surprised he was still listening, she grinned at his sardonic response. Leave it to Janos to enter the belly of the beast cracking jokes.

  “You’re not afraid of anything, are you?” she whispered.

  Only you, Miss Bradford. Only you.

  Izzy shook her head, blushing. “Absurd vampire.”

  A little unnerved by their connection, she hurried after her cousin, eager to see what the Elders would say about this, and quite prepared to argue on Janos’s behalf. They simply had to believe him and send the team, as he’d aske
d.

  Surely Derek would listen, if nobody else would. Isabelle shook off the disoriented feeling and strode on, trailing Jake across the field.

  Even now, in the distance, she could see her cousin bounding up the front steps to the palace, taking them two at a time. Jake raced inside, but it would take her another few minutes to catch up.

  Her exchange with Janos had left her still feeling a trifle giddy. But if she was honest…

  It usually did.

  * * *

  Ramona had returned to her chamber to freshen up before going down to luncheon in the dining hall. In truth, she was eager to steal a few minutes of solitude in her room. So much socializing wore her out.

  As did dealing with her headstrong nephew.

  Ah, Jake. She pursed her lips as she changed her earrings in front of the mirror. She could understand the boy’s disappointment, but what was she to do? Let him claim honors he hadn’t earned? Now, that would be the nepotism Badgerton had accused her of.

  Besides, to put Jake in a program he clearly wasn’t ready for would only set him up for failure.

  No. Until her rascally nephew proved that he could follow orders instead of doing whatever reckless thing popped into his head—or until Gaia told them otherwise—he was not yet Lightrider material.

  Now, Dani…

  A smile played across Ramona’s lips before the mirror as she recalled the little redhead’s joy at her selection.

  When Finnderool had brought Gaia’s choice of the girl to the Elders a week ago (there had been processes and paperwork to set it all up), Ramona had fully agreed that Dani O’Dell deserved it.

  She had shown many fine qualities in the time she had been with them. She was humble, hardworking, grateful, unselfish, unfaltering in her loyalty to the others, with a clear understanding of right and wrong. And she was always able to find her courage somehow, even in the darkest of moments.

  Not to mention her talent for helping Ramona manage Jake.

  The wary ex-pickpocket trusted Dani, and, for Jake, trust did not come easy, Ramona knew. As her thoughts drifted over the children one by one, Ramona also took great pride in Nixie’s excellent progress at her magical studies, in which she was mentoring her.

  Yet the spiky-haired image of her star pupil led Ramona back to Jake. If even a born rebel like Nixie Valentine could apply herself with discipline and hard work to learning her craft, then why should Jake get a free pass?