“What?” I exclaimed.
“Yeah, it’s fine. My guards saved me. I’m over it. The point is, I’m in danger everywhere so why split hairs about how and where I spend my day?”
This news notably upset me, and I worried for Mauvrey, wherever she was. Mark, however, was irritating me with his boldness. “Mark, you can’t just—”
“Jason.” He held up his hand. “I appreciate the concern, man. I do. But I’m tired of people using fear of me dying as a means to keep me from living. I have spent the last year of my life asleep. Since I have been awake, I’ve sucked it up and stayed in bed for weeks but I’m not going to do that anymore. For a hero, there’s no greater suffering than having the power to make a difference and being restrained from using it. So let me worry about the risk to myself. I want to put the people who need me ahead of self-preservation. Like you guys did when you went to Dreamland to save me, and like Crisa did when she sacrificed herself so I could go free. It would kill me in a different way to not be able to help somehow. I owe you all, and her, at least that.”
I hated that I understood exactly what he was talking about. What kind of friend was I to ask him to sit out the opportunity to save us when we had refused to stand down when he needed saving? More than that, I felt dumb that I hadn’t even considered the guilt Mark might be feeling about his role in Crisa’s state. We all felt responsible for what happened to her in some way, but Mark waking up was literally only possible because Crisa had taken the Shadow from him. He had a debt to repay as much as any of us did.
So given that, while I still worried, I decided to give him a break. He was one of my oldest friends, after all—I couldn’t control him and had to support his choices. Especially when those choices were rooted in nothing more than selflessness.
“Did you bring your sword?” I asked.
“Yup.” Mark pivoted slightly to reveal that the strap going across his shoulder held a sheath against his back. “It’s a little rusty, and I probably am too, but it’ll work in a pinch.”
The black hole behind Mark closed, leaving him stranded with us until the next wormhole opened. Mark activated his Hole Tracker and unrolled the parchment in his hand with a single thwip of his wrist.
“Okay, as you guys noted before contacting me, Alderon is rich in black holes. Not including the one I just took through the Ghost Dimension, there are two other black holes appearing in Alderon today. According to my data, the hole opening at eleven leads to Earth,” he checked his map, “and will probably go to an Eastern European country. The hole a couple hours after that should connect to the Ghost Dimension. When we finish with Rumpelstiltskin, I’ll escort the kids out of Alderon through that black hole. I’ll take them to another area of Book by means of the Ghost Dimension, then eventually get them back to my castle.”
“Do you think your parents are going to be cool with looking after all those children until we find homes for them?” Girtha asked.
Mark shrugged. “I’m an only child in a huge palace with dozens of empty bedrooms. We’ll figure it out. Considering I snuck out, my parents might be too busy yelling at me to even notice them.”
The creepy moan-howls echoed through the woods again. Monsters were near; who knew what kind.
Chance checked his watch. “Come on. We need to head back to the river and hope this Red Nose kid shows up. We’re running out of time before Rumpel’s deadline.”
’m really not comfortable with this you know,” I whispered to Blue as we approached Rumpelstiltskin’s cottage. Chance and Girtha walked behind us.
“Jason, you’re the one encouraging me to be a team player,” she whispered back. “Follow your own advice. It has to be you. Given my current relationship with Chance and Girtha, it’d be awkward for them to take the shot.”
“Given our current relationship, it’s awkward for me to take the shot,” I protested.
She froze as we reached the front of Rumpelstiltskin’s cottage; we all did. The torn soldier’s body and any corresponding gore had been removed, but there remained a massive blood stain on the ground. I didn’t know what Rumpel had done with the soldier’s body, but I was glad we didn’t have to walk around gruesome limbs with our eyes half-closed like when we’d left earlier.
I glanced at the mutant lizard horse still attached to its carriage and parked a ways over. I wondered if it was at all traumatized from witnessing such horror. I’d only heard that soldier die and I felt like I wouldn’t turn down a chat with a therapist if offered one.
Blue cracked her neck, shook out her nerves, and stomped forward to knock.
Rumpelstiltskin opened the door with a wicked grin. “Right on time.”
The evil dwarf stepped aside and gestured for us to enter, but Blue refused the bid with a wave. “Funnily enough, we don’t trust you. If we’re doing a deal, it’s not going to be in an enclosed space on your turf. We’re going to do this in the forest where it’s safer.” She shot a thumb at the area behind us.
Rumpel smiled. “All right, whatever makes you feel more comfortable. Though you do realize that if I wanted to kill you, the location wouldn’t matter. I was barely trying with that soldier earlier. A single foot stomp at maximum power could open a chasm so big it’d swallow you whole. But sure, let’s go out in the open where you’re ‘safer’.” He used air quotes with one hand and gestured for us to lead on.
Blue guided us to a spot about fifty feet away. The cottage remained in sight, but trees surrounded us on all sides. She stopped and squared off with Rumpelstiltskin, opening her mouth to speak when a much louder slew of moan-howls echoed through the wood.
“Pay no mind to the Wooldercats,” Rumpelstiltskin said when Blue glanced around. “Those silly cat-eels are nothing but vultures. I threw them soldier scraps earlier and it would seem they’re still hungry. Now, dearie,” he addressed Blue. “Are you ready to make a deal?”
“Yes,” Blue said firmly.
“Excellent.” Rumpelstiltskin looked at the rest of us. “Step back at least six feet.” When we did, he stuck out his hand to Blue but she shook her head.
“Hold up. First, show me the flame.”
He shrugged and took the flame out of his pocket. Its green glow crackled excitedly over his palm. “Happy?” he asked.
“Ecstatic,” Blue responded.
“Okay then.” Rumpelstiltskin stuck out his free hand again. “Do you surrender your real name to me in exchange for the immediate return of this Midnight Law flame to your friends?”
Blue glanced back at Chance, Girtha, and me. She wasn’t afraid for herself, but for us. Nevertheless, she extended her hand and gripped Rumpelstiltskin’s.
“I do.”
Their hands lit up with silver energy, which snaked up their arms.
“Give me your name,” Rumpel said.
She hesitated, then leaned in and whispered in Rumpelstiltskin’s ear. The others and I exchanged a look. It hurt that Blue felt she couldn’t tell us her real name. That she couldn’t tell me her real name. Her whispering it to Rumpel had never been a part of our plan. She was deliberately choosing to withhold it from us. Why? Because she didn’t trust us? Because she didn’t want to be vulnerable? Because this was just Blue—a stubborn, infuriating, wildcard of a girl who created emotional barriers as easily as children built block towers?
Blue pulled back. Rumpelstiltskin nodded. “You have a deal.”
Their hands glowed way more intensely. A bright silver ring of fire shot up around them, explaining why Rumpel wanted us to step back. The leaves in the vicinity levitated off the ground. Then—bam—the effects ended and all returned to calm. Rumpelstiltskin smiled, his magic aura faded, and he let go of Blue.
“As promised,” Rumpel said, lobbing the green flame toward us. The flame went to Chance’s waiting hand and the prince took out his pocket watch and absorbed it. The timepiece glowed green and a word appeared on the face.
“Respect,” Chance read aloud. We looked around but the green portal did not appea
r. Like in Mer after we collected the first flame, we remained trapped here until one or more of us passed a test associated with this concept.
“Aw, no portal out? Looks like you heroes are stuck,” Rumpelstiltskin taunted. “Pity. How will we kill the time? Oh, I know. In reflection, I rather liked the idea I had earlier about shipping my nephew to my half-brother in pieces.”
There it was. Like Blue said, he was turning on us.
But it was fine. We were turning on him too.
Rumpel pivoted toward Blue. “Why don’t you . . .”
WHAM!
Blue punched Rumpelstiltskin straight in the face, sending the dwarf flying backward.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A string of explosions went off within seconds of each other. Bursts of fire decorated the tree line. Mark had successfully activated the bombs the girls had made and planted. We were all thrown to our feet, but unlike Rumpel, we had been ready for it. We got up and ran. Chance and Girtha bolted toward the factory while Blue and I raced deeper into the forest. Smoke filled the air from the explosions.
After a few seconds, we halted. Blue clenched her fists—concentrating. Her eyes flashed Questor Beast green. “Monster powers, don’t fail me now.” She raised her hands and thick fog poured from her body so rapidly you’d think she was a mutant chimney. The fog spread around us through the trees, creating a mystical blanket that would hide us easily, or hide her at least, once I left her here.
“That should keep him from finding me for a while and waking me up,” she said. “Now come on, do your part.”
I cringed with reluctance. “Blue, I don’t know if I can.”
“Jason, I have to be conscious for Rumpel to give me orders. You have to do this before he—” She clutched her head with both hands and grunted. “Oh crud, we’re too late. He’s up and giving me orders. Do it now!” She barked.
“I—”
“Jason!” Her eyes flashed Questor Beast green again and she reached for her hunting knife as her face filled with panic.
WHAM!
I punched Blue in the face. Hard. She collapsed among the dry leaves, out like a light. I grimaced when I saw the red mark on her face where I’d landed the blow.
There was this time a few years ago at school when I had to clean out the Pegasus stables shortly after getting the stomach flu. I vomited in my helmet from nerves during my very first Twenty-Three Skidd match and had to empty out the contents then put the helmet back on and keep playing for another hour. I went to Camelot last semester knowing I was going to die there.
This was still the most terrible thing I’d ever had to do.
If Blue and I ever did get together, we were going to need some serious couples’ therapy. Knocking her out to delay Rumpel’s control had been her idea, the psycho.
I took off toward the factory to help the others. When I arrived, Chance and Girtha had already gathered the kids together. It was a good thing Red Nose had warned them to be ready to leave in a hurry when the explosions went off. The kid really was a budding hero—he’d done what was necessary even if he was quaking with dread. And he was quaking; he and the rest of his small colleagues stood huddled together with knees knocking and faces fearful.
“Is Blue out?” Chance asked as I joined them.
I gave him the thumbs up. “Let’s get these kids out of here before Rumpel finds her, wakes her up, and one or both of them comes to kill us. How many carriages can we use?”
“Unfortunately only the one we need for the others,” Chance replied. “The rest are too full of gold to be useful. These older kids will need to go it on foot.”
“Okay, everyone,” Girtha said, waving her hands to get the kids’ attention. “We’re going to play a game called follow the leader. I’m the leader, and Red Nose here is my assistant. We gotta move fast and get into the forest.”
“Rumpel can still control us with our names no matter how far we go,” a little girl with big eyes protested.
“Not for much longer,” Chance said. “We’re going to take care of it. Really. And in the meantime, Red Nose told us Rumpel can only control one person at a time and our friend is keeping him occupied for you. So please, go.”
The kids started following Girtha out of the loading door and into the forest. Chance and I hurried toward the carriages. He directed me to the only one not loaded with gold.
“We probably don’t have much time before Blue gets here,” I said. “She’s pretty good at taking a hit, even if I did give her my best shot.”
The two of us hopped on the driver’s perch and Chance grabbed the reins. “I still say you guys should’ve let me take a run at Rumpel with our endgame move while he was distracted after Blue’s punch and the explosions.” He signaled the horse to take off and we headed for the loading door, picking up speed as we went.
“With his super strength it was too risky,” I said. “You heard him. He could’ve swallowed us in a chasm, or grabbed your arm and torn it from your body before you closed in. We need the complete element of surprise for this to work. Get him close to you, but have him think you don’t want that. The punch and explosions were only enough of a guaranteed distraction to let us get away from him.”
Our carriage careened around the side of the building and came upon a steep staircase that led to the dormitory and nursery on the second floor.
Chance hastily tied our horse to the railing while I raced up the stairs two at a time. At the top, I took out my axe and swung, obliterating the lock on the door. When I burst in, I found about a dozen young girls cowering in the corner, hugging each other. As they were separated from the rest of the kids, they hadn’t gotten Red Nose’s memo and had no idea what was happening.
I hastily stowed my axe in its sheath then held up my hands slowly. “Hey, I’m here to set you girls free. Don’t be scared.” I glanced around. In addition to the dozens of perfectly made beds, there were bassinets on the left side of the room. I took a few steps and looked inside the closest one and saw a wriggly baby wrapped in a pink blanket. I felt nauseous all of a sudden. Although Rumpelstiltskin had told us about his child-abducting endeavors, seeing it up close was completely different. This was someone’s kid.
Chance burst in. “What’s the hold up?”
I flicked my eyes toward the huddle of terrified children. He followed my gaze and understood. “Oh.” He neared me steadily. “What should we do?” he whispered
“I’m going to try something Blue did earlier.” I carefully stepped toward the girls like Blue had approached Red Nose in the forest. My posture calm and non-threatening, I made eye contact with them and spoke slowly and evenly.
“We know it’s hard,” I said, easing across the thick glass floor that overlooked the factory. “And we know it’s a lot to ask. But we’re here to save you. Please be brave. Come with us, and if you’re big enough, help us carry the babies to safety. They need you to be strong. We know you can be strong.”
I knelt in front of the group of girls. Most of them were about four or five years old, but there were a few young toddlers in the mix. I held out my hand. “Please?”
Several little girls still quivered, but one of them reached out and took my hand. I helped her to her feet, and she turned to the others and nodded.
I ushered the tinier girls toward Chance, who scooped up a baby in one arm and led the first wave of kids out of the room. Then I hustled the remaining girls along like a sheep dog—resolutely but nicely herding them as they scurried toward cribs and picked up babies.
Almost all the girls were out of the room when I glanced down and my heart sped up. Through the glass floor I spotted fog pouring into the factory by means of the loading door.
I clapped my hands at the last two girls who were carrying blankets and bottles. “Time to run, ladies. Go! Go! Go!” I raced to the door and shouted to Chance below. “Blue’s awake!”
I ran back across the room, making sure every bassinet was empty, then sprinted down the stairs. I lift
ed the last two girls into the carriage as Chance climbed onto the driver’s perch.
“What’s that?” one of the girls asked, pointing over my shoulder. I turned. Billowing fog snaked around the side of the building. Emerging from the mist was the girl I cared about more than anyone else in the world—her blue cloak blowing lightly and her green eyes glowing brightly.
I bolted around the side of the carriage. “She’s here. Ready to trade?”
Chance tossed me his sword sheath and I gave him the one that held my axe.
“You guys need to run!” Blue shouted, desperation in her voice.
“Go!” I said to Chance. He nodded and the carriage took off. I drew the sword, flung the sheath around my shoulder, and raised my weapon in time to deflect a knife Blue had hurled at me with impeccable aim despite the distance. My axe may have been my favorite blade, but Lord Channing had made a point of ensuring students were adept at every major weapon. The more versatile a hero, the more useful.
Blue was running toward me and I raced up the stairs to the dormitory. I ducked inside, slammed the door, and shoved one of the wooden bassinets against it. A second later, the door thudded as Blue rammed into it. Fog streamed under the doorframe.
“See! I told you he’d order me to kill you guys!” Blue called from outside as she continued beating the door. I pushed my weight on the bassinet to keep her from coming in.
“Congratulations!” I called back. “You were right. Where did Rumpel go?”
“He jumped in the carriage with the snake-horse. As we assumed, he made me tell him where you guys are going. He’s gonna try to cut off Girtha and Chance at our rendezvous point to get the kids back. Hopefully the fight that follows will bait him the way we need.”
She started smashing harder against the door. “He still doesn’t know about Mark though. Thankfully he didn’t ask me any questions that would—Oh no . . .” The thudding stopped. “Jason, acid sp—”
I leapt back. A wet smack collided with the other side of the door. A second later, a large part of the door turned crimson red, steamed, then melted away revealing Blue on the other side. We locked eyes before she spat at the door again—widening the hole. I turned and ran. Blue reached through and pushed aside the bassinet. It went screeching across the floor as I flipped a bed on its side. Blue climbed into the room.
Midnight Law Page 47