This man was either crazy or stupid. The fact that he was a half-breed and still coherent enough to speak logically was a dousing shock. But did he truly think she believed his words?
No one ever wanted her “help”. They all wanted to control her, to use her powers for their own gain.
She wasn’t stupid. She’d never willingly enter such a trap. Instead, she’d turn the tables. Use him for as long as she needed to get away from this damned place, then find true freedom.
Freedom to go rescue her brother from his own prison.
They could finally make their way back to the demon realm. Find if their father and other brother still lived.
But this man, with his Fey magic, could help retrieve her treasures from where Brüs kept it. Then she’d get free of them both.
At the top of the stairs, she stopped, listening to the quiet sounds of the castle. The man followed, silent.
She led him down a short hall, past the huge wooden doors leading to the dining hall she hoped never to see again. Five minutes later, they’d traversed one corridor after another, through the endless maze of the castle.
Brüs had built the place with the intent of keeping his guests lost. It amused him. But after centuries of being locked inside with few trips anywhere else, she could easily find her way.
“Where are we going?” the man whispered, impatient.
“I need something before we leave,” she finally replied.
“Nothing can be important enough to risk capture.”
She arched an eyebrow.
He sighed and waved her on.
Surprised at his reaction, she continued down the hall. Another five minutes and she stopped in front of a stone wall, the dead end of yet another hallway.
“What now?” he demanded. The harshness of his voice lost effect coming on a whisper.
With a thin smile, she reached up and pressed one of the stones. A narrow section of the wall slid open, revealing a dark, dusty hidden passage. “Any self-respecting castle contains secret ways of getting where you want to go unnoticed,” she murmured. “We won’t be seen in here.”
Between the dust and cobwebs, it was obvious no one had used these passageways recently. For all she knew, Brüs had forgotten about them.
No, she corrected herself. He’d never do such a thing. More likely he didn’t care to creep around, but would rather have the attention he received while passing in full view of his men or guests. Basking in their admiration. Or, even better for him, feeling their fear.
Once the man had followed her inside, she hit the lever to close the gap in the wall. Darkness surrounded them, but wasn’t a hindrance. Demons could see well even in the blackest of nights.
Feeling freer than she could remember with the stupid collar removed, Mayah called to her magic, feeling the answering surge of her birthright. Unsure of her forced companion’s abilities, she whispered a few words. A glowing blue orb rose in front of her, dimly lighting the way. Her heart nearly overflowed with the joy of having that damned collar off.
“Are you Fey too?” he asked with cautious surprise.
She glanced at him. Interesting. “Half-breeds don’t have demon magic?”
With a scowl, he replied, “I don’t let that part of me out.”
Very interesting. The simple statement held a wealth of hidden meaning.
Around them, sounds from the castle seemed to echo and reverberate in the narrow confines. After long minutes filled with more twists and turns, she stopped and opened a tiny panel at eye level. The treasure room was empty.
She pushed another hidden section of stone. A doorway slid open, revealing the brightly lit room.
After a second, her eyes adjusted. She glanced back at her supposed rescuer, then strode to the opposite wall and pointed to a small gold and ivory box sitting on a tall pedestal. Her precious items were in that box. “I can’t touch it while it’s surrounded by demon magic. It rejects me. But you might be able to, since earth magic reacts differently.”
He glanced from her to the box. “What kind of magic?”
“The same which protected the collar.”
“How do you know?”
“I’ve long been warned not to dare trying to get it down.” She shrugged. “I’ve tried anyway. It didn’t turn out well.” She didn’t feel the need to mention the painfully disastrous results, though nothing had kept her from trying again and again.
“Yet now you want me to try? What’s in there that is so important?”
She lowered her gaze, watching him from beneath her eyelashes. How far could she push him before he showed his true colors and tried to shackle her? She gave him the bait, which was partly true. “You want my visions, don’t you?”
He nodded.
“Then I need my box. Inside is a crystal necklace of great power that helps enhance what I am able to see in my visions.” She didn’t bother to mention the weapons made by her father, equal in power, if not more so, as the crystals.
With a sigh, he raised his sword and slowly moved closer to the pedestal.
Nothing happened.
Mayah backed away, out of his line of sight, and silently slid some gems and gold coins into her bag. She’d need them on the run.
Suddenly, the air in front of the man sparked.
* * *
Sean couldn’t get closer. The air was thick, heavy.
His katana glowed with a strange, dim light. He raised his sword higher, then, unthinking—just moving on instinct—slashed down through the empty air.
Something snapped, like a rubber band breaking. He staggered as the pressure lifted.
“Hurry,” Mayah said.
“I’m trying.” With a grunt, he pushed forward. Slowly, he cut the air once more.
Again, the snap came, this time painfully slapping against his entire body.
He shoved through the last bit of thickness and grabbed the tiny golden box. It was cold as ice. Spinning toward Mayah, he held it out.
She took it, gently, reverently, as if finding comfort by merely touching the thing. After sliding it into her bag, she tied the bag to her belt. “Let’s get out of here.”
Sean mumbled, “Hopefully it’s not too late,” as he followed her back inside the hidden passageway. They headed through the maze once more, soon reaching the door to the outer courtyard. That they’d managed to avoid detection so far was now leaning more toward luck than skill.
He didn’t trust luck.
You couldn’t control when it would run out.
Sean eased through the courtyard, avoiding the sleeping demons sprawled over the ground. Mayah walked silent behind him. Half way across, someone nearby rolled onto their back and began snoring wetly.
Sean eased past, staying between the creature and Mayah, hoping the sound didn’t wake any of the others. As they continued on, the demon’s snores quieted.
He felt tense, strung tight from the worry that they would be caught. They should have been long gone by now, but no, the woman had needed her little gold box. The crystals inside better be as important as she’d claimed.
Metal clattered on the opposite side of the courtyard. He froze. Mayah did the same. Sean studied the deep shadows, searching for the cause of the noise.
A good twenty yards still separated them from the wooden door, with mounds of sleeping demons in the way. If they woke now…
Long moments passed with no other alarming sounds. He waved at Mayah to keep going. They finally reached the door and he urged her through.
Sean stepped forward to follow her out when a hoarse shout of alarm rang out. “Who are you?” a demon roared.
Sean spun, staring at the creature rising to its feet. The beasts in the yard stirred.
The creature’s eyes widened. “The prophetess is escaping. Wake up, you louts!”
“How in the hells are we supposed to cross the moat?” Mayah asked, her voice tinged with anxiety. “It’s hot enough to burn even demons, from the hell fire Brüs uses.”
&
nbsp; Sean grabbed her around the waist, holding her tight to his side as he took a few steps back. Claws grasped for a hold, trying to drag him into the mass of demons. Jerking away, he rushed forward and leapt across.
After finding their footing on the other side, he let her go and pushed her toward the tree line. “Run!”
* * *
Mayah didn’t have to be told twice. Racing as fast as she could from the horrible place, she prayed to her mother’s spirit to help her escape. As they reached the tree line of the immense forest, a roar echoed from the castle behind them.
“Mayah!” The very ground shook beneath her feet from the bellow.
Brüs. He must know she was running.
If he caught her, both she and her brother would be doomed. There wouldn’t be any more chances.
The wind whipped around her, tugging at her clothes and long braids. Leaves spun in the air, hiding obstacles on the ground. A chill filled the forest from a thin, creeping mist.
Brüs’s magic.
Sean took the lead and she followed—for now—hoping he knew his way.
She felt the call of freedom as she headed farther from the damned castle, farther than she’d ever gotten before.
The feeling died quickly as the sounds of armored men galloping after them thundered into the night.
Her heart was a loud thumping beat. Her temples throbbed as her head spun. Thoughts of everything that could happen, that could go wrong, circled endlessly as she ran through the trees.
Her vision wavered, head pounding more painfully. A vision danced on the edge of her mind. She bit her tongue until she tasted the spicy tang of blood. Concentrated on the pain.
Now wasn’t the time to lose herself.
She stumbled over something and sprawled on the ground. Rocks and sticks sliced into her palms.
Then the man was there, lifting her into his arms. He ran on. She felt his heartbeat thundering, his chest heaving with each breath he took, but he didn’t seem fazed. He moved with an unwavering strength, even while carrying her.
She wanted to push him away. Despised relying on another. Even for her precious freedom.
But as he swerved between the trees, her Sight wavered once more.
And she was lost.
Sucked into the whirlpool of the past. The present. An endless array of possible futures.
Darkness descended, engulfing her.
The stench of hell fire filled the air. Comforting reminders of home.
Light grew.
She watched as her father and two brothers stood before her, arms wide as if to welcome her back. A cry rang out and they turned, fighting a mass of demons and other creatures wanting control of their realm.
One by one, her family fell before the onslaught of never-ending blood thirsty demons and crazed shifters. All under the control of the most feared, the undefeated Abatu demon. Brüs and his army.
Light flashed.
Darkness reigned.
In her mind, the scene changed. The vision showed one of her brothers. Cyrus sat in a dark cell, arms raised and chained to the wall above his bowed head. His clothes were dirty and torn. A scraggly beard hid most of his face, a near duplicate of her own features.
He tilted his head, then looked up, as if staring directly at her. “Sister,” he whispered. “Stay away. It’s a trap.”
Light flashed.
Darkness reigned.
Strangely, she watched the new scene from afar, rather than in her own body like normal. She and Sean lay on a high, thick branch as Brüs’s army galloped through the forest, far below. None stopped. None sensed their hiding place.
She glanced at Sean, who smiled as if trying to assure her that he would keep her safe. His grey eyes, ringed with a mix of demon black and vampire crimson, no longer seemed strange or frightening.
Light flashed.
A sharp pain on her cheek jerked her out of the depths of her all-seeing mind and back to the present. She blinked, looking up at Sean as he smacked her face once more.
“Mayah?” he whispered.
“What?” she replied, just as softly, noticing the bushes cocooning them.
Sounds of galloping horses and clanking metal filled the air.
“You were moaning in your… sleep. We must be silent.” He helped her sit up.
As the noises of Brüs’s men drew closer, Sean glanced up into the trees, then eyed her as if he wondered if she could climb.
“Let’s go,” she said, quietly rising to her feet and reaching up for the nearest branch.
He raised a brow.
Soon, as in her vision, they lay beside each other on a thick branch, high in the air. An abundance of leaves kept them hidden fairly well in the dark night.
She closed her eyes, listening to the army draw ever closer, and she prayed her vision of them hiding had been complete. What she was able to see usually turned out to never be the whole picture, only small pieces of it. Just because she’d watched them hiding up here didn’t mean they’d be safe.
Sean nudged her, and when she glanced at him, he held his finger to his lips.
Nodding sharply, she looked down as the men rode by. It seemed like everyone from the castle was searching to bring back Brüs’s pet. The tree shook as horses and riders galloped through the forest. Long minutes passed, and still, armored demons and other creatures rode by.
As the last few stragglers passed, Mayah glanced at Sean. Just like in her vision, he grinned.
Strange sparks danced over her skin, bringing a tinge of warmth. A feeling of safety engulfed her. This man might truly be able to get her out. She shoved back the odd feeling of comfort. She didn’t need such things. She could take care of herself.
A niggle in the back of her mind reminded her how unsuccessful her escape attempts had been in the past few centuries.
But that didn’t matter.
Let this man get her farther away. Then she’d make a break for it. She’d finally be truly free.
No one would ever control her again. Not Brüs. Not this man or his vampire clan.
Then she could find her brother. Get him to safety before Brüs killed him. A shudder ran through her at the thought of Brüs even now sending orders for her brother to be tortured… Or put to death.
No. He wouldn’t dare kill Cyrus. He’d keep her brother to use as a bargaining chip. She sent a silent prayer to her long dead mother that she was correct. If her escape led to Cyrus’s death, she didn’t know what she’d do.
Chapter Four
Sean lay still, listening to the movements of the troops, searching the shadow filled ground for any sign of approaching enemies. Mayah studied him intently, her expression stone-hard, yet again an unemotional mask.
He wished he could tell what she was thinking.
The sounds of clanking metal and hoof beats grew dimmer. But the army could double back at any time, drawn to them by anything—sounds, scents, intuition.
After twenty long minutes passed in near silence, he nudged Mayah.
She jumped at his touch, her lips thinning as if disgusted a half-breed dared such a thing.
Anger tinged his voice. “I think they’re gone.”
She glanced away. “Most likely. Lucky for us they drank so heavily last night.”
He grunted, sitting up. She was probably right. He didn’t care to think about trying to face an army of alert demons. “Let’s go,” he stated quietly.
Starting down the tree, he quickly reached the ground and waited for her to descend. He pulled Jezamine’s map from his pocket, tracing the path he’d followed while hiking in.
Looking up, staring at the tiny strips of dark sky visible between thick, interlacing tree branches, he tried to determine their exact position.
Mayah glanced at the map, then gasped, grabbing it.
“What?” he asked.
She pointed to a blank corner of the cloth. “This.”
Staring at the spot, he asked, “What about it?”
She squinte
d at him. “You can’t see it?”
He shrugged, straining to see anything there. “It’s blank.”
“You’re not attuned to your demon senses at all, are you?”
“What does it matter?”
She swayed, hands trembling. Her eyes unfocused as if she wasn’t seeing anything around her, but something within herself. In a strangely deep voice, she said, “Deny half of who you are at your own peril.”
He shivered at the magic, the power of knowledge, in her words.
Then she blinked and shook her head. “Sorry. Sometimes it just comes over me.”
Slowly, making sure he didn’t touch her, he reached over and took the map back. “What do you see on here?”
“A message.”
“Which says?” he prodded.
She nibbled her bottom lip, now losing some of the heavy red color. “I’ll tell you later. Right now, we don’t have time to stand around chatting.”
As if her words tempted fate to intercede, four human-looking demons slipped from the shadows and surrounded them.
“Shit.” Sean shoved the map back in his pocket. He drew both katanas, telling her, “Stay back.”
She rolled her eyes. Pulling the bag from her waist, she drew out the little golden box.
One of the demons, his pitch black eyes flickering with a dark glow, commanded, “Put your weapons down and come quietly. You had no right to take the Abatu’s ward.”
Sean took a step forward, brandishing his swords. “She chose to come with me, rather than remain a prisoner.”
He needed to get the demons on one side. Put a tree at his back. Keep Mayah safe.
Mayah opened the gold box and withdrew two wicked-looking gloves. She slid them over her hands, up her arms. Strange black crystals covered the tops of the dark mesh reaching to her elbows. Metal claws tipped each finger.
“I will never return to Brüs.” She moved closer, putting her back to his. She glanced at Sean, her eyes bright. “I call two of them.”
Something colored her voice, a strange emotion he couldn’t place at first.
Then it hit him. Incredulously, he realized it was a tone of anticipation. She was eager for this fight.
Demonstorm: Heart of a Vampire #6 Page 3