Shaking her head in denial Nicole shouted, "Help me, fast!" If she could just get Sage outside of this room she could help her. "I can save her." She spoke to Slade but he didn't acknowledge her. He sat staring down at his sister, motionless.
Nicole dropped to her knees beside him, "Help me get her out of here so I can help her." Slade shook his head in response but still didn't look up from his sister's face. Panic fills Nicole when she saw Slade wasn't moving, "Don't you want to save her?" The question came out in a scream before Nicole realized the panic flowing into her voice.
"It's too late," Slade's tone was one of numbness. He kissed Sage's cheek then stood. "Her spirit is gone and there's no bringing that back."
"But it worked on Kat. You have to let me try," Nicole pleaded. "Help me carry her." Nicole raised Sage's head into her lap and for the first time felt how cold her friend's body was. There was no pink glow left to her translucent skin. Only a small trace of red lipstick remained to add any color to her face at all. That's when reality hit Nicole. The life had gone from Sage and left an empty shell behind. Her mind screamed this can't be happening but her heart was heavy and splitting in two. "Why?" Was all she could whisper as her tears started to flow silently down her cheeks.
"I think Luke may be able to answer that for us." Slade placed a comforting hand on Nicole's shoulder. "We need to go."
"Go? How can you be so calm about this, Slade?" Nicole's voice cracked as she tried to speak. This makes no sense. How could he be so at ease when she is falling to pieces? Did he not care for her? Didn't he love her like a brother should love his sister? She wanted to shake him until he showed some emotions. A single tear or a fist into a wall—anything to prove he cared half as much as she did for Sage. Sage deserves that much.
"I'm doing what I do best—bottling up my anger until the time is right." He reached out his hand to Nicole and pulled her to her feet then took one last look at Sage. "Someone will pay for this."
Just as Nicole was about to follow Slade a gleam caught her eye. Next to Sage's body was a necklace with a beautiful emerald stone dangling from it. She picked up the stone and found that the end of the chain was tucked inside of Sage's waistband. "Who were you hiding this from?" she asked even though she knew she would never have the answer from the voice she wanted to hear. Nicole tucked the necklace into her pocket.
Outside the door Luke was waiting with a miserable gaze. Nicole could tell that he knew what they were going to find inside but now she needed to know everything. "What do you know?"
"Just what I saw in the guard's mind. There were images of Teya tormenting Sage and then of the queen cuffed in the dungeon while Sage lay at her feet dying."
"I don't understand why she would do this. What could Teya gain by killing Sage?" asked Slade.
Luke stood in silence. A torn look creased his face and remained there as he spoke, "Sage had to choose between saving herself or Nicole."
Nicole's world started to spin. She had caused Sage to die. She had stood by without doing anything and probably would still be out there in the training field right now if Slade hadn't gotten worried. What kind of friend had she been? How could she be worth a life? Her chest tightened as she tried to focus on Luke's words.
His face hardened as he continued, "Then there was Teya standing in this hallway telling the guard not to leave his post. She called for another warrior to escort her to the gateway. She was going to meet someone that could help with her problem."
"Her problem?" asked Slade. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Those were the exact words she used but I'm guessing—"
"I'm her problem." Nicole finished his thought. Her self-hate was quickly being replaced with a burning desire to avenge her friend. To make Teya suffer like Sage had suffered but one questions still lingered in her mind, "What do you know about this?" Nicole pulled the necklace from her pocket and held it out for them to see.
"Where did it come from?" asked Luke. Nicole explained where she had found it and only received puzzled looks.
Finally Slade broke the silence, "You said that the last time you talked to my sister was the night of the ball, right?" Nicole nodded in agreement trying to follow his train of thought. "Well, it is the exact color of the dress you wore so maybe she intended on you wearing it."
Nicole studied the jewel as she spoke, "Maybe. But why would she be carrying it in her waistband like she was hiding it?"
"That may be a question we never know the answer to, Nicole, but either way it was Sage's." Luke took the necklace and opened the clasp, "I'm sure she would want you to have it."
Nicole moved her hair out of the way so Luke could put the necklace on her and at the very moment that the clasp closed Nicole let out a gasp, "Get it off." Her power was gone but not only that but her desire to move. The necklace was weighing her down so she felt weak—too weak to even try to remove it. It was ten times worse than being in the dungeon. The power the necklace was emitting was more like it was sucking the very life from her body, taking away her will to live.
Luke quickly removed the necklace leaving Nicole staring in disbelief, "It was like I was dying…slowly." She shook her head trying to clear the cloudiness from her mind. "Is that what it feels like for you, Slade?"
"No. Mine just takes away my power. That's all. That thing is something different," he studied the necklace with a strange fascination. "That was meant for a much darker purpose than containing power."
Nicole nodded, "It took away my will to live. Death wasn't scary anymore, I wanted it and I needed it to escape the darkness that was consuming me."
Suddenly Luke's words clicked into Nicole's head like she had just heard them for the first time. Recognition of a grave mistake. "I sent Kat, Dad and Rhys to the gateway."
Nicole and Luke were blurring through the hall of the castle and out the doors in no time. "What about Slade?" Nicole asked. Even if he was allowed his powers he couldn't keep up with Luke and Nicole.
"He'll have to catch up." Nicole nodded her agreement as they darted out the front gate of the castle and down the cobblestone street that ran through the center of the town. Nicole tried to reach out to Rhys but came up empty. Maybe they had made it out already. They could have beat Teya to the gateway and be safely back in Alabama by now, sipping sweet tea on her dad's back patio. That's what she hoped as they made the turn that would take them up to the gateway in the woods where they had entered days ago. That's when she felt it but it was too late to stop. A dozen warriors appeared where before there had only been two on her mind's map. Someone had just let them in the gateway and she had a good guess whom it was before Luke pulled her to a stop just out of sight of the great willow.
"Did you feel that?" he asked.
"Yes. There was only two then there were twelve more." Nicole debated for a moment as she searched the minds she could reach. Most of them were closed off to her so they must know about her abilities but then she reached a familiar one, "Kat's there."
"Let me go in and try to get her out."
"But where's Dad and Rhys?"
"Maybe they made it over before Teya got there," said Luke but the doubt was heavy in his voice. He knew just as well as Nicole did that they would never let Kat be the last one through the gateway. Rhys loved her and so did James so they would have been protecting her.
Just as Nicole was going to speak a voice echoed in her head and she could tell by the sudden stiffness in Luke's shoulders that he was hearing it too. "Come join us. I'm sure we can make a trade," demanded a deep voice that hunted her nightmares. It was Loch.
**~***~**
Nicole's skin crawled knowing what was waiting for her but Kat was there also so she moved without hesitation. Luke took her hand and they topped the crest of the hill together. Luke was confronting his father who had used him then left him for dead and Nicole was about to face the man who had put this chain of events into motion years ago on a Florida beach.
A line of warriors in black military
fatigues flanked each side of a tall, dark haired man with a full beard and eyes as black as night. He stood with his hands laced in front of him as if he didn't have a care in the world. Nicole and Luke stopped a safe distance away from them. A smile turned up the edge of his lips as he stared at their interlaced hands, "It's seems you are making some wise choices for yourself, my son."
"My choices aren't your concern," said Luke coldly.
Loch nodded his head as if to say he understood but wasn't concerned about Luke's brashness. Then he motioned to the line of troops to his right. The formation parted revealing a scene that had been concealed from them. James and Rhys lay unconscious on the ground and Teya stood beside them with a wide grin on her face. A guard held Kat by the arm. "That may be true son, but I'm afraid the choices Nicole makes do concern me along with all these innocent people."
The way the word “innocent” rolled off Loch's tongue made the threat in his words clear. Rage and hatred pounded in Nicole's heart. She wanted to spill Teya's blood more than anything she had ever wanted in her entire life. For Sage, for her unconscious father and friend and even for her own satisfaction, but she stood her ground. "Why are you here," Nicole asked Loch.
"I was invited by your sweet Queen."
"She is no queen of mine." spat Nicole.
Loch released a dark, cold laugh, "I've always enjoyed your bluntness, princess. I'm actually very surprised you've not killed this poor imitation of a queen yourself." He looked over at Teya who was holding Nicole's gaze with surprising confidence. "She is quite despicable but," he let out a sigh, " She has been useful in putting us together.”
"Despicable?" Teya turned her hard eyes onto Loch, "Don't forget whose home you are in."
A ring of red outlined Loch's dark eyes and Nicole realized that things were about to turn destructive fast if she didn't act. She was through with losing people. Sage was gone, her dad and Rhys lay on the ground and her best friend was being held hostage. "Don't worry. She will be taken care of soon enough. I'll make sure of it….For Sage." Nicole caught the twitch of surprise in Teya's face before she turned her attention back to Loch, "I'll ask again, why are you here?"
Loch nodded a warrior toward Nicole which made Luke step in front of her, "Back off!"
"But she's part of the deal, son. Nicole and I have a lot to talk about and Teya has agreed to turn her over to me if I will leave her to rule this kingdom."
"You're not taking her anywhere."
Loch leaned his head back just as invisible energy swept out like a small atomic blast sending everyone stumbling backwards. Loch's eyes were consumed in crimson when he opened them again. He stepped forward and another wave shock sent everyone to their knees. Nicole covered her ears just as the ringing started. This was all too familiar to her. The pain, the crippling effect, the drilling inside of her head—all of it she had felt before when he triggered her hidden power years ago.
Just as she the pain became unbearable and a scream hovered at the back of her throat it stopped. All of the agony was gone and she was being pulled to her feet. Once her eyes focused she realized that Slade stood at her side holding her steady. His medallion was dangling between his fingers. Slade had leveled the playing field in one move.
"Slade, so nice to see you again," smiled Loch. Before anyone could understand what was happening the guard who had been retrieving Nicole punched Slade solid in the face and he crumpled into a heap.
Nicole could feel her power rushing back into her body but she knew the same thing was happening to Loch, "Stop! You let them go and I'll come without a fight." All the work they had put into wiping Morena's mind so Slade would look like a victim was wasted by his one noble move. He would be at the mercy of Loch if she didn't work fast to draw the attention back to herself.
Loch considered her words as he took in the scene. He seemed to be taking great interest in the move Slade had just made. Then he waved his hand at the guard holding Kat, "Release them."
Nicole held her head up high as Kat was released. She tried to rush to Nicole but she stopped her, "You've got to hurry, Kat. Get Rhys and dad up." Nicole kept her eyes trained on Loch. She watched for any objection to what she had said but instead he just scrutinized the scene like a chess player studying his next move. When Kat had the two men roused she reached her hand out taking Luke's. To anyone watching them it would look like Nicole was saying goodbye but she stealthy dropped the charmed emerald necklace into Luke's palm. Use it on Teya. You rule this kingdom by using her as your puppet. Prepare for war. Nicole sent her words into Luke's mind. Their silent exchange would change everything.
Luke shook his head, "I can't let you go." Desperation was etched into the lines of his face as he searched for another way out of this.
Nicole kissed his lips softly then stepped back, "There's no other way." Before she could say more a firm hand tugged at her arm. She stepped into the group of warriors and followed Loch out the gateway.
Chapter 20
Not a prison to keep her locked away. No shackles to hold her tight. Not a mildew filled and sun-poor room deep underground. Nicole sat on a plush sofa staring blankly at the wall in front of her. The sitting area of the room was large enough to be considered a living room in most homes. The room…her room was well lit and inviting. All the comforts of home if you didn't notice the guard that stood on her balcony and the one outside her bedroom door—both holding semi-automatic rifles.
No one had made any demands on her. There had been no interrogations, no test of her powers and no push for her loyalty since she arrived at Loch's estate. A guard had escorted her into this room almost a full forty eight hours ago and left. There had been trays of food brought in at the correct time for each meal but Nicole hadn't eaten. She only waited, wondered, and worried. Nicole waited for what was to come, wondered if Luke would have time to prepare before his father staged an attack on the kingdom and worried; lots of worries ate away at her mind.
War was coming. She made the call herself. In those moments staring into Loch's and Teya's eyes she knew there was no way around it. Teya wanted power and control just like Loch. She didn't care if her people were wilting away, growing weaker and weaker until there wouldn't be a fae race left. She would sit by and let the race drift away and, in the end, it would be the same end result. Loch would have his genocide. The entire fairy race would be wiped out.
How could she fix this when it seemed the leaders of both sides were working toward the same goal? Nicole kept wrapping her mind around it again and again, trying to see the whole story but something felt off. A large piece of the map was missing and she needed to find it to reach the correct point.
The door to her room opened but she didn’t rise or look up. Nicole continued to stare at the same spot on the wall uncaring about her visitor.
"Why are you refusing to eat?" Loch sat in a chair across from her.
"What does it matter? I'm immortal so I won't starve."
"True. But it will make you weak." He was right. With each passing hour her limbs became heavier and her mind became cloudier. Even now, if the opportunity presented itself she knew that she couldn't effectively attack Loch. Maybe she could get a small ball of fire or a wisp of wind to form but it would only fall flat before it could do any damage.
Nicole didn't respond so Loch continued, "Do you not appreciate the living accommodations?"
"It's just another prison."
"I guess you would see it that way." Loch stood cutting off her view to the spot that had been her escape. "Did you ever ask yourself why the warrior leader lives here in your world?"
Nicole had wondered that when she had been held in the basement of his estate. She had expected the warriors to have their own kingdom or fortress just like the fae but instead they live in the same world as humans. She thought it was their choice since they could blend in with humans so easily but maybe she was wrong.
"Fae and warriors used to live in the same kingdom. The castle you just left was also shared by t
he King of the warriors. We protected the fae so it only made sense to stay close. Our races shared everything. But as time passed the fairy race stopped looking at warriors as their equals. We went from being the strong protectors of the fae to being no more than servants. Then when your grandmother Titania fell in love with her warrior she tried to change that way of thinking. She wanted that equality to come back but it was for her own self-serving interest not her love of the warrior race."
"What does that matter? Your people would have had their place back," snapped Nicole. She could not tolerate the picture he was trying to paint of her grandmother. Titania was the only person, even if in spirit, that had been her constant guide. And she was family.
A ring of red brightened Loch's eyes. He was not one to be questioned and it was clear he would not tolerate it long. "Her idea of a union would lead to a mixed race. A race like you. No one wants that." He stared at her like she was diseased.
"So kill me and put an end to it!" Nicole stared fearlessly into his eyes. Death would be the way to end it all then. No mixed blood would remain so there would be no need for war.
A dark laugh came from inside Loch; taunting and knowing. "You're death will not end this." His laughter shut off as fast as it appeared, Loch's very presence was pressing down on Nicole. Drilling deeper into her head with each second his eyes met hers. "But deaths by your hand will. The fae kingdom will be mine because everyone will see that the Princess herself is loyal to her warrior blood. That means more than any amount of pain I could inflict under my own command."
"But you made a deal with Teya. You said that you would leave the kingdom alone if she gave me to you."
"And why would I consider keeping my word to her?" A smile crossed his lips, "Did you know Teya locked the gateway to the Fairy burial grounds?" He chuckled, "I'm guessing by the confused look on your face that you didn't. It's actually very clever of her. She locks away the power so that there will never be a fae born stronger than she is. It insures that she keeps the throne. Well, that is unless you had decided to take it from her."
Blood Of Fire (The Blood Burden Series) Page 17