by T. G. Ayer
The silence that filled the room when Natasha stopped speaking was deafening. I swallowed hard then let out a breath. “Thanks for laying it out for me. Well aware…” I said as I shifted to sit up, wincing as every movement seemed to stab straight into my back and up inside my abdomen. “Still doing it.”
Natasha sighed. “Not like I was expecting you to change your mind. It’s just that it needed to be said aloud.”
I smirked. “Like knocking on wood?”
Natasha’s eyes darkened. “You know that’s an old wives’ tale right?”
I shook my head, pursing my lips. “I beg to differ. I have you know there is immense power in rapping one’s knuckles against wood. I have come to the conclusion, after much time spent deliberating, that the action and the magic it performs is directly related to the magic of the earth.” My face was sober as I spoke and Natasha’s eyes danced with amusement.
“Unless of course, it’s all bullshit,” she said firmly before spinning on her heel and exiting the room. As she went, she waved her hand in my direction and heat began to fill the wound at my back, searing fingers probing deep within raw muscles.
I gasped and was about to sit when her voice drifted down the hallway to me. “Don’t you dare sit on my silk. You’ll get your blood all over it.”
Startled, I frowned and turned to stare open-mouthed at the covers which were now pristine, not a drop of blood in sight.
“Witch,” I said as I shook my head.
“I heard that,” Natasha yelled out, making me smile.
Chapter 40
No more than twenty minutes later I was ready to leave. I’d checked my weapons, and the additional ones in my satchel, and Kai, Logan, and Nerina did the same. We’d decided on a smaller team for the extraction of the djinn queen, but we were not planning on going in without sufficient firepower.
Natasha entered the kitchen just as I pulled the strap of my satchel over my shoulder and crossed it over my abdomen. She held out a small glass bottle, and I reached to take it. But Natasha took hold of my open hand and grasped it by the wrist.
She placed the trio of bottles within my palm and folded my fingers over them, the muscles in her hands and fingers taut with tension. “Be careful. This poison cannot come into contact with anyone else. It’s deadly to every other being other than a djinn, and even then it’s capable of killing a djinn who isn’t all that strong. There’s enough in each bottle for a single use. Keep them apart just in case you lose one.”
I nodded, the weight of what I was about to do almost crushing me. I took a shuddering breath and looked around the kitchen. “Right, it’s do or die. Let’s do this.”
Kai smiled and mimicked my movements with her own satchel though she carried her unusual crossbow in her hand. “You don’t sound all that ready. Wanna chicken out?” She teased, though a shadow of darkness lingered in her eyes.
I snorted and met Nerina’s eyes. The DeathTalker had been conspicuously silent since I’d emerged from Natasha’s bedroom, and I was well aware of what was bothering her. The portal key had failed, and likely she felt somehow responsible. Her shoulders were bowed as she checked her own weapons, tucking them within the folds of her gray cloak.
I met Natasha’s eyes and said, “So can we at least establish what happened to the portal key? I have a feeling the problem was at Mithras, but I want to be sure.”
The witch nodded, and Nerina’s chin rose as she paid closer attention. “Darcy was on the right track, only she didn’t realize how spot on she was.”
“Was she?” asked Darcy as she and Cassie walked into the kitchen. Darcy was limping, having been impaled by an equally vicious tree branch, no doubt of the same lineage and temperament of the evil branch that had stabbed me.
Natasha nodded. “What was the extent of your understanding of the kind of wards that would have been erected around Mithras?”
Darcy tilted her head and squinted at the ceiling. “Dark magic for one thing. Definitely blood magic. Nothing a MindMelder like Ward could create. Creating a ward around an entire realm is not possible is it?”
Natasha shook her head. “Only the access points in the Veil can be warded. Or I should say, they can’t be warded by less powerful beings. Realm wards are under the skill arena of Ancients and the greater immortal Fae, and perhaps one or two level X demons.”
Kai raised a finger. “Level X?”
“Yes, demons with excessively powerful magical abilities, usually ones either born with such powers or those who received those abilities through learning.”
“And by learning, I assume you mean death, darkness, and blood?” I offered, curving an eyebrow.
“You forgot pain,” added Nerina sweetly.
Kai let out a grunt of mock-irritation. “Where’s a Level X demon when you need one?”
Logan cleared his throat. “Well…if we need one I can certainly check my little black book.”
Everyone turned to look at him, including Drake who was leaning against the doorframe, as though ready to rush off at a moment’s notice. He too had been quiet for a while though I’d seen him checking on everyone including Nerina.
Logan gave a sheepish grin. “Well, I do happen to know one Level X. He’s currently a Demon Overlord in the Boston area.”
“Demon Overlording sounds like not a very good thing. You telling me you trust this powerful demon?” asked Kai, watching Logan carefully, her eyes now filled with worry for what appeared to be the dragon’s extreme lack of judgment.
Logan shook his head and chuckled. “He’s definitely not a bad guy. And Overlording only entails ensuring the underlords do as they are told and don’t go wild.”
I watched Logan, eyes narrowed now, aware that the kitchen was still silent as they waited for him to keep going.
He let out a weary sigh. “Fine, if you must know, I saved the guy’s ass once.”
“You sure you don’t really mean he saved your ass?” asked Kai, smirking as her gaze drifted to Logan’s lower half. Her words drew a round of subdued laughter from the team.
Logan shrugged, unaffected but the sudden revelation of the real truth. “Okay, okay. I was young and green, and I ran into a situation without assessing it and got myself neck deep in trouble. Literally. He turned out to be the right demon at the right time to come upon my sorry ass, and he helped me out, no questions asked.”
“Sounds like a nice enough guy,” I commented, aware that time was quickly ticking.
“He is. Possibly has a little bit of perspective considering his…affliction.”
“Please clarify…and do it quickly,” I said with a brisk flick of my hand.
Logan cleared his throat. “His name is Baa’ruk, goes by the name Lacroix. Also happens to be probably the only dreadlocked albino demon in existence.”
“What?” asked Kai to a chorus of wow’s and cool’s. Kai’s expression though was a combination of surprise and recognition.
“Yep. What’s with the surprise? You know Lacroix?”
Kai shook her head then paused. “Not really. I did see him though, in O’Hagan’s a few days ago. About the time I ran into the reporter.”
Logan frowned. “Right. Odd for him to be in the area—” Logan came to a stop as his expression darkened. Then he gave a low grunt of irritation. “Guess if I’d been in this realm he would have contacted me.”
I pursed my lips. “Check your messages maybe?” I suggested dryly.
Kai snorted and then choked on it as Logan dragged his phone from his jeans pocket. Moments later he gave a second grunt. “He did reach out. I’ll message him back.” He looked up at Natasha. “What exactly am I asking him?”
I cut in before the witch could reply, “Has he heard any chatter? Was he the one who threw up the ward? If not, does he know who is capable of that level of magic?”
Logan nodded and tapped out the message then tucked his phone back into his pocket.
I nodded and straightened, tightening my hold on the strap on my shoulder, h
olding it tightly as though it were a lifeline.
“We’d better get on with it.”
Kai reached out and squeezed me around the shoulders as everyone began to arrange themselves in pairs. “Don’t worry. It’s a clean plan. Get in, get the djinn MIL, get out.”
I lowered my lids as a smile curled at the corner of my lips. I was repeatedly teased with the whole mother-in-law term, but I wasn’t about to take offense. I did have a certain fondness for the old woman.
“Besides,” said Nerina, not missing a beat, “she likes you. She’ll get over it eventually.”
I took a nervous breath.
“So why does it feel like I’m about to walk into the gaping jaws of a deadly fire-breathing dragon?” I asked, feeling the tension curl in the pit of my stomach.
As we disappeared from Natasha’s kitchen, Logan’s mock-offended voice rang out making everyone laugh.
“Hey, you talking about me?”
We materialized in pairs in a clearing outside the grounds of queen Aisha’s prison. The spot brought a pang to my heart as memories of my first visit with Saleem to the estate teased my mind. I shook them off and focused.
Glancing over to Logan and Kai, and Drake and Nerina beyond them, I said, “Aisha is in a small suite at the rear of the building. Second floor, looking out on the lawn. She’s able to detect astral movement, so she’ll know I’m there. So, that’s the last thing I’ll be doing. First, we disable the watch, and remove any obstacles.”
“You’re working on the assumption that she may yell for help?”
I nodded, very much disliking that possibility. “She had been adamant that she agreed to not leave her prison.” I shook my head. “There is a very real chance that the fallout from this may be something we cannot recover from. So, I’m asking you all to remain silent, and if it comes to it, claim ignorance. If she wants to wreak havoc on those responsible, I’m the only target.” The group remained silent, and I glared at each of them in turn. “Am I making myself clear?” I asked, my tone a few degrees cooler now. I hated having to pull rank, but I had to get their word on it. I wouldn’t have any one of them go down with me if Aisha wanted to punish me.
Reluctantly, they resounded with nods, but I could see they were angry with me. Tough. They’d have to just suck it up.
I cleared my throat and glanced at Darcy. “Teams go in, from the west and the east corners. Eliminate the guards, keep the noise to a minimum. And the death nonexistent. Darcy, you’re going with Nerina, Kai’s with the gargoyle—” I received a grunt from Drake in response “—and Logan stays here. He’s our savior in case the shit hits the fan.”
“Yeah, he can come right and light that shit on fire,” muttered Drake, smirking as he glanced back at the estate.
The building was wreathed in shadows this late at night, with barely a light on inside. With a nod to Drake and then Nerina, they disappeared, taking their partners with them.
Logan and I remained as I counted down the seconds to the first confirmation. Kai’s voice came in through the comms, “East watch is non-existent.”
I barely had time to frown before Darcy’s voice filtered to us repeating the same status for the guard on the west perimeter.
“That’s odd. And not a good sign.”
“Think they’ve taken her someplace else? Mithras maybe?”
I shook my head. “She’s there. I can sense her life-thread on the astral plane. It was the first thing I did when we got here.” I frowned and stared out at the estate. “Stand down and retreat. Give me a few minutes to recon,” I said on the comms, receiving confirmations almost instantly from both teams.
I nodded at Logan. “Watch me. I won’t be long.” Without waiting for his acknowledgment, I sank onto the grass with my back against the nearest tree and entered the astral plane. Skimming the property, my heart began to race as I found no signs of life anywhere. The only life-force within the building was that of the djinn queen.
I slid back into my body and looked over at Logan, shaking my head. Taping my comms, I said, “Return to base. The place is empty.”
The two teams shimmered into form beside us and Drake was scowling. “Think the queen killed them all?”
“No. If there were corpses, I would have still sensed the threads. Right now, the place is a tomb. Except for the prisoner.”
“So what do they have holding her here? Security must be insane,” said Nerina as she stared out at the estate.
I let out a dry laugh. “That’s where it gets unbelievable,” I muttered. “She gave them her word.”
“Oh yeah, that.”
I cleared my throat. “Okay, I’m going in.” I patted my hip pocket where one of the vials of poison was secured. “If I’m not back in five minutes, come get us.”
I shimmered away, forgoing the projection and jumping straight inside Aisha’s room. Even as I landed, I wondered if I’d been too hasty in assuming there was no magical trap waiting for me. But I trust my gut, and it hadn’t let me down yet.
I materialized a few feet from the djinn queen who stared wide-eyed at me. “What are you—” She paused and glanced around, concern darkening her eyes.
I waved a hand. “Don’t worry. There’s nobody on the estate. No one is watching you right now.”
“Nonsense, girl. The place is like a Maximum security prison.”
“Maybe that’s what they told you, but from what I’ve seen that’s a load of bull.”
Aisha’s eyes narrowed.
“When was the last time you received a visit from your captors?”
She shrugged. “Yesterday morning, I believe?”
“Do they leave you alone for such a long period of time?”
“Sometimes. Every so often I won’t see anyone for a couple of days but they know I prefer to be left alone.”
I went over to the large paned windows that gave out onto the lawn. “Seen any guards on patrol lately?”
Aisha sniffed. “Those guards never really did their job anyway. Must have been fired for sleeping on the job.”
I spun around at her words. “How long ago was it that you saw the last patrol?”
“About an hour ago,” she replied. “Why?”
“Because I just checked the perimeter and there’s no sign of anyone outside or inside the building.” I’d barely spoken the words when I tapped my comms and spoke to the team. “I need a sweep of the building. Look for incendiaries.”
Aisha’s gasp was drowned out by the sound of Drake’s growl. Then the link went silent as the team performed their sweep. I looked over at Aisha. “Are you ready to leave now?”
She shook her head.
“And if they come back saying the place is rigged to blow?”
The queen began to pace her skirts swishing along the carpet. “That’s not going to happen. They have their agenda but blowing me up isn’t part of the agreement.”
“How do you know what their agenda is?” I countered taking a step toward her. “They have your word that you’d sit here quietly and not leave? That’s like they put you in a corner and made you promise not to leave. What did they threaten you with?” I asked softly, recognizing the flicker of fear in her eyes. “Please your majesty, you can’t trust them to keep their word.”
She shook her head, her face a study in hollows and shadows. She glanced over at me for a second, her expression softened. “I know what you are trying to do, but you aren’t going to save me today. I’m not going anywhere. Not until they tell me I’m free to leave.”
“But you are free to leave. In fact, I think you may not have a choice.”
Aisha snorted. “Your team won’t find anything.”
Even as she paused, the comms cracked with a yell from Kai. “I’ve got a device at the southern corner. It’s on a timer set to blow in ten minutes.”
And then Drake repeated Kai’s words confirming a bomb on the western corner.
I faced the queen as she stared out at the lawn. “You do know why you haven’t se
en the patrols, right?” She half-turned to look at me over her shoulder, her spine stiff. Then she faced the window again without replying.
“They’ve left you here to die because they have what they want. They don’t need you anymore. Please come with us,” I said, walking over to her. As I neared the stubborn old woman, my eyes shimmered with tears. “Will you truly stay here to die because of a promise to a bunch of people who have tortured and manipulated your sons, and who have imprisoned you here for two years?”
She turned to face me, taking my hands in hers. Her skin was warm, as though a fire burned within her. Probably did, considering she’s a djinn.
She smiled, sadness turning down the corners of her mouth. “You have so much spirit and passion. And you are right. But I gave my word.”
I stiffened, anger coursing through me at her words. “So you’re willing to die because you gave these assholes your word?”
Aisha turned her head slowly and met my gaze. “There is so much more going on here than meets the eye. You must leave well enough alone. Leave me here, and go to Mithras. Save Saleem, and if possible save that sellout weakling of a boy I call a son.”
She let my hands go, as if the act was a dismissal, a final farewell.
But I shook my head. Reaching for the vial, I withdrew it and held it within my palm. “I can’t do that. Saleem would never forgive me.”
“He doesn’t know about our agreement child.”
“Maybe he doesn’t, but he’s a smart guy. He probably already knows,” I said, thinking about my slip in mentioning his mother when I’d visited him. He hadn’t even batted an eyelash. “Besides, do you really think I’d live a lie with him. I’m coming clean the first chance I get. And if I save him, and he can’t accept what I’ve done, then so be it. In my heart, I know I did it for the right reasons, no matter the consequences.”
As I checked my watch, Saleem’s mother turned to face me. “You are worthy,” she said, her voice so grave, so serious it was as though she was knighting me or something. I almost asked where the sword was, but bit back the question in time.