Nonetheless, it went against his nature and oath as an Enchanted to leave them behind. He hated the churning in his gut that had him wanting to charge in and fight. That was soon gone, however, when someone mentioned a woman Erebus was holding hostage who still refused to talk.
Leo’s whole body had frozen at the acknowledgement of his wife. She was alive. His heart stopped in his chest. Stella was still alive.
They’d been watching the barracks ever since the mention of Estella Mayfire. It wasn’t until that night that they’d finally received useful information. They were moving Stella. And if they were going to be doing that, then the six of them would have to rescue her fast. Who knew where they would take her next.
‘What else did you hear?’ Leo questioned, shoving his sandy brown hair back from his face and pressing his glasses back into place on the bridge of his nose.
Martin pulled his pack from his shoulder and freed a scrap of paper. ‘They were talking about how they were going to move her. They wanted to portal, but apparently Erebus refused to open one. They didn’t say why, though they did say that supposedly the Devils aren’t happy with him at the moment, so maybe he’s afraid they’ll trap him in the portal.’
‘That’s good. If he’s afraid to portal then that will limit his movements,’ Tarim said.
‘We heard something else,’ Archer added, voice dark.
Leo’s insides clenched. Was something wrong with Stella?
‘Mr Stark is dead,’ Leonardo Senior told them.
‘What? How?’ Leo gasped, though the thrill that flooded him at the news didn’t escape his notice.
Martin shook his head. ‘Don’t know. He was murdered, that’s all they said. But that kid who was converted, Creshan, has stepped up in his place. Apparently he’s been making a bit of a mess of things.’
‘That’s good, too,’ Sully commented. ‘Might jeopardize Erebus’s plans.’
‘Still, Human lives are paying for the mess he’s making,’ Archer added coldly.
They all fell quiet as that realisation settled in. Humans were dying.
Martin cleared his throat. ‘So, they plan to ship Stella off to the next place. They didn’t say where or what their plans with her are. Just that she’s been no help to Erebus.’
‘They might not be moving her at all,’ Archer added grimly. ‘It could all be code for something else.’
Leo felt something shift within him. No. He didn’t come this far to find out she was alive only to watch her die. He would save her.
‘So if they’re shipping her that means they’ll be using the Bain docks? They’re closest to the Mountains,’ Sully asked.
‘We can only guess. They never said,’ Archer replied.
‘We have to ask one of the Wicked,’ said Leo all of a sudden.
‘What, take one captive?’ Tarim responded, brow raised.
‘It’s the only way we’re going to find the entrance to Erebus’s hideout. Then at least we can formulate some level of a plan.’
‘Right, except from the part where the moment we take one of their people hostage, they will know something’s up,’ Leonardo Senior countered.
‘Then we’ll just have to target someone who won’t be missed.’
Voices all began at once as some argued that it wouldn’t work and others asked impossible questions.
‘Wait,’ Archer said loud enough to draw their attention. ‘There were a few Wicked leaving the barracks tonight. Heading out to the border to change posts. It’s at least a two day trip to the border form here. They wouldn’t notice something was wrong until they didn’t show up on time. By then we should be long gone.’
‘How many were heading for the border?’ Sully asked.
‘Two I think.’
‘You think?’ Tarim pressed.
‘Two or three. We could take them, easy.’
Leo caught Archer’s eye, then realised everyone was watching him, waiting for his response. He thought for a moment. It had been his idea. They didn’t have much time to waist. The Wicked would already be on their way to the border.
He nodded. ‘All right. Let’s do it.’
~
Erebus passed the first cell, the second cell, the third, until he at last came to stand before the fourth. Estella Mayfire was a crumpled mess on the ground. Asleep or dead, he wasn’t sure, and he didn’t particularly care. She’d been a colossal waste of his time, and all he wanted was to be rid of her.
He raised his sword and banged it sharply on the jail bars. Stella startled upright, face puffy and hair matted to her head.
‘What,’ she croaked through cracked lips.
‘You’re leaving,’ Erebus said, voice neutral.
‘Where am I going?’
Erebus shrugged. ‘To a watery grave.’
With that, he left her to ponder his meaning. To worry and cry and scream, he hoped to. She’d been an absolute bother to him, and he wanted her to feel the pain he felt every time she wouldn’t reveal Laura’s whereabouts.
‘When?’ Came a small voice from behind him.
He stopped, turning to peer into the darkness at the broken women on the stone floor of the cell.
‘When will you do it?’ She asked, clearer the second time.
Erebus could feel the fear, the pain, radiating from her, and he relished in it.
‘Soon.’
~
Leo wiped the blood from his blade. They’d captured what ended up being a group of three Wicked and killed two. The third, they’d bound in the bush where no one would hear or see him, and chipped away at him until he revealed exactly what they’d wanted.
Actually, it was Leonardo Senior that tortured the Wicked. Leo still felt sick over the matter. He’d spent all his life hunting and killing Wicked, but never had he tortured them; inflicted pain while they were alive and able to scream. He was glad he hadn’t been the one to do it since watching had been enough to make the contents of his stomach bubble.
In the end, he’d taken mercy and killed the Wicked before his father could do more damage. They had what they needed. A location. And already they were on their way.
They knew roughly where the prisoner’s cells were in the underground, so their only plan was to sneak in, find Stella, and then sneak back out. Leo knew deep down it would never be as easy as that, but they didn’t have time to waste sitting around attempting to formulate the ideal plan. It was nearly dawn already, which meant Stella would be ‘moved’ soon. They didn’t have a single minute to spare.
‘We should leave two people to watch the entrance, in case we miss them. And to keep the path clear for us when we bring her out,’ Archer was saying as they sprinted through the trees in the direction of the Bain Mountains. ‘The rest of us will go in and retrieve her.’
‘I’ll stay at the entrance,’ Sully offered.
‘Me too,’ Martin added.
‘All right, the rest of us are to stick together. No splitting up. Who knows what we’ll be met with down there,’ Archer said firmly.
The sun could be seen just peeking over the horizon in the distance as they reached the entrance to Erebus’s underground – a dim, cold cave hidden behind bush and trees. Archer, Leo, Tarim and Leonardo Senior crouched and hurried into the cave.
‘Good luck,’ Sully called after them.
‘You too,’ Leo replied in kind.
Inside the cave was dark and damp, save for a flickering candle on the back wall. Leo had his torch on in an instant, and they noticed immediately that the candle was marking a doorway. There were cracks in the stone, and when Archer and Tarim pushed on it, it slipped backwards, revealing a row of steps into the earth.
How Erebus had created so may underground hideouts for himself was a mystery, but Leo was both impressed and worried. How many others were there across the planet?
The four of them descended the stairs, Leo’s torch their only source of light. It wasn’t long before they reached the ground, a candle lit tunnel stretching out before th
em. Leo switched off his torch and put it away, the four of them beginning the long walk down the tunnel. They kept to the walls, hiding beneath the candle light, within the shadows. They were met with no resistance for the Wicked had informed them that the only ones to use the underground were Erebus and Creshan along with their guards. The Wicked had taken over the entire country, so they believed there was no need to worry about intruders. Or so they thought. Leo almost smiled at the thought.
They reached the first fork in the tunnel that the Wicked had told them about and took a left. It led them through another two intersections, before reaching a hall lined with doors. Leo pulled up short. They were stone doors, no windows, but any of them could open at any time.
‘Fast,’ Archer whispered, and in an instant the four of them took off. They sped past the doors and around the corner at the opposite end, spines tingling and hearts hammering.
They’d reached another cave like clearing with multiple tunnels leading off it. The Wicked had said it was one of the tunnels on the right, but he couldn’t be sure as he had only been there once when dropping off Human prisoners. That piece of information had earned him a missing ear, and the memory of it had bile rising in Leo’s throat.
He glanced across at his father who seemed unaffected by what he’d done earlier. Maybe he really was a sick man. Maybe he had lied to him the other night, and was the one who killed his mother. As much as Leo wanted to believe it, he couldn’t. He saw the truth. And perhaps accepting that truth would allow him to move on. He’d never have a relationship with his father, but at least he wouldn’t have to continue to live with the hatred that had consumed him all his life.
‘Which one?’ Tarim asked as they peered down each tunnel, searching for a clue.
‘I know you said don’t split up, but I think we need to,’ Leo replied at last, looking to Archer.
Archer was frustrated, but nodded. ‘In twos.’
‘We’ll take this one,’ Leonardo Senior said, gesturing to Leo.
For an instant, Leo considered arguing the matter for he didn’t really fancy the idea of going with his father, but he decided against it. Stella was more important.
‘Meet back here in two minutes if we find nothing. If you get back and the other team isn’t there, assume we found her and come after us,’ Leonardo Senior added.
They split off, taking the two tunnels to the right of the cave. Leo followed after his father, eyes scanning the darkness, lit with a candle every few metres. It was growing cold and the air smelled stale and mouldy. In spite of everything, they battled on. In the distance, they could make out what looked to be a large steel door. When they reached it, Leo paused, looking to his father, unable to ask the question.
Leonardo Senior pushed the door open, understanding exactly what Leo had wanted. In an instant they were hit with the stench of rot and faeces. Leo propped the steel door open before finally allowing his eyes to observe the room.
His heart stopped.
‘Don’t look, son,’ his father said, blowing out the nearest candle.
But Leo had already seen it. Cells full of Humans and Enchanted in all kinds of states, none of them good.
‘I have to look. I have to find her,’ Leo whispered.
‘I already have,’ Leonardo said.
He stood only four cells along, though it was the last one on that side of the wall. Leo took a step towards him. Then another. And then he was rushing to the cell. He fumbled for his torch, tugging it free from his pack and switching it on. The light was blinding, so he couldn’t see a thing for the first few moments.
But as his eyes adjusted, he felt himself grow limp. She was curled in a ball, her clothes stained with dirt, hanging in rags about her. She clutched a hand to her chest and her face was swollen, her lips cracked. Her hair was so stained and matted that he could barely make out the blond in it. But he knew it was her. He knew it was his Stella.
Leonardo Senior was already pulling the lock picking kit from his pocket.
‘Here,’ he said, taking the torch. ‘I can’t with one hand.’
Leo’s hands shook, but he took the tools and set to work unlocking the cell. It didn’t take long, and the moment the door swung open with a creek, he rushed inside.
Groans and rustles of the prisoners around them could be heard, but Leo was so focused on Stella that he didn’t notice. He crouched down, reaching a hand for his wife.
‘Please don’t kill me,’ Stella whispered, her eyes closed.
‘Oh Stel,’ Leo croaked, biting back his tears.
One of her eyelids peeled back, and she looked up at him.
‘Leo?’
‘Yes my darling. I’m here. We’re going to get you out of here, okay? Can you stand?’
Stella mumbled something, and Leo rested his hand on her arm. She couldn’t move, he knew it. As carefully as he could, he reached his arms underneath her knees and back, lifting her to his chest. He stood, cradling her in his arms. She was so small, so helpless.
‘Let’s go,’ he said to his father as he left the cell.
Leonardo shut the door and the two of them made their way from the prison. Leo’s heart hurt at leaving behind the other prisoners, especially when they began calling out for help, begging him to free them, too. He wanted to, so badly, but he couldn’t carry everyone from the prison.
Stella shivered against him, and tears were trailing down her bruised cheeks. It hurt Leo to look at her, destroyed his heart to see the pain she’d endured, inflicted at Erebus’s hand.
‘You’re safe now, my love,’ Leo said, soothing her as she sobbed into his shirt.
‘I wouldn’t speak so soon.’
Leo’s eyes flickered up, meeting those of Erebus’s. The creator of the Enchanted and Wicked stood before them, blocking the tunnel and their only escape. Three guards flanked his sides, weapons at the ready.
‘I knew it was only a matter of time before you’d come,’ Erebus said, and Robin’s face contorted into a look of fury. ‘Of course, I hoped to move her before you made it. Seems I was a little too late.’
His eyes flickered across to Leonardo Senior, to his missing arm, and he scoffed. ‘This is all you bring? A handicapped old man?’
‘I’m not that old,’ Leonardo snapped back.
‘Ah, and he’s got a temper!’
Leo didn’t know what he was going to do. He couldn’t put Stella down and draw his sword in time to fight. There was no way his father could take on the four of them himself, either.
‘I see you thinking. Always thinking. You were the smart one, Leonardo, as James always said,’ Erebus said, eyes watching Leo coolly. ‘Junior. Not Senior,’ he added, an amused look crossing his features as he glanced at Leo’s father.
It was that shifting of his head that allowed Leo to glimpse the flash of long blond hair behind him in the candle light. Archer and Tarim. The two minuets must have been up if they’d come after them.
Leo moved his eyes back to Erebus, not wanting to give them away.
‘So, what to do with you?’ Erebus mused, crossing his arms.
All of a sudden there was a shout of pain, and two swords shot through the hearts of two of the guards.
Erebus turned, lightning already balling in his hands, but Leonardo Senior sent a wave of his own power for Erebus’s face. He stumbled into the wall, startled, allowing Leo the chance to sprint past him, Stella still clutched to his chest.
Tarim and Archer were fighting the third guard.
‘Get out of here!’ Archer shouted when Leo paused to look back at them.
Just as he was about to continue running, he saw Archer slice through the guard’s throat, the Wicked Witch dropping to the ground in a heap. Tarim and Archer took off down the tunnel after him, and he spun on his heel.
‘I wouldn’t do that if I were you,’ Erebus called.
Leo wanted to force his legs to sprint faster. Everything within him screamed at him to do so, for he knew what he would see when he stopped. He knew
, and yet he still pulled up short. Archer and Tarim had already halted, and slowly, the three of them twisted around.
Erebus held his sword to Leo’s father’s throat.
‘You take another step and he dies,’ Erebus said, all amusement drained from his face, replaced with only rage.
Leo caught his father’s eye.
Did he deserve to die? Once, he would have said so. But after such a long time, he’d paid for his mistakes. He deserved a second chance, as much as they all did. He’d done awful things, there was no denying that, but everyone does bad things.
Leo peered down at his wife, anguish on his face. She needed a healer. He couldn’t allow Erebus to capture her again.
‘Leo?’ Archer hissed under his breath.
They were waiting to see what he would do. Leave his father or stay.
‘Save her, son,’ Leonardo said.
‘Shut up,’ Erebus growled.
Leo looked up, and saw what Erebus didn’t. The knife clutched in his father’s hand, pulled from beneath his shirt where he always had one hidden.
‘What will it be?’ Erebus asked.
‘GO!’ Leonardo Senior cried, then plunged the dagger into his own heart.
Leo barely had the chance to process what was happening. He, Archer and Tarim simply turned and ran. They ran as fast as their feet would carry them. Stella was crying with each jolt of her body, but still Leo pushed on, as much as it pained him to do so.
They reached the exit to find Sully and Martin waiting, four Wicked guards dead around them. It seemed as though they’d been surprised by the party that were going to move Stella.
Sully’s eyes widened at the sight of his sister, but they didn’t have time to check her over yet. Erebus would surely be after them.
‘Run!’ Archer cried at them the moment they burst from the cave, and the lot of them took off.
They pushed their bodies hard, rushing through the bush, trailing back, creating different routes for Erebus to follow. They wound their way up the mountain and down the other side, exhausted beyond measure but desperate to ensure they lost their pursuer.
It was well into the afternoon when they at last snuck down to the Bain Docks and onto a small boat. They set sail, knowing that the situation had grown desperate for Stella. They simply had to find a healer. They had escaped Erebus so far, but weren’t safe yet.
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