“I figure I’ll be in wolf form most of the time anyway. I can’t use weapons with my claws.” Okay, yeah, so I didn’t think that through. Am I having a brain lapse, or am I just too wrapped up in seeing my sister that I’m overlooking small but important things?
Once we are ready to go, we head out to the lake. Nuuk is a fishing town, so even though the sun has only been visible for a short while, the harbor is already packed with boats, fisherman, and buyers. Boats pass by, horns blaring. Many fishermen are already returning, tossing their catches of the morning to be weighed and sold. Butchers are lined up on the sidewalk chopping up fresh fish, while eager customers scope out their choices.
Last night this place was quiet as a grave. No one was around to witness me being dragged onto a boat by freaky-looking creatures. That made it easier for the Chimera to go unseen, but what are we going to do now? I had planned on borrowing a boat, hoping to bring it back loaded with freed captives instead of fresh fish.
“How are we going to get across the lake? I can always fly, but what about you guys?”
“I’ll go down to the office and see if they have any boats to rent,” Hanalei says, walking toward the Marina. Good, it’s about time she starts doing something. Up to now, she’s just let everyone else work.
While standing there, I scope out the mountain. Now that I know where to look, the shimmer stands out like mud on a white shirt. The only difference is that now there’s a red tint to the shimmer, where yesterday it was clear, looking just like the snow around it.
I walk over to Eldrida, pointing up at the mountain. “Why is there red around the doorway?”
Eldrida had been watching Hanalei walk down to the Marina, but now she looks up to the mountain.
“Cerelia has put a protective block over the door.” Eldrida gives me a wicked smile. “But that won’t stop us.”
I hope not. I would hate to have gone through all this trouble just to be stopped by some magic shield. I rub my head at the memory of being dragged up the mountainside. If Eldrida is confident that they can break the barrier, then so am I.
A few moments later, Hanalei returns. “The boat master said there’s no charter going to Mount Sermitsiaq. There are no boats to rent either.”
Ethan throws his hand in the air in frustration. “Now what?”
“No worries, follow me.” Eldrida says calmly, walking back to her car and getting in, the rest of us follow suit. After a short drive, we are out of town and at the edge of the water.
Standing at the shoreline, I wonder why we’re here. There’s still no way across the water. Eldrida, calm as ever, places her hands out, saying something in a voice so low I can’t hear it. I spike up my hearing just in time to hear her say, “let us cross.”
I watch in amazement as big, thick logs start floating our way from different directions, coming to line themselves side-by-side by the water’s edge. “Ready?”
I look at Eldrida questioningly. “Ready for what?”
She gestures to the logs lined up on the water’s surface. “To cross of course.”
Is she serious? From the look on her face, she is. “That’s alright, I’ll fly,” I answer. I turn to look around me, contemplating where to strip down.
Danika just shakes her head. “If we have to cross it, you’re crossing it.”
“Oh I’ll be crossing it alright, in the sky.”
Danika puts her hands on her hips. With an amused look, she continues to shake her head. “No, you’re crossing like the rest of us.”
I turn back to the water. Lined up in a row are nine logs. I’m no expert on this but I’m going to say we need at least a thousand more logs. “There aren’t even enough to get us there.”
“It’s perfectly fine. Once the last person steps off the furthest log in the back, it will float up to the front. That way our bridge doesn’t get destroyed by any boats.”
I wonder what a boat captain would think if they saw eight people crossing the sea on logs. Love to see those faces.
Taking a deep breath, we begin our water-crossing trek. Ethan leads. Coy is behind me, with Jared behind him. Danika and the Elders are bringing up the rear. I warn both Coy and Ethan that if either one of them go down, they better not drag me in too. Although truth be told, if I go down someone’s coming with me.
Crossing the cove takes some time. Once Ethan reaches the front end, he has to stop and wait for the back log to come to the front. The walk is time-consuming, but we eventually make it across. Only one boat passes by, but I am unable to see the captain’s face, which is disappointing.
Stepping onto solid ground again, I can feel the tension in my body start to uncoil. My legs feel stiff from the walk. Taking a moment to stretch out, I notice Coy standing off alone. He’s bent over, holding his stomach.
“Hey are you okay?” I ask, walking over to him.
“Just a little motion sickness.” Coy stays bent over, but raises his head to look at me.
“Really? You didn’t get sick when we were flying.”
“That’s the first time I’ve ever been on water.”
Well that sucks. His first outing on the water turns out to be on logs. At least my first trip was on a comfy boat where I was free to move about. “I’ve been on a plane before,” he adds.
“You have? When?”
“When the Vampires came and took me away from my mother.” He stands up straight, still holding his stomach. His face is a little pale and pasty but he seems to be on the rebound.
I can’t even imagine what that would be like. I mean, I’ve been through some crappy situations but to be yanked away from your mother at a young age to become somebody’s snack toy for the rest of your life is unimaginable.
“Don’t worry about it; we have other things to concentrate on now,” he says as we walk back over to the group. Ethan has already changed into his wolf form, which is so not fair. He’s stronger and faster when he’s in that form, so climbing up this mountain is going to be a breeze for him. I wonder if anyone would get offended if I took the easy way out, but I decide to walk up the mountain with everyone else. It’s a steep hike, the ledge with our entrance only seems to get farther and farther away. I know the climb is hard on everyone, but the one I’m really worried about is Eldrida. There must be some easier way for her to get up the mountain.
When we stop to take a break, I ask her just that. “Eldrida, why don’t you use magic to help you get up the mountain?”
“I could, but I need to save what magic I have for when we get up to the top. If I use it now, I will be drained. That is something we cannot afford to do. Besides, a walk like this is good for an old lady.”
“No, a nice walk through the park on a mild summer’s night is good for you, not this.”
With a smile, but no further discussion, Eldrida rises and continues on up the mountain side. Hanalei offers her assistance many times but she is refused by the older Elder. I’m thinking it’s more of a pride thing now.
The closer to the ledge we get, the more jittery I become. I’m filled with anxiousness, laced with worry, and drenched in fear. I’m close to finding my sister but still don’t even know if she’s okay. As we near the outcropping, my heart starts racing, not from the climb but from the fight awaiting us.
It’s not like Mr. Bad is going to let us waltz right in there, demand he free the captives, then hand over the keys without a fight. Maybe in children’s fairytales after a few please and thank yous, that might happen. But I’m pretty sure his manners went out the window after the first kidnapping. If not then, for sure after the first murder.
Passing Eldrida, who is looking winded, I look up at the ledge. It’s hard to see past the lip of the rim. All I can see is the mountain peak above. As I’m looking up, the wolf creature from last night peeks over the edge. As soon as he sees my group below, he jerks back.
I’m sure an ambush is waiting for us. Signaling for the group to stop, we all huddle against the mountain, trying to stay out of sight
of the onlookers above.
“So what’s the plan? That ledge is probably full of Chimera waiting to tear us to shreds.” I have no doubt that the ‘bring them in alive’ rule has been overridden. Now they’re out for blood.
Ethan hides behind a rock, shifting back to his human form, and waits for Danika to bring him his clothes. Once he’s dressed, he walks over, observing the ledge above us.
“We could try ambushing them from two sides. Maybe you could fly up and attack from above,” Ethan suggests.
“That would never work. Racquel wouldn’t be able to fly without them seeing her,” Danika says, wrapping her arms around herself for warmth against the stinging, bitter cold. “Plus, when she landed and transformed, she would be fully exposed.”
Giving me a mischievous smile, Jared voices his thoughts. “That would surely distract them. I know I would be distracted.”
Coy goes rigid next to me, his narrowed eyes on Jared. The earlier mention of being torn from his mother’s arms as a child seems to have brought sour memories to the surface. He’s been extremely quiet, glaring at Jared every time he says anything or comes in his line of sight. Jared’s remark doesn’t help.
I look around us at the exposed mountain-side. We really don’t have any options except for the obvious one. “Let’s just attack them. They know we’re coming. We know they’re waiting for us. So let’s get on with this. Ethan, Jared you go to the right. Danika and I will go to the left. Coy, you stay down here with the others until we’re finished.”
Without further instruction, I’m running up the mountainside. I hear Eldrida say something about making room for her but the rest fades away. I’m pumped with adrenaline that is ready to be burned.
Danika catches up with me, flanking my right side. I don’t see Ethan or Jared but know they are ready, doing as I said. I take a moment to reflect. Is this the right move? Is any of what we’ve done the right moves? I dismiss the questions. I may have not always made the right decisions, but who does?
My memories with Addie are what drive me, holding me together when nothing else can. I know that without a doubt in my mind, that if I die today, at least I die giving it all I have. If this is truly it, I’m going down trying to ensure that the one I hold dear is safe and sound.
I silently ask my grandmother to be with me, then give Danika a nod, and together we rush over the ridge. Standing before us are twenty or so Chimera, all snarling and ready to kill.
Jared and Ethan appear on the opposite side of the cliff, not hesitating for pleasantries. Ethan, in wolf form again, leaps forward and starts chewing out the throat of a scaly-looking Leprechaun. His green scales go flying as purple blood oozes everywhere.
Jared runs around the crest of the ledge so he can get closer to the doorway. As he gets close, the Chimera go crazy. They all let out ear-splitting shrieks as Jared begins closing the gap to the secret entrance. They’re probably programmed to guard that door to the death.
Wolf boy comes at me like a force of nature. But it’s payback time for the night before. I give a few one-two punch combos followed up with a roundhouse kick to his gut. I never stop; I just keep pushing and punching. He lands a few blows. One makes me see stars, but it doesn’t keep me out of the dance.
I’m ready to start the next round with him, when the scene becomes blurred and I stop. Blinking away the haze, I’m stunned to see everyone is gone—well except our group. All the Chimera on this ledge a moment ago are gone.
I look down over the ridge to see the Chimera sprawled on the ground below. How did that happen?
“As I said, make a path and we will take care of them.” I turn to see Eldrida standing on the ledge. Hanalei and Laveda are standing just below.
“Wow, I never would have thought of that spell.” Danika looks at the older woman as if she just invented air.
Still confused, I start demanding answers. “What? What did they do?”
Eldrida leans over the ledge, giving Hanalei and Laveda a boost up. “It doesn’t take much power to bring a gust of wind that will throw your opponents off balance, and, well, we are on a ledge, dear.”
“But I didn’t feel any wind.” Or did I? I mean maybe a little gust but not enough to send me flailing to my death.
Laveda shrugs innocently. “We raised protection around you guys, don’t worry.”
I wasn’t worried, just surprised. Like I said before, every supernatural ability has its flaws and its perks. Although I haven’t found a flaw in the Witches’ abilities, I’m sure there is one. The blurred confusion I felt, which was probably from their protection, could be considered a flaw. In the meantime, though, I’m glad it worked.
Hanalei gives Coy a hand, and together we all turn to face the mountain, looking at the door that will surely change us forever.
Here we go, into the shimmer to find a killer.
Chapter Twenty Four
Getting access through the door takes more power than Eldrida thought it would. All the Elders join together, holding hands as they chant in an ancient language. After a few moments, Eldrida grabs Danika’s hand, switching to English.
All four Witches chant together, as a blue light surrounds them.
Goddess of the Moon, Earth, and Sun
Bring down this barrier
Bring forth an opening
Allow us entrance
Past this wickedness
Grant us strength through your goodness
As the Witches chant, a blue light surrounds the passageway. I stand there in awe as I watch evil and good battle it out through a fabulous light show. The doorway glows a bright crimson-red as the blue light touches its surface.
I am so enthralled that when someone touches my hand, I jump. I’m ready to fight but realize that it’s just Laveda. I can feel her power radiating through my hand.
No words are spoken between us, but I understand what she wants from me. Without any further doubt, I join the Witches.
The light grows brighter, the passageway growing dimmer. I feel so powerful in that moment. And I know that whatever we face, we will prevail.
The doorway begins to sizzle, almost melting away. Around the edges are burn marks, with some places still glowing red. Eldrida warns us not to touch them, telling us that the doorway was set up so it would draw some of our power away and release it to Cerelia. Cautiously, we all make our way through the passage one at a time, making sure that no part of our bodies touch the jagged edges that remain.
As we start walking through the tunnel, the dread and doubt I felt before creep back into me. I want to reach out and grab one of the Witches’ hands, wanting to feel that strength and power again.
But I stay strong and keep moving, opening my senses wide. It’s so eerily quiet I’m scared to move, scared I will be heard. The only noise I hear comes from the water that drips from the ceiling.
Ethan has the lead, followed by Danika, me, Coy, Laveda, Hanalei, Eldrida, with Jared bringing up the rear. The passageway is so small that we can only walk in single file.
We come to an opening at the end of the tunnel. I’m amazed at the work that has been done to the mountain. I had imagined a cave-like space, with wrought iron bars holding the captives within.
Instead, it looks like the inside of an office building. There are hallways to our left, right and front. Each hallway has doorways that lead into rooms. There’s even an exit sign above us. How considerate.
Ethan looks back at me. “Which way?”
I shrug my shoulders, unsure.
“This is where we should split up.” I turn to Eldrida in disbelief as she makes the suggestion, as does everyone else. Eldrida is quick to explain her reasoning.
“Ethan, Danika, Coy, and Jared can go find the hostages. The rest of us will go find the leader of this operation.”
“I’m not sure this is the time to be splitting up,” Hanalei warns. “When we find Cerelia, we are going to need all the help we can get.”
“I agree, but what good are Vampires,
Lycans, or humans going to be when fighting Cerelia? They will not be able to touch her.” Eldrida’s voice holds no demeaning tone, she’s just stating the obvious.
“But why me too?” Danika’s face expresses the disappointment she feels.
“I need you to go with Ethan in case he finds the hostages. There may be a spell trapping them inside that you need to break.”
Eldrida squeezes past me and Coy. Grabbing Danika’s hands, she gives reassurance to the young Witch. “I have the utmost faith in you, dear. I know that whatever obstacle you face, you will be able to break through it. Do not doubt yourself. That is your greatest enemy.”
Tears break, spilling down Danika’s cheeks. She nods to the Elder she obviously admires very much.
“Ethan, I want you to go right, we will go left,” Eldrida instructs.
“How do you know which way to go?” Ethan peers down the halls.
I can’t see any difference either.
“If you look very closely, that hallway leads to a dead end. I feel the most energy coming from the right hallway, which makes sense considering the amount of energy Cerelia would need to use to keep the captives quiet.”
Without argument, Ethan grabs Danika’s hand and off they go. Coy gives my hand a quick squeeze before following suit, with Jared right behind him.
Eldrida takes off down the left hall, and the other two Elders follow. I freeze. My nightmares rear their ugly little heads. Fear paralyzes me. All I want right now is to run to Addie, get her out of here unnoticed and escape to some place no one can find us. I don’t want to face the man behind the cloak, or his super-scary sidekick.
As if sensing my fear, Laveda turns back and grabs my hand. “She has some kind of hold over you. Don’t let her power weaken you.”
I can feel Laveda’s power once again, channeling up my arm to give me another boost of power. My fears start to recede, determination filling me once again. I take a deep breath, feeling in control. With a thankful smile, I let go of Laveda’s hand and follow the Elders down the hall.
Uniquely Unwelcome (The Shadow World, #1) Page 30