“Nothing around your neck or ankles?”
“No.”
“Good.” Hope flared, and she had to calm her mind. She didn’t want her insecurities to leak across her link to the kid. Or, worse, to the guards. “I’ve seen Gregory shift to human form before. Are you capable of that? Because if you are, then you might be able to slip out of those manacles.”
“Gregory is an Avatar. He has many powers that a regular gargoyle doesn’t. But even so, most gargoyles have the ability to shift forms for short times.”
“Do you think you can?”
There was a long pause followed by a wave of uncertainty. “I’m not yet fully mature. Lillian is older than me and only learned to shapeshift recently.”
“She only just learned about magic a few months ago, right? She didn’t even know she had the ability,” Anna reasoned. “You’re pure gargoyle and already command a good bit of magic.”
“I’ll try, but if I can’t, then what do we do?”
Anna shrugged even though she knew he couldn’t see it. “Shoot the guards, blow the door, more explosives where the chains are attached to the wall and then run like hell. Once we’re free, we’ll find a way to get those manacles off later.”
“We might not escape.”
“No. There are no guarantees other than I won’t leave you behind.”
“I don’t want you to get captured.” Worry tinted the young gargoyle’s thoughts.
“That’s not on my wishlist, either, but I’m not leaving without you. We’re doing this one way or the other.”
“I’ll try to shapeshift,” he promised.
“Good, but don’t stress if you can’t. I’ll still break you out.”
“Should I try now?”
“Sure kid. Everything’s ready on my end,” Anna said, sighting the first guard through her scope. “Let me know if it works.”
“It might take me a few minutes. I need to access my father’s memories.”
“Take all the time you need.”
If at all possible, she’d take the two guards down silently, set the charge and then pick off any guards that came running toward the sound of the blast. Once Shadowlight was free of the cell, they’d use shadow magic to hide and make their way back to the surface, using the route Anna had plotted out in her head.
That was the plan. She just hoped Fate was on board with it.
“Anna, I found my father’s memories, I’ll try.”
“Okay. Keep me informed.”
But with Shadowlight merged with her through the magic of his shared blood, he didn’t have to tell her it worked, she could feel his sense of pride at mastering another ability.
“Good job, kid. Are you able to get the manacles off?”
“Yes.”
He was practically bouncing with happiness.
“Good. Don’t move yet, I don’t want the guards to know what’s about to hit them.”
And they didn’t. She made two clean headshots through their helmet’s open visor. The guards hit the floor with the loud clatter of armor against stone. She shoved the door aside and made her way to Shadowlight’s cell while scanning up and down the hall for newcomers.
“Crouch low against the far wall,” she instructed as she shaped the C4 and set the charge. When she was done, she moved down the hall and covered her ears. “You clear?”
“Yes, but I’m not sure if I can shapeshift back to my gargoyle form again so soon.” There was a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
“Don’t worry about it. Can you still call on your shadow magic to hide?”
“Yes.”
“Good. That’s all we need. Because we’re screwed if we have to fight our way free of this place. There are enemy combatants all over the fuck.”
“Gran says you shouldn’t swear.”
“I won’t tell her if you don’t.”
Happiness radiated along the mental link and he promised, “I won’t.”
“Good, you ready? It’s going to be loud. As soon as the door blows, I want you out of there and on my six. We’re going to run thirty feet down the tunnel until we reach the stairs. Don’t stop for nothing. Stay behind me. I will be shooting at anything that moves. Anything comes up from behind, just tap me on the shoulder. Understand?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Here goes.”
Chapter Four
The blast from the charge deafened her for a few precious seconds, but she held her position, rifle pointed towards the stairs. Their location was exposed, enemies able to approach from two directions, but it couldn’t be helped.
Anna was glancing back at the cell’s blown door when an adolescent boy burst out of the cell and sprinted towards her. He moved wicked fast, but it was still a surprise to see a scrawny boy and not a massive gargoyle running toward her even though she knew he’d shifted forms.
She glanced forward again. “Grab my pack. Move when I move. We get separated now, we’re screwed. There won’t be a second prison break attempt.”
Together they ran back the way Anna had first come. She’d memorized the route in her head, going over it several times during the night so they wouldn’t get lost as they ran.
They made it to the stairs by the time the first guard came running toward them.
His helmet’s visor was up, and though he had some form of defensive magic in place, it did him no good. He died as swiftly as the first two guards had.
Three more guards appeared and died just as quickly. Then Shadowlight slapped his hand down on her shoulder. She twisted and took out two more guards approaching from behind.
She and Shadowlight bolted up the stairs, breaking through the doors at the top just as more guards came rushing to their comrades’ aid. Anna took out as many of them as she could and kept moving. Shadowlight snatched a sword from a fallen enemy’s hand without releasing Anna’s pack.
They ran, never slowing or stopping unless they needed to dart into a side room to avoid a larger company of soldiers than Anna wanted to fight. Once the way was clear again, she and Shadowlight continued their mad dash to the surface.
When they emerged into the sunlight, Anna blinked back tears at the brightness but kept moving. They darted between what shadows they could find now that the sun was high in the sky.
They were about halfway to the main gate, but unless some miracle occurred, they weren’t going to make it that far. Soldiers swarmed out of buildings and alleyways faster than ants in defense of their nest.
There were just too damned many of the enemy and not enough shadows to hide in even though Anna hugged the walls of buildings or sought the shade cast by the few trees growing in the fortress.
Changing directions, she headed for the stables. That dubious shelter was closer and perhaps by the time they reached it Shadowlight would be able to shift back to gargoyle form. He’d have a far better chance of escaping on the wing than on foot.
His chances doubled if she stayed behind and provided cover fire while he made his escape.
“Where are we going?” he asked. “The gate is the other way.”
Anna reached back and dragged Shadowlight along when he slowed.
They kept running, ducking under the trees, around horse-drawn carts and what looked like honest-to-god human peasants. There was other, less human-looking, foot traffic as well. But thankfully it thinned out a bit as she and Shadowlight moved farther from the central keep.
At last, they managed to get clear of the densest concentration of soldiers, and they weren’t now being chased. At least that she could see. It didn’t mean there wasn’t someone following.
Anna sprinted around the side of another building and into a narrow alley. There they paused to catch their breaths. Her eyes darted to the kid and away again. It was disconcerting.
She was used to seeing the big, black-skinned wall of muscle that was a gargoyle. Even a child like Shadowlight was still taller and bulkier than her. She wasn’t used to seeing this scrawny little teen even though she kne
w Shadowlight was a child.
Fuck. Fuck it. Evil overlords should just leave kids the fuck alone.
At last, she asked, “How you holding up?”
“I’m fine,” he whispered.
Crap, he even sounded younger. More victim than warrior.
“I’m sorry, Kid. Ready for another run? There’s a stable up ahead. I hid there last night. We might be able to hide long enough for you to shapeshift back to gargoyle form and then fly out of here under cover of shadow magic.”
Anna glanced up and down the alley and then out into the rustic cobblestone yard beyond. The stable was just a short sprint across that open area.
“The yard is too damned open, but the stable is the best place to hide. If we stay here, guards will find us.”
“Then we must go,” Shadowlight said.
They darted out of the alley but only made it halfway across the yard before a thread of warning and instinct raised the hair at the back of her neck. A foreign power crackled along her senses and rushed around them like an unnatural breeze.
“Shadowlight! Look out! It’s a trap.” She shoved him towards another alley leading away from the cobbled yard, but it was too late.
Guards poured out of the mouth of the alley, blocking any escape that way. But it wasn’t the guards that made her blood run cold; it was the tall, armored form that exited the stables with his arms folded as he took in the scene.
She’d recognize that armor anywhere.
Fuck it all to hell. Tin Man was here.
Last she’d seen him, he’d been back on Earth.
“Corporal Anna Mackenzie, surrender before you get the youngling killed.”
“No!” Shadowlight snarled as he sidestepped Anna and charged Commander Gryton.
“Shadowlight stop!” But he didn’t heed her words and kept on going.
The power crackling along Anna’s senses shifted, chasing the kid. When it caught him, it transformed into a raging wall of flames between Shadowlight and his target. Tin Man wasn’t done yet, though, and the fire swiftly spread until it encircled the human-form gargoyle, trapping him inside.
“Shadowlight!”
Anna could only watch in rising horror as the fiery walls began to contract, the circle shrinking slowly inward.
Chapter Five
Gryton smiled at the human-gargoyle half-breed while he maintained careful control of the fire ring surrounding Shadowlight. He’d been secretly watching the human as she’d hidden practically in his soldiers’ shadows. Not once had they suspected an invader was within the fortress, one who had managed to infiltrate all the way into the dungeons. If nothing else, Corporal Anna Mackenzie had shown him weaknesses within the Battle Goddess’ kingdom.
Though, not many souls would be foolish enough to attempt to exploit those weaknesses. More interesting was how close they had come to success. The only reason they hadn’t escaped the fortress was because Anna didn’t yet possess the ability to shapeshift into gargoyle form and Shadowlight didn’t presently have the strength to shift back into his true form. Had luck been with them, Gryton was confident they would have escaped the fortress.
Well, had he not already been tracking the human female since early this morning, that is.
“You won’t kill him,” Anna challenged him, still not ready to admit defeat, he saw. “Not after you went to such trouble to capture him. You need him alive.”
Well, that was true, Gryton admitted. Grinning, he clarified, “You are correct. I won’t kill the child, but he’ll have some nasty burns. The kind that would kill a human, but gargoyles possess a powerful gift for self-healing. He’ll recover, eventually.”
“Tin Man, if you hurt him, I swear I’ll see you dead.”
Gryton’s grin grew broader at her use of a nickname. None ever intentionally annoyed him, at least not twice, but this human had no fear. She just stood her ground and cast insults at him.
In small doses, he imagined it would be rather refreshing to have a subordinate possess enough backbone to challenge him. Perhaps he would mentor Anna himself.
“It’s up to you.” He shrugged. “Surrender to me willingly and no harm will come to Shadowlight.”
Anna’s rifle remained pointed at his chest. He sighed. “Your weapons can do me harm, as you know, but they cannot kill me. I’m more powerful than that. But any attack you instigate will distract me. What do you think will happen to the youngling then?”
She swore, her eyes shifting to look at the ring of fire circling Shadowlight. Swearing a second time, she took her finger off the weapon’s firing mechanism and balanced the gun on her palms to show she wouldn’t attack. Bending, she placed it on the ground and then after a moment, kicked it away from her. She reached for another weapon and did the same, spending the next few minutes divesting herself of all her armaments.
When she was at last unarmed, he glanced down at the surprisingly large pile and arched an eyebrow.
“Good, now come here,” Gryton instructed.
When she was close enough, he grabbed her by the throat and dragged her against his chest. Spinning her around, he locked an arm around her neck and forced her head back to expose her throat. With his other hand, he held a knife to where her pulse pounded rapidly.
She was tense but didn’t fight him. Good. He called back his magic, and the ring of fire surrounding Shadowlight blinked out of existence. The boy snarled like he would if he was still in gargoyle form, but he didn’t otherwise threaten Gryton.
“Good boy.”
“He’s not a dog you mother fucker.”
Gryton arched a brow. The female had a fouler mouth than some of his men. He pulled her back tightly against him just to see if she’d loose another string of swearing. She did. His grin grew broader still. If nothing else, training this one would be fun.
Captain Vaspara came running down the path with several guards in tow. “Commander Gryton, I wasn’t aware you had returned from your stay in the Mortal Realm. I would have come at once, had I known you were back.”
He snorted. “Come at once with the unfortunate news of the gargoyle’s escape, you mean?”
Vaspara was too professional to waste his time attempting to weasel her way out of a disaster that had happened on her watch.
“My apologies Commander, we weren’t yet aware that one of his allies had come seeking to rescue him.” Vaspara’s eyes narrowed as she took in Corporal Mackenzie. “But this human possesses skills beyond what is normal for one of her kind.”
While Vaspara spoke, he signaled the guards to capture the young gargoyle. Shadowlight didn’t fight, surrendering his sword without taking his eyes off Gryton’s dagger where it was pressed to Anna’s throat.
“We will need to collar the gargoyle as soon as he shifts back to his true form. We can’t have another of his escape attempts.” He glanced down at the human trapped in his arms and gave her another squeeze. “Now can we, Anna? The cub might get seriously hurt next time.”
Another stream of colorful swearing burned his ears, but she didn’t struggle.
“We should begin the search for others of her kind,” Captain Vaspara said and then glowered at the human.
“No need. There are no others of her kind. She is unique, but I know what you mean. I’ve been following her since shortly after her arrival. She is alone. I believe she actually went against the wishes of her superiors and the Avatars by coming here.” Gryton turned and began to walk over to where Vaspara stood.
“She killed twenty-three of our men.” Vaspara’s lips compressed into a thin line.
He dismissed her concerns with a wave of his hand. “She was doing you a favor. The weak must be culled to strengthen the rest of the herd. Besides, your pride should be soothed knowing she isn’t really a human. She’s Shadowlight’s Kyrsu and will one day be his Second when he leads the Battle Goddess’ army.
Vaspara’s eyes widened, showing a rare bit of surprise.
“Yes,” Gryton said, guessing her thoughts. “The boy
has already been busy.”
“But he is still years away from being mature. He shouldn’t even possess the ability or the drive yet.” Vaspara was now studying the kid with calculation in her eyes.
Anna tensed up and Gryton applied more pressure to the knife at her throat.
“I know the youngling doesn’t look like much.” He looked Shadowlight up and down. “Especially now as a human boy, but he is strong in magic and quite fierce.”
“As we discovered,” Vaspara said warily before turning back to study Anna in more detail. “This one will be Shadowlight’s second in command?”
“Yes,” Gryton tapped the flat of the blade against the smooth skin of Anna’s throat. “She’s already completely loyal to him. And he to her. We can use that to our advantage during their training.”
Vaspara looked doubtful but held her silence.
“I need to report what I’ve learned in the Mortal Realm. Take these two and make sure they don’t escape. I don’t have to tell you how displeased the Battle Goddess will be should her project get delayed again.”
Captain Vaspara snapped to attention. “Be assured I will not be caught unaware again.”
“Good,” Gryton removed the dagger from Anna’s throat. “Take them back to his cell. Keep them together for now. He’ll draw strength from her and be able to shift back to his true form sooner. Send a runner to notify me when that happens.”
Vaspara took hold of the human. “As you command.”
With that, Gryton turned and started toward the temple in the center of the fortress city. Unfortunately, reporting to the Battle Goddess would be far less enjoyable than hunting and tracking Shadowlight’s pet human had been.
Chapter Six
Less than a half-hour later, Anna found herself installed in her new cell. They tossed Shadowlight in with her a moment later and then slammed the door closed again. The room was dimly lit and smelled of must and mold.
Unfortunately, they’d strip-searched her and found every weapon she’d brought to the Magic Realm. Captain Vaspara was far too interested in the ward-spelled armaments and had instructed guards to bring all Anna’s gear to her workroom.
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