Before the Storm

by Claire Ashgrove

  “Did you get what you were after?” I mumbled.

  “No.” He pulled my shirt back into place. “I’m going to try to do something with Kale now. Just rest.”

  Yeah…not like I was going anywhere anytime soon. Even if I could manage to stand up again, there were still magically charged bars keeping me confined. And an entire horde of Yaksini out there waiting. By now the entire compound must know.

  “How are we going to get out of here?” I asked, opening my eyes once more.

  Marcus looked up from Kale’s exposed chest. His answer sent a chill sliding through my veins. “We pray.”

  Thirty-six

  Something clicked in the corridor.

  I had been dozing for hours, never really falling asleep, but hovering somewhere on the verge while Marcus tended to Kale, who still lay unconscious on the floor. My rest had served some purpose though; my body no longer felt like a train had rolled over it, and my energy was beginning to return. I edged onto my elbow and cocked my head at the bars. “Did you hear that?”

  From his seat on the bench, Marcus shot me a quizzical glance. “Hear what?”

  Another clatter, like a skipped pebble, broke the rhythmic clang-clang of machinery.

  “That,” I whispered as I pushed to my feet. “Someone’s out there.”

  “Well stay the hell back then, ace,” he snapped.

  I shook my head, sensing…something. Slowly, I reached to wrap a hand around the bars and peek out. But as my fingertips touched the cool metal, a sharp zing sizzled up my arm. I drew back with a sharp yelp.

  Marcus chuckled.

  Despite the glare I shot his way, I couldn’t blame him. He’d done the same thing some time earlier. I should have remembered his violent oaths. Oddly though, the charge that hit him had nearly dropped him to his knees. Nothing like the jolt I’d just received that felt quite a bit like the time I plugged in a faulty curling iron.

  Two more skitters in the corridor drew me back to the bars. I leaned close enough I could feel the pulse of power against my cheeks. I craned my neck to see down the dim passage, but the barrier in front of me made it impossible to glimpse more than five or six feet. And in those five or six feet, I found nothing.

  Silence descended around us. I stayed still, waiting. But nothing happened, and I began to suspect whoever it was had moved on. With a sigh, I turned around and studied Kale. Marcus had done what he could, mainly feeding him energy that restored his color somewhat. It seemed his injuries were beyond Marcus’s abilities. Kale still struggled for each breath, still lay frighteningly unmoving. I didn’t want to consider what would happen to him when my uncle returned. Speaking of—I’d expected him to be back by now.

  “How long have we been here?” I asked Marcus.

  He shrugged, scrubbed at his face, then let out a haggard sigh. “My guess is six—” His eyes widened at something behind me, and whatever he’d intended to say faded into silence.

  I turned to find a shockingly beautiful woman standing on the other side of the bars. My own eyes widened in surprise. She wore dark fatigues like Marcus, paired with a simple black tank top, and somehow the plain outfit accented curves even I could appreciate. Alabaster skin stood out in the weak light, accented by a wild mane of rich auburn hair that fell past her waist. Her deep blue eyes flicked over me then locked on Marcus.

  “You are such a fool,” she whispered. “Did you really think you’d find that shard?”

  Fury darkened his expression. He rose swiftly and crossed to the bars, shouldering me aside. He raised both hands, clenched his fingers like he intended to shake the bars, then thought better of the idea and dropped both to his waist. They closed into tight fists. Tension snapped his body into one hard length. When he spoke, his voice was nothing less than a vicious bite. “I was a fool for trusting you.”

  Oh, boy. History laced them together tighter than the boots on my feet. And sure as shooting, this was about to get ugly.

  Her eyes narrowed, the glint within them every bit as venomous. “I should open these bars and sound the alarm. Let them tear you apart. I warned you what would happen if you came back.”

  Marcus didn’t blink. Hell, he didn’t flinch. His voice dropped to a low, threatening tone that sent chills up my spine. “I promise I’ll reach you before they get through the door. And I’ll enjoy every moment of breaking your pretty, deceiving neck.”

  I had no doubt he meant every word of his threat, and glanced between them warily, wanting nothing more than to meld into the stone. The very air between them crackled with charged energy. But I was curious too, and that curiosity locked me in place, afraid if I so much as exhaled, they’d fall into silence and I’d never hear the rest.

  The woman’s laughter surprised me. Sharp and brittle, it didn’t hold the chill my uncle’s had, but it was false and humorless all the same. Forced to no slight degree. “Such drama. Over something so ridiculously petty. Really, Marcus, it doesn’t become you.”

  “I loved you.”

  My jaw dropped. Now was about the time for the floor to drop open and swallow me whole. I shouldn’t be hearing this. In fact…I shuffled sideways, edging closer to Kale, intent on at least appearing focused on him.

  “That’s your fault then,” she answered coolly. “I never asked for it.”

  “Yes, it is my fault. But I didn’t realize you were completely heartless.”

  “I wouldn’t say I am.” She let out another soft laugh and took a step back away from the bars. “If I were, I wouldn’t be here now.”

  I caught the suspicious narrowing of Marcus’s gaze as he cocked his head and studied her. That mistrust was enough to freeze my retreat. I stood stock still, muscles tightening in anticipation. Of what, I didn’t know. I expected something monumental.

  Beyond the bars, the atmosphere warbled. Power pulsed through the cell, lifting the faint hairs on my arms. Magic I recognized… Tolvenar power. My pulse skipped.

  As I stared, a figure took shape in the rippling air. Long lithe limbs, thick grey braid that draped over an aging shoulder. Maude faded into clear view. She cut a sharp sideways glance to the redhead. “Yes, you’re all heart, Surana. Your compassion drips off your fingertips. Now go, as we discussed, and don’t make me come after you. I’m in no mood for the journey to Abernon.”

  As my brain stuttered over the discovery that not only was Surana standing on the other side of my cell, but that she also knew both Maude and Marcus, Marcus stepped back from the bars. Surana disappeared down the corridor. A door closed firmly in her wake.

  The sound knocked me out of my stupor, and I hurried toward Maude. “What are you doing here? How did you…”

  Her smile held warmth my heart yearned to know. “I heard your call for help. But we mustn’t waste time with conversation. The others are here.” Her gaze drifted to where Kale lay, and worry drew her silvery brows together sharply. Her whisper held urgency. “Hurry.”

  “Others?” I asked.

  “Gerard, Spring, a handful of others. Even Beth,” Maude answered. As she spoke, she examined the bars, seemingly studying the magical pattern that flowed between each thick length. “Ah, clever. He built it to hold an archlich. No wonder you’re magic is worthless here, Marcus.” She spoke more to herself than us, I suspected, and fanned her hands before the bars, occasionally murmuring words I didn’t understand. Muted sounds of snapping followed in chain reaction.

  Beth and Gerard were here? I blinked, still trying to absorb the revelation. “How did you get in?” I blurted.

  Maude traced her leathery hands over the bars once more, producing another round of quiet snaps and clicks. “Surana owed me a favor.”

  “She owes everyone favors,” Marcus muttered. Lips pursed, he turned away from Maude and crouched near Kale. He tucked one arm behind Kale’s knees and the other beneath his shoulder blades. With a grunt, he stood, hefting Kale into his arms. “Where are we going?” he asked Maude.

 
“Spring and Surana will lead you out. I cannot stay. My magic is no good for battle any more.” She gave one last twist of both wrists and took two steps back. “That should do it.”

  Nothing happened.

  Not at first. But a second later, the furthest bar on the left shuddered. Then the one beside it. And the next, and the next, setting off a domino reaction, until they all rattled like an invisible force shook them. Then, as one collective unit, they crumpled into ash. Nothing remained between us and the wide-open corridor.

  “Wow,” I murmured beneath my breath.

  Maude clasped me tightly to her. “Be careful, Halle.” She let go and looked beyond me at Marcus. Compassion filled her eyes, along with a discernable, hopeful plea. “And you too, Marcus. We need them both. I’ll slip out behind you and hurry back home.”

  In the next blink, she faded into the atmosphere once more, the air shivering in her wake as it had before she appeared.

  A cacophony of noise erupted beyond the closed door at the end of the corridor. Shouts, deafening booms, even screams pierced the air. Marcus’s grave expression held me in place. Apprehension knotted my lungs. I might have regained some energy but nowhere near what I would need for spells. I would be as effective as Maude. Which meant we had to rely on Spring and Surana to lead us to safety. And the Surana half of that equation made me uneasy. Could she be trusted?

  “I’m out of commission, ace.” Marcus adjusted his hold on Kale. “I can’t bail you out if we get into anything.”

  Great. Just what I needed, although I wasn’t really surprised. With his arms full, his limitations were a little obvious. I shot him a hesitant glance. “Can we trust her?”

  His hard, unblinking stare never left the distant door, but the muscles along the side of his jaw ticked.

  Maude answered for him. “You can trust me.”

  I took a deep breath, answered with a short nod, and struck off down the corridor. Now or never, and I wasn’t spending the rest of my life in that cell.

  The door opened before we reached it. Surana waved us forward, glancing over her shoulder, her sharp quick motions wrenching my nerves into knots. Beyond her, a flash of brilliant turquoise illuminated the dark tunnel. A guttural howl rose above an anguished scream. Goosebumps lifted on my arms as fear broke over my skin.

  Down deep within me, though, something I had only begun to understand stirred to life. My power slowly churned, answering the dark call to battle. Though I knew I hadn’t rested long enough to regain my full strength, the pull was strong and hard to resist. Every instinct I possessed demanded I veer away from Surana’s escort and hunt down my uncle. Though I’d failed to save my mother, Faye was still paramount, and that fiend had her. If I could destroy him now, while he was distracted by Kale’s clan, Faye would never again suffer his abuse.

  Surana set a hand on my shoulder and urged me beyond her. “Spring’s at the end of the corridor. I’ll guard the rear.” Deep blue eyes lifted to Marcus and a flicker of some emotion I couldn’t quite name washed over her pale features. “Get Kale out of here. Before it’s too late.”

  Marcus answered with a terse nod, shouldered around me, and struck off, his head bowed ever-so-slightly as if to somehow shield Kale from view. Before it’s too late? A shudder gripped me. He was in a bad way, but was it all that dire?

  Another thundering boom jolted me into action. I raced after Marcus, quickly assuming the lead. My hands began to tingle less than twenty feet in. Curling my fingers into my palm, I let the energy build. I was in no shape to fight, but if Surana had ushered us down a trap, and Spring wasn’t at the end of the corridor, I’d be better be prepared. Just in case.

  The longer we jogged, the more my anxiety began to pick away at my thoughts. I couldn’t see Surana behind us when I looked back. Ahead, an empty tunnel stretched in front of us. Marcus’s gaze darted around anxiously, and what he didn’t say, only fed my apprehension. As I began to become more and more convinced we were running straight into my uncle’s waiting arms, a shadow leapt from a hidden alcove. Yellowed teeth snapped as the bipedal creature hunched into a fur-covered body and crouched, ready to pounce. I stumbled back and bumped into Marcus.

  Reflex took over. As I scrambled for my footing, I brought my hands in front of my body, concentrating on the building energy between my fingertips. It was weak, but perhaps serviceable.

  The creature lunged again, this time at Kale and Marcus. Misshapen hands snatched at Kale’s dangling arm. Marcus whirled to the side, shielding Kale. “Halle!”

  “I’m trying!” I opened my fingertips, fanned them outward. Between my palms a faint effervescent green light crackled like lightning. I didn’t know what it was. Didn’t care. So long as it worked.

  I lifted my arms, prepared to smash that slobbering furball into pieces.

  “No!” Surana appeared seemingly out of nowhere and shoved me aside.

  Tripping over my own feet, I toppled to my knees. The power I’d gathered dissipated with my surprised grunt. Damn it. “I thought you were on our side.”

  “I am,” she ground out tightly.

  It was then I noticed the knife flashing in her hand. She arced one arm, and in a stunning move of agile strength, sent the blade flying through the air. It struck home soundlessly, lodging in the creature’s throat. The beast dropped like a rock.

  I blinked.

  “Not your magic. Not here.” She shook her head at me, then strode to the creature. With one foot braced on its chest, she pulled her knife free. “Not if you want to get out.”

  Before I could process her meaning, she offered me a hand and helped me to my feet. “Use your head, or he’ll be only too glad to relieve you of it.”

  I snatched my hand away with a scowl. I opened my mouth to tell her where she could put her advice, when another voice filtered through the dim corridor. One I trusted far more.

  “She’s right.” Spring stepped from the far shadows, joining us. “Halle, he’s too powerful to not sense your spells. He’ll know exactly where you are. You must only use magic as a last resort. Hopefully, you won’t need to.” She tipped her head to look beyond me at Marcus. “How are you holding up?”

  Marcus nodded. “I’m good. More than I can say for him. He’s fading fast.”

  At those words, my heart stopped. My gaze pulled to Kale as a silent gasp slipped off my lips. Fading? No, no he couldn’t be.

  Spring reached into her long leather duster and pulled out a silver vial. She unscrewed the cap and moved to stand at Kale’s head. “Leaf said it helped last time. He made it as soon as Maude brought word.” With one gentle hand cupped around Kale’s cheek, she poured a pale lavender liquid into his mouth.

  I watched, feeling more helpless than I ever had. It was my fault Kale was hurt, and there wasn’t a damned thing I could do to heal him. And I envied the fact Spring could. For that matter, I envied them all—Marcus and his wisdom; Surana and her deadly arm; Maude and her superior magic. I looked away. I was out of my league.

  Surana pulled another blade from the belt at her waist and flipped the hilt toward me. “Take this.”

  Like that was going to help me be any more competent. Sighing, I accepted the knife and tucked it in the back of my waistband. “Thanks.”

  “Let’s keep moving,” Marcus suggested.

  “This way.” Spring pointed the way she’d come. “Leaf is waiting. Beth, Sevrin, and Gerard have the mezzanine locked down, but we have to move fast. Gerard can only handle so much.”

  We fell into line behind her, moving at a fast clip. The racket intensified the closer we came, and the rumbling effects of magical attacks made the very walls shake. I tried to ignore the constant tingling of my palms and the stirring deep inside my soul. I’d been warned, and this time, I wasn’t about to question anyone’s wisdom. Doing so the first time had led to this mess.

  As we broke into the cavernous belly with its bridge of stone and the mezzanine I’d taken to my mother’s dor
mitory, the sound of barking dogs broke over the intense clatter. Punctuating the high-pitched, frenzied yelps came the menacing echo of something far more vicious, more ferocious than a pack of canines.

  “Hurry!” Surana shouted over a cannonade of rock that fell from the high ceiling. She ducked as an intense flash of white washed the through cavern and a deafening crack split the air. “He’s set the corvits free. They’ll shred Gerard’s company if they get that close.”

  Corvits? Now wasn’t the time to ask. I suspected I didn’t really want to know either. Instead, I doubled my pace, glancing back once over my shoulder to check on Marcus. He lagged behind us, but he too had picked up his stride. Kale’s weight didn’t seem to be hindering him too greatly.

  At the bend in the path that led to the rope ladder, Surana came to an abrupt halt. Her gaze sought Marcus’s, and something unspoken passed between them. His features sharpened, anger once more flashing in his tawny eyes. She shook her head, and then backed two paces away. In answer, he shouldered around us all and disappeared around the bend.

  When I looked back to where Surana had been, she was gone.

  Another series of yellow, violet, and green flashes trumpeted a bone-jarring explosion, and I bolted after him with Spring on my heels. We came to a halt, all of us panting, at the bottom of the swaying ladder.

  Despair punched me in the gut. No way could we get Kale up those unsteady footholds. Not unless someone strapped him to Marcus’s back. Even then, it might through his balance out of whack. And who knew how much weight that ladder could support at one time? “Damn it,” I muttered.

  Spring tossed me a wink. “Got it covered.” She lifted two fingers to her lips and let out two, low whistles.

  In answer, a head popped over the tall ridge above. Untamed brown hair framed a boyish grin. He returned her whistle, then disappeared out of sight. In the next instant, he pitched his entire body over the edge, arms and legs flailing, as he dropped a good four feet.