RYLEN (The Tangled Web Book 1)

by Morgan Wylie

  He looked to Vi standing there expectantly, inflaming a small spark off the tips of her fingers warming up her magic; it was a nervous release that she had turned into a pre-job ritual.

  “You ready, Vi?” Rylen asked her as they got closer to where she was set up half way down the tunnel.

  “Yes, boss. I’m ready when you are,” she smiled as she knelt down to one of the boxes on the ground and wiggled her fingers, activating several electrical discharges, leaving her eyes glinting with eagerness and a smile of child-like joy on her bright red lips.

  “Ok. Single file through the portal. Silent entry. Eyes wide open. I’ll lead, Enock, you tail. Let’s do this,” Rylen directed as he faced where the portal was about to open. He watched Vi set off the first box with a simple touch of her fingers. The box buzzed with energy emitting arcs of electricity, barely able to contain her magic. She then touched the opposite box which did the same thing, connecting the two. Vi stood behind the line of energy now connected from one box to the other, facing Rylen and the lineup of their members. She looked him in the eye and nodded.

  “Find her, Ry,” Vi said seriously. He nodded and she raised both her hands high into the air. She became part of the conduction for her own electricity. The energy buzzed from the first box to the next up to her right fist then over to her left then back down to the first box on the ground. A visible rectangle shimmered with her blue magic in the dimness of the tunnel. The portal was transparent and showed Vi’s body through it, but Rylen and she knew it was set to the predetermined location they had agreed upon.

  Rylen went first and walked straight into the rectangle-shaped portal as if he would run right into Vi, but he disappeared through the magical veil. One by one the entire line of the team went through the portal, disappearing on the other side. Enock was the last one through, but stopped before he did.

  “You know the drill. Remain open for one minute to ensure that we aren’t running back through with our tails between our legs. Rylen or I will be the only ones to give you the direction to reopen. If the worst should happen, I will give the safe word to someone. Stay safe.” Enock waited for her to acknowledge what he said.

  “Understood. Stay safe,” she repeated and nodded in compliance. Sweat was beginning to accumulate on her forehead. Even though it was much easier with the enhancements assisting her magic, holding it exposed for that long still took a slight toll, but Vi was stronger than she looked and she had no intention on failing in her task for her team. After Enock went through the portal, she waited for the count of a full minute. When no one emerged back through the doorway, she broke her connection to the energy, collapsing the portal. She fell to her knees and breathed deeply, balancing her own energy as it retreated back into her body. She grabbed a water bottle, a snack, and her book from the bag she had stashed behind her. She wouldn’t be going anywhere for a while. Now to wait for their return.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Silently, Rylen and his team filed out of the portal into the surrounding forest. The night was quiet—especially in this section of town away from the loud city noises—except for the occasional night bird and the chirping of crickets. Pumped up on adrenaline and fully clothed in their thick protective wear, the team couldn’t feel the chill that permeated the night’s air. He gave a hand signal indicating to separate. Like a well-oiled machine, each pair broke off in the direction they were assigned to cover. It wasn’t difficult to find where they were going after extensive study of a local map and blueprints of the entire warehouse district provided by one of Mather’s contacts at the city planning department.

  Though dark under the treetop canopy, the foliage wasn’t so dense that you couldn’t see through to the stars. Circling overhead was a large mostly black bird that most wouldn’t even notice against the backdrop of night, except that many members of the team were shifters with excellent night-vision. Rylen watched where Lucius was circling. He was directly above a building a little further away from the one they were preparing to surround. The bird gave a screech and Rylen gave him a two fingered salute to acknowledge him. Rylen had zero doubt that Lucius wouldn’t see him. Lucius then flew toward them and out of sight. Mather came up along Rylen’s side.

  “Luc said he’s not positive Poppy is even in that building, but he knows that some are being held there based on what he can hear. He found a small window, but it was so dirty he could barely see through it.” Mather took a deep breath and crouched down next to Rylen who was spying with his binoculars through a large bush he and several others were hiding behind. “He’s going to shift now where he left his clothes and join us unless you direct otherwise,” he added once down beside Rylen.

  Rylen nodded and continued to search out the grounds. “Mai,” he whispered through the comm link, but signaled her over with a head jerk. Mai came up quickly beside him and squatted down on the other side of Rylen. He looked at her. “I need you to take your team and set the explosives around the base of that building.” He pointed straight ahead of them. Slivers of light peeked through cracks in whatever was covering the windows from the inside, most likely wood boards or maybe even just black plastic. Mai followed his finger and examined the building before she nodded to give her affirmation. “You ready?” Rylen asked.

  “Born ready, boss,” she answered with a sly smile.

  “Head out,” he instructed. Mai took off as silent as the shadow she had trained to be. Rylen went back to his military grade binoculars scanning the area beyond the building they were bringing down, searching for any forms of life.

  “I sure hope Alana got everyone out,” Rylen whispered under his breath. He knew Mather could hear him. He wouldn’t have said it out loud if he hadn’t intended to be heard at all.

  “I can shift and scout that other building if you don’t need me here,” Mather offered staring straight ahead at the building as well, listening intently for any signs of life or any other valuable intel.

  “I need you here for now. Wait until we’ve created the diversion, then shift and get in there unnoticed if you can,” Rylen commanded. He knew Mather was already on the verge of his shift and it would be hard for him to wait, but Rylen felt it necessary.

  Mather growled under his breath, but nodded in concession. Rylen was on high alert. He could barely hear his people; they were all trained extremely well at not being heard or seen if they didn’t want to be. Their skills could rival and take on any of the human secret service or SWAT teams. Enock was set behind him but up in a tree above for greater visibility of the mark.

  “Enock to Rylen,” Enock’s voice came through the comm in Rylen’s ear.

  “Go for Rylen,” he replied.

  “I’ve got a visual on Mai and team. They’re almost finished setting the sparks,” he reported. Sparks was a term they used for explosives. For practical purposes, they didn’t need to use the comm to communicate when they were that close. Rylen could have heard Enock even whispering from where he was at, but they used them for the benefit of the entire team. He wanted them to all know what was happening. In the rare occurrence they needed a private conversation, they used a code word to shut off the comm if they couldn’t just signal to each other.

  “Get ready for the boom, people,” Rylen said excitedly. “On my signal.”

  “Anything from Luc?” Rylen asked Mather who seemed to be concentrating extremely hard or trying desperately not to combust into a wolf. His control was slipping and Rylen couldn’t have a wolf freshly changed with his man out of control.

  “He’s close,” Mather’s voice was rough and gritty.

  “Go change, Mat, stay in control,” Rylen whispered with a commanding undertone. Mather shot back from his position and ran quickly yet quietly deeper into the forest. Mather’s changes were relatively quick compared to stories he had heard about werewolves who could take up to fifteen minutes enduring excruciating pain the entire time. Mather had explained to Rylen once that it was indeed painful, but he was able to accomplish it in a blink. O
ne minute he’s a man, and the next he’s a wolf, though clothing could be an issue, so he had to strip out of them before he changed or he would get tangled. Rylen’s changes were instantaneous like that as well, however, he felt no pain when he shifted rather more of an irritating tingle. They once attempted to analyze the magic to find out why they had different reactions, but it came down to magic is magic and it has a mind of its own.

  Rylen felt someone come up behind him just as Lucius crouched down where Mather had just been. Rylen was hardly ever caught off guard with his extra senses, but somehow Lucius often managed to get close before his presence was noted.

  “Anything to report?” Rylen asked.

  “Mather give you my messages?”

  Rylen nodded. “Anything to add?”

  Lucius shook his head in denial.

  “Man of many words,” Rylen added sarcastically with a small smirk.

  Lucius shrugged his shoulders. “No need.”

  “Could you tell how many are in Site 2?” Rylen asked.

  “Not many. Maybe twenty that were visible from the window.”

  “Guarded?”

  “Only one that I could see, which was strange. Another man came in a couple times with women who brought food on trays,” Lucius cocked his head in remembrance. “He seemed very familiar, though, I know I have never seen him. I’ll think on it.”

  “Enock, check in,” Rylen asked over the comm.

  “Mai and team sleuthing back into the cover of forest. Still no other action. Almost too easy if you ask me,” Enock threw out.

  “Mai to boss,” a female voice came through the ear pieces.

  “Go for Rylen.”

  “Sparks complete. On your word,” she said officially.

  “Clear the site.” Rylen pulled out the small remote detonator from his jacket. The device was in a code-locked container that fit into his interior pocket. He punched in the three digit code and pulled out the small remote with a blinking red light, signaling reception to the explosives. He looked to Lucius on his left, then up behind him to Enock who gave him a thumbs up. When he looked back down, he caught sight of a large wolf, black as night with shining green eyes, approaching the other side of Lucius who gave him a terse nod. They both looked to Rylen expectantly.

  “Sparks are going to fly in five…four…three…two…boom.” Rylen pushed the button on the remote with the excitement of a little boy doing something he knew he would get into trouble for but just didn’t care because it would be totally worth it. Infused with magic, the simultaneous explosions at the building’s corners were silent. The foundation convulsed, and vibrations crawled up the three-story building until it reached the top, blurring its image. The entire building imploded with a loud collapse of brick, concrete, wood, and sheetrock decorated with furniture and appliances. Decimated. Destroyed. A huge cloud of smoke and debris rose above the rubble.

  “That’s our cue, boys,” Rylen said to Lucius and Mather. “Enock, you’ve got the portal.”

  “Roger that,” Enock replied.

  “Mai assemble your team back to Enock,” Rylen said into the comm while he and Lucius followed behind the large wolf in front of them.

  “On it,” was all she said, but he could hear her movement in her voice.

  “Phase two commence,” Rylen instructed the teams already in place for a potential rescue. “Mather’s got the lead in wolf,” Rylen added. He heard several check and roger statements from the other end. He followed behind Lucius as shades among the shadows, moving between and around drab concrete buildings and industrial structures. The compound felt abandoned and ghostly, but Rylen sensed a faint buzz of magic. It held a familiarity to it, but it was little more than a diluted essence. They moved closer to the building in question. A breeze stirred in the air, shifting leaves and debris from the wreckage. Rylen was glad for Mather’s nose, the smells of smoke, gas, and other miscellaneous fumes were throwing off his own.

  Just then, Lucius threw out his arm to stop Rylen while simultaneously making some kind of strange inhuman sound that stopped Mather short. Mather looked back at Luc, annoyed. Mather had been aware of the man who was sneaking into the side of the building next to the one holding the prisoners. His back was to them and could not be identified, but something about the man caught Rylen’s attention, though he couldn’t decipher what it was. They watched as he pulled out a set of what must have been keys and unlocked the door, sneaking inside. Just before he was about to slide completely within the darkness beyond the door, he looked out to ensure he wasn’t followed.

  Rylen gasped. “No. It couldn’t be,” he whispered under his breath. Lucius turned back to him with an eyebrow raised. Rylen couldn’t take his stare away from that entrance. He felt his pulse skyrocket and the blood drain from his face all at the same time. He simply shook his head in answer to Luc’s silent question. He took a deep breath and quickly regrouped.

  Mather took a step beyond the side of the building they were leaning against, dissolving within its shadow. He looked each way of a small side street. They had to cross it to get to the building on the opposite side. There were no other movements. He lifted his muzzle into the air, testing the scents carried within it. Obviously, deeming it was safe, Mather proceeded to dash across the street. He was swift for as big as he was—much bigger than a normal-sized dog and even bigger than most natural wolves, except perhaps Timber wolves. Even from across the short street, it was hard to see him because he blended in so well with the darkness of night, except for those glowing green eyes he turned back to Rylen and Lucius waiting to cross.

  They each crossed one at a time with no incident and joined the wolf. Just behind them, Rylen spotted his other team members moving in close, ready for the signal. He gestured with his hands to surround the backside of the building. They knew from Lucius’ recon work that this smaller two-story building had a front entrance along with a back one that had been barricaded with iron cross bars from the outside. Several windows ran the length of it, but they were all blacked out from the inside. They could smash through several of the windows, but they didn’t know if they might be rigged, not to mention the ruckus it would cause alerting anyone nearby of their presence. Their option was the front door. Two men crept up either side of the building to look out from each side. At their signal, Mather and Lucius snuck to the front door. The light above the door had been previously shattered. In fact, all the lights nearby had already been shattered encasing them in a bubble of darkness. That made sleuthing easier, but their suspicions heightened.

  Lucius already had his lock picks out and was working the door. It seemed to only have a simple deadbolt and handle lock, but Rylen could feel the supernatural energy radiating around the building.

  Barely even a whisper, Rylen warned, “Easy. There’s magic here.” He spoke in to the comm using as few words as possible knowing they would understand. He placed his hands on the side of the building, feeling out what was beyond their senses. All magic had a signature energy to it. Unless whoever used the spell was an extremely advanced warlock, such as himself, they often left trails back to the creation point or loop holes that allowed someone skilled to alter or break the spell in place. He focused on the magic. A solid singular spell surrounded the building. Rylen could see it clearly when he looked at it intentionally with his own second sight. It was a gold, glowing energy, but this particular spell was simple in makeup. It worked more like a trip wire, signaling the weaver if someone crossed its boundary. However, they weren’t counting on Rylen, a master warlock, to be there. Closing his eyes, Rylen deciphered the spells used to create the one that was “live.” It wasn’t hard necessarily, but there were a few tricky spells, almost as if the one who designed it learned magic off the street—so to speak—it was rough and lewdly woven together; a mix of amateur choices with a practiced ease. Mentally, he picked through the strands of the spell like threads until he found the one that gave him the ability to bypass the alarm. Lucius watched Rylen, waiting for
the signal to finish unlocking the door. With one hand in the air, a finger indicating to wait, Rylen’s brow scrunched in deep concentration. He almost had it. In his mind, he heard a “click” when his magic found the loop-hole. Rylen smirked and opened his eyes, giving Lucius a cocky grin then pointed his finger at him giving him the go ahead.

  Mather was on point and ready to charge into the building as soon as Luc opened the door. He would have barreled through it already by now if he had the broad shoulders of his man, but in the form of a wolf it was more challenging. He could still do it, but it would have hurt.

  “Wait for me,” Luc hissed under his breath at his brother. “We will find her.”

  Mather tilted his head up at Lucius to see his face better or to give him his annoyed look.

  “Slowly, Mather. We don’t know what’s on the other side. You can’t help her if you’re dead,” Lucius pointed out flatly as he clicked the last pin in the lock. He cautiously pushed open the door. Instantly, the hackles on Mather’s back were up and he was growling, but held himself back. Even Lucius was taken aback. He turned to Rylen with a grim look on his face. Rylen jumped over to where they were standing.