“Nulls are beings of myth.”
“Really? Maybe you should tell that to my dead.” Fallon’s body shifted in her anger, but within a moment she was back to her original stance. “There’s more. They’re sacrificing her tonight to raise the Four Demons.”
Sacrifice.
Sacrifice.
Sacrifice.
He rushed at Fallon and grabbed the swordswoman by the throat. “Tell me where she is!”
Fallon’s eyes bore into his, molten gold surrounded by fire, and under his hand a peculiar warmth, a current of power traveling over her skin. “Get your hand off me or lose it.”
His hand loosened but did not let go. “Tell me.”
“Will you fight beside us for her and for the protection of this realm? Will you order your Clan to come to our aid?”
Terak stepped back. He did not break eye contact. He would never be ashamed of his decision, though at this moment he regretted it more than he ever contemplated. “I have no Clan. I gave them up for her. There are no others that can help.”
Fallon’s eyes lost their fire, though her body still had the brittle tenseness that spoke of upcoming battle. “Well, hell. Looks like I owe Ais ten bucks.”
Thwup. Thwup. Thwup.
Both looked toward the balcony to see Malek and a half-dozen other gargoyles on the landing. Malek walked in while the others waited outside. “Mennak, the Guild has contacted us and told us what happened.”
Confusion flew through him on hummingbird wings. “Malek, why are you here?”
“To rescue our Meyla.”
“What are you speaking of? I am no longer Clan.”
“No.” Malek cut him off, his wings flaring out with the strength of that word. “That is unacceptable. We have cut ourselves from the Clan as well, because we will follow none but you. The old ways are unacceptable. We trust you to lead us in a new Clan, you and your mate.”
Terak shook his head as sorrow seeped into the cracks of his battered heart, the parts that broke when he flew away that last night. “I did not want this. I wanted the Clan to be strong and united.”
Malek placed his hand on Terak’s shoulder. “Perhaps it was inevitable. We were never a single Clan before, perhaps it is not our way. All we know,” he said, gesturing to include those behind him, “is we follow none but you. We trust you with our lives and the lives of our mates and children. We go where you lead.”
“And if my first order is to place you in danger to protect my mate?”
“We live and die for our Mennak and our Meyla. It has always been so.”
Terak drew him close and touched their foreheads for a moment, mixing gratitude and acceptance and relief. He pulled away. “How many warriors to follow me tonight?”
“Sixty.”
Terak turned to Fallon. “Will that do?”
“Is there another choice? Now let’s go kill some necromancers.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
So here was where it ended, in a maze of caves far away from her home, a sacrifice to release powerful demons who were going to destroy this world and rip the realms apart.
Larissa huddled deeper into her jacket. Earlier, above the clang of metal on metal and the screams of those hurt and dying, she had heard Laire’s voice.
She’s a null!
Before today, she’d never heard that word, the reason for all these weeks of pain and worry.
The reason Terak had come into her life.
Larissa glanced through the bars to where Taneasha lay in the other cage. The girl was quiet now, curled in on herself, but earlier she had been alternating between screaming at the vampire to let her out and begging Larissa to forgive her, swearing that what had been shown her was real, Terak really said those things.
It didn’t make sense. Nothing made sense. Had it all been a lie? Everything they had talked about those long evenings, the battles they had fought together?
Making love?
How could that have been a lie?
Shivering, she stuffed her hands into her pockets. Stiff leather brushed against her fingers, and she grabbed the unfamiliar object, pulling it out.
This was the book the Oracle had given her. The Mating Habits of Gargoyles.
The Oracle. The woman who had started it all, if those images were indeed true.
Guard her well.
He did do that. He held her and protected her and he was so warm. If he were here right now, she could be curled up against that chest that could double as a furnace.
She pushed the confusion over Terak away and flipped the pages open. Knowing what she knew of the Oracle, this book promised to be…interesting. But it wasn’t like she had anything else to do while waiting to be sacrificed.
It was written in English, which was good. But instead of salacious, wonderfully purple prose, it was written in academic speak. Well, that took some of the fun out of it.
Still, she kept reading, until one passage knocked in her chest and pushed all breath from her body.
“The ultimate physical expression of love for a gargoyle is the wrapping of their wings around their ‘mate’. It is an instinctive gesture and one that the paranoid and isolated gargoyle cannot force and cannot compel, as it leaves the gargoyle’s only true vulnerable spot on their body accessible to the one who is enveloped. Even couples who have been mated for years – decades – sometimes have not reached this level of trust.”
Terak wrapped her in his wings that first night as she had sobbed against the castle floor. She was the one who forced him to let her go.
A photo album of memories flipped open through her mind, and time after time Terak stood with her, his wings either completely enveloping her or half around her as they stood together. He blocked out the world and let them remain in their own little world together with those wings. He hugged her tight to him that last night. It had been the most exquisite feeling of safety of love when he enveloped her, a feeling not even the embraces of her father and brothers had ever touched.
She felt loved.
And it was because he loved her.
None of it had been a lie, and she had been an emotional idiot to believe otherwise for even a moment. She knew Terak. She knew him. He was good and honorable to the point of being a stick-in-the-mud. That she could doubt him was ridiculous.
There was a reason he had been speaking to that vampire. It didn’t matter what it looked like, she was a jerk to have lost faith as she did.
Gods, she had made a real mess of things.
Revelation sparked through her body and demanded movement. She stood, regaining her fight and her momentum.
Terak loved her, and he would be here for her. Of course, that didn’t mean she should wait to be rescued, but knowing back-up was fighting like hell to get to her, well, that pumped the spirits up.
She had a student to save, necromancers to thwart, and a gargoyle to make amends to. It was going to be a busy night.
Chapter Thirty-Six
The magical shield around the mountain pulsed in bright arcs underneath the hand of the Battle Mage, the glow illuminating her almond-shaped eyes and small, straight nose as she talked to Fallon, Terak, and assorted other warriors. “We can create a pocket in the shield for a short time. If everything goes well, the pocket will stay open long enough to allow eight to twelve people to get through before the barrier seals itself again. Then we’ll have to recast the spells, which will take at least ten minutes per casting. The first waves are going to be deep in the shit and sans back-up. First wave should be ready to go in three minutes.”
Fallon nodded, her calm expression telling all that the mage’s words were exactly what she expected to hear. “How many waves can we get in before the start of the ceremony?”
Laire looked up at the moon. “Three at most, and that’s if the casting is perfect with no problems.” She waved her hand toward a group of haggard beings chanting in front of the wall. “As you can tell, perfect might be hard to achieve.”
Fal
lon looked over at Aislynn who stood at the edges of the group. The elf was on lookout, her bow at the ready. “Any signs someone has seen us?”
“None so far. The invisibility spell the wizards cast seems to be working.”
The shield started to flicker and break. It wouldn’t be much longer. Fallon turned back to Laire. “What about inside? Any clues what’s going on there?”
“I can give guesses, nothing more,” said Laire. “They suffered major casualties today, but they know they did damage to us. Even if they suspect we’re here to attack them, I wouldn’t be expecting huge numbers of guards, but the guards they do have will be fresh and ready to fight. As for the mages, a lot of spell power has been used today to get ready for the ceremony. They won’t be at full power any more than we are. But there will be at least one vampire in there, and a half-tapped vampire is still a powerful enemy.”
Terak clenched his jaw, keeping his snarls behind teeth instead of roaring out his displeasure. It was of no matter how many stood guard or fought tonight. They were dead, and he would get his mate back.
“Gargoyles.” With a snap of her fingers the mage brought before them a glowing map in the sky, pointing at a little x marked far away from the squares and circles that dominated the bottom. “This is where you guys are being teleported. The cave has an entrance that is high in the mountains and goes down. Impossible for anyone not winged or otherwise flying-abled, which is probably why they didn’t put a barrier there. Bad news is we don’t know exactly how easy it will be to travel that path. No dwarves we know had anything to do with the construction of these caves. At best, you’re going to arrive T-minus fifteen minutes, putting you somewhere between the second and third wave. At best.”
Terak shook his head. “I will be in the first wave through the barrier. The rest of my warriors are to be transported.”
Malek came, putting his hand on Terak’s shoulder. “We will retrieve our Meyla. Do not fear.”
Terak placed his hand on Malek’s shoulder, returning the gesture. He looked over at the warriors who stood ready to fight. “No matter the end of this night, we will teach the vampires to fear the gargoyle.”
Laire flicked her fingers with clear impatience. “As heartwarming as this all is, gargoyles who are going to be flying need to gather together. Teleporting this many beings is not easy, and I’d like to get you somewhere close to the entrance and not Siberia.”
Malek let go and stood at the head of the group of gargoyles. With a wave, the mage made the gargoyles disappear.
The mage swayed after they disappeared, and Fallon went over in front of her. “Laire?”
The Asian woman waved her off. “Long day. We all have to push past, right?”
Fallon smiled, and for the first time Terak could see friendship in the expression. “Right.”
“Thirty seconds,” called one of the wizards working on the barrier.
Laire clapped her hands and motioned toward the entrance. “If you’re stupid or suicidal, please step up to become the first wave.”
Fallon gave her a slit-eyed glare as she hefted her sword free. “That wasn’t directed at me, was it?”
“If the heavy-ass sword fits.”
“Ten seconds.”
Terak walked to the barrier behind only Fallon. Fallon gave a quick glance towards him. “Well, Gargoyle, let’s do this.”
The barrier opened.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
The door opened to Larissa’s cell, and Garof walked into the room, followed by two human men. Their eyes were lowered so no clue if they were red or not, but based on their demeanor they didn’t seem much above garden-variety whipping boys.
Taneasha was crying in the corner. She stood, only to moments later fall on her knees before the vampire. “Master, please,” she begged.
The vampire crouched down in front of Taneasha, taking her chin in his hand. “Hush, girl. Think of the glorious part you will play in the ascension of the necromancers to their true position in a reborn Magic Realm. Your death will have so much more meaning than a child like you deserves.” He motioned to his followers. “Grab the child. I will transport the null.”
The men each grabbed one of Taneasha’s arms and dragged her out of the cell.
Garof turned to Larissa. “I have no need to drag you, do I?”
“No.” Larissa stood. “I would prefer you didn’t. I am capable of walking myself.”
“Good. I prefer when things are kept dignified, do you agree?”
They walked for several minutes until they came to a room where two stone altars stood next to each other, about ten feet apart with a fire pit between them. Floating above the fire was an ornate dagger and a large red stone, both items she had grabbed from the vault.
Taneasha was already chained to the altar on the left. Garof grabbed her upper arm, but Larissa pulled away. “I said I wouldn’t make a scene. Don’t touch me.” She walked to the other altar.
Manacles. The stupid bastards were going to chain her down. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep the relief that pulsed through her from showing on her face. The cuffs were older but in good condition. They also glowed red, which meant they were enchanted.
Which meant the vampires probably placed most of their trust in the magic of the chains and not the physical strength of the chains themselves. That seemed to be the theme of the day.
And there were no manacles for the feet, which meant she had a chance of making at least step one of her plan succeeding.
Too bad she hadn’t formulated step two yet.
Larissa lay on the altar and put her arms up. Garof shackled her. “I am impressed, human. It is rare to see such a display of obedience.”
“Hate to break it to you, but compliments from you don’t really do it for me, so I wouldn’t bother.”
The vampire inclined his head. “As you wish.” He stood between the two altars and motioned for the two followers to kneel at the foot. “Start the casting.”
Not even a minute after the two men began to chant, a shrill scream filled the room. The two acolytes stopped chanting, only to have Garof say, “Do not stop, no matter what!”
Another human in a robe ran up to the vampire. “Master, we are being attacked.”
Garof stepped away, though not before Larissa saw his lips form a snarl. As he walked from the room, she heard him say, “They must be delayed until the spell can be completed.” Garof and the robed human left.
The only bad guys left in the room were the two chanting.
No time like the present. The cuffs were tight but nothing compared to what her brothers put her through. She freed her hands with barely a scrape.
The rhythmic chanting was rising in volume, and the cave walls started to not so much shake as undulate. Both the dagger and the jewel were glowing, the dagger red and the stone blue.
The commotion outside the cavern was growing louder as well, echoes of multitudes of footsteps intermixed with the clanging of metal on metal and screams – which abruptly stopped.
And then came the call. “Meyja!”
Terak! He was here, yes, he was and no way was she going to be some sort of sacrifice for these idiot vampires. She had a gargoyle waiting who she was going to kiss until her lips fell off and then mate with him and live wherever they could be together – her world, his world, or a world they would create on their own.
Dumb and Dumber down there on the floor were oblivious to everything outside their chants. And in front of her, right beside the fire pit, was a decent-sized and solid-looking cauldron.
Never had she been quieter than she was at that moment, not even when she had been taking pictures of her brother Christopher getting to second base on their sofa with his high-school girlfriend.
A couple of well-aimed conks later, both men were unconscious. If they got brain damage, oh well.
Taneasha rattled her chains, her eyes pleading when Larissa looked at her. “Please, Miss Miller, don’t leave me here. I’m so sorry. I never
thought anything like this would happen. They said they wanted to talk to you about helping with a spell. I’m so sorry.”
Maybe she was. And maybe Larissa understood how this could happen with a girl as shy and sensitive as Taneasha was. That didn’t change the fact this was Taneasha’s fault and there would be consequences for her actions. “I’m going to free you and get us out of here. Everything else can wait until we’re safe.”
Knocked-out acolyte number one had the key, and Larissa freed the girl from the altar. Now, where to go? Terak’s voice had come from the main door, but that was where the necromancer had gone. To run out there would be to run straight into them.
Looking around the cave, there was one small side door behind the altars. It could lead anywhere, or it could lead nowhere at all, but it was the only other door. “We’re going through there. The front door would be too dangerous with that battle going on.”
Taneasha nodded, staying close to her.
“I need you to stay a bit away from me.”
Taneasha looked at her with hurt eyes, but understanding dawned moments later when Larissa grabbed the stone and dagger. “I don’t know what these things would do to anyone not magically immune, and I don’t want to find out by watching what happens to you.”
Taneasha nodded, staying a small distance away as they ran through the doors.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Terak clawed through another orc, dismembering the beast before throwing the carcass to the side.
There were fewer enemies than expected. The earlier attack on the Guild must have taken most of their resources. The first wave made good progress as they tore through the underlings, but it was too soon to gloat over easy triumph – the necromancers still awaited them.
Stone Guardian (Entwined Realms) Page 26