by Dannika Dark
“Then why did they not attack us all at once?”
Shepherd wiped his nose. “Because the first rule of battle is to disorient your enemy and force them to a second location. Lions also like to separate the herd. It increases their odds of success. When you keep someone moving on the defense, they panic and make mistakes. They’ve already managed to separate us, and they’re cutting into our sleep time. These guys are playing chess, not checkers. One calculated move at a time.”
“It’s gonna be a long night,” I muttered, ducking beneath a low branch.
After several minutes hiking, we spotted a bright glow up ahead. The smell of charred wood wafted toward us as a huge fire burned at the mouth of a cave. Most wild animals instinctually avoided smoke and fire as a source of danger, so if the lions didn’t shift back, it might keep them at bay.
“Don’t shoot. It’s Shepherd,” he called out.
Viktor emerged from the entrance and lowered his gun as he met up with Shepherd. “You’re not supposed to be here. Where is the boy?”
Shepherd sighed. “We stayed parked right where we were, just like you instructed. You’re right. That kid would have bolted from the door and jumped onto the road if I’d driven back. I drugged his tea to knock him out, but I guess he was onto me. After he nodded off on the couch, I went to take a piss. He must have dumped it when I wasn’t looking. Swear I was in there for only one minute with the door open, and when I came out, poof… he was gone. Searched the whole damn area, but I knew which way he was headed.”
Christian dropped my bag and raked his fingers through his disheveled hair.
“How did you find us?” I asked, baffled by Shepherd’s tracking skills.
“Viktor and I mapped out the path on the way here after talking to Wyatt on the satellite phone. I knew the general area and distance, but the lions and screams led me to the right spot.”
I blinked and looked between them. “Where’s the phone? Can we call for backup or cancel the mission?”
“Nyet.” Viktor led us into the cave. “We have no choice but to follow this through. No outside parties were approved for this mission. I have explicit orders to keep everyone out, and we have already broken that rule with your new acquaintance.”
“Speak of the devil,” Christian murmured.
Matteo appeared from the woods with an armload of sticks and branches. “We need more wood, but I don’t have my axe.”
Christian walked assertively up to him, and the two men stared at each other. While Matteo was a good five or six inches taller, Christian had the advantage in looking him in the eye. Matteo didn’t chance it and kept his gaze at mouth level.
Christian folded his arms. “And who might you be?”
“Matteo Leone, at your service.” He bowed, his long hair falling forward.
“Is that so?” Christian’s fangs punched out. “If you do one thing to put these children in harm’s way, I’ll cast your head to the lions.” He snapped his gaze toward Viktor. “Why do we still need him?”
Viktor zipped his coat all the way up. “Because we are lost and lions are hunting us.”
I searched the chamber. “Where are the kids?”
“Up here,” Carol said.
I swung my gaze up to a narrow crevice and saw her head poking out. They must have used the pile of large rocks below to climb up.
“It’s roomy in here, but I’m scared of spiders.” Her eyes flicked over to the group and noticed Shepherd. “Where’s Joshua? You didn’t hurt him, did you?”
“I’m sure he’s fine,” Shepherd said, easing her fears. “He ran off.”
Carol’s eyes sparkled with excitement, and she ducked out of sight.
We all knew what she was thinking. But if Joshua was out there with those savage lions, Carol might never see him again, and that scenario was more likely than him whisking her away into the proverbial sunset.
Claude crawled out from a passageway on the right, a flashlight in his hand. “There’s a stream in there. We can fill up the canteens and bathe. Without moving large rocks, I can’t tell if the water channel is wide enough to create a breach.”
Matteo shook his head. “I’ve been here a dozen times, and it’s safe. The water comes in through narrow gaps, and the only way in and out of this cave is through the entrance. The second chamber is big enough if the little ones would rather sleep in there, but I think it best if you keep them in here. You might have to move out quickly.”
Christian stared at the sparse pile of sticks before heading out. “I’ll gather more wood.”
Viktor guarded the entrance while Matteo stoked the fire.
I approached Claude, hands on my hips. “Can I borrow your flashlight? I need to wash my hair.”
He wrinkled his nose. “Yes, you do. Want me to help?”
I shrugged and followed his lead.
After crawling through a crooked gap between two massive rocks, we entered a larger room. The ceiling was maybe ten feet high, and while I could hear the constant rushing of water, I couldn’t see it.
Claude went left and stood on top of a flat rock with his flashlight aimed at the clear water trickling through. “It’s shallow, but maybe I can pull some of the rocks out so we can submerse your head.” He handed me the flashlight. “Be right back.”
“Bring me my bag.”
Claude slipped through the crevice and out of sight.
There was no point in wearing Matteo’s camouflage cologne anymore, especially since I’d sweated like a horse and bled like a stuck pig. Eager to ditch my dirty clothes, I stripped out of my T-shirt and flung it into a corner. After taking off the boots and my weapons, I tossed my jeans in the corner with the shirt.
“Holy crap!” My voice reverberated off the chamber walls. The icy water burned my scalp, so I quickly scooped up handfuls of it to wash my arms, torso, and neck.
“Um… maybe you need Christian,” I heard Claude say.
“Now isn’t the time to be bashful. You’re lucky I’m wearing a bra today. Toss me my bag.”
The backpack hit the spot behind me, but Claude remained by the door with his head turned. How adorable.
To my dismay, I hadn’t packed a full wardrobe. I had clean underwear and sweatpants, which I put on, but no extra shirt. Just my leather jacket. This would teach me a valuable lesson about packing in the future.
“I’m ready for my makeover,” I sang. “Hurry up. I’m freezing to death.”
When he approached, his eyes swung down. “You should cover yourself.”
“I don’t have a shirt. Let’s get this over with, because this stone is going to be cold as hell against my back.” I widened the beam of the flashlight and set it down.
Claude suddenly took off his long-sleeved black shirt and tossed it at my feet. He had a T-shirt on beneath it, but it wasn’t enough to keep him warm. “I have another shirt,” he said, encouraging me to accept his offering.
“Thanks. Let’s wash my hair first so this doesn’t smell.”
The stone slab against my back was enough to wake me up into my next reincarnation. It numbed my skin, and Claude must have scented my discomfort, because his magic hands were moving faster than usual. He’d also put a dollop of shampoo in my hair that he’d brought in his supplies.
Leave it to Claude. That man would have great hair even during the apocalypse.
My teeth chattered, and I tried to think of warm things like campfires, cocoa, hot summer days, and Christian’s hands on my body.
“That’s it.” He washed his hands in the water and then stood up. “We should mark this spot and draw water from the opening. If anyone has to pee, they should do it on the far right so they don’t contaminate the drinking source.”
“Why not in a corner, away from the water?”
“Better to let the water carry it out. It’s sanitary that way. If for some reason we wind up staying here a week, do you want to contend with a urine pool? The stream moves in one direction, so the source on the left is fresh.
” He rubbed the spot below his bottom lip with his index finger. “I’m afraid the kids might get sick. This isn’t purified water, and we don’t have anything to boil it in.”
I squeezed out my hair and put on Claude’s shirt. “Shepherd probably has medicine. What’s the worst that can happen?”
“Three children with diarrhea in a small cave.” His nose wrinkled. “That’s the worst that can happen.”
I laughed. “To you or them?” The sleeves on the shirt flopped around, making me feel like I was five again and wearing my father’s clothes. I rolled each one up to my wrists. “We need to hunt down those lions tonight. If they don’t attack, they’re going to wait until we starve to death.”
“We can’t abandon the children.”
I stepped into my boots. “You can’t leave the children. They need your protection. But I have to leave. We need to find out what happened to Blue.”
He gripped the flashlight tightly in his hand. “I should have picked up their scent.”
“They were stalking you with the wind in their favor and doing it at a safe distance. This isn’t about what we did wrong; it’s about who can outsmart the other. If they haven’t already found us, they will. And they’ll expect us to stay here and protect the kids as a group. Safety in numbers and all that. Maybe that’s our best move, but it’s also the one they’re probably anticipating.” I lifted my backpack and slung it over my shoulder.
“I don’t trust him,” Claude said, jerking his head toward the passageway.
“Matteo? I know. He wasn’t part of the plan, but he saved me.”
Claude rubbed his hand down his bare chest, a predatory look in his eyes. “Did it ever cross your mind that he might be a part of this? Perhaps that’s why they didn’t attack. It was a scare tactic so your friend could lure us to this cave.”
I wanted to argue, but I bit my lip and thought about it. “We didn’t just bump into each other on the path. I fell into a trap.”
He rolled his shoulders back and turned away. “Maybe we all have.”
Chapter 22
After Niko memorized the layout of Cyrus’s home, he did his best to keep the tyrant occupied. The more focus Niko drew to himself, the better. Cyrus’s obsession wasn’t limited to the book but also the power he held over people. His strength was his weakness, and Niko had taken advantage of that Achilles’ heel by offering himself to Cyrus. It was the only way to ensure Gem was protected if he couldn’t negotiate her release.
After Niko finished heating a kettle of tea, he navigated across the spacious room until he reached the wooden couch on the opposite side. Cyrus had a distinct light that Niko categorized as a bumpy red. Having been blind all his life, Niko didn’t have a true frame of reference outside of his own imagination to describe the colors his gift allowed him to see. His sensei had taught him a great deal about his special gift of sight, and Cyrus didn’t need to know those things.
Niko set the tray on a raised section designed for holding food and beverages.
“Sit,” Cyrus invited him.
Niko reached for a nearby chair before taking a seat.
“On the floor, Nikodemos. You know your place by now.”
Niko suppressed his irritation and sat cross-legged on the floor. “Where is everyone?”
Cyrus’s clothes rustled as he shifted in his seat. “Lykos and Arcadius are guarding, so don’t get any ideas.”
“And Kallisto? I regret not meeting him. Has something happened?”
Tea poured into a cup. “That is for me to know. It is a shame you broke my loyalty all those years ago.” After a noisy slurp, Cyrus’s cup clicked on the surface of the tray. “Plato has shown exceptional loyalty, even in death. He’s kept a close eye on your collection of misfits. He followed that woman with the blue eye and her Vampire friend when they were transporting weapons. He mentally encouraged a Mage to stop the traffic lights. Would you believe he went into a nearby vehicle and convinced a man to follow them? He has that gift, you know. Something about being dead allows ghosts to slip into people’s heads and give them gut feelings about something.”
“To what purpose?” Niko asked.
“To sabotage. To collect information. To do everything in his power to unravel the rug from beneath your feet. He listened in on private conversations your leader held regarding those precious children you’re protecting. He followed your friends as they picked up supplies and patiently waited until he had enough information on where they were going and what they were transporting. Potentials… I always thought they were a myth. Only the ancients believe, but even I am skeptical as I’ve never seen one myself.”
“What could you possibly want with innocent children?”
“Innocent?” Cyrus belted out a laugh. “Innocence is an illusion. Worry not, brother. I have no use for them, but I happen to know all about your friend’s financial entanglement with the loan shark. You murdered two of his brothers and turned in a third. That’s exactly the kind of thing that incites a man to revenge, and I love a man with motives. I passed along the information about your trip to see if he was interested.”
“So they could kill me? You’re a coward.”
Cyrus laughed. “Kill you? The gods have kept you alive for over a thousand years. If they wanted you dead, it wouldn’t be at the hands of lions. But perhaps those bloodthirsty Shifters might weaken your team. Or even better, ruin your reputation with the higher authority.” Cyrus took another sip of his tea. “Regardless of General’s plans, I knew your leader wouldn’t take along the child you live with. Someone would have to remain behind, and usually those are the weakest links in the chain.”
“Why target Keystone when it’s me you want? You’re pathetic to involve a child.”
Cyrus sipped more tea and set down his cup. “I will always have a hand in Keystone affairs as long as you’re with them, but it seems that you’re with me now. I hope this isn’t a ruse. I cased the Keystone property not long ago. It’s not difficult to climb to the roof when you have the right equipment. Remember when we scaled the royal walls? Oh, wait. You weren’t there.”
Clearly Cyrus was still bitter over Niko leaving him. Perhaps most of that hostility lay with the betrayal more than Niko taking the book. Cyrus craved fealty, and he loved putting someone in their place. But Niko’s focus was currently elsewhere—Cyrus had just admitted to disclosing private information about their latest mission to one of Keystone’s enemies. Viktor and the team were in danger, and there was nothing Niko could do about it.
Nothing.
Their fate was already sealed.
“If Plato is here, give him my regards.”
Cyrus belted out a laugh. “I would, but the Gravewalker I hired instructed him to stay with Kallisto.” His light fluttered. “Let’s speak openly. Where did you go after you left us?”
“Many places.”
“And who trained a blind man to fight with a sword?”
“A master at his craft.”
Cyrus sighed. “You test my patience, boy.”
Niko’s jaw set. “I’m no boy, Cyrus. I’m over fifteen hundred years old.”
“And I have the power to destroy a woman you care about.”
Niko lowered his head. “I am at your mercy.”
Cyrus’s tone lifted along with his mood. “That’s what I like to hear.”
“Let her go. She’s no longer of any use to us.”
“Nikodemos, are you begging?” Cyrus chuckled. “I don’t think I feel the sincerity in your tone.”
“You can no longer barter with her. I won’t play your games.”
“What an extraordinary gift of language she has. Did you think you could keep her all to yourself?” Cyrus sipped his tea. “Shame on you. Here I was, thinking you joined that band of misfits for the betterment of mankind. But you joined to protect your investment, didn’t you? An impregnable mansion, numerous hiding places, and a collection of despicable Breeds who would protect you. You should have stayed with me. We could h
ave ruled this world together.”
“The only things you rule are spineless worker bees.”
“Careful. I still have a stinger just as sharp as your tongue.”
Niko worried that Cyrus might use Gem to translate the ancient text. “She’s never seen the book. She doesn’t know those languages.”
“And how would you know what she knows?”
Niko laughed and shook his head. “What is your intention? To hold on to a girl who will only become a nuisance? She’s talkative and opinionated. I know how much you abhor that in a woman.”
“True. Not to mention she’s fair skinned. You can’t trust them. But you know a little bit about that, don’t you, my blue-eyed friend?”
Niko lifted his chin and abandoned his civil tone. “You gave me your word earlier that you didn’t harm her. She told me otherwise.”
“Arcadius had no choice but to drown the woman to keep her quiet.”
Niko’s energy spiked at the thought that someone had drowned Gem in her one place of sanctuary. He couldn’t imagine the terror she must have felt, not even having the ability to scream for help. No chance to fight. Arcadius had a shielding ability that protected him from the elements as well as Mage gifts. Niko had long suspected that Arcadius was a Unique—one of a rare group of Mage immortals with extremely uncommon gifts. His sensei had told him stories about Uniques who were hunted by their own kind. Men who—according to legend—had received their first spark when the gods were at war and lightning crashed all around. Whatever the truth was, Cyrus was smart enough to keep strong men like Arcadius at his side, and Arcadius was too ignorant to realize that his power far surpassed that of the man he followed.
“You better tamp down that energy,” Cyrus warned him.
Niko cursed in Old Japanese.
Just as soon as he heard Cyrus rise to his feet, an object whistled through the air and struck his back. Niko winced from the sharp sting of a whip.
“Lykos! Arcadius!” Cyrus bellowed.
Niko spied their energy entering the home through the front door. They flanked him and must have taken visual direction to seize his arms.