Becca tried to memorize the path they walked, but everything looked so similar. Witch lights hanging on the walls marked the tunnels, but with no apparent pattern. “Where are we going?”
“To see your Soultorn.”
“My sister,” Becca corrected.
“Whatever.” Jemi brushed her off.
Becca bit her tongue, holding back what she really wanted to say. She was outmatched and outgunned right now. She needed to see Elizabeth.
They continued through the complex system of hallways, which were wide enough for two people to pass, but not comfortably. How could these people live like this, like rodents scurrying in the shadows?
The hallway widened into guarded doors. One man with a rifle stood watch. He lowered his head and stepped out of the way as Jemi approached.
She placed her palm on the door, and it opened under her touch to a bright room with neon lights and white walls. Andre stood waiting for her with Darion and Caleb.
“Becca.” Darion came to her side. “You okay?”
Becca nodded and glanced between Darion and Caleb to make sure they were both all right. She started to answer them, but the words lodged in her throat. She noticed a glass barrier in the room, and on the other side lay Elizabeth, unconscious on a bed with a sheet covering her. Tubes ran out of her body to bags full of liquid hanging on metal stands. The disturbing picture looked like an experiment gone wrong. Elizabeth’s pale skin had grayed, her eyes dark and sunken in.
“The tubes are to keep her fed and unconscious, even without magic.” Andre stood next to Becca. “We can’t chance waking her.”
Becca wiped her cheeks, cursing herself for the tears. She couldn’t help it. She could have sworn that these people had killed Elizabeth. Becca didn’t believe their lies. It didn’t make sense that they left her alive.
She stepped forward and placed a hand on the glass. A chill ran through her body.
“Why have you kept her alive?” She’d racked her brain for possibilities. The only one she could think of was collateral for bargaining. A level five Soultorn was worth more than a small town.
“I was under the impression that she was more than your Soultorn.” Andre stepped beside Becca. “I thought you wanted her alive?”
“I do.” Becca kept her gaze glued on her sister. “I just thought…”
“Who did this?”
As closed-mouthed as she normally was, she found herself telling him and hoped it would make a difference. “My uncle, a week or so after he killed my parents. Great wizarding etiquette.
“And yet here you are, one yourself.”
“Lucky me.” She knew her smile was nothing more than a bitter twist of lips. “So what happens now? You let us on our merry way, and no one is the wiser?” The moment she looked into his eyes, she knew that wasn’t going to happen.
“I can’t jeopardize my community. And I can’t let her live. You’d be doing her a kindness.”
“So after you kill my sister, we get an ultimatum. Join your little coven or die?” Becca’s voice rose in tandem with her temper.
Darion stepped forward, addressing Andre. “Give us time to search for an answer, to remove the demon. Time won’t hurt.”
Darion gave this man too much credit. But hey, why not ask the man who’d just kidnapped them for a favor?
Andre watched Elizabeth, obviously considering the proposition. Instead of answering, he turned to Darion. “She will probably die either way.”
“I think it’s worth the chance. Think of all the other Mundanes and magicians you could help,” Darion said.
“Maybe, but is it worth the risk?”
“It is to me,” Becca replied. They had come too far for her to stop now.
“Yes, I guess it would be to you.” Andre stared between the two sisters.
Darion continued. “If you didn’t already know, Bael is inside that girl. A demon guaranteed to give amazing power to those powerful enough to wield it. If you help us, you can have Bael.”
Andre lowered his gaze at Darion.
“We don’t negotiate.” Jemi finally joined in the conversation. “If what you say is true, then we could take Bael for ourselves, and let the girl die.”
“If that’s how you work, then you’re no better than Ryma,” Caleb snapped back, a steady presence in the room.
“Quiet,” Andre silenced them and watched Liz for a moment. “I will help you however I can. We’ll research methods for separation, but you need to know it will probably mean death for your sister. Even in this state, she may not last the month.”
“I know.” Becca had been preparing herself for the inevitable.
“While I work on this, I expect full cooperation here in our community. Taking jobs and contributing where necessary. Then, if you choose to leave after the cold season, you can.”
They were well into fall. After the cold season meant they would be here for months. If it meant a chance to save Liz, Becca would do what she had to.
“Do you actually believe this is even possible?” Jemi moved to Andre’s side.
“Doesn’t matter. I’ve never turned away a magician in need, and I won’t do it today.”
Jemi gave an exaggerated huff, but didn’t argue further.
“We better get you situated in the dorms, then, and set you up on work rotations.” Andre headed to the door.
Relief and hope flooded Becca’s body. Were they finally catching a break? Somehow stumbling across a wizard to help them? Becca placed a hand on the glass barrier, and projected her thoughts to her sister. I haven’t forgotten about you. I’ll save you.
“Coming, Becca?” Darion asked as the others began filing out of the door.
“Yeah.” The glass trembled under her hand, and a sharp crack gave way. A strong power stirred beyond the glass. “What the—”
Caleb pulled Becca away from the barrier.
Jemi spoke from behind them. “What the hell is happening?”
Chapter Forty-Five
“Bael’s awake,” Becca said.
The crack continued to crawl across the glass, splintering like a glass spider web. Everyone stood quiet for a moment.
“We have her on some pretty heavy tranqs.” Jemi pulled a handgun off her belt.
Andre approached the mirror with no trace of fear. “What’s this tricky devil up to?”
The lights above them flickered.
Fear crept up Becca’s spine. This was her sister. And the easiest way to get this demon under control would be to kill her. Becca wasn’t sure how far Andre’s power or hospitality would stretch if Bael pushed things.
“Darion.” She grabbed his hand. Since their escape from the coven, they’d combined their power until they were strong enough to manage Bael. Maybe manage wasn’t the right word, more like kept him sedated.
Darion tightened his hold and whispered the simple spell. His magical warmth flooded her system, and Becca closed her eyes at the familiar power flowing easily between them.
They had done this enough times so neither of them needed to speak. They pushed their magic forward, projecting it with a simple spell of unconsciousness. This time, though, it hit a brick wall.
Becca glanced at Darion.
“Again,” he said.
They repeated the spell and struggled to gain power over Bael. Instead, the demon’s power increased.
Becca’s breath picked up as if she had been running a race. Her heart battered against her rib cage. Looking around, she noticed Andre staring at them. Jemi had the gun pointed at Elizabeth, and Caleb looked unsure whether to attack Jemi or Elizabeth first.
“You two share power so effortlessly,” Andre said.
“It has been the only way to control the demon,” Darion explained, wiping his brow. “He’s been gaining strength.”
“Probably feeding off of the girl,” Andre suggested.
The idea sickened Becca, and she couldn’t ignore the dark whisper that maybe her sister would be better off dead. No. She cou
ldn’t think like that, but the malignant thought lingered, a dark dread that constantly questioned if she was doing the right thing.
“Let me help.” Andre’s lips moved slightly, whispering a spell Becca couldn’t hear.
After a long second or two, Elizabeth’s clenched hands finally slackened as her body relaxed into the bed.
“So Bael is tired of playing dead, huh?” Andre offered.
“Guess so,” Darion replied.
“How long have you been forcing it dormant?”
“A month or so. We only wake it slightly to feed, and that requires both of us.”
“Those meds are strong enough to put one of us in a coma. Placing it in a pentagram will be our safest move.”
“Then do it.” Caleb’s frustration was evident in his voice. Even though he may not have magic, Becca knew this demon drained Caleb too. It wore on all of them.
“Since the beast is tied to you, Becca, why don’t you help me with the pentagram?” Andre turned from the viewing window. “We need to take care of this soon. The longer we wait, the less chance there’ll be anything left of your sister to save.”
He should get a medal in sugarcoating, Becca thought sarcastically, though she actually enjoyed his brutal honesty.
With a quick glance at his watch, he turned to Jemi. “Do you have the time?”
“As much as I’ll have tomorrow.”
Jemi and Andre retrieved the needed materials from the cabinets lining one wall, and they all moved into the room where Elizabeth lay behind the glass. Jemi carried five bowls, made from some sort of stone, and began placing them around Elizabeth. The two looked comfortable setting up the needed material: salt for the outline of the crisscrossing stars, and fire, water, earth, wind, and spirit represented in each of the bowls. Becca wondered how often these two did this sort of thing. Was that the true purpose of this room?
She hadn’t created a pentagram since she was back at the cabin, learning magic for the first time from Darion—which felt like an eon ago. But it didn’t stop her from picking up the second bag of salt and starting to work at the opposite end of where Andre worked. This pentagram had to include not only Becca and Liz, but the bed too.
Darion started the fire in one of the small bowls. Caleb stood watch, looking uncomfortable, like he often did when Becca’s more magical side showed.
With all of them helping, they finished the oversized pentagram quickly. It sparked and snapped with magic. Power flowing through the room.
Andre stood next to Becca. “You ready?”
“Yeah.” She bit the inside of her mouth, keeping her nerves at bay.
Andre looked to Becca. “One of your jobs will be to come in twice a day with the medical staff to keep her fed and hydrated. Jemi or I may also need to be here to help control Bael.”
Jemi rolled her eyes, but Andre didn’t notice.
“Okay.” Becca was grateful to be given the chance to see her sister as often as she could. She hated the idea of locking her away in this cold little room.
Andre reviewed the spells for sealing the pentagram and breaking it with Becca, making sure every syllable was enunciated correctly. Then Becca drew on her power deep within, and sealed the pentagram with Andre. Fire snapped in the bowl, and a hot breeze blew across her face.
“Good job. Now let’s get to work.” Andre turned and started out the door. “I have assignments for all three of you.”
Caleb, Darion, and Becca glanced at each other for a moment, each dazed by Andre’s abrupt manner. Since their separation for the last day and a half, there were so many words left unsaid between them.
“Assignments?” Becca tentatively asked.
“No time like now. Everyone here earns their keep. Caleb, the guard outside the door will direct you to Leon for your assignment. Jemi, take Becca down with Lance and the others, and Darion, you’re with me.”
Before any of them could say more than goodbye, they all went their separate ways. Becca spared one last look at her sister, unconscious in the dim room. Liz should be safer here than before, right? Even though Becca felt grateful for Andre’s help, leaving her sister behind, buried in this underground labyrinth, left an empty feeling in her gut.
Chapter Forty-Six
Peter headed down to the basement, dampness clinging to his skin. Sweat gathered on his brow with each step, a painful reminder of his limitations. Why were monsters always created in the basement? By all means, Peter felt and looked like the quintessential monster. Ryma must have watched too many scary movies. That, or he didn’t trust the magic going on down here.
At the bottom of the stairs, a large room opened up, littered with old rugs and scattered seating. A minor winged demon sat in the corner, hiding in the shadows. Lamps dimly lit the room, adding to the eerie motif. There were a few doors branching off and a hallway leading into darkness. Peter had heard of the underground system under this estate, but had never seen it.
In the center of the room, Nevada, a boy Peter remembered from school, reclined in a chair, staring into a fire and cradling a drink. Gone was Nevada’s jovial confidence from years ago. Peter felt no pity for him. Nevada had shirked his responsibility for long enough. The coven needed every magician they could get, especially illusionists.
As one of the most gifted illusionists around, Nevada’s powerful creations were a valuable tool. Now, under Ryma’s unrelenting influence, they discovered that Nevada could permanently change things, too, like faces. Granted, it required a great deal of magic. Of course, they wouldn’t know how much until Nevada stopped sulking.
Peter cleared his throat.
“I heard ya’.” Nevada sipped his drink again. He had on torn jeans and a bulky purple scarf. His black hair was growing out, thick and bushy, and needed to be washed.
“Then let’s get to work. I’m not here for a social call.”
“No one would call you the social type.” Nevada turned to face him. A massive bruise covered the side of his face, one eye bloodshot and his lips split.
“Why don’t you fix your face?” Peter remembered Nevada as a vain illusionist, his appearance always in perfect order.
Nevada shrugged and stood up. “Why?”
Peter shuddered. “Disgusting.”
“Look who’s calling who disgusting.” Nevada smiled, the cut pulling at his lip.
Peter stilled at the insult. It was true. More than true. “Ryma wants you to fix my face. Permanently.”
“So Ryma’s huge scar is okay, but your kind of ugly is too much?” Nevada headed over to the cabinet to refill his glass.
Peter bristled. “I don’t need the commentary. Just do your job.”
“And you trust me? For this kind of work, it will take several weeks. Any little slip...” Nevada started to tilt his glass. “Could end in catastrophe.”
“Which would end your life. Screw with me and I’ll kill you.” He meant it. His pulse raced with anger.
Nevada straightened his glass and chuckled softly.
Was this guy sober enough to do this? Peter would have to talk to Ryma about cutting off his alcohol.
“Don’t worry,” Nevada said. “I’m blood bound now. I can’t go against Ryma’s wishes even if I wanted. I’ll make you back into whatever ugly bastard you want.”
Rage poured over Peter, and before he could think twice, he punched Nevada in the face. He crumpled to the ground, his bulky bracelets clattering on the floor.
Guess they were starting tomorrow.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Caleb remained stone-faced while frustration boiled under his skin. After Becca worked her magic, Andre sent the three of them to work in separate directions. Caleb didn’t even have a chance to talk to Becca, to see if everything was all right. But once they offered to stay in exchange for help with Elizabeth, they were expected to get to work. All Caleb heard was “earn your keep,” and something about a “well-oiled machine.”
They were doing fine earning their keep on their own, except fo
r Liz. Maybe it would last and maybe not, but now they had a chance to save Liz, so he reminded himself they needed Andre, for the moment. He’d grown up with Elizabeth and Becca, and they were the closest thing to family he had left. He treated Elizabeth like a little sister, though he never thought of Becca like a sister. He was trying to now.
“Hey, Caleb, this way.” Nikki stopped and pointed to a path branching off to the right.
Caught up in his own thoughts, Caleb walked ahead before noticing she wasn’t following. He paused. “What?”
“Don’t worry. If anyone can save your friend, it would be my dad. He’s great.”
He didn’t reply. Did she really think he could do an about-face with the man who sent soldiers to attack them? She watched him, obviously waiting for a reply, which he didn’t give. Her boldness was aggravating.
With one last frustrated glance, Nikki started back down the hall before explaining the history of the compound. A few years after the Magicians took over the government, her grandparents realized how powerful their son, Andre, was and took him into hiding. They didn’t want him to be manipulated and used by the city covens. Her grandparents were long gone, but their memory remained strong in this underground haven for Mundanes and Magicians alike.
Nikki showed Caleb the cafeteria first. The great room spread wide and far, bigger than he thought possible underground. Huge pillars were stationed throughout the room, possibly providing support for the structure.
She offered him lunch. He declined, wanting this tour over as soon as possible.
They exited into the hall then took another path down to a set of rooms. “And here’s your dorm room. They’ll show you the showers and bathrooms.”
“Everyone sleeps together?” He didn’t mind the idea too much. Between Darion, Becca and himself, they could protect each other.
“No. There is one room for the men and another for the women. You can request your own room from Andre, but they take some time. They’re mostly for couples or families.” She glanced at him.
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