Becca’s spine stiffened. He must have watched the whole encounter. She turned to find Darion standing beside him, his black hair perfectly messy and his eyes piercing. She couldn’t help her heart fluttering, though part of her fought to remain aloof, still angry for his absence and his quick alliance with Andre. With her conflicting emotions, she lowered her eyes and buried her hand in the cat’s soft fur.
Andre approached their small group with Darion following behind. “Good to see you, Navina. Have you been helping Becca with her magic?”
A bit of red crept in Navina’s face as if embarrassed of her recent behavior. “I’ve tried.”
“She’s been great,” Becca chimed in.
“Quick learner, this one is.” Lance appeared beside her and placed an arm around her. His familiarity with her was uncomfortable, but he acted this way with everyone.
Someone shouted for him on the other side of the room.
Lance glanced toward the group in back before addressing Andre. “Did you need me, sir?”
“No, go take care of your students. Navina, why don’t you show me what you were working on?” Andre motioned to the mouse maze.
Navina beamed. “Sure.”
Andre obviously wanted to give Becca and Darion time to be alone.
“Hey, Bec.” Darion approached her with a hesitant smile. “Wanna go grab a bite to eat?”
“Not really.” It came out snippy, but since it matched how she felt, she didn’t care. “I want answers. Like why you’re here all of a sudden with Andre as an escort?” She fumed. “What’s going on?”
“You always get to the point of things, huh?” His smile wavered, the hesitation in his eyes putting her on edge. He grimaced as he ran a hand through his hair. “I’ve been searching for answers in Andre’s library, and I found some.”
Excitement sparked, snapping her out of her self-pitying stupor. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s a lead to a grimoire located in the city, which should give us the spell we need.”
“Really? That’s great.” She couldn’t help the smile creeping over her face. “When do we leave?”
Darion’s smile didn’t reappear and his gaze was wary. “I leave tonight. You need to stay here. Keep training.”
“Keep training?” Disbelief vied with hurt, and her voice hitched. “No. I’m more help to you out there, covering your back.”
He rubbed his neck, not looking her in the eyes. “I’m going with Leon’s team. They have supplies to get as well. I’ll be back in a few days.”
Her emotions flipped chaotically around her, not sure which way to land. “So after avoiding me for days, you came for a send-off, keeping the women and children at home while you fight the battle?” She hated the anger building up in her. Part of her anger was due to his avoidance, the rest for becoming buddy-buddy with the man who had kidnapped them days ago. How could he trust Andre or forgive him so easily? Darion was putting himself in danger, for her, and there was nothing she could do about it. “I’m more than capable, and you know it.”
“Due to your bond with Liz and your magic, we’re going to need you for this ceremony.” He squeezed her hand. “You have to train. Listen to these people.”
Becca nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She’d probably end up yelling at him. Easier to be angry than admit she’d missed him.
Lance and Andre approached, heads bent in deep discussion.
“I wish we could have spoken in a more private place.” Darion kept her hand, but she wouldn’t meet his eyes.
“Becca,” Andre said. “I’ve been talking to Lance. He says you show promise.”
“I’ve told you the same,” Darion said.
“True.” Andre nodded. “I think you would benefit working with another spirit magician. Focusing on those skills, especially since the ceremony with your sister needs to take place soon.” His forehead creased with worry.
There was something he wasn’t telling her. “What’s wrong?”
“Bael is gaining strength.”
Dread built in her stomach. She knew there was a limit to how long Bael would remain passive, but being here with Andre, she thought it would be longer.
Even Lance was quiet. No jokes when a greater demon who currently resided in your sister was getting cranky.
“What can I do?”
“I spoke to Jemi about beginning training with you as soon as possible. Then hopefully when Darion gets back, we’ll be ready.”
“Jemi?” Becca cringed. Anybody but Jemi.
Caleb spit sand and then quickly rolled to avoid the wood staff aimed at his head.
“You have to be faster if you want to keep that pretty head of yours,” Leon hollered a few feet away from the fight.
Caleb blinked against the sun reflecting off the water and rolled two more times for a better position. The staff followed his path. He bounced up into a low crouch and charged forward, head down. What he lacked in speed, he made up for in brute strength. The staff struck his side. He ignored the pain and tackled his opponent. They grappled in the sand, and Caleb ended up on top. It didn’t take long before Caleb had his partner pinned.
“Give,” Jake huffed. “Damn, you’re heavy.”
“You should have never let him get so close.” Leon approached the pair.
A couple of onlookers mumbled their congratulations to Caleb before heading off to their own matches.
Jake stood, brushing the sand off his pants. “What do you do when a bull charges?”
“Move,” Caleb advised. “You’re faster than me.” He reached for his drink, his muscles tingling from exertion. He wiped at the sweat and sand covering his face. It felt good to work out. Between the cold breeze of the ocean and the bright sun above, he felt a sense of contentment for the first time since his parents had died. Of course having that thought meant it was quickly replaced by guilt. They would have wanted him to be happy, he reminded himself.
“Hey, newbie, over here,” Leon hollered.
Caleb jogged towards where Leon stood in the shade talking to Andre and Darion. This couldn’t be a social call. “What’s up?”
“Leon says you’re very competent in training,” Andre said. “So that means you really must be spectacular. Competent is one of the highest compliments my brother can give.”
Caleb laughed, caught Leon’s scowl, and quickly quieted. Guess only Andre could joke about his brother and get away with it.
“We have a supply run tonight,” Leon said. “And they want you to go on it, even if you aren’t ready.”
“I’m ready.” He’d been training for days, and a supply run didn’t sound so bad. But if it was simple supplies, then why was Darion there? “What’s the catch?”
“No catch,” Andre answered. “Some of the items are of a magical nature, so I’m sending Darion along. He requested you be on the team.”
“Okay,” Caleb replied and turned to Darion. Physically, he looked better. The dark circles from their time on the run had faded some. So while Caleb hadn’t been thrilled watching Darion and Becca grow closer these last couple months, Caleb trusted him with more than his life. Becca’s too. Thinking of Becca, he had to ask, “Any other magicians going?”
“No. We can’t spare anyone else.”
“So you’re sending me with this pyro and his friend. Oh, that’ll be good.” Leon rolled his eyes.
“They both have been vetted through Jemi,” Andre replied.
“You put too much trust in Jemi.”
“Maybe, but I trust you as well. You can pick the rest of the team. Be ready to leave at dark.”
“Yes, sir.” Leon turned to leave.
“I need to leave as well.” Andre turned to Darion. “Let me know if you’ll need anything else.”
“Will do.” Darion watched as Andre left, leaving the two boys standing in the sand. He squinted against the afternoon sun. “Is this your training room? I’ll admit I’m jealous.”
“Yeah, it’s great.” The win
d brushed over Caleb, cooling the sweat from the fight. He’d grown accustomed to it these past days, the steady rhythm pushing him on. He needed to focus on the task ahead though. “What are we going to steal?”
“You always assume the worst.”
Caleb glanced over, his brow furrowing in disbelief.
“You’re usually right, but we can’t steal this,” Darion said. “We have to talk to a colleague. Another wizard in Ryma’s city.”
“What? You’re crazy!” Caleb had no wish to end up hanging on a rope or trapped as a Soultorn. Even if Ryma forgot about Caleb, the price on Darion’s head had to be big enough to make any man rich.
“There’s an old magician, from the days of the takeover. Andre says he has the book we need. Who knows, maybe he can even help Elizabeth.” Darion talked as if he was still convincing himself.
“That’s a lot to risk for a maybe.” Caleb hadn’t forgotten about Elizabeth. He would do anything to save her, but every risk needed to be calculated. He wanted to know what he was walking into.
“It’s our last hope. She won’t last much longer.” Darion stared at the ocean, not meeting his eyes. “You don’t have to come.”
“I know, but I will.” While Caleb watched the expanse of the ocean, never-ending, churning and flowing to lands he couldn’t imagine, he wondered if they were closer to the beginning or at the end of it all.
Leon gave Caleb the rest of the afternoon off to shower, eat, and get packed. It felt good to rid himself of the sand that crept into every crevice. Dinner was another couple hours away, and he had to figure out how to find a pack. All the other people in his bunk were still out, and his team was busy. He didn’t know many other people here, or where Darion or Becca were, which left him with Nikki.
With her friendly personality and bright smile, she was usually more than willing to help him. Why did that scare him to death? Maybe because his heart had been trampled on, chewed up, and spit out? He wasn’t ready for a relationship or to get close to anyone. He didn’t want to care about someone who could be taken away from him again. And just because a pretty girl was nice to him didn’t mean she had any feelings for him.
With limited options, he headed down to the medical unit. He followed the tunnels with ease now, thanks to the trick Nikki had taught him when he arrived in their underground community. It was a wheel, a circular maze. Many spokes ran from the center of the wheel, where the cafeteria and dorm rooms were, but most of the training rooms were set away from the center. The main circle was wider than the rest and easy to find. He curved around the main corridor until he found the door to the hospital. He entered to find Doc reading in his chair while Nikki sorted bandages. Always a good sign when the hospital was empty.
Doc’s eyes lifted from his book. “What can we do you for?”
Nikki turned in his direction with a welcoming smile. “Caleb.”
“Leon wanted me to get a pack ready. I thought maybe you would point me in the direction of the supply room.” He shifted his weight to the other foot. He should have asked a stranger in the hall. Why had he not thought of that until now?
“Already? I didn’t hear about a run.” She looked away, her brow lowered in confusion.
“I just learned about it. We have to set off tonight. Do you know where the supplies are?”
She waved away his concern. “Yeah. I’ll take you there myself. I need to talk to Leon too. There are needed medical supplies. I usually go along to help with the drugs.”
“I have the list here.” Doc started digging through a pile of papers in his desk.
“I’m not sure this is the usual supply run. It’s for Elizabeth,” Caleb explained.
Nikki gave a slow blink. “All the more reason for me to talk to Leon before you go. We’ll need supplies to take care of her. IV fluids are difficult to find these days.” She set down the bandages. “Let’s go. We’re both going to need supplies.”
“Both?”
“Come on. I have gone on several supply runs. They probably forgot to tell me about it.”
Caleb wasn’t sure Leon would be excited about this, but better to let him deal with it. He followed her out the door.
Doc mumbled, “Good luck.”
They both went to the supply room. The older woman in charge checked them out packs with water and a three-day supply of dried food. They found Leon outside of his room.
“Leon.” Nikki caught his arm. “I have a list of medical supplies that I need to get on the run tonight.”
“Who said anything about a run?” He caught sight of Caleb and glowered.
Caleb flashed a quick look at Nikki who was standing there clearly unconcerned with Leon’s dark mood. “We need IV fluids and antibiotics, especially with winter coming up.”
“And you’ll get them next week.” Leon folded his arms over his chest. “This isn’t the usual supply run. There is no way your father would let you come, and I won’t either.”
Nikki’s eyes narrowed and her spine straightened. “If it’s that dangerous, then why is the new guy coming?”
“Bring that up with your father. It wasn’t my call. I don’t have time for this, Nikki. Caleb, are you ready?”
“Yes, sir. Nikki helped me find a pack.” He wanted to explain himself.
“Next time, ask me. Go eat, and we’ll leave in twenty.” Leon nodded, signaling the end of any more discussion.
Caleb headed down the hall while Nikki stomped along behind him.
She seethed in silence to the cafeteria. It wasn’t until they were seated with packs at their feet that she spoke. “You know why I’m stuck in the medical unit?” A sharp edge of anger cut at every word.
It wasn’t aimed at Caleb, but he trod carefully. “I assumed your magic helps you in healing.” He took a bite of dinner, some sort of creamy sauce with shrimp.
“Most do. But my magic isn’t in healing. My father stuck me in there to train as a nurse.” She gripped her fork as if she were strangling the life out of it. “I finally convinced Leon that I’d be useful on supply runs, finding medicine others aren’t trained on. It’s my only way to see what is beyond these walls.”
“Trust me. You’re not missing much. The world is not what it once was.” Caleb’s parents would often talk about life before the takeover. The movies, amusement parks, and fireworks. Back when Mundanes had a chance to thrive on their own measure.
“But we’re not going to change anything hiding behind these walls.” Nikki’s knuckles whitened as she gripped the fork.
Caleb’s seat began to tremble underneath him. He held tight to the bench. She must be more like her father than Caleb knew. “What’s going on?”
She snapped back to the present. “Sorry.”
A couple of people grumbled nearby.
“I do have better control of my powers. It’s my father. He drives me crazy sometimes.”
“It’s what parents do. At least you have one.” He didn’t mean for the last part to slip out like that. He would complain about his dad, too, when he was alive. Guilt pinched at his heart for not appreciating what he had while he had it.
“Sorry. I forgot.” She reached out and placed her hand over his. She did it so casually that he wondered if it meant anything to her.
He withdrew his hand, picked up his fork, and went back to work on his food. “Don’t worry about it. Just remember you’re lucky to actually have a dad that loves you.”
“I know.” She lowered her eyes and started on dinner.
He didn’t mean to hurt her, only remind her of what she still had. He ate fast, hoping to head out soon. It would be nice to stretch his legs for a bit and see the stars at night.
The ground below him started to shake again, stronger than before. Caleb could hear the waves crashing loudly outside. He’d never heard it this far inside the cave.
“Is this you again?” he asked Nikki.
She shook her head. “The alarm’s up. Only my dad can do that.”
People grabbed their
plates and rushed to the exit.
“To your rooms,” someone shouted above the crowd. “You know the drill.”
“Is this a drill?” Already on his feet, Caleb pulled on his pack.
“I don’t think so. Or I would’ve been warned.”
“So we head to our rooms?” Caleb dreaded the idea of hiding underground while being attacked.
“Not us. Let’s go.” Nikki slung on her pack. Her lips pressed into a firm line.
Chapter Fifty-One
“Back to your rooms,” Lance shouted to Becca and the rest of the practicing group.
Waves crashed near the back of the caves, their force jolting the walls and echoing throughout the room. The temperature dropped, the chill causing Becca to zip up her jacket and pull on her gloves.
“Has this happened before?” she asked Navina.
The unsettling rattle of the walls reminded her that they were underground. Enough shaking and they would be buried.
“Probably another drill,” Navina mumbled. She was getting grumpier as Becca’s magic increased. “Andre pulls up the ocean and seals the exits, hence the rattling. It’ll pass soon. I usually head to the nursery and hang out with my mom and the kids that haven’t been picked up yet.” She grabbed her bottle of water.
If there were kids still in the nursery, then the alarm couldn’t be that bad.
“Hurry up, you two,” Lance barked at them, his usual jovial expression gone.
“See ya’ tomorrow,” Becca told the girl and then took off to her dorm. She made it halfway there before running into Darion.
“There you are.” He gripped her shoulder, and his familiar warmth and magic flooded her senses.
With reluctance, she distanced herself slightly, and he dropped his hands. She thought he would have already left, and she had spent the last couple of hours kicking herself on how she’d left things. Maybe she’d have a minute to explain herself and really talk. “I was heading to my room for the drill. Want to grab a drink before you go?”
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