“Wait,” Becca yelled to her sister. “Why won’t you wait?”
She finally stopped and turned to face Becca. The light gown hung on Liz’s thin frame. She appeared troubled by something Becca could not see.
“What’s wrong?” Becca stepped slowly towards her, a hand out.
“Everybody dies.” The words came out in a whisper, haunting and clear. Then Liz turned and sprinted away.
A scream filled Becca’s mind. Her eyes snapped open to the Elizabeth on the bed, frantic and yelling.
Nikki hurried over to help restrain her.
“What did you do to her?” Jemi helped hold down Liz’s ankles.
The accusation stabbed at Becca. “You’re okay, Elizabeth,” Becca murmured to her over and over. It took several minutes until she calmed down.
“It was only a dream,” Becca told Liz as well as herself. “We’re okay. We’ll be okay.” She would do whatever she had to to make sure they would be okay.
After several minutes, Elizabeth began to settle down. Her breaths quieted, though that frightened look in her eyes didn’t disappear.
“Want some soup?” Nikki offered.
Elizabeth nodded. She hadn’t used many words since she’d awoken from Bael but enough to communicate.
Nikki left to get soup from a thermos on Doc’s desk, and Jemi moved closer to Liz.
“Did you see something?” Jemi asked.
Liz’s eyes widened, and she shot Becca a nervous look.
“I’ll tell her. Don’t worry.” Becca leaned down to hug her sister tightly. “Love you,” she whispered in her ear.
“Love you.” Elizabeth’s grip tightened before letting go.
Becca blinked back the tears gathering in her eyes. It was the first time Elizabeth had said that since Bael. And for one moment, all the pain and suffering she’d gone through to save her sister was worth it, and she’d do it again in a heartbeat. That was why she had to talk to Jemi and Andre. They needed to run and now.
“I’ll be back later tonight. Okay?”
Elizabeth nodded and Nikki returned with the soup.
“Thanks again,” Becca told her and headed out into the hall. She needed to find Andre.
Jemi stepped in front of her. “Where are you going?”
“To see Andre. We need to tell him what happened.”
“Tell me first.”
“We can’t waste time,” Becca explained, but Jemi didn’t move. Becca stepped around her and continued on the path. She kept her defenses up in case Jemi wanted to stop her magically, but she didn’t. She followed close on Becca’s heels, complaining about overeager girls in hysterics. Becca ignored her.
The door opened at Jemi’s touch, and they found Andre in his office, poring over books. Those damn books that he thought held all the answers.
“We need to evacuate.” Becca’s heart pounded against her chest with Liz’s panic fresh in her mind. “Everyone. Get out of here as soon as we can.”
“What did you see?” He placed the bookmark in his book, but did not close it.
She described the dream in the foreign forest. “We all die. We have to run. Now.” She stepped in front of the desk. How could he remain so calm?
“Please sit down, Becca.” Andre motioned to the chair across from the table.
Jemi sat in its pair already.
“No thanks.” Becca couldn’t calm the blood racing in her veins.
He closed his book and sat on the edge of his table. “I can’t move everyone out during the winter because of these glimpses. We need more. If we have a battle, there will be death, that I’m not naive about. But we need specifics if we are to protect ourselves. Leaving, we could get attacked in the same forest she was describing. I’ll not run like a chicken with my head cut off. Not with women and children in the middle of winter.” He leaned forward. “I need you to get more from her. I need information I can use.”
Becca’s temper flared, but she had to admit he made sense. How could she make her sister relive it again when it had upset her so much the first time? This was a different kind of hell Becca was forcing on Liz, and Becca dreaded the necessity of the task ahead.
“I told you, you were jumping the gun.” Jemi stood, signaling the end of the meeting. “We’ll meet back there tomorrow afternoon. She’ll need to rest tonight.”
Becca nodded and left the room. Her legs felt like rubber carrying her through the tunnels as her mind raced. Though the visions weren’t clear, death was evident. Becca knew Andre had saved her sister. He was the reason they were both alive, but now he asked for both of their lives. Becca didn’t owe him that.
They could leave. Run away with Darion and Caleb. It would be easier now that Liz was better. She remembered the smile on Caleb’s face last week at dinner when he’d talked with Nikki. Would he even want to leave? Putting one foot in front of the other, Becca continued through the tunnels, thoughts spinning through her mind, and she wasn’t sure which ones to trust.
Chapter Sixty-Seven
As soon as Doc came back, Nikki told him about Elizabeth’s episode. He said he’d watch over the now sleeping girl, and Nikki excused herself, heading straight for her father’s office.
She raised her hand to knock when the door opened by itself, her father sitting at his desk. She hated that little trick.
Alone, he stared at papers scattered on the desk in front of him. After a long minute, he lifted his head. His eyes were dark and heavy. She’d seen it before, as if the weight of the world was his alone to bear.
“What did you decide?”
It took him a moment to figure out what she was talking about.
“Oh, you must have been there with Elizabeth.” He nodded absently. “We need more information before we decide.”
“Decide what?” she demanded.
“Please, sit down.”
She’d outgrown rolling her eyes. Instead, Nikki perched at the edge of the chair. He often told her to “please sit down” every time a lecture came her way. Being a single parent, her father gave more than enough lectures for two parents.
“War is coming,” he started.
“So it’s true. The girl is a seer?” Seers were rare, like true healers. Elizabeth would be worth a great deal.
“Probably. I’m not completely sure. We can’t rely on her yet. She’s too unstable.” He took a sip of his tea. “But the last attacks were well planned. They’re testing us, if you would. There will be another, and it will be worse.”
“You have to let me fight.” The familiar argument tumbled out of her mouth without thought.
“You know why I can’t.” The pain in his eyes was still there after all these years. “Plus, you are a great healer.”
“I’m a glorified nurse. That’s all.”
“Don’t underestimate—”
Frustration built inside her. The dirt around her feet stirred, and she didn’t bother to contain her magic. “Stop. Please. We both know this is about Mom.”
She’d said it. They hadn’t spoken about her in years. And watching his countenance fall, she wished she hadn’t now. No. They needed to talk about it. It had been too long.
Her mother died ten years ago. Appendicitis, painful and traumatic. He’d searched out a doctor since then, not a magical healer but a medical doctor. Nikki had been assigned to work with Doc as a healer since she was fifteen. At first, she found it interesting, but now she knew the assignment was to keep her from more dangerous tasks.
“Nikki.” His voice was steady and controlled. “I can’t have this conversation now.”
“Then use me. I’m a witch. You can feel my power. I’m not as weak as you think.” Pushing out her magic, the papers shuffled on his desk.
He stood abruptly. His cup tipped over, and he stilled everything on his desk. Liquid froze in the air while the papers lifted, suspended.
“I have never once thought you weak. But we will need healers, now more than ever. You’re assigned to your post, like everyone else
here. Do it.” With a wave of his hand, his desk slowly returned to proper order. He spoke like a god, his word law.
Her face burned in frustration. “No.”
His eyes, angry and piercing, flashed towards her.
She stood, hands clenched. They trembled with everything that had been unsaid for so many years. “You can’t order everyone to the lives you think they should have in here. There is more to this world than you.”
A myriad of emotions flicker on his face in no more than a second—pain, anger, hurt.
Too angry to regret her words, she lifted her chin, daring him to reply. This was the first time she’d ever spoken to him like that. It was liberating and terrifying all at the same time.
“Nikki, please sit—”
“Don’t.” She heard her own voice, loud but breaking. “I’m done sitting.”
She stormed out. She knew had the power to stop her. He didn’t.
Caleb had spent the day in training, more tactical work against magicians. Leon’s immunity against magic had taught him a lot in fighting magicians over the years. And Caleb soaked up every second of it.
The sun set early today behind a cloudy sky. When they were dismissed, Leon called for him. Though his legs protested, he jogged over. Caleb loved training, the rush of the waves, of actually doing something. After the past few months of feeling helpless at the hands of the magicians, he was learning how to fight them, to protect freedom for Mundanes and magicians alike. There was hope, and it was more than he could have dreamed of.
“I have a job for you,” Leon told him.
“Yes, sir.”
Leon hesitated for a moment, which was completely unlike him.
“What?”
“When giving an assignment, it’s usually an order. No questions asked.”
“I understand,” Caleb replied. Leon was a brilliant soldier; he trusted him.
“This is an exception. You can turn it down.” His eyes were weary.
Caleb nodded slowly, an uneasiness settling in his bones. “What is it?”
“Report to my brother in his office. He will give you the details.” Leon watched Caleb for a moment as if looking past him. “You’re a great soldier.” He paused for a moment. “Dismissed.”
Caleb turned and headed towards Andre’s office, while his brain swam with thoughts, worries, and wild guesses about what that cryptic message meant. Why did Leon’s dismissal feel like a goodbye? It wasn’t like they needed a human sacrifice for a demon. They couldn’t be that crazy. Right?
His steps quickened. The sooner he got there, the quicker he would know. The damp walls inside the cave felt closer than normal as he navigated them.
He stopped in front of Andre’s door. He didn’t knock. Shouting traveled through the door. Nikki.
Caleb stepped back, knowing this was a family moment that he didn’t want to interrupt. He was torn for a moment, not sure of where he should hide.
Before he could decide, Nikki barged out of the room and ran straight into his chest. The door slammed behind her.
Surprise and embarrassment flashed across her face as she hastily wiped at her eyes.
Words froze midair. What could he say?
“You heard all that, huh?” she said.
“Sorry. I would have left, but I’m waiting for...” He paused for a moment, unsure how much he was supposed to tell her. “A new assignment.”
“What? Where is he sending you now?”
He shrugged.
Her eyes were rimmed red and full of emotion. He fought the urge to hug her, comfort her, somehow tell her it would be all right. He couldn’t send her any more mixed messages though. Her gaze traveled down the hall, but her thoughts appeared more distant than that.
“I better head in. You okay?” He stepped towards the door.
Her attention snapped back to Caleb. “Yeah, I just may be.” She nodded as if agreeing with herself.
An uncomfortable sense of worry hung over him as he watched her walk away. He shook his head, clearing his thoughts for the task in front of him, and knocked on the door.
“Enter.” Andre’s voice carried through the door.
Inside, he was shelving books, his back to Caleb. He took a seat and waited.
Andre finished and took his place behind the desk. His composure revealed nothing, but he couldn’t hide the sadness in his eyes. “Leon says you have more than proven yourself in training lately. One of the best in class.”
“Thank you.” It felt good to be complimented, but Caleb’s wariness remained.
“Your excellence in fighting, surviving city life, all while still being a Mundane, has made you one of the few, in fact one of the only people Leon feels comfortable recommending for this assignment.”
“What assignment is that?”
“I want you to head back to the city and infiltrate the army gathering to attack us.”
Caleb tried to swallow, but it got stuck in his throat. He coughed several times, not sure what to think. Andre wasn’t an idiot. Why would he think Caleb could do this?
“I see your surprise. But don’t underestimate yourself. You are a hunter and survivor. You have skills that come from living in a world where you are fair game.”
“But a spy?”
“We need to know what they are planning.” Andre leaned forward on his elbows. “They have the advantage. Someone here is leaking information, and we know nothing.” Anger shone in his dark eyes, a passion to protect those he loved.
“How do I get the information back to you?”
“Magic. I will give you the stones you will need to communicate to us. They will carry your message through the air and back to the sea here.” He leaned back in his chair. “Will you do it?”
Caleb tried to think this through. Could he do this? Lie constantly, pretend to be someone he wasn’t?
At his continued silence, Andre kept on going. “There have been visions of a slaughter. I can’t guarantee your safety. There will be war, and many will die. I’m humbly asking for your help in hopes the casualties are not ours, because if we lose, then this way of life is over.”
For some reason, Caleb thought of his own father. His parents and the way of life they tried to have outside of the coven with their family. They hadn’t had a warning, or an army of soldiers to help them. They’d had no one and were murdered. He realized his whole life had been leading to this fight. Fighting against their magic, and their control. He couldn’t walk away now, or ever.
“Yes.”
Relief washed over Andre’s face. “Good. You’ll leave tonight.”
Becca found her sister sound asleep and the training rooms empty, so she wandered the halls. An uneasiness settled in her bones, creating a restless feeling she couldn’t shake. Avoiding dinner and any sense of small talk, she found herself drawn to the back of the compound, where Darion said he worked. She grabbed a nearby torch off the wall and continued down the darkened path.
She lost track of how long the path carried on for, but continued until she smelled something burning. “Darion?” After the last fire, worry crept into her voice.
“Becca?” Darion called out. “Is that you?”
“Yeah.” She paused, listening for where his voice came from. “Where are you?”
A light burned bright around the corner, and Darion appeared, his hair disheveled and his face flushed. He wore a gray undershirt, jeans set low, and a flannel tied around his hips. This relaxed look was new for him, and she loved it. Back in the city, he was always put together. He looked better here. This life suited him. Maybe he wouldn’t want to leave either. They had started a life here, all of them. What was that life worth?
“Hey, Bec, good to see you.”
“You busy?”
He shrugged. “I’m creating my own furnace. Come see.”
“Furnace?” Intrigued by the offer, she followed.
They hadn’t been able to spend much time alone in a cave with tons of people. They had separate dorms for
good reasons, showers and whatnot, but she missed Darion and his messy hair every morning. She realized how badly she wanted him in her life and couldn’t imagine a future without him.
She followed him into the room where metal snaked up the walls. Steam hung heavy in the room.
“This is impressive. You’ve been busy.” She peeled off her jacket and scarf.
“Yeah. I’ve never used my magic this way. It’s exhausting and exhilarating all at the same time.” His face flushed with a warmth and pride she hadn’t seen for a long time. “Let’s take a seat. I’m due for a break.”
They moved farther into the room where the metal had already cooled and sat down. He had water and some other supplies.
“So this is where Andre has you holed up?” She tried to keep the bitterness out of her voice.
“Until my energy wears out, then I head up to his library to finish my translations.”
“What is this for?”
“It’s an escape route. Or will be. This portion will be closed off soon, and another entrance created from the beach. He wants it hidden by magic, which is harder than it sounds, but Andre’s strength is impressive.” He reached over and touched her hand softly.
It sent a warmth through her skin, of magic and something else. She wondered if this was normal for him, an electric current coursing through anyone else he may touch. Or was this something more? Her insides fluttered recklessly.
“What brought you down here?” he asked.
The jumble of thoughts and worries tongue-tied her for a minute, then she started from the beginning. “Liz had a vision.”
His head snapped up. “What was it?”
She described the vision, and her conversation with Andre. Darion remained silent for a moment, his eyes focused on their hands.
“I can see his point,” he started, and her heart sank. “He has to consider moving over a hundred people in the winter. I’m not sure running may even be possible with this many people.”
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