Caged Fire

by L M Preston

  Snarling, she jumped, slashed a forepaw onto one assailant while kicking back at another. Leaping over the fallen, she bit and swung one and then another berserker through the air. Still, more of the assailants came.

  There were so many her beast wanted to kill them all. Their flesh, though tainted, was calling her to devour. She jumped, snarling, then biting one.

  Bring the fire, her alpha called, his roar loud and demanding. Slicing with her claw, she cut one in half, then ripped out its elongated tongue to stab another in the neck with her claws. She opened her jaws to bite down on its torso before tossing it aside.

  Kayson’s beast roared; her alpha was encircled. The tempo of the sharp piercing tones of music filled the berserkers with energy.

  EmVee’s beast stumbled back; the sound, the music was agony to her.

  Cascades of fire burst from Kayson’s beast’s mouth, engulfing the berserkers surrounding him. His beast jumped, bit into the flesh of one, flinging another berserker aside as he charged toward EmVee.

  Her wolf stood still, watching the alpha soared to tumble down to the ground.

  His roar was followed by a whimper.

  And the silver headed boy she’d seen at the club stood behind him with a flute.

  Kayson’s beast reared back, landing on all fours, then jumped to pursue the running figure.

  EmVee’s Fenrir followed, only to slide to a stop. Slashing down at another berserker, her wolf snarled as the boy disappeared in grey smoke.

  Kayson’s beast, her alpha, fell to the ground, weakening. His voice within her beast’s mind howled in tortured distress.

  The remaining berserkers stilled, slowly turning gray. Their forms froze into their cemented statues of battle.

  EmVee held her head, still unused to the drugged fatigue that came with changing into a Fenrir wolf. She crawled over to Kayson, who was unconscious, and gasped at his nude form. He was beautiful; tight thick muscle with only a needed amount of fat covered him. Light sprinkles of hair from his chest to his torso. His nipple ring moved slightly with his labored breathing. She searched around and found his bag tossed against the wall.

  Her hands shook; her wolf wanted to lie next to him, to warm him. Instead of giving in to the compulsion, she unstrapped the small pouch around her thigh and quickly took out her dri-fit shorts and crop top. The black ensemble was wrapped tightly into a small cylinder, and she quickly unwound it, ignoring the tingling of her body as she eyed Kayson’s.

  EmVee got his bag. She picked up the Soul Thief ring that had fallen out of it and rolled into the crease of the base of the wall. She placed that in the backpack then went and got hers on the further wall.

  Sitting next to Kayson, she put on his shorts then struggled with his jeans while trying hard not to peek at his man parts. She couldn’t help it, she’d looked twice and had even stared a moment at the piercing there. Chastising herself, she continued to dress him; her hands shook the entire time though.

  She’d finished and rested his head on her lap. EmVee tilted his shoulder up. Frowning, she felt a wound, one different than the cuts and bruises that were healing on his body. This cut was round, raised on the sides of the circle, and dipped in the middle. It was as if a dart had hit him and remained wedged in his skin.

  She gently slapped his face. “Kayson. Kayson!”

  Shaking him harder and slapping his face again, she blinked away tears of frustration, hoping the worst hadn’t happened. She couldn’t lose him now.

  Finally, he moved.

  His hand went to his head. “Ugh. I feel like shit.”

  EmVee helped him stand up.

  “I usually heal faster than this.” Kayson stumbled, almost pulling her with him to the floor.

  She tucked herself more securely under his arm.

  “Something is wrong. I hear music…” Kayson placed his hand on his forehead.

  “I heard it when we unlocked the door, but after the berserkers froze, it stopped.”

  Kayson shook his head, pushing his hands through is hair. “No, it didn’t. It’s getting louder and feels like it’s taking something from me.”

  “Are you all right? Maybe you should return to the car. I can do the rest on my own.”

  “No. I won’t let you. I’m okay.” Kayson let go of her.

  EmVee frowned as he took several deep breaths then put on a face of calm. It didn’t fit; his face was sweaty. Something wasn’t right.

  “Kayson?”

  “I’m okay.” Kayson lifted his hand. “Really.” He looked down at the T-shirt and his pants, still unbuckled. Then his gaze rose to EmVee, and he smiled. “You dressed me?”

  Butterflies tickled her chest, and she bent to get her backpack. “Someone had to.”

  She walked ahead of him, not wanting him to see the blush on her face. EmVee knew it was there, one of her flaws with being a brown-skinned ginger was that it didn’t matter; she still got rosy cheeks when she was embarrassed.

  He caught up with her and tugged her to a stop. Then, he gently turned her around. Kayson leaned down and kissed her. EmVee closed her eyes and placed her hands at his hips, letting herself drown in the brief moment of relief.

  “Thank you,” he whispered.

  She smiled back at him. “Anytime.”

  They walked toward the small entryway in the corner of the room. It seemed that the outer area was supposed to be protected, either from what was on the other side of the wall or outside of it.

  EmVee didn’t speculate on it further. She went toward the entryway. Kayson led her, crouched, ready for anything.

  The place was dark, stifling, with a sour smell that made EmVee slightly dizzy. It opened into a room filled with glass square enclosures that had hospital beds and toilets and sinks in some. The cases against the walls had chains within them for binding the imprisoned creatures.

  All seemed quiet except for a tapping noise inside one of the glass holding cells.

  EmVee walked over to it while Kayson went to the tossed about files and started picking them up.

  The cell was dimly lit and had a tiny bed in it, no toilet but a slight hole in the floor that could be used as one. She bent low as she neared the cell then tapped on the glass.

  A snarl escaped from the slit in the side of the enclosure. The bed crashed against the glass.

  A creature ran from one side to the other. It was attempting to break the glass or tumble the enclosure over. It wasn’t working. EmVee read the white label on the cell.

  Redcap, no conversion, vampire blood weakened, not absorbed.

  She leaned close. “Kayson!”

  He stepped up behind her. EmVee turned, hearing his labored breathing. He held several files in his hand.

  “Are you sure you’re all right?” EmVee pressed a hand to his sweaty forehead.

  “I’m fine. A little hot.” He wiped his hand under his nose. Then he pointed to the label. “They did experiments here. Using different magicals to make creatures that can get through the veil to the Earth Province and survive there.”

  “I thought some magicals could survive there.” EmVee tapped the glass.

  The miniature creature—with its mouth that went from ear to ear—growled at her through its overcrowded teeth. She could swear its red eyes were shooting daggers at her.

  “What is this?” EmVee tapped the glass again, trying to get another reaction from the creature.

  “A redcap is like a goblin, but this one is even darker. The magic turned its eyes red. It may not have done well with the vampire blood, but it still could do damage if it went to New York and lived in the sewers.”

  The creature stopped growling. “I can help you. If you help me.”

  EmVee stumbled back from the glass.

  Kayson leaned closer. “Help us how?”

  “Answer any questions if you get me out of here.”

  EmVee crossed her arms. “Why would we want to do that?”

  “I’ve been imprisoned since the beginning. I know all of th
e creatures and experiments done in this place. The Overlord even came to oversee some of them.”

  EmVee stepped closer. “Did you see any humans down here?”

  The creature lifted a bony green finger. “Ah-ah-ah. You promise to let me out, and I will give you answers.”

  Kayson winked at EmVee and grinned at the creature. “You got a deal.”

  “Ask, but only a few questions.” The creature sat, crossing his bowed legs, his wrinkled red topped head moved as if he was impatient but trying to give the air of calm.

  EmVee touched the glass. “Were there humans here? A woman with red hair and tanned skin like mine? A boy, darker than me with auburn brown hair, and another boy and girl with jet black hair and hazel eyes?”

  “Only one human woman, but she was moved to the new facility. Then recently, a human man, dark skin, but the Overlord punished him. Unlikely he’ll be seen again.”

  EmVee pressed both hands on the glass. “The man—was his hair short, cut with an arrow in the back?”

  The creature shrugged. “I believe so. I’m ever watchful, being the only one here lately.”

  “What would the Overlord do to punish someone?”

  “Make them a sandman if male. If female, turn into his pet creatures or try to make offspring with her—” The redcap waved a hand. “—although rumor has it his wife cursed him and he’ll never be successful at it.” The creature grinned.

  EmVee turned to Kayson and placed her hand on his chest. It was soaked. He staggered, holding his hand to his ear; blood trickled out.

  “Ah, you met the music lad. Part Rumpelstiltskin, part Pied Piper. The dark magic really sprinkled some extra into that lad.”

  EmVee hit the glass. “What do you mean? There was a boy with silver and orange hair playing a flute, making the berserkers move.”

  “That was him. He must have been down here to retrieve me, but you distracted him. Good job. For that you get your last question.”

  “The woman, what happened to her?”

  “She was one of the first to go. I believe she was too weak to survive the death magic here, so they moved her to the new facility. They weren’t able to change her into anything. I believe she was too old, so they took her blood instead.”

  “Where’s that?” Kayson asked, hoarsely.

  “A gym I heard mentioned, whatever that is.”

  “How can we cure him?” EmVee wrapped her arm around Kayson’s.

  “Is he bonded yet?” The creature sniffed the air. “Fenrir? Wolf god in you? The bonding will make the wolf stronger to fight the poison. If he doesn’t fight it, the Siphoner lad will find him, led by the escaping of his soul from his body. The evil lad is addicted to it; he sucks it from the victim then finds the dying creature to eat its flesh. He is one of her most prized creations.”

  “Her?” Kayson asked.

  “Sybil, The Void’s Soul Trainer and Warlord, of course. She uses the death magic to make gifts for the Overlord then binds the successful ones to her service with her stone. Good for me she hasn’t gotten around to finishing the binding. Since I’m a failed experiment, I have little time. Her torture is legendary. I’ve seen. Now enough!” The creature hit a fist on the floor. “You promised me freedom. You should abide by your promise. That way I won’t be forced to give away any information on you.”

  EmVee nodded. Releasing the redcap would anger Megan and Rachel, but EmVee didn’t care. The creature had helped her more than he knew.

  Her parents were alive, and that meant she had time to save them.

  EmVee kept watch on Kayson who’d refused her help. They’d cleared the last step and climbed through a broken window to get outside. She took a deep breath as the putrid odor from below was making her dizzy and angry. It’d agitated her wolf, which growled within her.

  The fresh air of the night replenished her strength, and even Kayson seemed to stand taller. The redcap hadn’t followed even though they’d broken the lock on his cell. He told them to hurry before the Siphoner returned for him and that he would be all right.

  “You hear that?” EmVee asked Kayson, who was scratching his shoulder where the Siphoner’s dart hit him.

  She still smelled the blood, fresh, that dribbled from his ears.

  “Uh, I hear nothing clearly from far away…other than music.” Kayson’s grave response seemed weak.

  “There, over by the van!” EmVee pointed. “Shadow hounds.” She pulled him by the arm.

  “Change. Your wolf will kill them.” Kayson jerked his arm from hers. “I can’t transform,” he replied, gruffly.

  “Are you sure?” The hairs on her body rose in anticipation. EmVee’s wolf was ready; she was pacing within her mind’s eye.

  “Yes, go ahead of me. Clear the area.” Kayson stumbled.

  “You can ride my wolf.” EmVee grabbed his arm.

  He covered his face with his hand and lifted a shaking one to her shoulder. “If she’ll let me.”

  EmVee kissed his cheek. “She’d be honored.”

  EmVee stepped back and released her wolf from the chained barrier in her mind and allowed her thoughts to flow with the sharp sparks of the change. Her wolf took over, tossing Kayson on its back and releasing boned horns down its neck for him to hold onto. Her beast whined and howled in sorrow at its alpha’s weakened state. Then, fueled with anger, she leaped into the fray of Shadow Hounds circling the van.

  Demi was furiously fighting several of the beasts, slicing them in half with a sword she’d gotten from Megan’s basement. Sax was on top of the van cracking a jagged whip at the fanged creatures as they used their sharp-clawed fingernails to climb toward him. Megan sat in the driver’s seat.

  EmVee’s wolf salivated at the anticipation of the fight. Leaping, her forepaw cut one creature, stomped through the stream of blood to tear into the neck of another. Tossing the creature to the side, her beast bit in and yanked the torso of one and clawed at another that tried to climb onto her to get to Kayson.

  Her beast howled, slashed, and threw the creatures, drawing them away from the van and to her. Then, raw, liquid fire filled its belly, and she exhaled streams of fire onto the Shadow Hounds.

  The remaining creatures incinerated.

  Within minutes, EmVee transformed. Kayson stood in front of her, protecting her from being viewed by the others.

  His fevered arm was tightened on her hips. EmVee wrapped her arms around his waist, still a little uncomfortable in her nakedness around him. Her beast gave her less anxiety with it, as it felt free and more at one with her when she was nude.

  “Thanks.” She kissed his shoulder above the festering wound and closed her eyes.

  Megan drove the van over to them.

  Kayson didn’t move. EmVee felt helpless over how difficult it was for him.

  She peeked under his arm. “I need clothes.”

  Demi jumped out of the van with a shirt and some shorts. “I knew you would. Here, I got you.” She went around Kayson.

  EmVee took the clothes from Demi and dressed quickly then ducked beneath Kayson’s arm to give him support.

  “What’s wrong with him?” Demi wedged herself beneath Kayson’s other arm. “I thought you healed quickly.”

  “Something poisoned him. It will come back to finish him off if I don’t fix this.”

  “I don’t want you to do it,” Kayson wheezed. “It will change everything.”

  “What?” Demi asked.

  “Let’s get him to Megan’s, and I’ll explain.” EmVee stood taller and practically carried Kayson.

  They made it to the van door before he collapsed.

  EmVee climbed in beside him and put his head in her lap.

  Kissing his cheek, she’d decided she would be the one to fix this. She loved him, and bonding with him was something she wanted more than anything. Her beast needed it and cried for it within her, and her heart ached for it. Now her mind was willing to take a chance and give herself to Kayson – forever.

  EmVee stood by the d
oor of their bedroom. She helped Kayson lay on the mattress. Rachel and Megan followed her to stand over him. He was tossing and turning so much that they rushed to tie his hands down to the headboard.

  “I have his feet.” Megan wrapped the chains around his ankles with unnatural speed.

  EmVee sighed. “How bad is it? The redcap said that a Siphoner did this. It’s a new creation. Some hybrid made by the Warlord over The Void. She’s a Soul Trainer named Sybil.”

  Megan frowned. “Sybil? She’s the Warlord?”

  “That’s the name I got.”

  “I need to research this more, but if she’s the Warlord, then she will know who the Overlord is.”

  “The creature also saw my mother there. He said she and the other experiments were moved to the gym. I don’t remember any underground facility there.”

  Megan tapped her foot. “Oh, there was a rumor about one, that the gym was built over a portal entry used by the Overlord. Like the one that you came through to get here. The Soul Thieves or Trainers use them instead of summoning a portal in order to save their strength. It gives them a fighting advantage that allows them to appear in a Province ready to fight with full power.”

  “There was one other thing. The Siphoner…it may have been created using DNA from your father. It’s part Rumpelstiltskin and Pied Piper. The dark magic makes it desire to consume those it spits its darts into. It uses music to control other creatures and to drive the ones it darts to madness while sucking part of their essence from the wounds. Then it eats thier flesh.”

  Megan smiled. “Thank you for that. It is likely my father is still alive also.”

  “Well, if he is, he’s probably in the same state the redcap said my father is in. Turned into Sandmen and taken by the Overlord and controlled by him like a puppet.”

  Rachel gasped. “That’s a spell only to be undone by the one who wields it. How can you get the Overlord, a being of pure evil magic, to do your bidding?”

  Megan smiled. “Take something he values and hold it hostage.”

  Rachel gaped at her. “You are insane!”

  Megan shrugged.