by Heather Karn
"Nope, he's not. Shannon, bind this one. Now."
Shannon wasted no time wrapping a bright, thick thread of power around the boy's body, and he curled in on himself when it touched him. Her lips tipped down in a scowl as she clung to the loose end of the rope. When her eyes widened and a bright sphere circled the boy, I stared between the three with confusion. What was I missing? It took Shannon speaking for me to understand.
"Good call, Raven. I hope you didn't touch her."
"No. I didn't. I think their end goal was for her to touch us, once the Mind Reader broke us, but they never had the chance. To be honest, it was dumb luck that I smelled her scent at all."
My eyes widened as far as they'd go and I stared around Raven at the magic encircled boy. "Sadie?"
The image of the boy shimmered to reveal the body of the Chameleon. Her own body wasn't in much better condition than the imagined boy. Bruises covered her face and arms, which were visible now that she wasn't wearing a thick cloak as a guise. Even one of her eyes had fading dark circles around it.
"What happened to you?" I asked without censoring my shock.
Sadie scoffed. "What does it look like? I failed my Master."
"But Ashtin did too, so why doesn't she look like she was caught in a dark alley by the high school bully?"
"Because she did her part. I failed to touch you, and I failed to make sure you were dead. Her only job was to aide in escape."
Folding my arms, I stared at the girl, who was no older than me by appearances. "Is this your true form?"
Sadie shrugged. "Does it even matter? I'm a Chameleon. True forms don't mean much to us."
"Well, they should. Or do you just pick a face and body you like the best?"
Silence was her answer.
"What are we going to do with her?" I asked the group. Luella and the shifters had come closer, but Avery and Jacks were more focused on the door than Sadie since the rest of us had her in our sights.
"We take her to the prison on base," Raven responded, sounding stronger than he had minutes before.
Unease prickled across my skin. "Um, let's rethink this idea. What if their end goal is for her to be caught so that exact thing happens? They said she had her own mission. What if it isn't touching us, but infiltrating our base? If she breaks free, she could disguise herself as anyone."
"Koda has a point," Luella muttered with disgust. "But I don't have any better ideas."
"Where's Lee?" I was truly failing if it took until this moment to realize my brother wasn't down here with us.
"Upstairs keeping civilians out of the building and watching out for any other undead." Shannon shrugged. "Well, I think we can rule out this Chameleon bringing the undead to life, which means that whoever is behind all these undead attacks is the one who did it."
Raven bristled as I stiffened. "That can't be good. Either he's close, or he's more powerful than I want to imagine is possible. What kind of creature can raise the dead like this and control Magic Users at his whim?"
While the others discussed what to do with Sadie, I strode across the room to think away from their verbal ideas. Avery joined me, staying close, but not within touching distance. If he hadn't come with me, I was sure Raven would've shadowed me, but he was also focused on the Chameleon. As I paced, trying to avoid stepping on an undead body, I flipped page after mental page to find the exact creature that Raven had described.
While most of the necromancer family and some Magic Users could perform the traits Raven had described, none of them could do all of them, or to the extent that was required. Either I'd missed something, or I was overlooking an Other...or a completely different category.
Threats.
There weren't an extreme amount of them, and every species could land itself on the list if a majority of them turned toward fighting against the peaceful races. However, there were some which were inherently dangerous. We'd studied them, but most we hadn't studied in detail, but a list of them were found in our book. I'd skimmed the list, but hadn't taken the time to study them all yet.
I took a deep breath and looked down at Avery. "You wouldn't happen to have your phone with you, would you?"
He huffed and lifted a paw to lick the back of it, reminding me he was in his fur, and only his fur.
"Yeah, yeah, don't you dare shift to your skin or I'll start calling you Jackson."
Avery huffed and turned his back on me.
With no phone to search for options, since I wasn't about to interrupt the others in their debate of what to do with the Chameleon, I continued pacing. The mental list was aggravating. Like I'd already pointed out to myself, I didn't know what half of the creatures on the list were since most were so rare there was no reason to go into detail.
Okay, so we knew the creature could control the dead like a necromancer. He could even bring them back to life with souls in a group large enough to defeat Raven and I. That meant he was powerful as a necromancer. Also, the man had Magic Users working for him as well as other creatures. I knew enough about the fall of St. Louis that it hadn't just been Magic Users in the battle. Threats had attacked in droves.
So, what creature was strong enough to control all of these people, and flock in loyal followers, and be so closely attached to the dead?
My feet stopped as the one possibility that fit all of the qualifications slammed into me, stealing my breath. Lightheaded, I crouched on the ground, covering my mouth from the shock. It had to be, but if it was, the idea was terrifying.
Cool hands cupped my cheeks, bringing my focus back to the present moment. Raven crouched before me, his magenta eyes wide with concern. The rest of the room was silent as everyone watched me.
"Are you all right? You're pale and shaking." Raven pressed his hand against my forehead but took it away, not concerned with my temperature. I rocked forward and wrapped my arms around his shoulders and buried my face in his neck. The metallic, sweet scent of him assaulted my nose, blocking out most of the scents of death around us.
"I know what he is," I gasped, shaking harder. "We need to talk, but not here. Not in front of her."
Lifting my eyes to the Chameleon, I found her staring at me. She licked dry lips and shivered. I couldn't imagine working for that creature. But, I had to know a few answers first.
Not releasing Raven, I lifted my head further from his shoulder. "Do you work for him willingly, or against your will?"
Sadie scoffed and lifted her lip in disgust. "Does it even matter? I'm a hated Other."
"It matters to me."
"Well, it doesn't to me, so you can guess and think what you want. It won't change the fact I'm dead no matter what I say. You'll never trust me and he'll send his minions to kill me wherever I end up."
I leaned into Raven, pressing my cheek against his. The stubble of his facial hair kept me rooted to reality when all I wanted to do was give myself up to the panic racing within. I'd studied lots of creatures, but this was one of the worst, and few had ever existed, and all of them were in the far distant past.
"How bad?" Raven murmured into my ear as he rubbed my back. Avery stepped close and ran his body against me, his heat and soft fur bringing added comfort.
"Bad," I breathed. "We need to leave and regroup. Now."
"Bradley's team is on its way. They're going to figure out what to do with our friend here-."
"She comes with us," I interrupted. "We'll need to keep her separated from us so she doesn't hear what we say, but I want her close."
Luella stepped into my line of sight and stared between me and Sadie. "She's a Chameleon. It's too dangerous to bring her with us. It could become too complicated if she touches one of us."
"She comes," I bit back. "Shannon can keep her from breaking free, right?"
The witch shrugged when I leaned back to watch her. "I don't know. It all depends on who she's touched and if their magic can beat mine. We know she's touched her witch friend, and possibly the Mind Reader. If she changes to them, she'll have their
power, even if it is weaker. Without knowing who all she's touched, it would be too dangerous."
"So why is she any safer with Bradley's team?" I asked Raven, watching as he ran a hand along his stubbled jaw.
"He has two strong warlocks on his team, and an Other who has the ability to neutralize most magics within a ten foot radius of where she stands. If Sadie broke free using magic, Kendrix could neutralize the magic she used and allow the warlocks to capture Sadie again." Raven took my hand and pulled us both to our feet with a soft groan. "If it's that important for us to bring Sadie with us, then I'll have Bradley bring her with us."
"And exactly where are we going?" Luella grumbled, not happy we were taking the Chameleon along for the ride.
"Not the mansion," I spoke. "Somewhere else, somewhere not related to the Elite."
"The mansion is warded and safe," Raven argued.
"Right, but we need your friend, the skittish one, and we can't take him there." I held Raven's gaze as he began to understand what I was saying.
"I'm not sure I have the money in the budget to pay him off again so soon," Raven murmured, and I wanted to punch him.
Hissing, I stepped closer. No matter how soft I spoke, my words would still carry, but if they didn't reach outside of this room it'd be a miracle. Grabbing Raven's shirt, I steadied myself.
"Find money in the budget, Raven. We have to find that Mind Reader and witch so they can lead us to their Master. He's a Lich, Raven. A Lich."
Chapter 22
"Please tell me you're joking." Raven's hoarse voice was the only sound to be heard after a few minutes of silence once the gasps had gone quiet. If he thought I'd gone pale, that was nothing compared to him. His skin tone was a sickly ashen color and even his lips were white along the outside edges.
A Lich was nothing to joke about. Rare, they could only be created by the strongest Magic Users, and they had an affinity for the dead. Though I didn't have a clue when this one had been created, it was obvious he'd been in motion for over ten years. Well before St. Louis had fallen. In all likelihood, he was one of the strongest Magic Users alive, and either he could force others to join him, whether through compulsion or threats, or his followers were loyal. If someone sought power, they'd be smart to follow the Lich. We'd be hard pressed to find him and even kill him. And he was immortal, so killing him was the only way he’d die.
Raven's head moved from side to side like he couldn't believe what was being said. "No, this can't be right."
"Are you doubting me?"
"Nope. I'm just praying your wrong." He ran trembling hands through his hair. "Koda, if he is a Lich then we're in way more trouble than we thought. I have to find somewhere safe for you."
"There isn't anywhere safe," Avery spoke from behind me, and I had to remind myself not to turn around and face a naked man. "I guarantee he has Elite working for him, just like last time. And they know where we live and all of our safe houses, or they have access to that information. We can't even allow Bradley's team near us, or access to this information. We have to go rogue to protect Koda, and only communicate information through Davis. He's the only Elite we can trust."
"Not the only Elite," Raven corrected, his voice hardening as he pulled his phone from a pocket. "And I know a few others who might want to join us. Luella, give Avery your phone. Avery, call Jonas. Tell him to meet us at my girlfriend's house. If we're lucky, he'll still remember what that means."
Girlfriend? I arched an eyebrow at Raven, but he ignored it. And what were they saying about protecting me...?
The meaning hit me like a kick to the stomach. Only Raven's arms grabbing me kept me upright as my gut turned and twisted. This couldn't be happening.
Whoever this Lich was, he had a vendetta against Third House, and was likely the person who sent the undead after my parents. He'd killed my father, and was the cause of my mother's death as well. He wanted Third House dead, and to prove it, he'd sent his minions after me twice now. While his aim was to gain control of the supernatural world, his sights were set on me and my imminent death.
"I think I'm going to be sick," I moaned. "Of all the creatures that could be hunting me, it has to be a Lich."
"I won't let him touch you," Raven growled in my ear, his chest reverberating with the deadly intent of his voice. "Avery, call Jonas now. I'm going to make a phone call myself."
While Avery stayed behind me and made his call on Luella's phone, I regained my strength. Shannon and Luella flanked me while Raven stepped back with his phone. Even Jackson moved in close to push himself against my side. I gripped his fur in my hand and fought to breathe normally while I listened to Raven speak.
"Hey, St. Louis is back to bite us. You want in? Good, because we're all meeting at your place in a few hours. The gang is getting back together." His lips twitched. "Yeah, she's coming too. Play nice. See you soon." That call ended and I didn't have time to ask who it was and who he was talking about before another call was taking place and the phone was back to Raven's ear. "Felix, I've got a problem, and I think you're going to want in on this one. What do you say?" The volume on his phone was too low for me to hear Felix's response. "Let's just say that vengeance is ours. Meet me at my girlfriend's house as soon as possible. Alone. Tell no one."
"Anyone care to explain about Raven's girlfriend?" I asked the group as Raven finished the call.
"Honestly, I have no idea on that one," Luella muttered.
"Me either," Shannon confirmed. "Must be before our time."
"You call Jonas?" Raven asked Avery when he joined us, having found a pair of jeans somewhere along the way during his phone call.
"Yup, and I called Davis too. He'll be there, as will Jonas. How do we want to do this?"
Raven gritted his teeth. "You all take the Chameleon-."
"Sadie," I corrected. "She has a name. We need to use it."
Avery cocked a grin at me. "Feeling sentimental?"
"Guilty for treating her like she has a plague. I'm not sure why, but I feel sad for her."
"Why?"
I stared across the room at the small form of Sadie curled on the floor, Shannon's shield surrounding her. "I can't imagine what life is like when no one wants to touch you and you can't touch anyone without their permission."
Sadie raised her head and stared at me. Defeat burned in the earthy brown depths of her eyes. She knew what chased her now that she was caught. Now that the rest of us were aware of what it was, there was no point in her fighting us. Sadie was right: she was going to die. I would probably be joining her in death if my luck continued on this streak.
"Avery, take the others to the meeting spot and call off Bradley. I'll take Koda with me to pick up our last straggler." Raven hooked his hand around my elbow and turned us toward the doorway. "We'll take Lee with us."
Without arguing, I followed after Raven. We raced back upstairs, finding Lee with an axe in hand, watching between the funeral home's front door and the staircase. When he saw me, every muscle in his body relaxed. He grinned, until he caught sight of our expressions, and the tension returned.
"What happened?" he asked, closing the distance between us.
"Not here. You're coming with us." I grabbed his hand and hauled him after me.
Lee stared back inside as we crossed the threshold but didn't pull away. "What about Avery?"
"I told him you're with us," Raven responded, his voice hard, but not lethal. "Get in. We have a time crunch."
Raven escorted me to the passenger's side of the truck while Lee climbed into the rear seat. After I was safely inside, Raven manually locked the door before slamming it shut and running to the driver's door. The keys were in the ignition and the engine running before the door was even shut. Buckling my seat belt took four attempts I was shaking so hard.
"Anyone mind telling me what's going on?" Lee aimed the statement at Raven, who checked traffic and pulled out onto the road at speeds that were not conducive to the neighborhood and narrow streets we raced down.
"Your one and only job is to help me protect Koda. If she dies and you live, I'll kill you myself," Raven barked. I threw my hand across the space between us and settled it on his arm.
"Calm down. And don't you dare kill my brother. I will haunt you the rest of your life if you even think about it, or attempt it." When Raven actually growled, I slapped his arm and turned back to Lee. "We found out who's after me."
"Okay, who?"
"A Lich. Please tell me you know what that is."
Lee shook his head. "Sorry, I don't. I take it he's bad news."
"The worst," Raven fumed. "I can't defend Koda against him alone."
"Oh, that bad." Horror punctuated Lee's words as he turned wide eyes on me. "Tell me."
For the rest of the ride to our destination, I explained the characteristics of a Lich. Most were the strongest Magic Users and by using spells and other magical elements, were able to bind their souls to their bodies for all time. It was a form of immortality, but not one I would want. While some people, mostly humans and their myths, believed that Lich's deteriorated to nothing but skeletons, that couldn't be more wrong. Their bodies remained exactly as they were when they completed the spell. Only their eyes changed over time to a milky gray. Or so our textbooks had claimed. Now I might find out for certain.
"What about our House?" I asked Raven after finishing explaining about Lichs to Lee, who was speechless and pale from the information. "They're still at the mansion, right?"
"Yeah," Lee confirmed, his tone proving his thoughts were elsewhere, as was the glazed look in his eyes.
"They'll be fine there for now," Raven assured me. "Once we learn more information and regroup with the others, we'll find a better place to stay and move them as well. No one but us knows they're even there, so they should be safe. Plus, they aren't going to want to go outside anytime soon, so no one will see them walking around. With all of us gone, the mansion is considered empty. Plus, like I've said before, it's warded."
"Shannon warded it?"
"No, an old friend." Peering out the window on my side, Raven slowed the truck. "Here we are. Let's get moving."