Chapter Sixteen

T here’s nothing else that really needs to be said, so I just turn around and get on the Fae horse, grasping the reins and then turning to face the guys with a sharp smile, “See you guys soon.”

“Stay safe,” Reaper calls after me, and I can hear Ryu in his tone.

I nod and then urge the horse forward, holding on as she takes off. Thankfully, like I predicted, I still know how to ride a flying horse, and I tell her where we need to go, knowing that she doesn’t need any more direction from me. Landing a flying horse so close to the stronghold is instantly going to earn me suspicion and possibly even end up with me being detained, and because of that, I have to try and work out a more elaborate way to get to the place in the ward where it’s weaker. I didn’t want to use the Void to make my way here from the castle, I’m still unsure of the effects of the lockdown, but I am confident enough that I can use it to get from the horse to the ground, easily enough.

As we approach the stronghold, I picture where I want to go. I tell the horse my plan so she doesn’t freak out when I suddenly disappear from her back and tell her to head straight back to Grey’s, and I’ll call for her when I need her. She lets me know that she understands, and I slip into the Void, feeling instantly refreshed, even though I didn’t realise that I didn’t feel one hundred percent. I want to linger, but I have a place I need to be, so I find the exit that I need and step through, pleased to find myself standing where I need to be as I keep myself partially wrapped in the Void so that no one can see me, should they be looking for me, or get suspicious.

Technically, I could use this to just walk straight through the front gates; however, it comes with risks of someone being able to sense me with their magic, and although they can’t see me, my body is still there, which creates a problem when walking through crowded streets. It’s also a problem because my gift works better in the shadows, and it’s midday, so there are not many shadows. Besides, I like keeping my skills sharp and don’t like doing things the easy way.

No one is walking past, so I send my magic out along the section of the wall that I’m currently standing in front of, searching for the weak spot that Zev mentioned. I quickly find it just a few feet to my left and quickly move over to it. Thanks to all the discussions this morning before I left, I haven’t got as much time as I would usually like to scope the place out.

My magic finds it easy to pick apart the spell in the wards to make a big enough hole in them for me to slip through; I then close it back up behind me. I may not agree entirely with how the factions run, but I can’t deny that they help supes and keep them safe so long as they live within their rules. I don’t want to risk something coming through the hole after me and killing innocents.

I’ve come out in some close-knit alleys at the back of some stone buildings. There's barely enough space for one person to walk, but there are plenty of shadows that I can hide myself in. I’ve used the Void like this so often by this point that it doesn’t drain magic at all, it almost rejuvenates me, so I don’t need to worry about staying like this for too long and can just focus on getting to the main house.

I can actually see it, not too far ahead, a massive castle with a wall similar to the one that surrounds the rest of the stronghold. I quickly make my way through the alleyways, heading straight for the castle and hoping that my luck holds out and I don’t run into anyone. I’m not sure that even pressed against the wall, I could avoid brushing against someone else and alerting them to my presence.

Thankfully it holds out, and I make it to the wall quickly. I’m not going to risk making a hole in these wards; they will be watched a hell of a lot closer than the wards on the outer walls, and no doubt there will be an alarm built into them that will go off if they’re breached. So instead I use the Void again, even though I’m trying to use it sparingly I don’t see another way around this predicament. As I step through the void and out onto the other side of the wall, my eyes widen, and I have to step back quickly to avoid running into a guard patrolling the perimeter.

If I was even slightly skeptical that they’re being controlled by dark magic, I’m not anymore; the guy practically fucking reeks of it and being half in the Void has done something to my perception because I can now see his aura, and it is literally saturated with dark oozing streaks of the stuff. Well, that’s handy; I’m definitely going to be using that while I’m here. I mean, there’s a small chance that not everyone has been tainted yet, although that’s unlikely.

As he passes me, another one is not far behind, and I know that I need to find somewhere out of the way that still has a good view of the castle. I also need to try and find a vantage point outside of the room that the object is actually in, and if my memory is correct, then I’m on the wrong side of the house. Avoiding the guard, I stick to the shadows cast by the many trees on the property as I make my way around the vast building, quickly locating the window that I need and feeling like luck is still on my side as I spot the giant tree outside, out of the way and a good vantage point. Nice.

Once I’m situated on a branch that gives me a good view of the window to the room I need and the guard rotation as well and I settle in to observe. I haven’t been here long, but I’m already starting to pick up on some anxiety coming down the bond lines from the guys, so I send happy feelings back, and I think it helps because the anxiety lessens.

It's dusk, and I’ve already learned plenty from observing. I’m going to have a very small window where there is no one underneath the window or in the room; they obviously consider the object something that needs some serious guarding, which means the spell isn’t on like a bowl or something but something worth a lot, either in regards to magic or money. Plan A is to pull apart the strings of the spell while still partially in the Void so that the Princes can’t see me and know what I’m doing; they’d have Helliers here in seconds, and no one wants that. If that doesn’t work, then plan B is to literally break it and hope that it works, although I’m hoping that it’s not going to come to that.

I’m starting to get twitchy from staying still for so long, so I decide that it won’t hurt to get in position and the ledge outside of the window is pretty substantial, so I should be able to perch there comfortably until it gets dark, I’ll have to thicken the Void since it’s still not quite dark and I’m going to be exposed I might get to overhear something interesting if I’m up there too and I’m bored. Any extra information would be great; the guards aren’t exactly talkers. I’ve got to give it to Temperance; she runs a tight ship. I think under other circumstances, we might get on. I don’t know all of the factions, but I do know Temperance’s one, as hers is one of the biggest and the most fair as well. I hope that I can break the spell controlling them, for them, as well as so we can get to the key fragment.

Some of the factions need their spells broken because they’re already depraved, and add in dark magic; it’s a potent and deadly mix, but there are a few that genuinely try to protect the supes that go to them for help, and I can’t even begin to imagine how scared they are, now everything has turned upside down, and their leaders are being controlled.

As soon as there is a break in the guards, I quickly make my way down the tree, and then, using my air gift to help, I propel myself up the wall and perch on the ledge. It’s actually slightly smaller than I thought it was, but nothing too bad. The view from up here is pretty fucking amazing, but I need to focus on what’s happening within the room.

Just as I turn around the door to the room opens and I hear voices gradually getting louder and a woman walks in, a man following behind her and judging from the respectful nod he gives her and the flash of fang that appears when she replies, with her own greeting, this is more business than pleasure, and I perk up even more.

I’m hoping I get some information that we can use from this. I must admit that Zev’s warning about being more on my guard is playing on my mind; I don’t think that I will ever take his warnings as anything other than something that I need to listen to.

I pull the Void tighter around me as I watch and listen to the occupants in the room, the woman I know to be Temperance. They move across the mostly empty room to a giant ornate mirror, and I watch as it glows with runes before Prince Remehus appears in it. Well, shit, I’m willing to bet that this is the thing that is cursed and the thing that I have to pull apart the spell on. The issue with that is I was expecting an object a lot smaller, and the spell on something that large is going to be more complicated to pull apart. I should be able to do it, but I’m not as confident as I was.

I am, however, always up for a challenge.

“We don’t have much of an update, my prince,” Temperance starts as the supe who came in with her stands at her back, and I realise that he’s there as a protector. Not that he’ll be able to do much against a prince even if Remeus is in the Underworld; his reach is clearly long.

Remehus purses his lips and then frowns as anger crosses his features, “We need to find the fragments; we know that there are at least two in the Shadowlands and with the one that is already here in the Underworld, we’d only need to find one more piece.”

“We understand that sire. We are doing everything that we can without raising suspicion,” Temperance replies evenly.

Fire flares in his eyes, and his barely there facade of calm breaks in an instant as he roars, “It’s not good enough! Someone is going to get suspicious. It shouldn’t be taking this fucking long.”

Temperance’s calm facade starts to crack as she nods rapidly, “Yes, sire, we will try harder. We’ll have the location at least by the next update. Members from Remiki’s and Khaos’s factions are also searching and, as requested, are reporting to me. Are you certain you do not wish to involve any more of the factions?”

He regains his control and inclines his head regally, “Good and no, the three of you should be enough, don’t prove me wrong.”

“Of course,” Temperance replies, nodding once.

“If you don’t mind me asking, sire, why do we need these fragments?” the guard asks.

Remehus looks offended that the supe has even addressed him but is clearly prideful enough that he answers anyway, “We’re going to unleash the worst of the Underworld on the realms and when they are mere echoes of their former glory, we will make our offer, we will swoop in like the heroes and save them, help them rebuild, and convince them that not all of us are bad.”

“Domination of all the realms?” Temperance asks, being very careful to hide her opinions on the subject.

“Yes, we’re going to separate everyone by species, like it should have been. We’re going to have supernaturals prove their worth with regular fights to the death. Only the strong will be allowed to live.”

“And what of the earth realm?” Temperance tilts her head as she asks, “They don’t stand a chance against supernaturals or the beings from the other realms.”

Remehus's smile is evil, and I feel like the darkness it radiates can reach me even through the mirror and me being surrounded by the Void. It doesn’t feel like my darkness; it isn’t comforting and warm; it’s not inviting. It’s like death.

With his smile still in place, he replies, “They will be our pantry. We’ll breed them like cattle, a never-ending supply of food for those of us with a preference for them. They are, after all, considered a rare delicacy in most of the other realms. We will also keep some as workers, to do our bidding.”

“Slaves,” Temperance replies, disgust evident.

Remehus narrows his eyes, “Now, now Temperance, it looks like you need a little top up. We can’t have you thinking for yourself, can we.”

Without any hesitation, a spear of dark magic pierces the mirror and slams straight into Temperance’s chest. I wish I could help, but the best thing I can do now is pull apart that spell and stop the hold the magic has on her. She’s clearly really fucking strong and has a good set of morals as well.

Since I’m in the Void, I can see as her aura fight’s against the control the darkness is trying to exert over her, she’s strong, but she barely lasts for seconds before she is entirely under the prince’s control again.

He smirks as he asks, “Now, how do you feel about my plans, especially for the earth realm?”

Temperance’s smile is stiff as she replies, “It sounds like the perfect plan.”

“Good.” Remehus replies and then adds, “Now find me the fucking fragments!”

The mirror goes dark, and although the guard tries to talk to her, the influence of the magic is clearly too strong, and she ignores him entirely as they both make their way out of the room.

I can’t go in just yet. In two minutes, a guard is going to walk the perimeter of the castle underneath the window, and in four minutes, a guard will check the room. From what I’ve observed, they don’t actually enter the room properly; they just check to make sure that everything is as it should be, so I should be able to be in the room while that happens. There are shadows in there that will help to conceal me.

I don’t want to use the Void yet, so I need to use the small gap I have between the guard crossing underneath me and the guard entering the room to open the window and get inside. I’ve already scanned it, and there are no spells or wards on the windows. Which is an oversight in security that I will bring up with Temperance when she’s not being controlled by dark magic.

As I wait, I start to think that this is huge, and if they manage to get the key and follow through on their plans, then we’re going to need allies. There is no way that we can fight against them, just the guys and I. Temperance would make a good ally and I can tell that just by how much she fought the prince and that she needed the dark magic topping up to begin with. Some supes easily succumb; one hit with it, and that’s it; others need more convincing and regular doses. Those supes tend to be strong-willed and have high conviction in their morals.

I bet the princes are struggling to keep the control topped up on the other two factions that they seem to be exerting their control over. All Shadowland supes are strong as fuck. At least we know that there are only two more faction’s being controlled. I have a lot of information to take back to the guys and it’s things that could be instrumental in helping us win this.

I want to get this over with now so that I can get back to the others and tell them what I have found out, but as I check that the coast is clear, I notice the guard underneath the window pause and seem to take in the surroundings, I don’t know what he’s waiting for, but he hangs around long enough for the other guard to enter the room and do the checks, which is annoying but doesn’t affect my plan too much, since the guard underneath me quickly leaves.

As soon as he does, I carefully open the window, thanking my lucky stars that it stays silent and doesn’t make a noise that will alert everyone to my presence here and then step into the room, closing the window behind me just in case someone comes into the room while I’m in here, the last thing I want to do is rouse anyone’s suspicions that there is something amiss in here that they need to pay closer attention.

As soon as I’m in the room, I can sense the dark magic radiating from the mirror, and it’s clear that my suspicions are correct and this is the object that I need to remove the magic from.