Chapter 30

Robin snapped shut the book he was reading, something wasn't right. He couldn't put his finger on it, but there was a strange prickling sensation in his stomach that couldn't be accounted for by the mediocre blood he'd received for his last meal.

His phone vibrated.

Jack: Another orderly has been called to collect Simon. I think we need to act. You get Catlin, I'll bring Gwil and we'll meet on the lower ground floor outside the linen supply room. Hurry.

He knew better than to argue, they kept texting to a minimum, and the feeling in his chest must somehow be linked to Simon, and he thought it had to be a warning, their bond reaching out to get his attention.

Robin: I'm on my way

He'd expected more time to prepare, but that wasn't an option and he had to act now. The feeling from the bond was intensifying as if it were picking up worry from Simon and transmitting it to him. For a moment he considered leaving Catlin behind, but neither Simon or Ben would forgive him.

The corridors were quiet, most of the residents weren't nocturnal but it was still a risk. At least Catlin's room was only a few doors down from his own, and he didn't wait to be invited but slipped into her room to avoid being seen.

She was knitting, not an activity he'd have associated with a Redbourn. "Robin? What are you doing here?"

"Time to go. I don't know exactly what's happening, but Jack thinks Simon's been taken and they plan to use an experimental treatment on him with the intention to permanently alter his memories."

"Fuckers!" she spat. She pulled her knitting off the needles. "I'll run the bastards through myself."

Now that was more like it. "We need to be quick and try not to draw attention to ourselves. I'm relying on Jack, best to follow his lead."

"Somehow you don't strike me as the type to follow others."

"Put it this way, I'm not what you'd call a shrinking violet."

She laughed. "Your face is so wrong. It doesn't suit you, I look forward to seeing the real you."

"I can't wait to be rid of it myself. But that's because it means Simon's home and safe." They didn't have time to mess about. "Ready?"

"Let's get your boy to safety."

He led her into the corridor. They walked fast but didn't run. They weren't confined to their rooms but they were heading to an area of the house where they weren't allowed and if they were waylaid they'd have no explanation and wouldn't be able to get to Simon.

Jack was waiting by the storage closet as they approached. He pointed to a set of doors with a keypad access but Robin doubted that was the extent of the security. "He's in there, I've just seen an orderly leave with a wheelchair," Jack said. "I offered to wait about so he could take his break and he took me up on it but said I was unlikely to be needed as the patient was sedated."

"We need to get in there now." Simon was in danger. They didn't have time to waste or for something to go wrong. "How do we get through the security?"

"I can deal with that, I've picked more stringent magic locks in my time. If we can have some sort of element of surprise we can locate Simon and then I'll open a portal."

"Do we know the layout behind those doors?" Robin asked.

"Gwil should be on his way, he did a recce."

Gwil appeared from around the corner. "We ready?"

"Not really," Catlin said, still brandishing a knitting needle. "All seems like a shot in the dark."

"I can tell you that through the door is a lobby, with several other smaller rooms, I followed a nurse in and was quickly chased off, but it was enough," Gwil said.

"Right, I'll pick the lock," Jack said. "We get in fast and check the rooms. Grab Simon and get out, I'll try to provide cover, but I need to manage the portal so do your best not to get hit."

"Were you able to get word to Hyax?" Gwil looked pensive. "To have supplies on hand?"

"Aren't they meant to be coming through to capture Mettle?" Robin said. "Otherwise we could be back to square one."

"I couldn't get enough of a signal to call, I've sent a message but the reception's patchy. But we don't have time to argue about this. We'll figure something out."

"What did you mean by supplies?" Catlin's eyes were wide, and she was clearly worried.

"The fae portals can be a bit rough on vampires, I've assumed a similar issue for those created by warlocks," Gwil explained, glancing back along the corridor. "The blood supplies help with the immediate aftermath."

"I take it there's not an alternative?" she asked.

"You could stay here," Robin snapped. "Look, we need to move, if nothing else we don't want to get caught in this corridor."

Jack raced over to the door and his fingers danced over the keypad, a slight purple haze just visible. "Nearly there. Triple-layer encryption is impressive, but people are always complacent over the matrixing."

Robin didn't want to think where Jack had learnt those skills or where else he'd employed them, he was just relieved to hear a soft click marking the door release being activated. It was now or never. They would need to use the element of surprise to their advantage or risk Mettle disappearing. Robin had lost Simon once, he wouldn't allow it to happen a second time. He didn't wait, and was first into the lobby which was empty and there were five doors, one closed and the other treatment rooms deserted.

"Stand back, I'll blast the door open, you grab Simon and I'll open the portal for Catlin and Gwil. I might need another one for us."

Jack hit the door with a discharge of magic and cast out a sea of mist, then with his other hand opened a purple portal. Gwil grabbed Catlin's arm and dragged her through the portal and to safety.

There was a roar of annoyance and Robin raced towards it to see Simon laid out unconscious on a hospital trolley, and Mettle in his lich form. His skin tight across his skull and nose withered while his eyes were reduced to two glowing points of red in their sockets.

Robin ducked in time as Mettle sent what looked like a ball of fire in his direction. While there were only certain things that could do him permanent damage, he didn't fancy a face full of magic and a slow recovery.

Jack sent a series of rapid red fire bolts, pushing Mettle into the corner of the room. "Get Simon. Hurry!"

Robin scooped Simon off the trolley. He was breathing but didn't stir, deep in his unconscious state.

"How dare you!" shrieked Mettle. "He is mine."

"You took him from me and now I am taking him back."

Mettle screamed, his black tongue writhing like a snake as he lurched towards them. Jack sent a wave of lightning bolts and opened a portal. "Now!"

Robin ran into the purple light. This wasn't like before, his body cramped and spasmed, he felt as if his skin was on fire. Someone was taking Simon from him, he tried to resist.

"I've got him." It was Ben. He was at Crofton Hall, but he could barely stand and collapsed to his knees, the world spinning.

He was pulled onto his back, and something pressed to his lips. Blood. He guzzled it down, and then more, he was trying to fight the darkness that encroached. "Simon?"

"He's safe," Ben said.

"Mettle?"

But he didn't hear the reply, the pain drowned out the world and he couldn't fight it any longer.