Chapter 13

Carrow

A terrible, tragic fate?

The ghostly figure of the ancient man stared at me, his gaze shadowed. He repeated, "You must stop them."

"That's our intention."

He turned. "Come, I will lead you there."

I shared a gaze with my friends, who nodded. Together, the three of us followed him from the tavern and out into the public plaza. It was easier to see the shadows of the ghosts now, though they were still far fainter than the man who led us down the quiet streets. White plaster buildings towered on either side of us, and the thin moon gleamed above.

"How long have they been at the temple?" I asked.

"Permanently? For a month. Though they visited before that." He shook his head. "They were different from the other visitors, however. Too rabid. Too intense. Like wild animals, driven by instinct."

Yikes. I shivered.

Our guide slowed as we neared the dark magic that was thicker on this side of town. It stank, reeking of sewage and rotten meat. He turned and caught my eye. "This is what they are doing to our city. Do you smell it? See it?"

I nodded, my gaze riveted to the dark gray glow ahead of me. It looked like a hazy barrier of smoke separated the temple from the rest of the town. Across an open square, there was a second, unguarded temple.

The guide pointed to it. "That is the temple of Baal, the brother of Anat. They were not interested in it. Only in hers."

"And only in the warlike side," I said.

"Yes. No balance." He shook his head, spitting to the side in disgust. "I will leave you here as there is nothing I can do against the corporeal world. But beware, they have terrible magic. The dark side of Anat may be powering them."

I nodded and tucked myself back behind a wall. My friends joined me. If we leaned around the corner, we could see the open square and the smokey barrier that separated us from the temple. It called to me and repulsed me at the same time.

Our guide disappeared down the street.

I looked at Mac and Seraphia. "How do you want to do this?"

"I say we sneak in and spy," Mac said.

Seraphia nodded, and I had to agree that it was the best way. I touched my comms charm and whispered to Eve. "Can you see into the temple from up there?"

"There are some open-air spaces, but the haze makes it impossible to see the people. I can feel them, though. Like a bunch of rabid skunks making out in a dumpster."

I felt my eyebrows rise. That was quite the visual. "What about a way in? Any entrances look less guarded?"

"Nope, it's all surrounded by the same smokey substance. I think the main entrance is your best bet. They won't be expecting you, at least."

I hoped she was right. "Thanks, Eve."

"I'll stay up here for air support. Just shout if you need help."

"I have a feeling you'll be able to see it before I can shout."

"Probably." She cut the connection, and I peeked around the corner of the building. Everything was quiet and calm. I looked back at Mac and Seraphia. "Let's move quickly to the front, then sneak in and stick to the shadows. We won't make contact until we know what we're up against."

They nodded, and we set off, hurrying across the dark, silent courtyard. The temple itself was as simple and elegant as the rest of the buildings in town, though quite a bit larger. It was partially obscured by the haze, but not so much that I couldn't make out the white plaster and burnished red stripe painted horizontally across the front, about two thirds of the way to the top.

The dark magic barrier pricked against my skin as we approached, but nothing terrible. It was hard to tell where the magic was strongest and where the barrier ended.

"It's not that bad," Mac whispered. "Usually these barriers hurt a hell of a lot more."

I nodded, annoyed by the prickling but not in acute pain. We were nearly to the front steps when the air changed. Pain exploded, and I was slammed backward, feeling like an enormous mallet had slammed into my entire body.

An alarm shrieked through the night air, and I stared upward at the sky, every inch of me ringing with pain. On either side of me, Mac and Seraphia lay still, groaning.

"That was unexpected," Mac said.

"Never seen a barrier like that." Seraphia shoved herself upright. "A real sneak attack."

I followed, aching all over as my heart raced. The alarm still sounded, a shriek that was surely alerting the people within to our presence.

"Will our transport charm get us out of here?" I demanded, my mind racing with plans as I staggered upright.

Mac stood. "Yes, but do we want them to see us out—"

Five robed figures shot out of the temple, breaking through the misty barrier like it didn't even exit. Their magic preceded them, sounding like war, the clash of swords and cries of pain. It smelled like it, too—blood and smoke and dirt. Their robes were crimson red, with hoods obscuring their faces.

We couldn't run now. We needed to get some information at least.

My gaze darted to Seraphia, the smallest and quickest of us. "See if the barrier is open where they came out. They ran through like it was nothing so maybe it has dropped. Mac and I will provide cover."

She nodded, and it was too late to go back.

One of the robed figures raised a hand and hurled a blast of black smoke at us. It thundered like horses' hooves, and through the smoke I spotted an equine nose and galloping legs.

Mac and I dived to the right. As I flew, I took a glancing hit to my legs as the magic blasted by me. Pain radiated outward.

Seraphia darted into the shadows along our left, clearly intending to sneak around the back of the robed figures who sprinted toward Mac and me.

A bolt of lightning blasted from the sky, hitting the ground between us and our attackers. They slowed, rearing backward. Eve's attack bought us a few precious seconds, allowing Mac and I to rise.

I plunged my hand into the sack of potions at my side and withdrew a stunner, hurling it at the nearest figure. It slammed into his chest, sending him whirling backward, unconscious.

One of his buddies had already powered up another smoke blast, and he hurled it at us. This one was brilliant green and shrieked like a banshee. Mac lunged left, hurling a dagger as she flew through the air. It pierced one of the bastards right in the throat, and he slammed back to the ground.

I darted right, barely avoiding the banshee blast, then dug for another potion bomb. If we could just take these guys out and Seraphia could find the entrance, maybe we'd have a few minutes to sneak in and do some recon before the others realized we'd taken out their partners.

The three remaining red cloaks charged us, their robes flapping ominously on the wind. No matter how fast they ran, their hoods stayed over their faces. They carried ancient swords that looked like something from a museum.

Had they stolen them?

They didn't seem to possess the same long-range magic as the two we'd already taken out.

My hand closed around a third potion bomb and I dug it free, hurling it at the closet one. He was nearly upon me, so close that I could see the shadow of a face beneath his robe. The glass orb smashed against his chest and he went rigid, toppling over.

Behind them, Seraphia was nearly to the part of the temple they'd exited. I prayed she could find the weak spot in the barrier.

Next to me, Mac clashed with one of the robed figures She punched him in the face so hard his head snapped back, then leveled a kick to his gut that sent him flying.

The fifth was nearly to me, now. No time for a potion bomb. I took a page out of Mac's book and leveled a hard kick at his midsection, feeling a satisfying thud as his sword arm swiped out toward me.

I ducked the blade, taking a slice to the arm that burned like hell. He was off balance, though and tumbled backward.

At that moment, Seraphia reached the barrier and touched it, searching for the opening. The alarm shrieked again, and the barrier blasted her backward, sending her flying ten feet through the air before she slammed to the ground.

"Crap. There is no weak spot," Mac cried. Blood dripped from her cheek, and she clutched at a wound in her side that I hadn't seen her receive.

Damn it, we were in trouble.

The robed figures must be immune to the barrier, or perhaps you could only exit but not enter. Whatever the case was, we couldn't get inside.

"I think more are coming," Eve shouted. "I can cover you with one more bolt, but I'm running low on power."

I looked at Mac, my mind whirring. Three of our attackers were unconscious from potion bombs, but the two wounded ones were rising unsteadily to their feet.

At the temple, a dozen more figures charged out into square. Seraphia still hadn"t managed to sit up, either.

Eve's lightning blasted the ground between us and the attackers, the bright light blinding and the noise nearly deafening. It bought us time, though, and I turned to Mac to shout, "We can't take them all. But we can take one back for interrogation."

Mac nodded and dug into her pocket for a transport charm. "You've got your charm?"

"Yeah." We'd each need one if we were both going to carry an unconscious body back. Eve had her own, thank fates. "You get Seraphia. I'll meet you at the Hound."

"Be careful." She darted toward our friend, who was still unconscious. Fear pierced me. Please be okay.

I sprinted toward the closest unconscious body. I didn't need to be grappling with one of conscious ones, even if they were injured.

The robed figures sprinted down the temple stairs, powering up their magic. It glowed around their hands as I neared the body I'd chosen. I could feel their power in the air, the dark magic that reeked of death and decay. Several of them raised their hands, magic sparking around their palms.

One of them hurled a shrieking green banshee blast right at Mac as she grabbed Seraphia and hauled her upright. It was nearly to them when she slammed her transport charm to the ground and dragged Seraphia into the silvery gray cloud.

They're safe.

Two others aimed at me, magic glowing around their fists.

I was only ten feet from the body. I hurled my transport charm to the ground right next to the still form. Magic flew through the air toward me, two of the smoky galloping stallions. Their hoofbeats reverberated in my chest as I lunged for the body and grabbed an arm, hurling myself into the silvery gray cloud of the transport charm.

One of the beasts followed me in, its magic seeming to pollute the ether that spun me through space. Panic flared as pain enveloped me, threatening to tear me away from the person that I'd grabbed. It felt like I'd been tossed into a blender with a magical stallion from hell. Its hooves slammed into my chest, driving the breath from my lungs.

I clung tight to the arm of my prey, finally tumbling to the ground in the middle of the Haunted Hound.

Panting, I stared at the ceiling. I could feel the arm of the person in my grip, but I had no idea if I'd brought the rest of the body with me.

"Is there a hell stallion in here?" I croaked.

"No missy, but you look like hell." An ancient, wrinkled face leaned over me, blue eyes peering hard. "Your boyfriend is wearing a weird outfit, and I'm saying that as a member of the Mystical Mentoria."

I blinked. I had no idea what the Mystical Mentoria was, but the woman did appear to be dressed like a lunatic, in seven different styles of polka dots and a cloak stitched with a million sequins.

What the hell?

Had I screwed up the transport charm?

"Step back, Betty." Quinn's calm voice pierced my panic, and I heaved out a relieved breath.

Betty moved back far enough that I could sit, and I dragged myself upright. In a split second, I absorbed the scene.

I'd gotten my guy—all in one piece.

There was no smoky hell stallion here, thank fates.

Eve appeared, her wings still out and her hair windblown.

And Mac and Seraphia lay on the ground near the fireplace, gasping.

It was about as good as could be expected.

"Who's this bloke?" Quinn asked.

"One of the bastards responsible for kidnapping our friends. He'll come to, soon." I stumbled upright, determined to get to Seraphia, who was still unconscious.

"I'll tie him up then." Quinn bent down and grabbed the body, swinging it up over his shoulder.

I raced to Mac, who was leaning over a prone Seraphia. Eve landed on her knees next to us. "Is she all right?"

Mac pressed her fingertips to Seraphia's neck. "She's got a pulse."

Eve plunged her hand into one of the many pockets of her dress, pulling out a tiny vial. "Healing serum."

She tilted the vial over Seraphia's pale lips and poured the liquid into her mouth.

Nothing happened.

"It always works." Eve scowled.

"What's happening to my plants?" Quinn shouted. "They're all shaking."

I looked up, spotting a few of the potted ferns that decorated the place shaking like they were inside their own personal earthquakes. They tumbled off the shelves and tables and rolled toward Seraphia, the plants clinging to her.

Slowly, the color returned to her cheeks, and she opened her eyes. The plants stopped shuddering and lay still.

"What's going on?" she asked.

Okay, that was weird.

I shot Mac and Eve a glance. They just shrugged. This power of Seraphia's was new as far as I could tell. Or more likely, it was meant to be a secret.

She looked down at the ferns that were nestled around her, her face going pale again.

Yep. A secret.

"Are you okay?" I asked, ignoring the plants.

Mac and Eve did the same.

"Yeah." She sat up, shoving the plants aside and ignoring them. "There's no way past that barrier."

"We saw," Mac said.

"Did we leave everyone there?" Seraphia asked, worry creasing her brow.

"Not everyone." I stood, turning toward the man that Quinn had bound to the chair near the fire. The patrons of the Haunted Hound didn't pay the scene any mind. Weird stuff happened there all the time. "We got one of theirs to question."

"Good." She looked at us. "Do you think Coraline, Beth, and the rest are okay?"

"I don't think they're dead yet," I said. "They were kidnapped by fanatics of some kind. People with a goal. And they know they're protected inside their temple. I think they'll see their goal out before they kill anyone."

"We need to question him," Mac said.

"First, you need healing drafts." Eve gestured to Mac and me. "Look at the two of you. You look like hell."

Just the reminder made pain flare in my wounds, and Mac winced.

"Here." Eve withdrew two more tiny vials and handed them over.

Mac and I took them, swigging them back quickly. Warmth flowed through me, followed by a wonderful lack of pain.

"Thank you." I smiled gratefully at her.

She nodded, concern still flickering in her eyes. The four of us stood, and we approached the man slumped in the chair. His head nodded on his neck, chin resting on his chest. He was mid-twenties, probably, with shaggy dark hair and a silver bar pierced through his ear. Tattoos decorated his neck, indecipherable swirls that probably meant something to him but nothing to me.

Quinn stood behind his chair, arms crossed over his neck. "You've got to ask him some questions?"

I nodded.

"I've got a truth serum," Eve said.

"I'll wake him up." Quinn grabbed a half-empty cup of water from the table behind him. A red lipstick stain marred the rim. He dumped the water over the guy's head.

The man sputtered and sat up, gasping. As soon as he saw us, he growled and lunged. "Intruders!"

The ropes pulled taught, but he was moving so fast, he upended the chair, tilting forward. Quinn grabbed the back of the chair and yanked it into place. "Chill out, mate."

The man growled and spit, heaving against the bindings.

He was going nuts.

I slapped him across the face, briefly shocking him into silence. Quinn gripped his head and tilted it back. His mouth gaped like a fish's, shock flashing in his eyes.

Quickly, Eve uncorked the vial of truth serum and dumped it into his mouth before he could process what was going on. He sputtered, but most of it appeared to go down his throat.

Quinn leaned close and spoke in a menacing tone against his ear. "Calm down, or I'll gut you like a Ton Ton and climb in for warmth."

I grimaced. "What the hell was that, Quinn?"

He shrugged and smiled. "Been watching a bit of Star Wars."

"Well it's effective," Mac said. "That would get me to shut up."

The prisoner hissed at us, his eyes flashing with rage. "Those potions don't work on me."

Eve frowned. "Who are you?"

"No one you need to know."

"Tell me your name." Her voice hardened.

"Told you, those potions don't work on me."

"Damn it." She turned to us. "He's right. It's not working."

"The goddess protects me," he said. "She'll always protect me."

"Maybe." I nodded, crossing my arms over my chest. "But I bet she can't protect you from the Devil himself."