Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

I grabbed Aidon’s hand as he started to leave. “Wait. I have an idea.”

Layla groaned and said, “Why do I get the feeling I’m not going to like this?”

I rolled my eyes at her. “This could be the key to us going home in the next hour or so.”

Nana straightened. “What are you thinking?”

I smiled at her. “We need to use the water orb. We can turn it into a scrying surface. We aren't leaving without Rosemary, and this will be the easiest way to find her.”

Aidon’s gaze was steely as he nodded in agreement. His grip hadn’t so much as loosened on the hilt of his sword. “We will keep the shadows at bay while you three get to work.”

I pressed a kiss to his lips then stepped up to the water orb that floated serenely above a stone plinth. Its surface shimmered with that ethereal light. When we got closer, I swear it pulsed with anticipation. “This isn’t the traditional scrying water but it has a unique power,” I explained what I had been thinking. “Together, we can channel our magic into the orb asking it to search for Rosemary. ”

Nana rubbed her hands together with a smile. She was moving far slower than she had been when we entered the Chamber of Shadows. We would need to take a break soon. “Let’s do this,” Nana said, making me admire how strong the woman was. I may be biased but there was no denying how incredible she was.

Setting those thoughts aside, I focused on finding Rosemary. The three of us formed a circle around the orb. I reached out and clasped Nana’s and Stella’s hands. We were dealing with a foreign power. The feel of it brushing up against me reminded me we needed to coax it to cooperate. I told them my thoughts and then closed my eyes. I delved deep into the wellspring of power within me and drew forth strands of magic that intertwined with those of the orb. They connected to Stella and Nana next.

I was startled when Stella took the lead and began casting the spell. “Water that flows, water that sees,” Stella intoned softly. Nana and I copied her words. “Reveal the path, show us the way. Guide our sight to the one we seek. Unveil her location.”

The water within the orb responded to our collective energy. Its surface rippled and swirled with its transcendental glow. The chamber around us seemed to fade away as tendrils of light reached out. They connected our spirits to the magic that was unfolding before us. Images began to form within the orb. They shifted and shimmered like reflections on water.

At first, the images flickered through scenes of unfamiliar landscapes. There was a dense, shadowed forest. It passed too quickly for me to determine if it was the one we had been in when we followed Lyra. Next was a barren, windswept plain. That didn’t trigger anything. A tranquil meadow that was bathed in the golden light of a setting sun followed that. None of them showed Rosemary. She might have been taken through there but they weren’t the right place. A knot of anxiety tightened in my chest. This might not work. Before I could lose hope, the images stabilized. It settled on a dark chamber illuminated by an unnatural glow. I couldn’t see much because it was zoomed in on Rosemary’s face.

“Mom,” Stella breathed. Her voice was barely audible and her gaze was fixed on the image. “She’s alive.”

Rosemary's spirit appeared weakened. Her once vibrant aura was now clouded with confusion and fatigue. Even more than usual. Her hands were clasped tightly on her knees as if seeking solace in the evil that surrounded her. The dark circles beneath her eyes were dark purple and made her look even worse.

Seeing her in such a state stirred a deep ache within me. My swell of emotions mirrored the concern etched on the faces of my friends. We stood transfixed. Stella’s anger began bubbling to cover the sadness that sparked when she first saw her mother.

“Where is that?” Layla asked. Her voice cut through the tension as she scrutinized the surroundings shown in the orb.

Nana frowned, her brow furrowing in concentration as she studied the details. “It’s hard to discern. We can’t see enough of the barrier and the surroundings to know for sure.”

Aidon’s jaw tightened as his gaze fixed on Rosemary’s form trapped within the orb. “We have to find a way to break her out of there. She doesn’t belong in that place.”

Murtagh, his expression grave, stepped closer to the orb, his eyes narrowing in contemplation. “There must be clues we’re missing. Something that can help us pinpoint her exact location.”

“We need a wider view,” Stella growled. Stella’s expression was sharp as a blade. If that siren were still standing in front of us, she would be dead. “I can't make out the details. It might help to see if there are windows in the walls. Hell, I would settle for knowing if she was in a house, forest, or cave.”

Almost as if in response to her words, the water within the orb rippled and shifted. The image zoomed out to reveal a broader perspective. The craggy stone walls and sandy floors of the chamber came into clearer view. Their rugged textures, wet surfaces, and ancient glyphs were now visible in intricate detail.

“Nice going, Stella,” Nana remarked, her voice tinged with satisfaction as she studied the newly revealed scene. “Now we can see the layout of the chamber. And identify those symbols.”

Aidon nodded in agreement. “Those are the same markings that lit up on the floor here. We need to find the cavern she’s in and breach that barrier,” he said, his tone resolute.

Layla stepped forward, flexing her claws thoughtfully. “The barrier appears to be infused with strong magic,” she observed. “That’ll be on you guys to weaken it.” I could hear how much that pissed the shifter off. She wanted to help free Rosemary.

Nana tilted her head. “Perhaps we can disrupt the magic at its source,” she suggested. “If we can identify the focal point of the enchantment...”

Stella cut Nana off as she pointed to a faint shimmer near the top of the barrier. “There,” she practically shouted. “That seems to be where the magic is most concentrated.”

Murtagh’s eyes gleamed. “We can create a diversion if there are any guards," he offered, his fingers sprouted claws. “We will protect you while the rest of you work on breaking through."

Nana nodded appreciatively. “We know you will,” she told him with a smile. “Phoebe, Stella, and I will focus on dispelling the magic. We can only succeed if the rest of you provide cover and support.”

Aidon squeezed my hand reassuringly, his gaze meeting mine with unwavering resolve. “We're close. This will be over soon," he said quietly in a voice filled with confidence.

I nodded as a surge of determination rose within me. “Let's get Rosemary out of there,” I said, my voice steady despite the urgency of our mission.

With a destination in mind, we moved into action. Tseki, his dragon form unsuitable for the narrow confines of the tunnel, reverted to his human guise. His keen eyes scanned the hall. Aidon grabbed my hand while Murtagh picked up Nana. Layla pulled Stella. At Nana’s scowl, Murtagh explained, “I don’t want the door to close on us. I doubt Phoebe will be able to get those runes active again.” That was enough to have us all running. We made it through the exit without issue.

Tseki threw on his clothes while Layla and Murtagh stripped. The oppressiveness of the chamber atmosphere gave way to the familiar, albeit unsettling, surroundings of the siren caves. Scanning both directions in the dimly lit passages, I wondered which way we needed to go. We hadn’t gotten directions to Rosemary's prison.

“Layla, Murtagh,” I whispered, gesturing to the tunnels at my sides. “Can you track Rosemary's scent?”

Layla nodded, and her wolf started down the tunnel to the right. Murtagh took off to the left. The rest of us stood there watching as they prowled down the passage. Murtagh made a noise that brought Layla up short. When she began trotting back our way, Tseki headed after his mate. He and Murtagh had been together almost a year. They made a formidable team I was grateful to have on my side.

The cave system stretched before us, winding and twisting like a labyrinth of stone, sand, and shadow. I’d been waiting for the tide to roll in and flood the tunnels ever since we entered it. I wasn’t sure if it was magic that kept it at bay, but I was grateful. Initially there was nothing around us. As we got further into the caves, we caught glimpses of other sirens going about their daily routines. Some were eating oysters, others were weaving intricate spells, while more tended to mystical gardens or were engaged in quiet conversation. Each time we came across a group, we pressed ourselves against the walls. Stella and I cast spells so we avoided detection.

Aidon's voice broke the tense silence. “We should head toward the central area of the siren living quarters,” he suggested quietly. “If I were keeping someone captive, I'd hide them in the middle of my people.”

“I will use spells to help hide us, but I don’t want to risk too much. I don’t know how sensitive to magic sirens are. And we don't want to alert anyone to our presence," I added.

I cast a spell to quiet our steps while adding an aversion spell that would make others overlook us. With cautious steps, we navigated through the maze of tunnels. It was challenging to avoid patrols of sirens while keeping our senses sharp for any sign of Rosemary's location. My enchantments helped but didn’t cover everything.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of searching, we reached a cavern that seemed more centrally located within the siren enclave. The air here felt charged with a different energy. It became tinged with anticipation and guarded hope. Where was that coming from? Stella gasped softly answering that question. Her hand flew to her mouth and tears welled up in her eyes. “There,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

Aidon stuck his head into a chamber two openings ahead of us. Layla and Murtagh followed with Stella running right next to them. Nana, Tseki and I caught up and my breath caught in my throat. A woman sat hunched in a corner with her back to us. She was surrounded by a shimmering barrier of magic. I would know her silvery and blonde hair anywhere. It was Rosemary. And the water orb had been right. Her spirit was weakened.

“Mom,” Stella choked out. Her voice broke with emotion. "We've come to get you out of here.”

Rosemary's gaze flickered over her shoulder and lit with recognition. She scrambled to her hands and knees and crawled toward us. Despite the circumstances, Rosemary must have been having a good day because it was clear she knew who Stella was. And that was rare with her Alzheimer’s. “Stella? Where am I? Why am I here? I know I forget sometimes, but please don’t leave me here.”

Stella let out a sob and shook her head back and forth. “We’re going to get you out of here and take you home. Don’t worry.”

I stood on my tiptoes and pressed my lips to Aidon’s ear. “We need to ask your mother if she can help her memory. There’s nothing the healers can do for her. But there has to be something.”

Aidon pressed a kiss to my lips and nodded. “We will deal with that when we get home. You focus on getting her out of there.” I read between the lines. There was nothing his mother could do. She could help some, but she could not repair brain matter that was already lost.

I turned back and noticed Rosemary was watching Layla and Murtagh prowl back and forth in front of the barrier. Stella pulled me into her side and pointed to the rune in the corner of the cell. “Let’s focus there.”

Nodding, Nana and I put a hand on Stella’s shoulder. Together, we focused our combined magic on the barrier. We funneled our energy into dismantling the enchantment that held Rosemary captive. Something pushed back at us and nearly blew us off of our feet. I caught myself just in time and made sure Nana stayed upright as well.

“C’mon, we need to get her out,” Stella urged anxiously. “Now.”

Nana squeezed Stella’s shoulder. “We’re working on it. Stay focused. We need your help.”

I focused my concentration on the barrier. Threads of my own magic intertwined with Nana's, creating a surge of power that crackled through the air. Stella struggled to do much. This wasn’t working, but I wasn’t going to tell her that. With a determined growl, I extended my hands towards the barrier. If I could get a feel for the resistance, I might be able to gauge how to dismantle it.

Sweat trickled down my forehead as I pressed my palms against the barrier and felt the pulse of its magic against my skin. The barrier was dense. There were layers upon layers of enchanted energy woven tightly together. My fingertips tingled as I probed for weak points. I just needed one place where the magic was less concentrated. I could pull it apart if I found one.

“Nana, focus on the lower left,” I instructed when I sensed a slight thinning in the barrier’s weave there. “Stella, try to channel your magic into a concentrated beam and aim for the center. We need to disrupt the core.”

Nana nodded and her eyes narrowed in concentration as she directed her energy toward the spot I indicated. Her magic was powerful and fresh despite having been at it for over thirty hours. She was a steady force that bolstered me and helped me keep going. I kept poking the hole I found. I got distracted when Stella took a deep breath. Looking over, I saw her hands trembling slightly. She managed to shake it off and aim her magic at the center of the barrier. I went back to work when a beam of light shot from her palms and struck the barrier with a fierce intensity.

“That's it! Keep it steady!” I encouraged, feeling the barrier vibrate under the combined assault. The magic we channeled into it began to create fissures. I noticed a spiderwebbing of cracks shimmer across one corner of the surface. The barrier groaned under our efforts and the cracks spread wider. I could see more of Rosemary now. Her eyes were wide with hope and fear. The sight of her had me pushing harder. I directed a concentrated burst of my own magic into the barrier.

The cavern shook as my magic surged forward. I continued hitting the barrier with unyielding force. The shimmering wall quivered under the assault, but it didn’t break. What the hell was it going to take? We were all getting tired.

“Keep pushing!” Aidon's voice rang out, his sword drawn as he stood guard, ready to defend us from any threats.

As if I’d conjured danger, songs echoed in the chamber. It had to come from the sirens that lived there. I had no doubt they’d felt us by now and were approaching to stop us. I tensed for a fight which weakened my assault on the barrier, but I couldn’t be caught off guard.

Aidon, Tseki, Layla, and Murtagh sprang into action as soon as the sirens rushed through the archway. Aidon’s blade glinted in the dim light as he stood ready. Tseki moved swiftly to guard our flanks. Layla and Murtagh's wolves lunged at the people now trying to stop us. The volume of their song increased. I could feel it trying to work its way past my magical earplugs.

After a scan of the sirens, I realized the one we’d encountered in the Chamber of Shadows was not among them. I was relieved and had to remind myself that these were no less dangerous. Their songs sought to disorient us. When that failed, their expressions twisted into menacing scowls. “You dare defy us?” one of them hissed. Her eyes glowed with malice.

Tseki and Aidon merely laughed. I went back to trying to break through the barrier. If we could free Rosemary, we could get the hell out of there. It was challenging to concentrate when a fierce battle erupted. Our defenders clashed with the sirens with a loud roar.

I checked over my shoulder to make sure those I loved were okay. Aidon’s sword cut through the air with deadly precision. Tseki used his agility to dodge the sirens’ attacks while countering with powerful strikes. Layla and Murtagh's wolf forms were a blur of motion. Their claws and fangs were lethal against the sirens.

“Almost there!" Nana urged bringing me back to our task.

Sweat dripped down my face as I clawed at the barrier with all of my strength and will. I don’t know what Nana was feeling but it didn’t seem close to falling. Magical energy sparked and crackled around me. Some of it responded to my command and the rest resisted my efforts. Stella’s magic wove in alongside mine. Together our power formed intricate patterns.

“Push harder!” Stella cried, her voice filled with determination.

The barrier groaned under the strain. More small cracks appeared where our magic tore at its seams. Rosemary's face was etched with weariness yet brightening with hope as she sensed our efforts to reach her. Of course, her attention was torn between us and the fight behind us. The cavern was filled with the sounds of clashing steel, snarls, and magical blasts as Aidon, Tseki, Layla, and Murtagh fought to keep the sirens at bay. Unfortunately, more sirens poured into the cavern. The chance of succeeding diminished as their numbers grew .

“Don't let up!” Aidon shouted as he parried a siren's attack before countering with a swift strike.

My heart pounded as exhaustion threatened to overtake me. But we couldn’t stop now. We were so close. Gritting my teeth, I focused all my remaining strength into another push. The magical energy around us surged, crackling with intensity. The barrier groaned once more, but still, it did not shatter.

Between one breath and the next, the air grew colder. And I became aware of an oppressive presence filling the cavern. My first thought was Lyra. I spun in a circle searching for the source. I was disappointed and relieved when my gaze landed on the siren from the Chamber of Shadows. She was wearing black clothes this time. It made her look and feel more formidable than the others. The way her aura exuded raw power added to that sense. Her power was stronger, more oppressive. The air around her thrummed with her volatile power, making it harder to concentrate. I gritted my teeth, determined not to let her intimidate us. Her cold and calculating gaze locked onto us. A malicious smile curved her lips as she surveyed the scene.

“You will never free her,” she taunted. Her voice was a chilling whisper that resonated through the cavern.

For the first time since we began this journey, I wondered if she might be right. Nana and I were barely holding on. Stella was too emotional to have complete control of her magic. And our protectors were completely overwhelmed by the other sirens. It was not looking good for us.