“Sometimes Searbhan dreams of her,” he said. “A beacon of hope. A light to lead all slaves out of the darkness.”
“I’m sorry,” I said softly. “The reality is that if we really want out of the darkness, we’re going to have to make our own light.”
“How?”
“I’m not sure yet,” I said, “but the good news is that you’re talking to a fire witch. Light happens to be my specialty.”
His long arm reached up to the bars and he wrapped his thick fingers around mine. “Then the fire witch will be the beacon now.”
Chapter Fifteen
Two dwarfs came for me about an hour later. The guards rolled my cage out of the waiting area and down a winding corridor to another cavern opening. It seemed that all the prisoners from the Fortress were assembled in the same place. This had to be the market. We’d be sold to the highest bidder and then doomed to live a life in the fighting pits, winning our masters money until we died. And that was the glossy version.
“You’ve once again exceeded expectations.” My monitor appeared at the side of my cage. His hands were shoved inside the pockets of his long jacket.
“If you had my file from the academy, you’d know that the word ‘overachiever’ is written at the top in all caps.”
The elf chuckled. “I don’t doubt it. I had every hope you’d defeat the giant, but Searbhan had never lost before.” He paused. “And yet you spared him, the same way you told the minotaur about a potential escape route.”
I stared at him. “And?”
“And they were your opponents, not your teammates. Their purpose was to kill you.”
“And yet we’re all still alive,” I said. “Fancy that.”
“Yes, I’ll confess that there were heated discussions as to how to handle the situation. Sheila was very close to terminating you this time.”
“What changed her mind?” I asked.
“Someone reminded her of your value, now that you’d defeated the indestructible giant. How good it made Sheila look to be responsible for you.”
“Someone, huh?” I had the feeling I knew who that someone was and I was looking right at him. “What motivates you? Do you think watching slaves fight to the death is entertaining?”
“Oh, I don’t find the fighting entertaining at all,” he said. “I don’t attend matches here in Terrene. I leave that to the wealthy humans and the paranormals that are part of the slave circuit. The only fighting I watch is the testing as part of my job.”
“Have you ever sold any elves at the market?” I asked.
“No.” His pleasant expression faded. “Elves are designed for a different sort of life.”
“So was I,” I said.
“Yes, Sentry of the South,” the elf replied. “It’s all most impressive.”
“It’s time for the bidding, sir,” a guard said. “You should return to your seat. It isn’t safe to be near the cages.”
“Oh, I’m not worried,” the elf said, more to me. “The cages are maxed out on enchantments because apparently the bidding arena is having technical difficulties with the ward.”
“That’s why we’ve posted extra guards,” the dwarf said.
“Yes, extra guards at the top of the arena, quite far from the platform.” He smiled at me. “How are you feeling, Number Five?”
I laughed bitterly. “Like a lamb being sent to the slaughter.”
He approached the cage and placed his hands on the bars. “Wait for your friend’s turn,” he whispered. “That’s your best chance. All eyes will be on her.”
For a brief moment, I was confused, until I felt the small metal object pressed against my hand. Instinctively, I slipped my fingers over it.
“Give Brittany my regards,” he whispered. “Tell her I’m sorry.”
Our eyes met and I saw the flash of guilt—guilt that he must’ve been shouldering for quite some time.
“I don’t know how you sleep at night,” I said loudly.
The elf’s expression softened as he released his grip on the bars. “Have no fear. I’ll sleep well tonight, Number Five. Best of luck with the bidding.” He left the area and I waited until no one was watching me to glance at the object in my hand. As I suspected, it was a key. I leaned my forehead on the bar to casually study the lock on the outside of my cage. Yep, it would be a perfect fit. It seemed that my monitor had a conscience after all.
A couple of dwarf guards rolled my cage closer to the platform, where all the other cages were lined up. I had to admit, we made an impressive display. In contrast to the sunken stage where I fought Searbhan, in this cavern the bidders formed a semi-circle in front of us.
Pedro’s cage was next to mine. The manticore winked when he noticed me. “Want to bet I get the highest bid?”
“Hopefully, it won’t come to that,” I said.
He narrowed his eyes. “You intend to die first? At least wait and go out in a blaze of glory during your first fight. Why waste it?”
“How many guards are here?” I asked.
Pedro scanned the arena. “As many as at the Fortress.”
“But without the tough environment of the Fortress,” I said. “No towers or walls with guards at the top.” A beat passed. “No ward, apparently.”
Pedro inched closer. “I hear you.”
Good. He wasn’t all brawn and no brain. “On my signal,” I said in a low voice.
He didn’t ask questions. He simply nodded and stood in a ready position.
An incubus strode onto the platform. The handsome paranormal wore a stark white suit with a red tie and a black top hat. He probably had a way of working the buyers into a frenzy.
“Welcome, discerning buyers,” he said. “I’m your auctioneer, Byron Adams. Today’s market is an incredibly exciting one. You can feel the energy in the air, can’t you? Beside me, you see Number One. Her cage is clearly marked for those of you with human eyesight. Hold on to your horns, though, because this one is not going first. I know what you’re saying—but Byron, you typically go in numerical order. Yes, I do, but Number One is such a special case that we’ve decided to go out of order to encourage you all to stay in your seats.”
The crowd made disapproving noises. They didn’t like to be teased.
“You all know the rules,” he continued. “You see the property of your heart’s desire and you hold up your sign. My trusty assistant Daphne will keep tracking of the bidding.”
Daphne waved from the side of the platform. She was a perky red-haired fairy with an upturned nose and a smattering of freckles across the exposed part of her chest. How could she do this job and still sleep at night? I expected better of fairies. Then again, I expected better of everyone.
“Remember that you must pay in full before collection,” Byron continued. “No cards or checks permitted.” He flashed a megawatt smile. “With the preliminaries out of the way, we’re going to kick off the market with this feisty echidna.” He motioned to his left and the echidna was wheeled forward in her cage.
The crowd murmured at the sight of her. Echidnas were fairly unique and universally recognized as good fighters, so I had to imagine that she was considered valuable property to these monsters.
“The bidding starts at three hundred thousand gold coins,” Byron said. The bids came fast and furiously, and I could barely keep up with the incubus as he called out higher and higher numbers.
“Sold to Mr. Langhorne,” Byron finally said. The crowd applauded. The echidna’s cage was wheeled off the platform to the back. A wave of nausea rolled over me. The echidna was a living, breathing creature that deserved autonomy over her life. I fingered the key in my pocket. I hoped Mr. Langhorne took his time making payment so that the echidna had a chance to escape with the rest of us.
“The next item up for bid is a fine specimen,” Byron said. Bradley was wheeled out in his cage. “Very strong. As you saw in the demo rounds, an excellent fighter.”
The bids were as enthusiastic for him as they’d been for the ec
hidna. I needed to stop getting caught up in the bidding and figure out what I would do once I’d opened my cage. It was all well and good to be free of the enchanted box, but, without a plan, I’d waste the one opportunity I’d been given. Whatever I decided to do, I knew it had to be something drastic. I thought of all the reprimands I’d received lately at the academy. Which behavior could save me now?
Bryn’s cage was pushed forward and my heart began to beat wildly. She sat on the floor of the cage in a cross-legged position. This was my chance. I fished the key from my pocket and moved to stand at the door of my cage.
“What an amazing specimen we have for you, ladies and gentlemen,” Byron said. “The offspring of Volans Moldark himself. You’ve seen the pamphlet on this one. What a spectacular investment she’d make for your portfolio.”
My stomach turned as a Samodiva poked Bryn through the bars with the pointed staff to force her to stand. Bryn glared at the tall blonde as she rose to her feet.
The crowd made appreciative noises as Byron reeled off Bryn’s abilities. I didn’t need to listen to the list. I was intimately familiar with all of them. Slowly, I snaked a hand through the bars and around to the lock. No one was watching me because everyone was focused on Moldark’s daughter.
“Let’s start the bidding at five hundred thousand gold coins,” Byron said.
I popped open the door and slipped out without anyone noticing me. The guards were clustered around Bryn’s cage, as though worried she’d somehow make her escape. I summoned my magic, drawing all the energy I could from my surroundings—pulling from every available source—and letting it meld with the power already vested within me. I knew I risked overloading my system, but I didn’t care. This was my chance to free us all. The magic continued to build inside me. I was a bubbling cauldron with a lid.
“Number Five!” someone shouted. One of the Samodivas.
I didn’t give them the opportunity to react. I pushed out a fire figure like the one I’d created in class. A flaming Dani. She streaked across the platform, throwing fireballs and wreaking havoc. I managed to unlock Pedro’s cage first before the guards could reach me. He was the right choice to free. He overpowered the guards, his scorpion tail stinging as it thrashed.
I raced to Bryn’s cage, throwing fiery lassos around anyone who came too close. I unlocked her door and she joined the fray.
“What is that flaming Dani?” Bryn asked. “She’s awesome.”
“Come on, water witch,” I said. “Time to wreak a little havoc.”
Bryn conjured an icicle spear to defend herself against the attacking Samodivas. My body shook with power as I pushed out another fire version of myself. The fiery silhouette darted off to fight while I unlocked as many cages as I could. The prisoners bolted toward guards or into the viewing area. My hand trembled as I unlocked Bradley’s cage. The magic was trying to overtake me.
“Not yet,” I scolded myself. I handed the key to Bradley. “Unlock the other cages. I need to focus on offense.”
Bradley took the key without a word and hurried down the line of cages. I turned back to the mayhem erupting all over the arena. Pedro was taking down guards two at a time. The flaming Danis were like moving mini-volcanoes, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
Bryn now had an ice weapon in each hand and was battling two Samodivas.
“These cheerleaders are not backing down,” Bryn said through gritted teeth.
“Their hair,” I said. “We have to destroy their hair.”
Bryn glanced at me over her shoulder. “Dani, this isn’t the time to be petty.”
“It’s the source of their power.”
“How Biblical,” Bryn replied.
I had no idea what she meant, but there was no time to ask. Everywhere I turned, fists were flying and screams were heard. I had to dodge streams of magical attacks, as well as blades and stick. Chaos reigned as everyone scrambled to escape. A quick scan of the area told me that they were trying to seal the exits. Bryn and I had to get out of here before they managed to reinstate the protective ward.
My body lurched as the magic fought to get out. Another burning Dani escaped me.
“How many of those copies do you plan to make?” Bryn asked, ducking the Samodiva’s staff as it swung over her head.
“Not sure. They seem to be calling the shots.” I tried to concentrate my magic on the Samodivas. It was time to relieve them of their duties. Permanently.
“Dani, you’ve got to be the one in charge of your magic,” Bryn said. “Not the other way around.”
I sent a stream of flames at the Samodiva’s staff and it turned to ash before our eyes. “Bryn, we need to combine forces,” I said. I was soaking up as much of the Samodivas’ fire energy as I could, but my fire magic wouldn’t be as effective against them. “I need a strong breeze.”
She dropped a weapon and said, “Okay, but it’s going to drain me a little.” Like me, the use of elemental magic other than her specialty weakened Bryn.
“I’ll cover you,” I said.
Bryn summoned her magic and I could see her struggling to call forth the wind. If only Mia were here.
“Aim at our blond friends,” I said.
A small wind tunnel formed, blowing back the Samodivas’ hair. I tossed two fireballs into the current and watched the fire shoot toward their heads. It happened too fast for them to defend themselves. The flames burnt their hair to a crisp and their bald heads continued to smoke after Bryn pulled back her magic. Her legs crumpled and I jumped to hold her steady.
The Samodivas screeched when they realized what we’d done. Their eyes began to burn brightly and the light spread to the rest of their bodies.
“I’m waiting for them to scream that they’re melting,” Bryn said. She glanced at me. “That’s a Wizard of Oz reference.”
“What’d you do to them?” Bradley asked, peering over my shoulder.
“Revenge is a dish best served hot, apparently,” Bryn said.
We watched together as the Samodivas’ bodies burned from the inside out until they disappeared in a pile of dust.
“Where’s the third one?” I asked.
“Already dead,” Bradley said. “The echidna and I took care of her.” He inclined his head toward the seats. “Reinforcements have been called. Your flaming replicas are great, Dani, but I think we’re going to have a problem if we don’t get out of here soon.”
“Someone needs to find Searbhan,” I said. “He’s locked in one of the waiting areas.”
“I’ll go,” Bradley said. “We’ll need his help if we expect to break through the barriers up there.”
“Spare the elf if you see him,” I said. I couldn’t see him in the pandemonium, and hoped that he’d made it out alive.
“The elf?” Bryn queried.
“My monitor. He gave me the key,” I said. “I think he may have been part of an escape effort once before and failed.” And probably hadn’t been willing to try again until now.
“I never suspected him,” a voice said. “That’s the last mistake I’ll ever make.”
A chill shot down my spine as I turned to see Sheila standing a few feet away. She was dressed in another suit—this one was black with shoulder pads, a white blouse, and a red scarf fastened around her neck.
“You’re right,” Bryn said. “Because you can’t make mistakes when you’re dead.” She paused. “Or is it dead undead?”
Sheila hissed and showed her fangs. “I can’t believe you’re responsible for all this.”
“With a little help from my friends,” I said. “Do you need me to explain what friends are? I get the sense you’re unfamiliar with the term.”
Saliva dripped from Sheila’s fangs. “So young and foolish. I am an ancient vampire….”
“Yes, the clothes are an undead giveaway,” Bryn said.
Sheila shrugged off her jacket and hung it on the open door of a cage.
“Don’t you want to roll up your sleeves?” I asked. “Bloodstains
are really hard to remove from a white shirt.”
Sheila glowered. “I look forward to your deaths.”
She launched herself at me first. Her nails dug into my flesh as she tried to get a solid grip on me before she sank her fangs into the curve of my neck. My body began to warm and I realized that I hadn’t even summoned my magic. It was bursting out of me whether I wanted it to or not.
I managed to block her bite by placing both hands on her cheeks and pressing. Hard. I heard the sizzle and the smell of burning flesh nearly made me wretch. I refused to let go, though. Her fangs grazed my skin, drawing a trickle of blood.
“Dani, I can’t hit her without hitting you.” I heard the frustration in Bryn’s voice as she tried to help me.
“Your paltry elemental magic isn’t enough to kill me,” Sheila seethed. Her hand gripped my neck and she squeezed, lifting me into the air. My legs dangled as I struggled to regain the upper hand, literally. Magic seeped from my pores, refusing to be contained. It was time to pop the lid off the cauldron—I opened my mouth and fire blasted from my lungs. Sheila shrieked in agony as her cheek began to melt. Still, she angled her fangs, desperate to tear into my flesh. Despite missing half her face, Sheila refused to go softly into that good night.
I twisted and turned, forcing her hand to slip from my neck. I scrambled out of reach and inhaled sharply to catch my breath. Another flaming silhouette pushed its way out of my body and I began to feel light-headed. I needed rest, but my magic continued to steamroll over me.
Sheila staggered toward me, and I threw up my hands in a defensive position.
“Searbhan’s turn.” The club came into view before the giant. It bashed the back of Sheila’s head and she fell forward onto her knees. The giant loomed over her, ready to strike again. “Searbhan wants freedom.”
Bryn darted over to me. “We should get out of the splash zone, sister.” She looped her arm through mine and we backed away.
“Sheila tested Searbhan,” the giant said. He was clearly gearing up for another smackdown. “Forced Searbhan to kill. Now Searbhan kill for the last time.” He brought down the club on Sheila’s head again and I winced when I heard a crushing sound.
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