“But you’re a half-breed.” I suddenly recalled his human form when I had taken the medallion from him to begin with. I remembered how his face had morphed, barely able to contain the image of a man. “You can appear human whenever you like, mostly. What great advantage do you really have with the medallion?”
“You forget, girl, I have a small army. If they can join me in the sun, there would be no limit to what we could do to the people of Chicago.”
I cocked my head, shooting a glance at the team of creepers behind me. As I did so, I caught sight of a hollow at the far side of the room – a small tunnel through which the stars could be seen watching us from the midnight sky. I acted like I hadn’t spotted it. “Why would I give it to you? The medallion, I mean. You would kill me instantly, then go on to slaughter anyone as you saw fit. Why would I make that an option for you?”
“Because if you don’t, you’ll die right now.”
Did he really not know that I had it on me? If he did, surely he would have destroyed me already. I was starting to think that he had no idea, and so I stood up straight, addressing him with fake confidence, even as my legs shook wildly. “Then you’ll just have to kill me.”
To my horror, the man shot forward in a violent blur of flesh. His hand stretched out in a heartbeat, transforming into a creeper’s claw and clamping round my neck. It squeezed at only a fraction of its true strength, cutting off my air supply and choking the life from me second by second.
Until the medallion began to glow.
The man’s eyes widened, staring down at the light bursting through my shirt and jacket. A thin smile appeared on his lips, and as his grip loosened, he took a step back and returned his hand to normal – to a human hand. Now, he held them both up to his mouth, forcing back his laughter and staring at the medallion. “You actually brought it with you.”
The creepers closed in around me. I turned around slowly, keeping an eye on each and every one of them, only to confirm that I was outnumbered. Even with the best magicard in the Vault, I couldn’t possibly take down all of them at once. There was nothing I could do now, save for maintain my dignity and go down like a real woman – none of that crying nonsense.
It was lucky that I saw him.
On the cave’s ceiling, a dark, shadowy figure crawled across the room. The way its body moved, crawling with its belly close to the ceiling and its head tilted upward, it was easily recognizable, and I had never been so glad to see anything in my entire life.
Jason had come for me.
I spun back to face the man who had ordered me here, my smile breaking through even as I tried to stifle it. The man must have seen that, as his own grin faded quickly. Above him, out of sight, Jason crawled stealthily within the shadows, ready to pounce. I prepared to run, eagerly waiting for him to make his move so I could get my head start and break for the exit. If I had a chance of making it past today, it was now.
I just hoped I wouldn’t make another mistake.
Chapter 12
In the beastly form of an enormous werewolf, Jason leapt from the ceiling of the cavern, pinning the man down as he pounced like a hungry lion. His paw, huge and heavy, stomped into the half-breed’s back as he retracted his muzzle to reveal a mouth.
“Go, Keira!”
Without hesitation, I groped for the medallion, yanked it from my neck and stuffed it into my pocket as I sprinted for the exit. The guilt of leaving Jason behind played on my mind, tripping me up and weighing me down. As I ran, I shot a glance over my shoulder to see him bounding along close behind me, the army of creepers nipping at his hairy heels.
“Keep going,” he yelled, his voice echoing through the cavern.
I turned and pushed forward, putting everything I had into reaching the exit as the medallion bobbed up and down in my pocket. My lungs felt like they were on fire, driving in a deep pain as my mortality exhausted me. How had it come to this; running half my normal speed, but tiring me twice as much? I wasn’t sure how much longer I could go on.
I had the exit within my sights, a gateway of cool night air lurking in a straight path ahead of me. I struggled to breathe as I sped up, sprinting faster and faster with the creepers hot at my heels. My mind was on Jason, my eyes on the exit, and in that blurry haze of adrenaline, I didn’t see the creeper in front of me until it blocked my path.
Its claw swung at me in a big swoop, ripping through the air like a whistle. Whoosh. I ducked just in time to keep my head attached to my body. While I was still crouched down, it reached out and pinned me to the rocky ground, driving its foot forcefully into my spine.
I gasped in pain, the strength of the creeper far outweighing my durability. I wriggled and squirmed, desperately searching for some kind of second wind deep inside of me. For only a brief moment in time, I hoped that my immortality would return to me. But even then, I might only stand a small chance of getting out of here.
On the verge of giving up – of giving in – Jason sprung from the darkness, tackling the creeper and rolling across the cavern in a blur of white and brown. The cave echoed with screeches, howling and roaring, until finally I heard Jason’s voice again.
“Get up! Go!”
I snapped out of my trance, climbed to my feet, and scurried for the exit.
The outside air hit me hard. A fresh gust of wind picked up across the open park. It was cool and hard, abusive yet refreshing. I would have stopped to take it in, but with the creepers closing in behind me, I didn’t linger. All I could think to do was run, until I felt a warm, firm hand closing around my arm.
Trembling with fear, I spun quickly to see Jason standing beside me. He was half naked; missing a shirt due to his transformation into a werewolf. His brown eyes shone brightly under the moonlight, and a deep, fresh scratch covered his cheek – three long claw marks.
“Are you–”
“I’m fine,” he said. “But if we don’t move fast, I won’t be.”
Jason held me close, helping me move as I panted and sweated, feeling my mortality more than ever. It was the second time in hours that I’d had to flee from one of those lanky white bastards, but I couldn’t give up now.
We hurried over a small hill, where a group of trees gave way to a concrete path. Beside it was a hot dog cart, a railing with a long chain, and a young couple strolling arm-in-arm while laughing at some shared secret. I stood frozen, swearing blind that I recognized this place. Everything about it seemed familiar.
“Are we in Mound Park?” I asked Jason as he held me upright.
“Yes. Come on.”
I breathed a deep sigh of relief, glancing all around me in hope of finding a crowded area. I saw one by the ponds, where people were gathered, enjoying the night air. We made our way over to them, staying out of the creepers’ hungry grasps. For as long as we remained out in the open, we at least had a small chance of staying alive for a while longer.
Jason removed my arm from his shoulder, leaning me against the fence that separated the ponds from dry land. We caught our breath, each of us gasping for air, but myself more than him. Frantic panting was the cost of being human again.
“Thank you,” I said, finally able to speak.
Jason nodded but said nothing as he took me into his arms, holding me close. I had loved this man for some time now, but never had I been as glad to see him as I was at that moment. He had saved me again, and if being with him meant that he had to risk his life time after time, I would have to think twice about keeping this relationship going.
After all, nobody wanted to bring harm to those they loved.
Chapter 13
The one good thing about being mortal – and believe me, there really was only one good thing – was that now I could enjoy the smaller things again. I had already stubbed my toe twice, bumped shoulders with a pedestrian, and sat on an earring that I’d carelessly left on my couch. Perhaps I had always been this clumsy but simply never noticed it before. Only now I could really feel it; sharp, delicious pain.
&nbs
p; I could even get more enjoyment out of a shower than before. The spray of hot water massaged my skin, and every soft droplet that rolled down my back was a cool pleasure that I cherished. For all I knew, Dalton’s spell could wear off soon, and I would be back to kicking ass. Only then I wouldn’t be able to operate the compass. Then, I would be useless.
Stepping out of the shower carefully, I dried myself with a rough towel, wrapped it around my naked body and then stepped out into the living area. I shared my apartment with Jason these days, which, considering the size of the place, was cramped enough with just one person living there. But who was I to complain? At least he had some leftover cash to help with the bills. I’d needed that for quite some time, and a full-time Cardkeeper doesn’t exactly have time for a part-time job. At least, if worse came to worst, I could live at the Vault, which was expected of me anyway.
As I crossed the room, cleansed and refreshed, I took a seat beside Jason on the couch and began to rub my hair dry with a hand towel. My nerves were tight, my mind flooded with thought after thought about what to do next. I knew I had to slow down – as Jason had told me time and time again – but this was serious business, and it needed my undivided attention.
If only I had a little extra time.
Jason leaned forward and picked up the medallion to study it. He cleared his throat and gazed up at me. His eyes scanned over my bare shoulders, my neck, and then they met my own eyes with a hard but distracted longing. He nibbled on his lower lip, a thing he only did in severe contemplation. It gave cause for alarm. “Why didn’t you come to me when you needed help?”
I stopped drying – stopped fidgeting. “What?”
“After you left the Vault as a mortal, why didn’t you swing by and grab me first? You know I would have helped you find the owner of the medallion.”
“Umm… Okay, two reasons,” I said, fidgeting again. “First, I didn’t want you recklessly throwing yourself in danger for me every five minutes. I love that we can work together, but it doesn’t mean you need to fight for me on every occasion. Second, you’re a werewolf. That thing doesn’t work around magic.”
“I don’t use magic.”
“Are curses not a form of magic?”
“Not according to a mage.”
“Oh.” I watched him set the medallion on the coffee table, before sitting back with his hands above his head, stretching out as if taut with frustration. Something was on his mind, and I suspected that he was feeling left out. I could only imagine how hard the transition must have been from a pack animal to a domestic boyfriend. “How did you find me, anyway?”
“Back at the cave?”
I nodded.
“Easy – I followed you from the VHS store.”
“You followed me?”
“I wanted to make sure you were okay, Keira.” Jason climbed out of the chair lazily and began to pace the room, glancing out of the small, dusty window every now and then. “I’m sorry if that feels a little personal, but you understand.”
I did understand; he was watching over me like a good boyfriend should. Although my lungs itched to shout at him for invading my personal space, I realized that I wouldn’t be here right now if he hadn’t. I had to give the guy a break. “I appreciate it.”
“Okay then.”
Over the next couple of hours, fatigue took hold of my body and I laid down on the couch. I slipped in and out of sleep, dreaming loose, random thoughts about the medallion. It played like a movie with the scenes out of order; me returning it to its rightful owner, Jason and I battling a horde of creepers together, and then a memory of when I had found the damn thing to begin with. Before long, all I could see was Link’s face, dry and tired as he aged rapidly. His arms were spread wide while his wings carried him into the air like an angel, only I didn’t see him as a guardian angel like I should have – he was more like an angel of death.
I awoke with a start. A blanket had been draped over me and Jason sat on the floor to my left, rubbing his chin and looking over the medallion once more. When I stirred, he craned his neck and smiled up at me, his perfect white teeth shining in the dim light.
“Hey there, sleepyhead.”
Feeling stiff, I sat up and rubbed at my eyes, coughing slightly as my body adjusted to the here and now. I reverted back to hating the feeling of being human, and all the stiffness and aching joints that came with it. “What time is it?”
“Four o’clock.”
“In the morning?”
“The afternoon.”
“What?” I shot up and ran to the window. When I saw people strolling around on the sidewalk below, and cars moving slowly up the road – some honking – I found it hard not to believe that I had slept through. “Why didn’t you wake me?”
Jason shrugged. “You obviously needed to sleep.”
“But I have work to do.”
“We can do it together.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’ve dragged you through enough already.”
“Listen, I’m not tagging along out of some moral duty. I want to be beside you, okay? I wanted to before, when you were tougher and you had Link at your side, but now that you’re vulnerable and all alone? You don’t have a choice anymore.” Jason climbed up off the floor and traipsed over to me, placing his hands on my shoulders.
I pulled my towel tight.
“I want to help you. I even thought of an idea.”
All semblance of control over the situation faded away. I could have argued and stood my ground, but deep down what he proposed made sense; more paws made light work, and all that. “Fine. What do you have?”
Jason let go and pumped his fist excitedly, like a young boy enjoying victory.
“Get on with it,” I said, hiding my grin.
“Well, Damien Louse was a mage, right?”
“Right…”
“Your medallion has stopped glowing and you have no idea where to go next. The creepers are after you – after us – and you’re on a time limit. So, here’s what I was thinking: why not check out the Mages Guild?”
I hesitated. How did I know it would be a crazy idea? “Nu-uh. No.”
“No?”
“No way.”
“Why not?”
“Because,” I stomped over to the nearby dresser and began to slip on my clothes, “you’ve only ever seen Cardkeepers and mages separately. Put us in a room together and it ends miserably. Trust me on this.”
Jason crooked an eyebrow. “You got on fine with Scott O’Hare.”
“That was different.”
“How so?”
“For starters, he tried to kill us!” I poked my head through the top of the shirt and grabbed for my jacket. Maybe I didn’t know it at the time, but I was ready to head out. It was amazing what the human body did when the mind was preoccupied. “Besides, everyone seems to want the medallion. Everyone, except for who it damn well belongs to.”
“I just think that as it came from a mage, maybe they could offer some guidance.”
“They could, but…” I struggled for the words to say next. On some level, I believed him. As the medallion was no longer glowing, the mages were probably the only option we had left. But something held me back. Fear? As always, I knew it was risky to head into the lair of our enemy, but it also appeared to be the only way forward. I sighed. “Fine, we could ask them, I guess. But I should warn you, they could kill us.”
Jason grinned excitedly, his eyes glazing at the thought of action. He grabbed his black trench coat off the back of a chair and slung it over his bulky shoulders, and then followed me out of the room. “Then it’s lucky you have a werewolf on your side.”
Chapter 14
The Mages Guild was located on a back road with little light. To the public eye, the building simply operated as a place for Christians to pray and seek guidance, but those who knew the truth about the seedy underworld of Chicago – those who knew of the nightmarish creatures that stalked them from afar – knew better.
Th
e church was isolated from the rest of the city, tucked ominously away behind a Home Depot and far away from any residential areas. The mages had taken great care to assure they had somewhere to practice their spells and rituals, and over the years they’d even manipulated the system to keep their site a secret, so as they could continue their dark arts and demon-tainted spells.
It was a mage-infested danger zone, and we were heading right for it.
Not all mages were bad, however. In fact, most of them started off their training at one of the many Vaults. If they weren’t from Chicago, they would attend one in New York or Philadelphia or wherever the hell they were from. Years of strict schedules and steady lessons took them from their otherwise normal lives, and slowly moved them across into the darker world as they learned how to correctly wield their magic. Some would go on to become Cardkeepers, and the rest would remain as guardians of their designated vaults. But a third kind existed – the ones who had stood up to the Elders and demanded that they live their lives how they wanted. After the Great War of the Magicka in the early twentieth century, a small group of mages birthed a rebellion and fled from the Vault. Those who survived the war ended up in this church, where they would live out the rest of their days. It wasn’t ideal for the Elders to lose sight of them like that, and even less so for the Cardkeepers, who spent their lives on the frontline. But for the most part, we left each other alone.
Tonight, that would change.
Jason took the lead, marching up the steep hill with me puffing and wheezing a few steps behind. I kept my eye on the medallion, waiting for a sudden change – waiting for a fresh new light to emanate from it, excusing us from our necessity to make contact with the mages. But no such thing happened. It remained dull and still, inanimate and useless.
Broken Magic: An Urban Fantasy Novel (The Cardkeeper Chronicles Book 3) Page 6
