She nodded. “He’s got a place in the mountains. The Poconos in Pennsylvania.”
Damian grinned, “We need to know everything.
* * *
Aria sat on the bed, staring at the key that was just out of reach. She knew that he was probably manipulating her again, but shouldn’t she at least try? If it was the key to her freedom, and she left it there without going for it, she would regret it.
Sighing loudly, she forced herself to focus. Aria was starting to act desperate, and that was when mistakes happened. She needed to bounce back and remember her Legacy training. Kneeling on the bed, she did a complete scan, examining everything with her eyes.
The only furniture in the room besides the bed was the dresser. She knew she could reach it with a little stretching. She would search it as soon as she walked over there again.
Sliding to the floor, she glanced down at the under-the-bed-storage. She had noticed them before but hadn’t looked inside. Both sides of the bed held pull out drawers. She would check them all. Opening the first, she saw it was empty. Aria didn’t find anything in the drawer next to it either.
Crawling back onto the bed and off the other side, she checked those drawers but was not surprised to find them with nothing inside. Moving back across the bed, she walked toward the dresser.
Stretching to reach the dresser wasn’t working, so she got down on the floor and crawled over to it. She was able to pull out the bottom two drawers without any problems. It was more difficult to reach the top two, but she managed to look in those as well. Aria had hoped to be able to remove one to use as a weapon, but they wouldn’t slide all the way out. Something was stopping them.
In the top drawer, she saw a scarf, so she reached inside and grasped it. It was silky and thin with an abstract pattern in blues and greens. She shoved it into the pocket of her jeans. She didn’t know if she would be able to use it, but so far, that was the only thing she had found.
Sitting on the floor, she gazed at the door and the new key on the floor in front of it. Aria began crawling toward it without thinking about what she was doing. She had nothing else to do anyway. The promise of possible freedom was just too tempting to ignore.
Once again, she was stretching the chain as far as it would go, slithering on the floor and reaching out with her hands. Aria grunted in frustration. She was still a too far from it. Kallias had to know that she wouldn’t be able to reach. That alone was more incentive for her to get the key.
Going back to the dresser, she grabbed the bottom drawer and slid it out as far as it would go. The handle was a tiny bit loose, so she hoped she would be able to get it all the way off. Luckily, she was able to turn the screw holding the handle onto the drawer enough so that it fell off in her hand.
Aria smiled at her tiny victory. That gave her some added encouragement. Taking the handle that was shaped like a square bracket, she tied one end of the scarf to it and went back to the door. She shimmied over on her stomach to get close to the spot on the carpet that held the key. She tossed the handle over to the key, but the bracket fell just short. Aria pulled it back in and tried again. This time, she hit the target. Slowly she inched the scarf toward her. The bracket skimmed right over the key. Growling with frustration, she had to force herself to try again.
Aria threw the bracket once again, and it landed just behind the key. Ever so slowly, she drew the scarf forward, hoping that the handle would move the key closer. She wanted to scream in triumph when it slid toward her a little bit.
It took six times for Aria to finally get the key close enough to her to grab it. She collapsed onto the floor, tired from the stress of everything and relieved that she was able to retrieve it. Closing her eyes, she rested for a few minutes before sitting up, shoving the handle and scarf into her pocket, and moved her ankle closer to inspect the lock.
Holding her breath, Aria slipped the key into the hole and tried to turn it. It was stiff so she put some effort into twisting it, but to her complete shock, the key moved, and the cuff fell off her ankle. Aria was so shocked she simply sat there for a second. Kallias hadn’t believed she would get to the key and wanted to taunt her with it. He’d always underestimated her in the past, and he continued to do so. That would be his tragic flaw.
Hopping up, she made her way to the other door in the room. Aria put her ear against it but couldn’t hear anything from the other side. She carefully turned the knob and pulled it inch by inch open enough to slip through. Disappointment swirled through her.
It led to a walk-in closet and bathroom. She decided to explore it even though it wasn’t an exit. She entered the closet and was very pleased to see her boots thrown into the bottom. She raced to them and looked into the inside pockets. Her sword and knives were gone. “Damn,” she muttered. She had really hoped they wouldn’t have found her hidden pockets.
Aria flipped the right boot over to look at the sole. She held her breath again and mentally crossed her fingers. She pushed in and twisted the high heel to the right to open it. Most people would attempt to turn it to the left to unscrew something, but she had the threading on the heel reversed for safety. She unscrewed the hollow heel and pulled out a flip blade knife. It wasn’t the best, but at least it was a weapon.
She screwed the heel back on and slipped her feet into the shafts. Zipping them up, she was comforted that she wouldn’t have to escape without shoes.
Aria cautiously entered the bathroom, scanning it for any means of escape, but found none. She went back to her room and tried the other door, but it was locked. Flipping open the small knife, she went to work on the door handle. A couple of minutes later, she had the knob off and was pulling the door open, only to be thrown back by some sort of invisible barrier. She placed her hands up and pushed on the barrier, but it didn’t move.
Kallias had known exactly what she would do and, once again, was playing sick games with her. He knew she would get the key, unlock her cuff, and try to escape. He had been prepared and expected her reactions. She was truly trapped. So much for her theory that he would underestimate her.
Slamming the door hard, she ran back to the bed and flopped down. Angry tears threatened, but she refused to shed one over her situation. She was a Guardian. They didn’t cry.
Aria needed to get free because she doubted anyone would be able to find her. She had no idea where they had taken her, how many times she had been moved, or even how long she had been unconscious. It was a horrible situation, but Aria could get through this. She had to. She promised Damian forever and always kept her promises.
12
Damian fisted his hands and paced around the room. He couldn’t connect with Aria to find her, Quintus’s buddies were no help, and his “friend with benefits” was guessing about a location.
Knowing that Markos was making a plan to investigate the location they suspected Quintus was hiding didn’t seem quick enough. Damian needed to find her now.
His pocket vibrated, startling him from his dark thoughts. Damian pulled the phone from his jeans and almost dropped it. Aria’s number was displayed. He swiped the phone on immediately.
“Aria! Where are you? Are you okay? We’ve been trying to find you!”
“Hello, brother.”
Damian tightened his hold on the phone until he could hear the screen creak from the pressure. “Where is she?”
“I’m shocked at your reception. After all these years, you don’t even have a greeting for me?” Kallias mocked.
“Where is she?” Damian repeated in a near shout.
“She’s mine now like she should have been before you took her from me!”
“She was never yours, and she won’t be now. I’m coming for her.”
“I’m counting on that.” Kallias disconnected the call.
Damian nearly crushed the phone in his hands but refrained. Kallias might call again and provide clues to where they are. He turned to face his friends. “It is Kallias. Somehow, he’s still alive.”
* * *
Aria’s stomach was rumbling, but she was trying her best to ignore it. Damian had promised that they would stop for something to eat before heading out to search, but that didn’t happen. The apple she had consumed earlier was long gone.
Reaching into her pocket, Aria pulled out the drawer handle and knife. Maybe she could break through the wall. Afraid of making too much noise, she decided knocking the wall down would be too risky. She would have to cut through.
She walked into the closet and bathroom area and leaned her head against the walls, trying to listen for any noises. Going into the closet, she selected the back wall that faced away from the bathroom and her bedroom jail.
Knocking lightly on the wall with her knuckles, she hoped to hear a hollow sound. Aria didn’t want to dig into a solid wall or a wood stud. Content that she found a good place to try, she flipped open the knife and dug it into the wall toward the bottom. The knife went through the plaster with a little bit of force. She tried to use magic, but it was still blocked, so she was on her own. Aria pulled the knife out of the wall, moved it slightly higher and pushed it through again.
The cutout she made was large enough to stick her head through so she could see what was on the other side. Aria slowly pried the piece of wall away and looked inside. She wished she had a flashlight. Even though she had enhanced eyesight, it was completely dark. She could see that there was drywall on the other side only a couple of inches away. Groaning she stuck her knife inside the hole, but she heard her door open. Running into the bathroom, she quickly flushed the toilet. She then walked out of the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
She stood defiantly in the center of the bedroom, facing Kallias and an older woman, who was holding a tray with some food and a water bottle. Aria cupped the knife in her hand behind her back, hoping he wouldn’t see it.
Kallias stepped closer, surveying everything. “I was expecting to find everything in the room broken. You’ve shown restraint. That was definitely not a trait you possessed in the past.” He chuckled as he examined the door knob sitting on top of the dresser. He picked it up and tossed it in the air.
“Mae, place the tray here.” Kallias pointed at the dresser.
Aria noticed that he kept Mae in between them. She could tell that Mae was a normal human and probably someone that Kallias had abused. The old woman had haunted eyes that were kept downcast, and she walked slowly, showing that she was in some sort of pain.
Watching Mae wince when she lifted the tray higher to place on the wood top had Aria vowing to make Kallias pay for hurting the old woman.
Aria waited for Mae to move, but it was obvious she had been instructed to stay in front of the coward. “Hiding behind an old woman, Kallias?” Aria wanted to taunt him into action.
Kallias pushed Mae, and she stumbled in response. “Leave us!”
Aria felt guilty that he pushed Mae, but it was better that the old woman was out of the room. As soon as Mae was clear, Aria flew at Kallias, aiming the knife at his heart.
Kallias had been prepared for her attack. He grabbed hold of her, flipping so that she landed on the floor under him. “If you wanted to get close to me, you should have just asked. I had no idea you liked to play rough.
Aria swung her left hand in an arc and punched his smug face just seconds before her right fist, still holding the knife, crossed his cheek, drawing an angry line of blood.
Kallias screamed and punched her in the face in retaliation, knocking her unconscious. He left her on the floor and stormed out, only to turn back and sneer. She made him do that. He had only meant to teach her a lesson. Now, she would be unconscious for hours, healing. He wouldn’t be able to play with her for a while.
* * *
Aedan nodded and put his hand on his best friend’s shoulder. “So let’s go kill the creep and get your girl. Markos, we need to move. From what I’ve heard about Kallias, he was just as crazy as Pravus.” He leaned closer to Damian and whispered. “You look like you’re about to lose it. Hold it together a little longer, buddy.”
Damian walked out of the room, needing to clear his head.
Aedan rushed after him. “Markos is ready to head out. After you confirmed it’s your brother, he wanted to move on Quintus’s place immediately.”
“Good.” Damian stared out at the park. Aria had been there only a few hours ago.
“Is Kallias really that dangerous?” Aedan asked.
Damian turned to face Aedan. “Yes, and he’s had hundreds of years to get worse.”
Julie, Markos, and Ember stepped outside, followed by Braden. All of their expressions were grim.
“Let’s move out. Ember, can you create a mist to cover us?” Markos asked.
Ember smirked. “Of course I can.” She secretly loved that he needed her.
Julie bumped her shoulder. “They would be lost without us.”
“I don’t need cover.” Braden cocked an eyebrow before fading from their sight. The only thing they could see was a faint disturbance in the air around him, and that was only because they were staring at where he had been.
“That’s just freaky,” Aedan grumbled. “He could sneak up on any of us, and we wouldn’t know it.”
Braden laughed out loud from a few feet away. He had moved, and no one had known.
“Dude, you better not ever stalk me.” Aedan said, backing away slightly. “Although you really shouldn’t speak since we can hear you.”
Markos cleared his throat. “Anyway. Juls, please make us a portal.”
“On it.” Julie started making a portal against the side of the building.
Damian began to stride to the portal, but Markos put his hand up, stopping him. “Braden and I are going in first.”
“Like hell you are!” Damian roared.
Markos raised his eyebrow. “This is why we’re going in first. You’re too emotional.”
“And you’re not?” Damian asked incredulously. “It’s your sister!”
“Yes, and I want her back, but I’m not tearing the world apart. We need Quintus alive,” Markos countered.
“Fine.” Damian stepped behind Julie, ready to go.
Markos motioned for Braden to go first. “Ember, now.”
Ember held her hands out in front of her and called on her powers. Magic oozed from her and began to distort them from the world. “It should stay around us long enough for us to get there unseen.”
Markos nudged her chin with his fist. “Good job.”
Braden disappeared through the swirl with Markos close behind. The girls went next, followed by Damian and Aedan.
Damian stormed over to where Braden was bent over a body on the floor. “Damn it!’ he shouted. Quintus was dead.
Damian walked to the back deck and slipped outside. Another dead end. He closed his eyes and focused on Aria. He needed to connect with her, to feel her. He concentrated with all he had, reaching across the miles, searching her out. He suddenly snapped up and opened his eyes. He could feel her. He knew where Aria was.
Without thinking, he opened a portal and stepped through.
Julie and Ember began searching the house. Ember grabbed a phone she saw sticking out from under the couch. She was able to use magic to unlock the screen. Scrolling through the text messages and any other information she could find, she stopped on a text message. “Here. This is from Kallias,” she held up the phone.
Markos took it from her and read the message out loud. “Meet me at my place in Lancaster.” Markos clicked on the contacts and realized the dumbass had Kallias listed along with an address.
“We got him! I have an address here,” Markos yelled. He glanced toward the back deck and noticed Damian stepping through a portal and disappearing. “Ah hell! Where did he go?”
Braden growled, looking furious.
Julie faced everyone. “We need to get to that address before Damian does something stupid.”
* * *
Damian stepped into a dark room and nearly tripped over something o
n the floor. Glancing down he saw Aria crumpled on the carpet. He dropped down to his knees next to her, terrified.
He gently shook her. “Aria. Aria, please wake up.” He bent lower to scoop her into his arms to take her to safety when he felt a sword go through his back and come out the front of his chest.
“Hello Brother. It’s good to see you.” Kallias watched his younger brother fall to the floor. With an evil smile, he ripped the sword free.
“Now I have both of you. Although, I do believe that I nicked your heart, so I’m not sure if you will survive it.”
13
Braden and Markos hid behind a bush, watching a large farmhouse with a wraparound porch and white picket fence in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. A large magical signature was detected right away, so Julie was testing it for security. They needed to know if they would be able to sneak in without setting off any types of alarms.
No one had come in or out of the house, but they had only been watching for about a half hour.
Aedan jogged over to them, stooping down quickly. “I circled the whole block, which was huge by the way, and didn’t see anything suspicious. I climbed onto the roof of the neighboring house and was able to see two dark mystics in a downstairs den area. There was an old woman who stays in the kitchen. I think she might be a human. I also witnessed Kallias trudging through the house a few times.”
Markos cursed. “Are the dark mystics anyone we know?”
Aedan’s shoulders dropped. “I recognized one of them as a new trainee for Legacy. We need to let the Legacy High Council know that they may have more traitors.”
Braden pointed to the roof of the house. “We should try to enter from the top floor and the ground level at the same time to take them by surprise. The two dark mystics on the first floor need to be taken out first, and then we should go for Kallias. He will be weaker without his backup.”
Shadows and Sorcery: A Collection of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Novels Page 312
