As the fire consumed their associate, they watched in horror, helpless to assist. Jason watched without guilt or sadness; he felt nothing.
He summoned a smaller bomb and tossed it into the center of the cavern where ten Fraternitatem members ducked from the exploding glass. The new spell billowed from the remnants on the ground. They looked at the spell in confusion. Jason pulled himself from behind the throne and stood for them to see. They all stared at him, unsure of who he was at first, until recognition dawned on them and their confusion turned to shock. The man they killed nine years ago was alive and well.
Melichi walked toward him. “How?” he demanded
“Her powers you want so badly,” Jason said. “You best run off that way or the spell will kill you, much like your friend there.” He pointed to the burnt corpse at the cave opening. Nine men ran for the hidden entrance.
Melichi watched them escape with a look of disgust. His face was scrunched and angry as he looked upon the dead Fraternitatem member and touched his face with the toe of his shoe.
“The spell is going to kill you if you don’t leave,” Jason said.
Footsteps echoed and bounded down the spiral cut corridors for the back entrance. In anger, Melichi whipped his hand out and cast the first of several jinxes. Jason ducked behind the throne. As he pulled his leg around, the magic hit his shin. In a split second, his pants were shreds of fabric, and blood oozed from his leg. The second spell splintered the top of the throne and Jason ducked from falling wood.
Jason knew he was no longer a ghost. Cham had known it too. While he had tried to keep the information from Annie, he was sure she knew it too. He wanted to make sure she wouldn’t keep him away from what he needed to do. He believed he would die here, but he didn’t care. This was no longer the time where he had belonged.
Jason gritted his teeth and cast a jinx that hit Melichi in the chest. The leader of the Fraternitatem flew through the air, narrowly missing the blocking spell on the main entrance of the cave.
Jason hobbled to Melichi as he lay sprawled on the ground. “Melichi.”
The smoke was thickening in the cave. The stampede of people grew more distant as the Fraternitatem exited the cave. Jason was sure more would be coming as someone, somewhere set off an alarm.
Time was closing in on them. The Wizard Guard had intended on Jason joining the fight, something he knew was starting now. He stared at Melichi; the leader raised his hand.
Melichi’s spell hit Jason’s shoulder, burning through his shirt and to his flesh. Blood seeped from the wound, quickly saturating his shirt with blood. The pain stung deeply, and yet he held in his scream as he expended magical energy casting another spell. He put all of his anger and his fear into the jinx. It was so strong, the magic forced Melichi up against the wall, leaving him hanging for several minutes. Jason’s arms trembled as he kept the man in the air; his legs weakened as his magical energy was drained. No longer able to hold Melichi in the air, Jason dropped the spell and Melichi crashed face first on the floor, cracking his teeth.
Melichi slowly rose. Blood poured from his mouth and his nose. His face was swollen. Jason met Melichi’s glare and didn’t release it as he threw his next spell. Melichi fell back to the stone, his eyes wide with fear.
Jason let him rise, keeping his eyes on the other man, then dropped a glass ball. Upon shattering, a billowing, poisonous gas rose in the air. Jason held his palm inside the magic gas and directed it at Melichi. The leader of the Fraternitatem of Solomon watched in horror as the flesh on Jason’s hand burned in the magic. His arm shook from the pain and his skin blistered. Melichi scrambled for the exit.
Still holding the magic, Jason used his other palm and forced a heavy jinx into Melichi, dropping him to the floor. Jason didn’t look back as he ran from the Cave of Ages.
*
Annie’s phone buzzed. She jumped and stared at the screen.
“Crap. As much as we wanted one portal to control the flow, the portal between the Louisiana market and the main market is becoming unstable. They need me now.”
Staring through the portal to the main market, Annie could immediately feel the chaos emerging from inside. Spencer held her arm as they passed through the magic. Three of the smaller markets had been closed and their portal energy removed, leaving only the Louisiana market open. The portal between it and the main market was packed with a horde of people, most of whom were entering the main market with only a small amount leaving.
“I thought they were going to clear out customers,” Annie said as she glanced at the portal.
“It’s a small Wizard Guard unit. Maybe they couldn’t have gotten everyone out.”
As the plan was discussed through the evening and late into the night, the South African wizard guards had set themselves up in a booth in order to monitor the flow of traffic. Joseph was known in the market, so it had seemed the best course of action at the time.
But now it was descending into madness.
“Damn. It’s getting out of hand. We need to find them now,” Annie said.
She and Spencer ran along the market perimeter, past an odd collection of individuals—merchants still selling wares to customers, stall owners packing up their belongings to leave, and more merchants preparing to fight for their lives and livelihood. People in each group watched in interest as Annie and Spencer made their way to the other side of the market.
Their first stop was to Arrowhead’s booth, where he was busy protecting his property and helping last-minute customers. He spotted them but kept his attention on his customer.
“There’s word that the Cave of Ages has been attacked,” Arrowhead said once he finally joined them.
“We’re aware,” Annie said.
“Fraternitatem members have been called back to the desert.”
Around them, panicked people streamed inside the market, talking rapidly with each other and pointing and motioning as if they had somewhere else to go.
“They seem to have found their way here instead.” Annie tossed coins on the table. “What are the remaining customers looking for?”
“Protection spells, potions, amulets. Won’t do any good though.” He pulled an ugly amulet from inside his shirt.
“And the merchants?” Spencer added additional avrum to the pile.
“Those who are still here are ready. Don’t make me regret siding with you,” he said.
The Fraternitatem members were obvious as they marched through the market, wearing thick, red cloaks that swung as they ran. Several made their way along the perimeter wall to the back side of the market. “Is there a portal to the desert from here?” Spencer asked.
Arrowhead shrugged. “Not that I know of. If I see something, I’ll pass it on. Keep yourselves alive.” He returned to the last of his customers.
Annie led Spencer to Joseph’s new booth, turning left at the next aisle. She caught his gaze and walked through the remaining stragglers to the empty booth beside his.
They ducked under the tent wall that separated the two booths. They were greeted by Petra, who was accompanied by two men and two women.
“Annie Pearce and Spencer Ray,” Annie said, gesturing at herself and Spencer.
Petra introduced them to Mark, Steve, Shayna, and Lisa, all of whom were members of the South African Wizard Guard.
“Who’s walking the market?” Annie asked.
“Richard and Char are out there now. We came in to wait for you. The portal is becoming unstable. That’s why we called you,” Mark said.
“We’ve also noticed the Fraternitatem members have been called back home. Why they came here is beyond us,” Shayna added.
“They’ve been forced out of the cave system within the last thirty or so minutes,” Annie said. “We saw a few Fraternitatem members heading toward the back of the market. Do you know if there’s a portal to the desert back there?”
The team exchanged concerned glances.
“We’ve never noticed,” Steve admitted.
“Why Fraternitatem members are heading to the back of the market,” Spencer said.
Petra frowned. “That’s disconcerting. We’ll look into that. Do you think your magic can stabilize the portal?”
Annie nodded. “I have it. I might as well put it to the test.”
Chapter 34
There were two known entrances to the Cave of Ages. The newest one was carved into the cliff and hidden between two large boulders. Right outside of the door was a two-foot-deep space. Once the Fraternitatem made it past the boulders, they could enter the rocky outcropping and head for the desert. There wasn’t much space to hide on either side of the boulders without being seen. Avraham, Sari, and Trey stood behind the rock on the left. Michael, David, Jenna, and Bryce took the other side.
“You okay?” Sari whispered to Avraham.
Avraham nodded and focused on the holding pen beside them. A large area had been prepared the night before and blocked off and hidden with magic. The giants, descendants of the hundred handers that had protected Hades in ancient Greece, had stayed to protect the location. It was clear that the giants could tell something was about to happen in the caves; they lumbered through the holding pen as they waited. Avraham sighed at the sight.
He continued to survey their location. The cave entrance was still blocked. Without binoculars, he couldn’t see a single soul in the desert. He turned his attention back to the outcropping. He knew a good force of wizard guards was hiding out there, yet he saw nothing and felt truly alone, even with his fellow wizard guards beside him. Finally, he glanced again at his phone, knowing that Jason would be sent in once he and his team were placed.
Not much longer.
The first of the bombs were set off. Smoke and poisonous gas began to fill the cave system, starting the flood of Fraternitatem members. First, Avraham heard their panicked voices reverberating across the stone walls and floors.
Avraham signaled Sari, who sent a ready spell.
The sound of hundreds of feet stampeding to them came next. Sari’s eyes grew wide as the sound became louder, more chaotic.
“Holy hell,” she said as the thick, black smoke billowed out into the desert.
Avraham held his breath. His hands shook from raw nerves.
Not much longer after the appearance of the smoke, the first of the Fraternitatem lunged out of the cave. His thin, red cloak billowed around him. Across his back, the symbol of the Fraternitatem blazed in gold. The disoriented man scanned the desert in confusion. Avraham stepped out from behind the boulder and slammed the man with the first jinx. He crumpled to the sand and lost his grip on the basket he had been holding. Scrolls and papers scattered across the ground.
The giants were there immediately. The first pulled the man up and placed him over his shoulder, carrying him to the holding pen and locking him in. The second picked up the scrolls and stored them along the cliff face.
“Out in the open,” Avraham murmured. While the lone man had been easy to contain, the next would not be.
The six wizard guards stood in a line, visible to the exit. Five giants stood behind them at the ready. They waited for the mass exodus.
It came quickly. Jinxes flew in the air. Some members were hit and immediately carted away; others, seeing their chance, pulled away and ran.
“Shit!” Avraham shouted as two members ran for the open desert.
Too many streamed from the cave in a chaotic hum of confusion and fear. They ran straight for the wizard guards, who jinxed as many as they could. It was too much for the remaining Middle Eastern wizard guards. Avraham raised his arm and shot off a spell, and the next wave of wizard guards revealed themselves and ran into the fray.
The desert air, no longer still, was alive with human voices and the buzz of magic as jinxes flew through the desert.
*
When Cham wasn’t watching the rocky outcropping below him, he was watching the air vents along the cliff top for any signs that Jason had set off the bombs. When he saw tiny puffs of smoke and poisonous gas escaping through the cracks around the rocks that blocked the vents, he moved farther away, crossing and uncrossing his arms as his anxiety rose.
They’ll be escaping soon.
He peered through his binoculars. The wizard guards were well hidden. Even the holding pen was not visible to the naked eye. On top of a cliff a mile away, Graham Lightner and others were waiting expectantly should they be called in to fight. Cham balled his hands into tight fists and returned his attention to the cave entrance below him.
He held his breath as the first of the Fraternitatem exited. Even after the man had easily been jinxed and carried away, Cham still felt uneasy. He glanced through the binoculars as additional members streamed from the cave.
Cham paced, but the sound of footsteps against the stone floor was loud through the vents. He stopped his pacing and watched the horde of people to see if Jason was among them.
He’s still inside.
The first line of offense was quickly overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the Fraternitatem escaping the fire and smoke. The next wave of wizard guards stepped out from behind their hiding spots and began tossing their jinxes at any Fraternitatem member they could find, felling many. The pile of jinxed bodies grew in the pen.
Cham returned his attention to the cave entrance. Smoke streamed outward, only dispersing as bodies exited. He saw several Fraternitatem members attempting to teleport, but when they failed to lift off, he knew all anti-teleportation wards were holding. While some members set out on foot, they were unprepared for desert travel. Cham knew his U.S. wizard guards could handle the flow from the outcropping; that was why they were stationed there.
Spells and jinxes were cast with dizzying speed. The movement of bodies in the fight whipped up a thick cloud of dust. Through the madness, Cham saw flashes of light and wisps of robes.
Beyond the fighting on the other end of the outcropping of rocks, a door opened inside the cliff wall. Several all-terrain vehicles exited. In their haste to escape, they nearly sideswiped the fighting. Cham texted Graham to warn him.
They won’t get far, Graham texted back.
Cham returned to his observations. Two of the cars had been hit by magic. He smiled wanly.
*
Brite leaned against the tall boulder and lay his head on the hard rock. From his location in the outcropping of rocks, he could hear the voices and footsteps as they exited the caves.
“It’s starting,” Shiff said. He looked at his partner, sadness in his eyes.
“Yeah. It’s almost over.” Brite reached for Shiff’s hand. “We wasted all that time.”
“I thought we were best friends, and then you left for the past and I knew it was more than that,” Shiff said.
Brite glanced around the rock and watched the dust as it rose in the air, the shots of light as the spell rushed through the air.
“I wish I realized sooner,” Brite admitted.
“If I don’t make it, just know I love you. And when this is over—”
Brite looked at his partner. “Tell me when it’s over.” A deafening noise reverberated across the desert. Shiff and Brite glanced at each other. “I love you too,” Brite said.
As the second team, they weren’t to enter the fray unless called upon or it was deemed necessary. For now, the first team was containing the exodus of men and women.
“I’m sorry I pushed you away when I got back,” Brite told Shiff, the man he realized he loved.
There’s no more time.
A second explosion rocked the desert.
“Don’t die on me!” Shiff said through gritted teeth. They rushed from their hiding spot and ran into a thick cloud of dust.
With low visibility, they were separated immediately. Brite slunk forward, his hands out, feeling for people or rocks. He followed the sounds of whizzing fireballs and shouts. He ducked low just as a fireball hit the rock beside him. He stared at the scorch mark across the
rock and breathed out.
“Shit,” he murmured.
Brite stepped slowly, his feet crunching in the coarse sand. He squinted as he made out the shapes around him. Heavy robes swished against the ground, and Brite headed toward the Fraternitatem member in full dress.
So focused on the robes, he was surprised when he was rushed from behind. His arms flailed around him as he fell face first onto the sand.
Damn!
His back stung from the spell. Blood saturated his shirt. He pulled himself up and scurried forward on his forearms and legs. A heavy weight jumped atop him and thick legs pinned Brite’s arms against his sides. Brite felt pressure against his lungs as he struggled to remove his attacker from him. The man squeezed his legs tighter around Brite, forcing the air from his lungs until they burned. When Brite twisted his hand to cast a jinx, his attacker applied even more pressure around his waist. Dizziness overtook Brite and his stomach roiled as nausea gripped him. He struggled against the man.
His muscles went slack; he couldn’t suck in enough air. But Brite couldn’t release his desire to live, couldn’t stop thinking of Shiff waiting for him. He popped his shoulder as he twisted his arm, just enough to aim his palm at his attacker. As his vision darkened, he shot off a jinx. The Fraternitatem member was struck with such force, he flew from Brite and landed against the rock.
Finally free of the attacker, Brite coughed up sand and dirt, delighting in the air. He rolled to his back and stared at the grayish cloud above him.
Sounds became clearer, his breathing easier. Brite gingerly pulled himself up and coughed again. He blinked several times. As his vision cleared, he saw the shadow of a body against a rock and crawled forward. When the dust cleared, he saw a tall man in Fraternitatem robes sprawled unconscious against the rock, blood streaming from the back of his head. Brite checked his pulse and looked into his eyes. For now, the man was alive. He tied the him to the rock with a strong, magical rope. Once the man was secure, Brite checked him for athames, amulets, and other weapons. He found two knives attached to his legs, pulled them from their scabbards, and placed them in his own pockets. When he found nothing else, Brite glanced at the man’s unconscious face before running back to the fight.
Wizard Hall Chronicles Box Set Page 171
