“There is an exit near the kitchens. They had to have a way to bring in food. I can take you there.”
Rose and Gris looked around, “I can do more good here,” Gris said. He touched Opaline’s shoulder, and the swelling in her ankle receded, then she stood on her own, a look of wonder on her face.
“What?”
“I can heal, though healing this many people will be difficult.” The two women looked at him in shock. He smiled at them. “Adda, could you take Rose to get help? Opaline, your ankle is not ready for trekking about. Could you help me organize everyone here?” Gris’s personality took over as the persona that he had been fell away. No longer would he cower and be used. He would be the man he was born to be. The hold that the demons had had over him was gone. “Keyne, can you search out any of the demons that might be left?”
“Yes, I won’t be able to stop them, but at least I can lead you to them.”
“Hopefully, help will be here soon, Gris responded. As he talked, he folded his wings into his back, and they winked out. Rose looked at him in surprise. He laughed at her. “They are still there, just not. People tend to act a little weird when they see our wings.”
“But how?”
He shrugged, “I’m not sure how we do it. I was born with my wings, and so I just do it. I have heard it described as thinking of your wings folding in and being absorbed into your body. When you need them, you just think and they are there.”
She filed the thought of him being born with wings and hers just appearing away for a later time. She concentrated on her wings folding in and being absorbed, but nothing happened.
Adda nodded and turned to leave. Gris grabbed Rose and kissed her again “Be safe, we do not know how involved this town has been in what happen here. Get to a phone and call this number.” He rattled off a number and had her repeat it back until he was sure she had it memorized. Keyne, Adda, and Rose left for their tasks and Gris turned to Opaline.
“You know these people best. We will need some to get supplies; food, blankets and any medical supplies. Then we will need to organize them. The injured will need to be sorted. I won’t be able to heal everyone, so only the most injured.” He looked around again at the destruction, “We will need to put the dead somewhere.”
Opaline nodded “Okay. Let me get some help,” She walked around the room, speaking to someone here and there. Slowly, order started to come from the chaos. For the next few hours, Gris didn’t have time to think about Rose, he was busy healing as many as he could.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Rose followed Adda down the tunnels. She could get to the kitchens, but beyond that she would need Adda to lead her. Her wings slapped the back of her legs, reminding her that she had to figure how to hide them. That thought had her screeching to a halt. “Adda, I cannot go into town!” Adda turned and looked at her in confusion. Rose pointed to her wings. “I might cause a bit of a stir.”
“Can you try to hide them?” Rose’s nose wrinkled in concentration, but nothing happen. Her wings remained flat on her back, glowing slightly. “No” She said panting. “You’ll have to go. You know the number, right?” Adda nodded and repeated it back to her.
“I’ve never left the tunnels. What do I do?”
“Do you know where they come out?”
Adda nodded. “Yes, they come out under the school. There is an old hurricane shelter there. It is no longer used. I heard the cooks talking once. They said no one would notice deliveries to the school, so it was easy to get supplies.”
“Okay. There should be a phone there. I don’t know what day it is, so I can’t risk going up. Go as quickly as you can and call that number. Tell them Griswald told you to call and the location. You will have to find somewhere to hide and wait to lead them down. Make sure they know we will need medics.” She hugged Adda, whispering “be safe”. Adda squeezed her and turned to walk down the tunnel.
Rose stood alone in the tunnel, watching Adda disappear around the corner. Cold hands grabbed Rose, startling her. She tried to extend her wings, but his body trapped them.
“I knew you were special when I first saw you at that convention.” Cold lips touched her neck. The arms holding her were replaced with a thick rope. He wrapped it around her and then stepped back, pulling the rope tightly around her wings. He continued to wrap the rope around her until she was trussed as tight as a Christmas tree. Once she couldn’t move anything above her waist, he came around to face her.
He stood eight feet tall, a deep maroon color. His legs were scaled with claws that gripped the floor. His bare chest was muscled, reminding her of the weightlifters at the gym. His face was the same face she had seen every day for the past weeks, except now it had taken it’s natural red hue. Gold horns curled over his hair, his pointed ears peeking out as well. She shivered at the look in his eyes. His hands still on her shoulders, his tail curled around her neck, the triangular tip caressing her cheek. Again, she tried to extend her wings, pain bringing her to her knees, well it would have if she wasn’t being held by Esson.
Hatred flared in her eyes, and he laughed. “Your anger, your fear, they are food to my soul. Leaning in, his forked tongue whipped out to swipe along her lips. She pulled back, but the tail around her neck tightened, cutting off her breath. He sighed, a look of absolute pleasure filling his face. “Yes, I think it is time that we truly meet.”
Letting go of her arms, he turned to walk away, his tail pulling on her neck and dragging her along. He strode quickly, his long legs making her run to keep from choking, turning down pathways she had never seen. Finally, when she thought that she could walk no further, he stopped at a door. He pressed his hand on it, and it swished open. He pulled her into the room, torches flared lighting the space. “You took my soldiers, my brethren.” Anger lanced his words. His tail pulled on her then suddenly released her, throwing her to the ground, her face scraping the stone.” But they will be reborn, their hatred for you and yours will burn brighter for what you have done.”
He stalked towards her, his anger radiating. He picked her up by the throat and held her aloft, her legs kicking as her body slowly used up the air in her lungs. With what little strength she had left, she spit into his face. He screamed in pain throwing her to the floor. She hungrily gulped at the air, and she looked up at him. His face had large oozing blisters where her spit had hit him. He stalked towards her, hatred in every step. Grabbing her with bruising strength he threw her across the room.
“Do you know who I am? What I can do to you?” he picked her up and he threw her again. “You are nothing,” he laughed. You don’t even know enough to hide your wings.” He stalked towards her, a long needle in his hand, a thread hanging from it. “I told you once, a punishment should hurt the one who gives it as well as the receiver. Tonight, it will not be a punishment, but enjoyment for me.”
He grabbed her face with one hand, the other hand brought the needle to her face. He jabbed the needle into the soft tissue next to her lip and she screamed. His tongue slithered out and licked the blood that ran down her chin. He hissed as it burned his tongue, but a look of bliss filled his face. “Pain and pleasure,” he repeated over and over, the needle going in and out, sealing her mouth shut. She tried to scream but the stitches prevented all but the smallest noises from coming out. Tears coursed down her face, as his tongue slithered to catch her tears and blood, hissing in pain. While he sewed her mouth shut, his tail wrapped around her body, caressing and teasing her, distracting her from the pain, confusing her mind. With a last pull of the thread he tied a knot and placed small kisses along her mouth.
He pulled her to the low table that sat in the middle of the room. He set her down, the rope wrapped around her making it impossible for her to move. He walked to a cabinet in the wall and opened it. He pulled out a long metal roll and carried it to the table, he rolled it out and secured it to the large rings at the corners of the table. “It’s been so long since I have been able to use this room. To taste one such as yours
elf.” He came and stood before her, his tail caressing her. “I will savor every moment” He pushed her back and she fell with a thud on the table, breath whooshing out of her. He grabbed her leg and put an iron manacle on her foot. He then unwound the rope around her waist and secured her arms and legs to the table. Shaking, she watched as he walked to the cabinet and pulled out a tray. She could just see the silver instruments and a new fear filled her. She tried to move to rip her arms from the shackles that held her. He laughed, “Fight, my pretty, all you want. Those rings are iron forged from the depths of hell, laced with melted angel blades. You will not be able to escape.”
She looked at him in horror, but felt the truth. She felt her strength slowly fading. He picked up a knife and brought it to her, running the smooth side against her cheek, relishing as she trembled and whimpered. His tail continued to stroke her body. Fear and pleasure confusing her. She lay there as he toyed with her, drawing blood and licking the blood away, his tail never stopping its travels over her body. Eventually she passed out from the pain, only to be brought back with a splash of ice cold water on her face. She could have been there a few hours or days.
Her body hurt everywhere, small cuts and bruises evidence of the care she was being given. She no longer could tell pleasure from pain; all sensations had blended, and she wished for death. He came over to her and laid next to her, his fingers and tail trailing over her. “So weak, so easily you give in to your wish for death, but I am not finished yet.” He ran the knife gently down her neck, following the trails that he had made in the past with the ointment. She hissed, and he smiled. He continued to the other side, allowing the blood to pool before he ran a ointment covered finger over them. It sealed the wounds but sent a fire racing through her, arching her back in pain. She sagged back to the table, unconscious. He continued to toy with her, she no longer knew what was reality, time and space had no meaning.
* * *
Gris fell to his knees, fatigue overwhelming. He had spent the past hour healing person after person, but he shouldn’t be this fatigued. A sudden spear of fear lanced his mind, and he screamed. He could feel her trying to break free, pain pinching his wings as they did hers. Unable to move, he looked to Opaline and said one word, “Rose,” before he passed out. The bond had been completed. He felt what she felt, and with his strength already weakened he couldn’t fight the pain.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Opaline looked at the man passed out at her feet. She knew he was getting fatigued, he had said he needed to rest, but there were so many injured that he couldn’t stop. Now the decision had been made, but why did he scream such a tortured sound? Why did he say “Rose”? Who was Rose? Not knowing what to do, she rolled him so that he lay on his back. Tenderly, she placed a pillow under his head and a blanket over him. Then, she sat and waited.
* * *
Keyne had been searching the halls for any of the devils who had escaped the purge caused by Rose’s wings when he fell to his knees, a searing pain running threw him. “ROSE!” he screamed. Jumping up he ran his incorporeal body through every wall and obstruction, his seeker sense pulling him towards his mate’s pain, praying he would reach her in time.
* * *
Adda crept up the stairs and peeked around the corner. She could hear the chatter of young children. The hall was empty, and she walked down it as quickly as she dared. Some doors had windows in them, and she carefully passed those, making sure that no one saw her. She peeked into the rooms and found one with no one in it. The room was empty, a couple tables and chairs scattered around. Next to a couch she saw the table with a phone on it. She quickly shut the door behind her and locked it. Picking up the phone, she dialed the number she had been given. It rang and rang, and she was afraid that no one would answer “Gris? Is that you?” a rough voice asked in excitement.
“No, but he told me to call.”
“He’s alive,” the voice said in surprise.
“Yes. But he needs help”
“Explain,” the voice said impatiently.
“My name is Adda. Gris is stuck in the compound. He is healing as many people as he can, but he said he needs the Calvary.”
“Where?” he asked, not wasting breath on unneeded words.
“I’m at the school in Mobley. The entrance is in the basement. I have to go. Please hurry” She hung up and quickly left the room, retracing her steps to the basement. She would wait there and pray that they came.
* * *
“Rose” cried Gris. He sat up quickly, the pain and fear she felt racing through him. He was still weak, but he knew she needed him. He tried to stand but fell back, unable to stand. Opaline approached him with a cup of water and some food.
“Who is Rose? You have cried her name a few times while you slept.”
“You know her as Zera,” he said. “How long?”
“24 hours. At first, you were so still I feared you’d died.”
“Healing takes from me and gives to the injured. I need to get up, Rose is in trouble.”
“She is with Adda. They should be fine while they wait.”
“No, I can feel her. She needs me. She is in pain and afraid.” Opaline looked at him, not believing him.
“It is the bond. We are mated, and I can feel what she feels, likewise she will be able to feel what I feel.” He slowly rose to his feet, stumbling and weak. “I must find her.” Opaline rushed and pushed her shoulder under his arm, steadying him. Slowly, they walked to the doors and into the hall. He could hear rushing feet, and they turned a corner. Ahead of them marched a tall man, Adda next to him, followed by a small army of people.
“Gris,” he yelled and broke into a run.
“Niall! I’m so glad to see you”
“Not as glad as I am. We thought you dead, it has been over a year. No one knew where you went.”
Gris paled, a year? How could they have lost so much time. He would have sworn to it only being a few months. Shaking himself, he turned back to the doors. “In there are people who have been enslaved by the Reditus Coelus.”
Niall paled, “They’re real?”
“Yes. We killed all the guards and Lords, but the people are confused and injured.” Niall pointed the medics towards the room. “But Rose is in danger. I can feel her fear and pain. She was supposed to be with Adda.”
Adda looked up, “She isn’t here? She couldn’t come with me because of her wings.”
Neill looked from one to the other in confusion. “Rose . . . wasn’t that the one Keyne was supposed to protect?”
Gris looked at his feet, acid churning his stomach at the memory of Keyne. “Yes. We were taken, and he died and came back as a ghost.” He couldn’t bring himself to say more, he would never be okay with the sacrifice his friend had made and had yet to come to terms that his friend was a ghost.
“A ghost?! What about this Rose, how do you know she is in danger and what about her wings?”
Gris looked at him. “Rose discovered her true self through fire, I can feel what she feels,” Niall looked at him in shock.
“You mean?”
Gris nodded, “We are bonded, and she is a Guardian.”
Niall looked at him silently, then nodded accepting what he said as truth. “Do you know where she is, who has taken her?”
Opaline stepped forward, “I think I know. When you were fighting, I saw the High Lord leave.”
“Shit!” Gris swore. He looked to Niall. “The lords were all lower-winged demons. I am pretty sure that the High Lord is much stronger. Plus, they had these collars that limited our magic.” Turning to Adda he asked, “You grew up here, do you know where he might have taken her? I think if we get close enough to her I will be able to sense where she is.”
She thought about it. “There were some tunnels that caved long ago,” she said slowly. “No one has been there in years, but after that the High Lord’s father had a new apartment built.”
“Can you show us?” She nodded.
Niall quickly
took charge, ordering the various people to different areas. He selected 2 medics and four men to accompany them. At a quick pace they set off, Adda leading them through the maze of tunnels.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Delirious from the pain, Rose blurrily looked at Esson. She could feel the strength that Keyne loaned her keeping her mind sane. Anger flashed across his face. “They come, and I cannot stay. I have enjoyed so much this time getting to know you.” He grinned, his forked tongue caressing her face. He leaned in, his mouth at her ear “I could kill you here, as you long for. But I think it will be more fun to leave you, never knowing if I will come back, where I am.”
His tail caressed her once more as he stood. A puff of smoke, and he was gone.
She cried as Keyne ran his hand over her hair, kissing her cheek, his tears mingling with hers. Distantly she could hear banging, but it was an indistinct sound from the blood pounding through her ears. She closed her eyes, “No, my Mouse, stay with me. I am here. Gris is on his way.” Rose looked into the eyes she loved, that she thought never to see again and nodded. But the pounding came louder and louder, hope rising with each clang. Someone was coming, and suddenly, she was overwhelmed with a fear and despair that was not her own. She couldn’t breathe, panic causing darkness to fold in on her.
* * *
“I know where she is!” shouted Gris. A pull at his belly had him running through the halls as if a string was pulling him closer to Rose. He stopped before a wall. Pounding his hand against the stone. He could feel her, but his way was blocked. Panic overcame him as he thought about what she was enduring. Niall walked to him and set a hand on his shoulder.
“We’ll find her. Adda is there a way around this wall?” She shook her head. “I don’t know. I have never been to this area before.”
Protect (The Guardians Book 1) Page 12
