They stood like that for a few minutes until Karen felt him pull away. “I’m sorry,” he said, wiping his eyes. “I shouldn’t have shown weakness.”
She cupped his face. “James, you’re a teenager. You’re allowed a little uncertainty and weakness from time to time.”
“You won’t tell the others?”
She ruffled his hair. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
Nikki burst into the room. “We think we found something.”
Chapter Seventeen
Nikki pointed to the ceiling at the very end of the hallway. “Matt found it. It looks like a trap door.”
Karen narrowed her eyes. The seam was almost invisible unless one concentrated. “You’re right. There must be some kind of attic or crawl space.” She turned to the pack children. “Can somebody give me a boost?”
James waved to a teen who towered over the group. “Come on, Matt.”
Karen steadied herself as the two boys lifted her by her legs. She pushed on the square, feeling a slight resistance. She shoved harder and the panel popped free. Using her elbows, she levered herself up into a cramped, dusty crawl space that ran the length of the cabin. She stood, whacking her head on the low ceiling. “Ow!”
“Are you okay?” James called.
She looked down at them and waved. “It’s a little tight up here. I’m going to take a look around. Be right back.”
The first thing Karen noticed was a small camera at the edge of the trapdoor. She followed the wires to more cameras aimed at the other rooms of the cabin. She wanted to unplug them, but had a feeling that wasn’t such a good idea. If they were being monitored right now, someone could be on their way up to the cabin as soon as they saw her right in the lens. She hoped that whoever was watching right now was on a bathroom break or something. She continued checking out the crawl space.
She finally stuck her head through the opening. “There seems to be some sort of small window, but I can’t get it open. I think it’s locked on the outside.” She sat on the edge, dangling her legs through the opening. “It’s getting dark up here, so we’re going to have to put off any plan until tomorrow. Watch out. I’m coming down.”
Karen turned around and felt Matt and James grab her. She slid the panel into place before letting herself be lowered to the floor. She brushed herself off and herded them all back to the bedroom. “They’ve got cameras up there, and there’s no way of knowing if they saw me get into the crawl space.”
She stared at them, her breath catching, seeing so many emotions on their faces. Get a grip, she thought. They need you. “I think we can get out of here. Once we leave, we won’t be safe anywhere. We can’t trust anyone except the wood folk or the guardians, if we can find them.”
“Matt and I will stay with the younger kids.” James said. “We’ve got the most fighting experience.”
Karen nodded. “Good.”
Nikki spoke up. “Owen and I will help you. We don’t have any fighting experience, but we’ve had training.”
Karen smiled. Their willingness to help touched her. “Well, you’re all about to get some serious OJT.” At the younger kids’ confused looks, she clarified, “On the job training.” She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “I’ve got a confession to make. I don’t know where we are or how to contact the guardian.”
James laid a hand on her arm. “We’ll be all right.”
Nikki grinned at the group. “Sure we will. We’ve got our own Angel to guide us.”
Karen gazed at the expectant faces staring at her. I won’t let them down, she silently vowed. “Get some rest. Tomorrow, we’re out of here.”
She crossed to the small window. I hope I can contact the wood folk. I have a feeling I’m going to need all the help I can get.
****
Only a little longer until sunset. Randall ducked out the basement entrance, running straight for the wood shed. He darted inside, catching his breath and making sure he wasn’t seen. He peeked out, and seeing no one, ran for the woods. He had to contact Raesheen and the rest of the fairy court.
The trees closed around him as he tore through the underbrush. Branches slapped at his face and thorns snagged his clothes. He paused, his breathing heavy, and listened to the sounds around him. He could hear the stream off to his left. Calling Brek would be the quickest way to spread the word through the fairy realm.
Something heavy slammed into him from behind. He flipped over and saw a large badger growling at him as blackbirds gathered in the trees around him. Two dived screaming, aiming for his eyes. He threw his arm over his face, crying out as the birds ripped away hunks of his flesh. He shot to his feet, taking off for what protection the trees would give him. A fox joined the chase, snapping at his legs.
More animals poured from the woods, jumping at him. He flung squirrels from his back and chest, slapped birds from his hair, and stopped running long enough to kick the fox. “Stop,” he commanded. “I don’t want to hurt you!” He blocked another attack from the birds, cringing as the burning scratches cut deep into his arm.
Harmon stepped out from the trees. “But they want to hurt you.” He walked toward Randall, the animals following him. “They’re completely in my power. There’s nothing you or any of the fairy folk can do to break the hold I’ve got over them. Your magic is weak, Dupré. I own them.”
Randall didn’t move. He glared at Harmon. “I’m betting if I kill you that would work to free them.”
Harmon laughed. “It might, but you won’t get the chance to find out.” He pointed at Randall. “Kill him.”
Randall ran again, hearing the animals on his heels. “Damn it,” he muttered. He jumped into the stream, slipping and tripping on the loose stones on the bottom. “Brek,” he panted. “I could really use your help.”
She appeared next to him. “What happened to you?”
He pointed at the menagerie chasing him. “I need a distraction.”
Brek turned to the animals, pulling water into herself, towering over the group on the bank. “You have come far enough,” she thundered, her voice pounding the air around them. “Return.” She swept her arms wide, sending a cascade of water at them, pushing them far back into the woods.
Randall stumbled out on the opposite bank, collapsing on the muddy ground. He sucked air into his lungs, watching as Brek reduced herself to her normal size. “Thanks. They were really doing a number on me.”
“It will be sunset soon,” she said softly. “You’ll be able to heal.” She gave him a condescending smile. “I’ve never seen anyone get hurt as much as you.”
He grinned. “My mother says I’m just lucky. My father calls me a trouble magnet.” The smile disappeared and he looked away. “I killed someone, Brek.”
Brek flowed to sit near him. “Who, Guardian?”
“Edna Strathmore. She had me completely in her control. She wanted...” He stopped. “Let’s just say she wanted something I wasn’t willing to give. My soul mate sent me her power to help me.” He looked at the ground. “I broke Strathmore’s neck.”
Brek swirled around him. “I know you don’t like killing, but again, you’ve had to take a life out of necessity. It was you or her, my friend, and the realm is always glad when you choose you.”
He raised his eyes to the nixie. “But what will my soul mate think?”
Brek placed her fingers under his chin. “You must have faith, guardian. She has not turned from you, even after finding out who you are. Trust that she will understand this. It is your nature and the nature of what you do.”
He nodded slowly, then stood, trying to wipe some of the mud from his pants. “I need you to take a message to the wood folk,” he said, not looking at her. “Karen and the children are in serious trouble. Troyington has issued orders for their deaths. Get everyone searching.”
Brek frowned. “This is dire news. What about the cabin? Could they be there?”
Randall shook his head, finally looking at her. “They’ve never been seen ther
e. It’s possible Troyington wanted us to get sidetracked by that place so we wouldn’t search anywhere else. Ignore the cabin. Go farther up in the hills.”
The sky turned a deep blue, fading to purple. Brek watched it for a moment. “The sun’s going down. Hurry. The guardian is needed.”
“Tell Raesheen to meet me in the clearing.”
Brek flowed back into the stream. “Take care, Guardian.”
He nodded. “You, too.” He ran into the woods, taking his shortcut to the clearing where he and Raesheen always met. He could feel the change starting and stripped off his shirt. He burst into the clearing, yanking off his pants and dropping them on the ground.
The dryad was there, holding out a pair of large shorts. “I didn’t think you brought your spare pants.” She threw them at him as he finished his nightly transformation. “We can’t have you fighting bad guys in naught but what you were graced with at birth.”
He pulled up the shorts he had made specifically for his larger form. Raesheen guided his tail through the hole in the back as he finished adjusting them. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Let’s not find out.” She stood back, watching him stretch his wings, his claws digging into the soft earth. “Brek says the situation is more desperate than we knew.”
He nodded. “Troyington’s finally ordered the pack children to be executed. We’ve had no luck finding them. The cabin we pinned our hopes on is a bust. With the animals still under Harmon’s control, we’re out of sources.” He stared at the rising moon. “They could be anywhere, and now Karen’s with them.”
Raesheen hopped on a tree stump. “If your soul mate is with the children, they’re in good hands. She won’t let anything happen to them.” She punched his arm. “And if I know you, you won’t let a little thing like no information stop you.”
He grinned. “Look higher in the hills. We’ll expand the search from there.” He grabbed her in a tight hug. “And be careful. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
She held him a moment longer. “You too.”
He propelled himself into the air as Raesheen disappeared into the tree.
Chapter Eighteen
The sun streamed in through the windows, splashing Karen across the face. She stretched, rubbing her eyes as she sat up. There was no Randall this morning to massage the kinks out of her neck. She was cold, inside and out. She touched his power to feel some comfort. She closed her eyes and concentrated, hearing the fairy music again that had become part of her. With Randall’s power and the music, she didn’t feel so alone. Time to wake the kids.
She went to the back room, watching them sleep for a few minutes. The four older teens held the younger kids, trying to make them comfortable. All of them had dark circles under their eyes, and they looked too thin. She wondered how long it had been since they’d all had a good night’s rest and a decent meal. She closed her eyes, wishing she could do more for them.
She clapped her hands, smiling as they groaned. “Wakey, wakey, gang. Rise and shine.”
The youngest girl trudged over, yawning and tugging on Karen’s sleeve. “I have to go to the bathroom.”
Karen gave James a pleading look. “Please tell me there’s working plumbing.”
He nodded, stretching his arms over his head. “That’s just about the only thing they did give us. We were told if we wrecked the bathroom, they wouldn’t fix it. That stopped any plans we had for bashing them on their heads with heavy porcelain.”
She winked. “Good idea.” She turned to the others. “Everybody, make sure you take care of business before we go.”
The little girl tugged on her sleeve again. “You, too.”
Karen knelt next to her. “How about if I go first? Would that make you feel better?”
The girl nodded, then leaned in to whisper loudly, “I guess even Angels have business, right?”
Karen chuckled. “Right.”
When she came out, she headed for Nikki. “Is there anything to eat?”
“No.” She glanced toward the front door. “We’ve got plastic cups for water, but no food. Someone usually brings us stuff.”
Karen stared at the front door too. “When do they come?”
Nikki shrugged. “Whenever they feel like it. We only get fed once a day.”
Great, Karen thought. They could come any time. “James, come with me to the crawl space. We’ve got to get out of here as soon as possible, and I’m going to need your help.”
Matt and Owen lifted them. Karen crawled on her hands and knees, leading James to the small window she’d found the day before. “I’m sure this goes out.”
James nodded. “If it didn’t before, it’s about to.”
Karen squeezed over as far as she could. “It’s not going to budge by pushing, so we’re going to try kicking it.”
They lay on their backs, kicking hard at the small door that barred them from the outside. It still wouldn’t move an inch.
“Let me half shift. I’ll have more leg strength, and we should be able to kick it loose,” James said.
She nodded. “Good idea. It’ll be a little tight, but it should work.”
As James changed halfway to his wolf form, she tapped into the power she shared with Randall. It filled her, making her feel invincible.
James looked at her. “Ready?” he asked, his voice just above a growl.
She grinned at the teen. “Let’s do this and get the heck out of here.”
She counted to three, and they kicked out as hard as they could. Wood splintered, and they did it again. The third time, the door broke free, falling to the ground below. They crawled forward and peered over the edge. James shifted back to human.
Karen eyed the distance. “It can’t be more than fifteen or twenty feet.”
James looked at the ground, then back to Karen. “Are you sure? It looks longer than that to me.”
She laid a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sure, but I’m going to need your help.”
“Name it.”
She swung her legs over the edge. “I need you to lower me as far as you can. I’ll drop the rest of the way.”
James’ eyes widened. “What if you get hurt?” he argued. “What if they catch you? What if...”
She patted his shoulder. “It’ll be all right. Ready?” He gave her a curt nod. “Then let’s do it.”
James held her hands and lay on his stomach, pushing himself forward with his feet. She smiled at him as he started lowering her, his arms shaking with the effort. He grit his teeth and moved forward another couple of inches.
“That’s it,” he gasped. “I can’t go any further. I’m too close to the edge.”
Karen spared a quick glance down, not as close as she hoped to be. “Okay, let me go.” She called on her power as James opened his hands as she fell to the ground.
She relaxed as she hit, bending her legs to absorb the impact and roll out of the fall. She jumped to her feet, hugging the building while she checked the area. No one and no animal was in sight.
She waved to James, who was peering anxiously at her from the window. “I’m okay. Stay there and tell one of the others to meet me at the front door.” She watched him disappear then headed around to the front.
The door was as solid as the rest of the cabin. It was banded with the now recognizable dull metal of cold iron and a shinier metal that had to be silver. She shook her head. Troyington really had thought of everything. She touched the silver and felt nothing from it, but the cold iron sent sharp shockwaves zinging through her. The door was sealed with a thick padlock.
She grimaced as she tugged on the lock. It was as solid as the rest. “I will not lose my temper,” she growled. She spied a large rock and considered bashing the lock, but hesitated. If Cray and Harmon or whoever was in charge of surveillance saw damage to the lock, they’d know immediately something was up, and she and the children would lose precious time being undiscovered.
“Is anybody there?” she called.
> “It’s Matt,” came the muffled reply.
“There’s no way I can open this lock, and the door is banded with silver and cold iron,” she called. “I’m going back to the attic window. We’re going to have to take everyone out that way. Tell James and start getting everyone up in the crawl space.”
Karen hurried to the back of the cabin. “James, I want you to start lowering the kids down. I’ll catch them.” Karen glanced around, expecting to see Troyington and his men coming any second. Their luck had to run out soon.
Matt held James by the ankles so he could hang further out. As Karen caught the pack children, she made them stand next to the cabin so, hopefully, they would be harder to spot.
“There’s only Matt and me left,” James called. “I’m coming next.”
Matt held him by his wrists, lowering him as far as possible and Karen and Owen grabbed him as he fell.
He waved to Matt. “Come on.”
Matt waved everyone away. “Stand back. I’m too big for you guys to catch.”
Karen looked up at the large boy. “Matt, make sure you stay loose. Bend your legs, and that will help when you hit.”
He nodded and squeezed out the small window. He hung by his hands for a second then let go, hitting the ground with a solid thump. He kept his legs bent and when he hit the ground, he stumbled backwards a few steps before ending up on his butt.
Karen walked over to him, extending her hand. “Are you okay?”
He took her hand, blushing as she pulled him to his feet. “Yeah. I never said I was graceful.”
She brushed him off. “Grace will come in time.” She looked at the kids watching her. “Let’s get out of here.”
She led them around to the front. “This is probably the more dangerous way, but it’s the most sensible.” She pointed to the trees. “See that path there? It’s sloping downward, which is the way we need to go.” She turned to them. “As soon as any animal sees us we’ll be on the run. I’m going to need you older kids to help the younger ones keep up.”
James stepped forward. “Do you think we’ll be able to contact the wood folk soon?”
Night Angel (Angel Haven) Page 16
