by ML Guida
Ian gestured with his gloved hand. “Just make the bastard talk.”
“Then let’s have Fergus join his two friends. I’m sure Jon and Hunter are anxious to hear from news from Stormholme Castle.” Marduk broke in out in an evil castle.
Fergus closed his eyes. This wasn’t going to be good. Marduk was an expert in pain. He carried Fergus into one of the broken down towers. They walked through some invisible veil. Tingles rushed over Fergus’s scalp.
Magic and technology were both at work here. The tower was far from broken, but instead of brick and mortar, the walls and ceilings were made of steel. Fates, this wasn’t a castle. It was some kind of spaceship.
A door slid open.
They clomped down a circular stairwell. Rather than torches, bright lights beamed from the ceiling, casting long shadows on the stairs. For a minute, he thought he saw a pair of beautiful green eyes look up at him through the shadow, but then vanished.
Madame Mthunzi clutched Ian’s arm. “Someone is following us.”
Ian jerked his arm free and glanced over his shoulder. “You’re letting all of your imagination get away from you. I don’t see anything.”
Fergus smiled. For once, he was glad of Ian’s impatience. His eyes widened. Fates, he was able to move his mouth muscles. He moved his cramped fingers and wiggled his toes. Marduk’s Thermal Blaster must only be temporary. He forced himself to remain calm and not move a muscle.
“Magic is at work here.” Madame Mthunzi shook her head.
“Will you shut up,” Marduk growled. “Or maybe you would like to be put under the Thermal Blaster.”
Madame Mthunzi gasped.
Marduk laughed like an old hag.
He drew on his healing power and a spark flickered in his chest. He was getting stronger, but the flickered died. He hated to admit this, but he needed Elspeth. Only she could ignite the healing power inside him.
Another door slid open. He forced himself to lie perfectly still.
Marduk slapped Fergus onto a hard metal slab hard, knocking his breath away. Overhead was a cone shaped device with a long pointed needle.
Ian folded his arms and leaned against a wall. “Start the process, Marduk.”
Marduk nodded.
A tremor went through Fergus.
Marduk gestured with his arm. Evil anticipation flickered in his black eye. Fergus couldn’t hide another shudder. The Kamtrinian’s single eyes always gave him the creeps.
The bastard pressed some buttons. “Impressive isn’t it. We will find out if you’re hiding anything.”
Fergus barely moved his head as he scanned the room for Elspeth. Dark shadows in a far corner of the room and he wondered if she had melted in the blackness.
Bright light flickered off his white porcelain skin that nearly blinded him. He smiled, revealing sharp teeth, teeth that could shred Fergus’s body to pieces.
The cone device clicked. Green and blue lights lit up the side of the cone. A crank lowered the device that had a long needle.
“Now, let’s find out what you know.”
The needle turned red-hot.
Fergus jerked.
Ian unwound his arms. “Marduk, did you see that?” He pointed. “He moved.”
“Yes, I saw.”
Before Fergus could do anything else, Marduk moved lighting fast and strapped him to the chair.
He squeezed Fergus’s shoulders. “There’s no way for you to escape.” He tapped Fergus’s wrists. “These chains will prevent you from shifting, Healer.” He grinned. “At least not until I have my answers.”
Fergus swallowed. The last thing he wanted to do was betray Elspeth, but he wasn’t sure whether he was strong enough to resist Marduk’s weapon.
Something brushed against his lips. He grimaced, but then warmth spread over him. And the taste of honey.
Elspeth!
He parted his mouth and she slipped her tongue inside, teasing him. Fiery power brewed inside him, sending strength to his arms and legs.
Madame Mthunzi jumped up from her chair. “Look, I see her.”
Ian grabbed Madame Mthunzi and slammed her back in the chair. “What I don’t see her?”
“It’s because you do not possess magic.”
“Elspeth, run,” he murmured. “Before it’s too late.”
Elspeth stopped kissing him.
Madame Mthunzi held up her hands. “I command you. Reveal yourself.”
Fergus pulled on his restraints.
A brush of red flared for a moment, but then disappeared.
“See.” Madame Mthunzi’s voice was filled excitement. “Did you see that? I told you someone was here.”
Ian rubbed his chin. “Perhaps, but I need proof.”
“And you shall have it.” Marduk pushed the button on a control panel.
The cone pressed against him, piercing him with the red hot needle. Burning pain tore into his muscle, his flesh, his mind. He couldn’t see, he couldn’t think, he couldn’t move. His body went into convulsions, his teeth chattering. Blood slipped down his mouth.
“Now, we’ll begin my questions,” a cruel voice said.
The pain suddenly stopped. Fergus’s vision slowly focused. He realized he’d bitten his tongue.
Marduk walked around the table, drumming his fingernails on the metal. “You can feel now, Healer.”
Sweat dripped down Fergus’s forehead. His hair stuck to his hot skin. He drew on his healing power and a burst shot through him.
“Now, is there someone with you?” He gestured with his arm. “Madame Mthunzi insists someone is here. Perhaps your mate?”
Fergus met his hateful gaze. “No.”
“Why did I know you we’re going to say that, dragon? We’ll soon see if you are telling the truth.” He leaned close to one ear. “You’re two comrades weren’t able to resist my truth splitting laser.” He walked over to the control panel again. “The Nye Scramble can do all kinds of things. Making you tell the truth is just one of them.”
Someone grabbed his hand. He gasped. Elspeth! She was here. Another kiss was planted on his lips, giving more strength.
Bzzzzz
A beam shot out of the needle and smacked Fergus in the forehead. Elspeth jerked back. Pain drilled into his skull, and he screamed.
Elspeth squeezed his hand.
“I will ask a question,” Marduk said. “And you will have no choice but to tell me the truth.”
Fergus clutched onto Elspeth for dear life.
Lielielielielie
“Is there someone with you?”
Fergus howled in agony, but the healing power zapped through him.
“Answer me, Healer.”
“No!”
“Are you sure he tells the truth?” Ian asked.
“I’m sure,” Marduk said, as the beam shut off.
Fergus gasped for breath. Tears fell down his face. No wonder Jon and Hunter were no match for the thing. It had torn into his brain. If it hadn’t been for Elspeth and his healing power, he would crumpled.
Madame Mthunzi stomped over to the table. She gritted her teeth. “He’s lying. Why won’t either one of you listen to me?”
Marduk stepped around the control panel. “There’s no way he could have survived the Nye Scrambler.”
She clenched her fists. “You’re a fool, Marduk. I swear I know I’m right.”
Marduk loomed over her and she stepped back.
“Don’t think you can question my technology, woman. Your magic fails in comparison of my weapons. I suggest you leave before I put you under the test.”
Madame Mthunzi’s face paled. She hurried out of the room faster than a jackrabbit.
Bonk Bonk Bonk
A red light flashed overhead.
“Curses.” Ian waved his hand. “Somehow the force field has been penetrated. Put him in the cell with the others. We’re under attack.”
Marduk pinched Fergus’s cheeks hard. “True, I can’t do what I want to do now. But don’t worry, Healer,
once I’m through with you, you’ll become your rebel force’s worst nightmare.” His voice sent fear streaming through Fergus like a roaring flood.
Marduk unlocked Fergus’s chains and dragged him off the table. Fergus fell onto his knees hard.
“Get up, fool. Or you’ll regret what will happen to you next.”
“I’m still here,” Elspeth whispered in his ear.
Fergus refused to turn to the sound of her voice, because Marduk might suspect something. Instead, he gritted his teeth and forced his wobbling legs to stand. According to Jon and Hunter, Marduk looked for any chance to inflict pain.
Marduk shoved his shoulder. “Move.”
Fergus stumbled, but righted himself.
Marduk directed him out of the steel chamber with his dreaded Nye Scrambler to a narrow chamber. Steel doors with bars lined the walls.
He gasped.
Jon grabbed the barred window. His face was swollen and he had a cut lip. His fingers were bloody. “Fergus, no.” His coarse voice made Fergus swallow back a lump of fear.
“Shut up, slave.” Marduk slammed a baton against the window.
Jon jumped back into his cell.
Marduk pushed a button and one of the doors slid open. He pushed Fergus inside, smashing him into a wall. Pain banged into Fergus’s shoulder.
The door hid Marduk’s foul face, but not his evil voice. “Don’t get too comfortable. I’ll be back soon and soon you’ll become a nightmare.”
Despair and gloom beat down on Fergus. His goal was always to save his family. Fergus slumped down onto the floor and threaded his fingers through his hair. He blinked back tears. He’d rather be dead than hurt his family.
Chapter 8
Her heart pounding in her throat, Elspeth pressed her back against the cold wall and sucked in her gut flatter and flatter and flatter as Marduk walked down the hall. She held her breath. His heavy footsteps blocked out the blood rushing between her temples. She had thought the British had been evil during the war, but they were amateurs compared to Marduk.
She was too afraid to move until he disappeared behind the door into his torture chamber.
Movemovemovemove
She had to get Fergus out of here. He’d been so brave and fought to protect her like no other man ever had.
Taking a deep breath, she forced one foot then the other to inch across the floor. She pushed the same button that Marduk had.
Please open
She pushed her shaking finger on the buttons.
The door slid open and she didn’t wait. She rushed inside to find Fergus on the floor, resting his head in his hands.
“Fergus?”
He slowly raised his head. “Elspeth, where are you?” he whispered.
“Right in front of you. I am still invisible.”
“I can see that. Or should I say I can’t?”
She knelt in front of him and kissed him hard on the lips. “Come on. I have to get you out of here.”
He broke off the kiss and leaned his forehead against hers. “You shouldn’t have come.”
“I couldna leave ye.” Tears blurred her vision. “I couldna lose ye.”
“Why?”
She couldn’t bring herself to answer his question, and instead draped his arm over her shoulders. “We need to go now. Before it’s too late.”
He rubbed the bridge of his nose with two fingers. “Where are we going to go?”
The cold cell and the chains dangling from the wall made the hair on the back of her neck quiver. Panic whisked up her spine, and she shivered. A horrid memory of her dank cell rushed over––the horror, the smell, the despair. “Any place but here. Can ye stand?”
“Yeah, I can stand. Walking might be another matter.” He hissed as he stood. Sweat rolled down the side of his face and the vein on his cheek twitched.
He was pain and his healing power just have been all used up. Kissing wasn’t enough. He needed more power or they were all doomed. She caressed his back. “Are ye hurt?”
He frowned. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll survive.”
She braced her legs to keep him from falling. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Elspeth, they’ll see me. I don’t think we can escape. I don’t have any weapons, and if you’ve haven’t noticed, I’m not in the greatest shape.”
She bit her lip. “Then we need to find somewhere to hide in this place.”
He rolled his eyes. “You’re kidding?”
She stiffened her back. “Do ye have a better idea?”
He sighed and shook his head. “No, I don’t. But where?”
“I donna know but we canna stay here.” She couldn’t keep the fear out of her voice.
They slowly shuffled out of the cell.
“Wait,” Fergus said. “Shut the door.”
“Good idea.” Elspeth pushed the buttons and closed it.
“We need to rescue Jon and Hunter.”
Her gut sank. “Fergus, we donna have time. If ye become stronger, then we can. Marduk is bent on hurting ye. He also said that Jon and Hunter were back under his control. Do ye think that’s true?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“But can you chance it?”
Jon clutched the bars again on his cell. “Fergus, you can’t save us.”
“Why?”
“Marduk’s already used the Hook Distorter on Hunter. Unfortunately, he’s back under Marduk’s control.”
Elspeth frowned. “What’s the Hook Distorter?”
“Another one of the damn Kamtrinians’s foul torture devices. It’s a wire that winds through a person’s neurons. The bastards use pain to control us.”
Elspeth covered her mouth. “How horrible!”
“Get out of here while you can,” Jon said. Anger flared in his eyes. “Remember if you run into Hunter again, he’s the enemy.”
Fergus tilted his head. “Let’s not go through Marduk’s funhouse. If we’re caught, that’s the last place I want to be caught.”
She nodded. “Let’s go.” If Marduk caught them and used the device on her, she didn’t think she’d survive.
Fergus’s screams still rang in her ears. But it wasn’t just her she was worried about. What if Marduk used that Hooke Distorter on Fergus? Could he make him kill people then save them? She couldn’t let that happen. She knew what she had to do even if she was scared to death.
They made their way down the corridor, but their shuffling step were too slow and grated her nerves. She kept looking over her shoulder afraid Marduk, Ian, or Madame Mthunzi was sneaking up on them.
At the end of the corridor, Fergus punched the button and another door open slid open. They pressed against the wall. Elspeth held her breath, but forced herself to look at an empty stairwell that went up.
“Come on.” Fergus peered over his shoulder. “We need to move.”
Elspeth forced herself to step into the stairwell. Fergus shut the door.
She lowered her voice. “Now, what?”
He pointed his finger. “We go up. What the else?”
She gulped. “I was afraid you were going to say that.”
They slowly edged up the stairs one at a time. Their footsteps barely made any noise on the metal steps. God, knows where the stairs would lead them?
They reached a landing. Fergus panted hard. Elspeth wasn’t sure he could go much further.
“I think we should see where this door goes,” she said.
He nodded. “I’m not going to argue.”
“Stand back,” she said.
He pressed his back against the wall. Elspeth pushed a button and the door slid open to the outside. Green grass and grove of thick trees greeted them. They were underneath the broken down outer wall. This place
Freedom was only steps away. She grabbed Fergus’s hand and put a finger to her lips. He nodded, his face pale.
Pushing her fright behind her, she stepped out into the sunlight and didn’t see a dragon flying overhead or anyone creeping acro
ss the grounds.
She pulled him outside. He dragged his feet and leaned heavier and heavier on her. Soon, she wouldn’t be able to carry him. Tears of frustration blurred her eyes. She needed to save him. Without him, his family and hers would be vulnerable.
A dark shadow past them overhead and they both froze. Ian!
Luckily, he didn’t see them or at least, she hoped he hadn’t. She concentrated on the shaded trees. Drawing on every ounce of strength, she pulled on Fergus’s arm. Five feet…four feet…three feet…two feet…one foot.
She grunted and dove into the shade. Fergus collapsed on top of her, knocking the breath out of her.
“I’m sorry.” Fergus rolled off her onto his back. He put his arm over his forehead. “My strength is failing. You need to flee while you can.”
“Fergus, there is only way to save you.” She winced at her shaking voice.
He dropped his arm. “No.”
She met his weary gaze. “I want to do this.”
“I won’t let you do this.”
“Aye, we will.” She clutched his arm. “I know yer tired, but we must keep going.”
Fergus didn’t answer her, but he dragged himself to his feet. She put his arm over her shoulder. They went deeper into the thick brush. Hope brightened in her heart.
“Fergus, there’s a cave up ahead.” She pointed.
He stopped. “You’re serious?”
“Aye, I am.” She led him to the cave.
He smiled. “We might not be the only visitors inside.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Arena ye na a dragon?”
He gave her a hard glance. “I am, but I’m not sure I can shift.”
She bit back another retort. What if there was a bear or something else residing in the cave?
They trotted through the dirt and through the foliage. Fergus panted hard and she clung to him, not sure if she could drag his body into the cave.
“Just a little farther,” she said.
“I won’t pass out,” he muttered, but his voice cut in and out.
Just as they got to the entrance of the cave, Fergus collapsed, pulling her down with him.
“No!”
His arm was stretched out over her, pinning her to the grass. She spat out dirt, then wiggled out from underneath him.
“Fergus?”
