He’s talking about Darla and the Phoenix Guild, I realized.
Gage lowered his voice. “They came close to catching up to you at the asylum. They were only minutes behind us. Luckily, I rescued you in the nick of time.”
“Rescued me?” I spat out.
My reaction made him laugh. “But of course. I’ve only your best interests at heart. I wish you’d believe me.” He put his hand out as if to cover mine, but I quickly pulled away.
“I really wish you would come to trust me,” he said in a gentle voice.
The driver pulled over and turned off the engine without warning or comment. I looked out the window. The SUV sat in front of a line of shops.
“We need a few more bodies,” Gage said.
The way he said it—in a completely normal, level voice, as though saying we needed to stop and buy a gallon of milk—threw me. For a moment, I didn’t comprehend what he’d said. When his words finally sunk in, I turned at stared at him in dismay.
His expression didn’t change. He didn’t look upset or angry, just slightly bored. “The mummification is going well, but my people need more practice getting it right. Theory and action are entirely different things, I’m learning.” Gage opened the door and got out. He motioned for me to follow. “I thought you should come along and see how we go about harvesting the bodies.”
I didn’t move. “You mean how you and your followers go about killing innocent people.” I searched his face for any sign of human empathy or mercy. There were none.
He gave me a patient smile. “They are far from innocent, and their deaths are for the greater good.”
How did he overwhelm the death dealers he killed? I wondered again, still sitting, unmoving. Death dealers had some of the most powerful magic of all the mage-born.
His patience with me ran out. Gage signaled to Caleb, who got out of the car, opened my door, and reached in to jerk me roughly from my seat, forcing me out onto the street. He gave me a shove, and I stumbled forward before catching my balance. The burns on my thighs screamed as my pants rubbed against them. I looked up to see a red coiled serpent with horns painted on the shop sign in front of us.
I watched four men get out of the SUVs that had been following us. They were all dressed the same as Caleb and me: black jeans, black T-shirts, black boots. Is this the official uniform? If it was, Gage was bucking the system. He wore, as usual, a shining black suit, and today he had a burnt orange tie around his neck.
Gage headed toward the door. He pushed it open and walked inside.
Caleb was behind me. I knew if I didn’t follow I would be manhandled again and forced in after Gage. I made my way reluctantly through the doorway. Inside the shop, shelves lined each wall. There were freestanding glass cases full of colorful bottles, feathers, and velvet pouches. It was almost identical to Luke’s uncle’s magic shop.
A woman in her thirties with short blond hair came out from a back room and stood at a long, polished wooden counter. She was wearing a red T-shirt with a drawing in yellow of the same serpent with horns as the sign for the shop. “Can I help you?” she asked.
“I understand you’re having a meeting upstairs,” Gage said, giving the woman his most charming smile.
The woman’s face took on a guarded look. “It’s a guild meeting, only for members.”
“Members of the Guivre Guild,” Gage said.
“Yes,” the woman answered, her gaze focused on the half-dozen men in black who’d entered the store behind us. “What is it you want?” she demanded.
“Not to worry my dear, we aren’t Redeemers,” Gage answered. “We simply want to talk to your guild leader.”
“Wait here a moment.” Concern filled her face as she stepped away from the counter and headed into the back.
A few minutes later an older man in his sixties entered the room followed by a half-dozen men and women.
The older man did not look amused. “You wanted to speak to me?”
“No. I want something else entirely.” Gage’s hand whipped out from his pocket, and he threw down a small glass vial. The glass broke, and black liquid hit the floor. A blue mist began to swirl up into the air.
Gage raised his hands, whispered some words, and the blue mist began to move toward the older man.
The man lifted his hands and shouted. I saw ghostly faces form in the air around him. He’s calling on banshees.
“I’m afraid that won’t help you,” Gage said in a calm voice.
The blue mist swirled and danced in the air as it made its way toward the death dealers. Shock registered on their faces as it surrounded them.
Gage was going to kill them. I couldn’t just stand by and watch it happen. I started to take a step forward, but Gage put out an arm and restrained me. “Nasty stuff,” he said. “You don’t want to get near it. It makes them drown from the inside out. Very effective. Unfortunately, I have only a small quantity of it left. I hesitate to use too much of it.”
I watched helplessly as the death dealers grabbed at their throats as though they couldn’t breathe. They started gasping for air and slowly, one after another, fell to their knees.
“You have to stop this,” I pleaded. He’s killing them.
Gage said in a cold voice, “Once I release the mist and cast the spell, there’s nothing I can do. Don’t worry my dear—it won’t harm you as long as you are by my side.” There was no emotion on his face as he watched the bodies fall to the floor.
This was how he’d done it. Gage killed three hundred death dealers with this blue mist. He dropped a whole town with this stuff. I had no counterspells against it, and if fully trained death dealers couldn’t stop it… There was nothing I—or anyone—could do but watch in horror as these people died in front of me.
Gage watched the struggle of life and death before him indifferently. He said in a quiet voice, “A mage made it a long time ago, back when all mages were at war with each other. You won’t find writings about that war in the books your clan lets you read. Back then, they had powerful magic. Much more powerful than the magic we wield today. Take this spell, for instance. Incredible, isn’t it?”
The bodies on the floor stopped moving.
“You’re a monster.” He was a cold-hearted, black-souled monster no better than the demon he worked for.
He looked at the dead bodies strewn across the floor, the smile still on his face. “Colina, I’m pragmatic. I see what needs to be done. I do the hard things no one else is willing to do. I should have lived a hundred years ago—they would’ve understood. They may have even worshipped me back then. Those men were brave…daring. The things they did were legendary. The creatures they released…” He looked back at me. “You know, that was when demons were first let loose.”
I had never heard of the war Gage talked about. Mages fighting mages? Was it true that these mages had let demons loose in the name of war? To my knowledge, no one knew much about how the demons had gotten out or the ones that had fought against them.
Gage was watching me intently. “If only the demon killers had realized what magnificent creatures they had before them; what incredible power the demons wield. So foolish to destroy them. But now you’ve brought one back to us.” He put the vial back into his pocket and waved his hand in the air. “It’s just the beginning, my dear. It’s the dawning of a new age. We will bring back all of the long-forgotten wonders of that time.”
“Spells that kill? Demons that destroy?” I spat between clenched teeth. I looked at the pile of dead bodies. These people died for Gage’s entertainment. For his pet project. All dead so Gage could create a zombie army. And now Gage was talking about demons as though he wanted to bring them back. Could he?
Gage looked at the bodies that now lay motionless on the floor and gave a loud sigh. “The world was a much more interesting place back then.” He motioned to his men. “Collect the bodies. We have mummies to make.”
* * *
We drove back, the bodies stacked in the back of th
e SUVs following us. Gage had killed three hundred death dealers in his first attempt at making zombies, and I had just watched him kill another roomful of people. How many more would die at his hands?
Once he had his dark army, I knew the numbers of dead would grow from the hundreds into the thousands. And what then?
It’s what they want to become… Wendy’s words floated across my mind. He was already a monster—evil already consumed his heart and mind. What else did Gage want to become?
The first round of zombies I’d made were slowly falling apart, which meant there was little chance they could hurt anybody. Now Gage’s full attention was on the mummification process. I had time. Time to come up with a way to escape. If I got out of here before he forced me to lay hands on those mummies, I would ruin his plans.
As far as I knew, I was the only one who could raise the dead. Without me, Gage had no project.
I watched the scenery whiz past. The miles went by until we finally arrived back at the mining town.
We pulled in and I observed in silence as Gage’s henchmen unloaded the bodies and carried them off. A part of me was thankful that I wouldn’t have to put my hands on the corpses right away. Gage said it takes forty days to mummify the bodies. It meant that I now had time, had some breathing room, to figure out how to get out of here.
Caleb escorted me back to the house, releasing me from Gage’s company.
I walked down the dirt path leading back. A shiver ran down the back of my neck as Caleb trailed close behind me.
When we reached the edge of town, I saw a half-dozen zombies digging a trench. I wondered what it was for until I saw another zombie emerge from the mouth of a mining tunnel and walk toward the trench carrying a black garbage bag. The bag tumbled from the zombie’s hands, and its contents emptied onto the ground. It was a man—or, it used to be a man. Someone Gage killed, who I’d made walk the earth as an undead. The body was badly rotted away. There were only pieces now, strewn across the ground. Pieces that still moved even though they were no longer part of a whole body. I looked over at the trench and wondered, How many rotting zombies are in that hole? And how many souls are still bound in their rotting husks?
When I made my way into the house, Wendy was on the piano bench. She seemed to always sit there now. Dean sat in a chair close by. They were both dressed identically to me—black tops, black jeans, and black boots. I wonder what they’ll think when I tell them this is how all Gage’s henchmen dress. A feeling of dread washed over me as I understood this was all part of Gage’s plan. He was trying to force our hands, trying to draft us into his twisted army against our will.
My eyes settled on Wendy. There was something about the way she sat—her shoulders slumped and her face paler than normal—that set alarm bells off in my head.
I looked from Wendy to Dean. “What’s wrong?”
Dean frowned and shrugged his shoulders.
“Tonight…” Wendy whispered.
I moved closer to her. “What’s happening tonight?”
“Gage summoned me,” she answered.
What the heck does that mean? Gage hadn’t mentioned another party or group visit to the mummy room.
“I can’t go through it again,” Wendy said as her shoulders began to shake.
I sat down on the bench next to her and put my hand over hers. Again? What did Gage do to her? Why is she so terrified?
“Colina, I’ll be back for you and Wendy after midnight,” Caleb’s voice rang out.
I’d forgotten Caleb was still in the room. Our eyes met, and he gave me a hard stare. He wanted revenge—the now-familiar look was written all over his face.
I wouldn’t let him see I was afraid. “Can’t wait,” I deadpanned, keeping my gaze on his. I would not be the first one to break eye contact.
Caleb gave me a two-finger salute and headed out the door.
I turned and asked Dean, “What happened while I was gone?”
He was watching Wendy, his face full of concern. “Sonja came in and took Wendy aside. I have no idea what she said, but Wendy’s been like this ever since.”
I squeezed Wendy’s hand. “Tell me,” I begged.
Wendy turned away, her body language closed off—she was clearly unwilling to answer my question.
Whatever was going to happen would take place sometime after midnight. Probably during the witching hour—midnight to three in the morning. A time when the veil between this world and the next was at its weakest. It was a time when the spirits roamed the physical world. When even non-mage could feel a spirit’s presence.
Foreboding filled me again. I had no idea what Gage was up to, but whatever it was clearly terrified Wendy.
* * *
They delivered food to us. No Sonja this time—just a girl with a tray piled high. She was young, about eleven or twelve. What was someone so young doing in the company of Gage? Was she the daughter of one of his followers? I studied her innocent face while she set up the dishes—she had a sprinkle of freckles across her nose. There was no fear in her eyes as she watched us. There was no evil vibe coming from the girl. She gave us a brief, sweet smile and lowered the emptied tray onto a side table before turning and leaving the room.
There was a platter of meats and cheeses, a basket full of hard-crusted rolls, and bowls of ripe fruit and chocolate truffles.
While we ate, Dean asked me questions about my day. I told him about the ride to the magic shop, but I left out the part where Gage killed more death dealers.
I looked over at Dean. I knew that he was extremely loyal to the death dealers—he would have been crushed to find out something had happened to them.
His eyes met mine—they were full of curiosity. Dean knew I wasn’t telling him the whole story. He kept peppering me with questions, and I kept changing the subject or ignoring him entirely.
I ate until I was so stuffed, I couldn’t eat another bite. Wendy picked at her food, staying quiet throughout the meal. Dean glared at me as he ate a handful of truffles.
What a trio we make, I thought sarcastically.
I rang the silver bell Sonja had given me, and not long after, the young, freckle-faced girl came and collected the trays and empty plates.
I had no idea what time it was, but I knew Caleb and Jacob would come to take Dean away eventually. It must be near nightfall. Luke will take over soon.
As if on cue, the brothers opened the door without knocking, Caleb swaggering in and Jacob following silently behind.
Gage was still insistent that Luke and I stay apart. My next goal was getting Gage to let us be together. I had to convince him that we had no special magic with physical contact. The collar was enough of a threat to keep me from using my abilities.
I watched as Caleb and Jacob slowly rounded on Dean.
Dean had never resisted before. I’d seen him raise his hands up in complete surrender as they latched on the chains.
But this time was different.
Dean took on a defensive stance, his face filled with determination. “Don’t touch me,” he growled.
Caleb’s eyes gleamed with something akin to glee at Dean’s resistance.
Why is he doing this? There are two of them and only one of him. I started to say something, but before I could, Caleb lunged at Dean. Dean scrambled back.
But not fast enough.
Caleb got an arm around Dean and suddenly both of them were on the floor, wrestling.
They both threw short, vicious punches, rolling over and over across the floor until Dean was straddling Caleb. Dean’s fist came down hard and connected with Caleb’s face, and blood gushed from Caleb’s nose.
Jacob just stood by and watched.
Caleb grabbed the front of Dean’s shirt and rolled again. Then Caleb let go, pushed off the ground, and leaped back to his feet. Before Dean could get to his feet, Caleb kicked out and his foot landed hard against Dean’s rib cage. Dean cried out in pain.
Jacob finally moved. He made his way forward to grab Dean’s a
rms, and with the help of his brother, the two of them forced Dean facedown onto the floor. They wrenched Dean’s arms behind him and put a pair of chains around his wrists.
Through it all, I stood by, helpless. I couldn’t use any of my magic. If I jumped on Caleb’s back as they fought, tried to scratch his eyes out as I wanted to, Gage would have seen it as a form of rebellion. And every time I rebelled, Luke paid the price. I wouldn’t see Luke beaten again, not for something I did. So I forced myself to stand by, even though every fiber of my being cried out to help.
“You’ll pay for that,” Caleb said, spitting blood out of his mouth, though it still trickled down from his nose. He pulled Dean roughly to his feet. Without warning, Caleb slammed his fist into Dean’s chin.
Dean’s head jerked back, but he stayed on his feet.
“Don’t hurt him,” I pleaded.
They began to shove Dean out of the room. Dean's eyes locked onto mine. “Colina, do whatever it takes to protect yourself.”
Caleb swung a wild hook into the side of Dean’s head.
The blow was hard enough that Dean fell to his knees. His eyes found mine again. “If you feel yourself in danger, use your magic.”
“Don’t hurt him!” I yelled. I started forward, but Wendy’s hand shot out and her fingers locked around my arm. I tried to shake her loose, but she was stronger than she looked.
Jacob pulled Dean to his feet.
I watched Dean get dragged out of the room. Had he resisted because of Wendy and how freaked out she looked? Neither one of us knew what was going to happen next, but I knew Dean worried that, whatever it was, it would be bad. He didn’t want me to get hurt. He wanted me to fight.
But Dean knew as well as I did that if I used my magic, both he and Luke were dead.
* * *
Caleb came at midnight as promised, with Jacob by his side. To my surprise, Jacob walked over and gently reached for Wendy. She didn’t flinch as his hand came down on her shoulder. Instead, she rose off the bench and moved closer to him. She seemed to take comfort in his presence. What was going on between the two of them?
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