Supernatural Games

by Casey Knight

  I wrote down what I suspected, and he motioned for us all to sit. He dimmed the lights and muttered a spell. The room exploded with a blinding white light. No one moved until Jason spoke.

  “You can open your eyes now. We weren’t followed. Now will someone please explain what is going on?”

  “Jason, Corbin saw muddy footprints when they were reviewing the tapes from the time Lauren was abducted. Eventually the mud wore off, and we lost track of our invisible intruder. Then Tokem suggested we view similar footage from around the time Lauren went missing. That’s when we picked up our invisible guest exiting the hallway and entering our conference room.”

  “We plan to review all the footage since our arrival and see if we can pick up when this all started,” Tokem added.

  “Have you told anyone else about this?”

  “No, we wanted to let you know first.”

  “Traygen, you are in charge until Lauren is found, and I want you to conduct business as usual. You are going to set a trap for our invisible spy. I will need time to spell the area so anyone visible or invisible will be trapped. I’m thinking we should use the area where Lauren went missing in universe number two. We can say we’ve found evidence about Lauren that will tell us who has her. Then we will snare our spy.”

  “Jason, how long will it take, and what did the council say about the games?”

  “Traygen, I can have the trap ready by tomorrow morning. The council wants to proceed with the games. I strongly disagreed, but I was overruled. I will meet you all tomorrow morning at nine AM by the oasis where Lauren was last seen. You should freely make your plans known to each other later tonight.”

  Jason brought us all back to the Four-Courts, and we went back to searching the video feeds for any clues. We did indeed find evidence our spy had been there since day one. Not surprisingly, we found signs from our spy near the door around the time the alarm sounded. Once we had exhausted ourselves and all leads, we went back to the conference room and laid out tomorrow’s plan.

  Chapter Five

  I was nearly out of oxygen when my feet hit the bottom of the oasis. I saw nothing outside my shielded space and was running out of options. With nothing to lose, I tried to draw in the water surrounding me. If enough water pooled around me, perhaps I would float up to the surface. I whispered my spell and pulled with all my magical might. The water pooled around me, but not fast enough to help. I started to black out and my shield came down. I am going to die at the bottom of this oasis. Traygen, my love, I am sorry. Before I could feel any sorrier for myself, I felt a stinging sensation on my neck; then nothing.

  My head was pounding. I rolled to my side and threw up everything in my stomach, mostly dry heaves. The rough stone floor felt cool to my face. Where the hell was I, and how did I get here? The last thing I remembered was sinking to the bottom of the oasis. I closed my eyes, letting the nausea pass. I wasn’t sure, but might have slept. My stomach had settled. I opened my eyes and tried to look around, but it was pitch black. I didn’t know if it was day or night. I ran my hands along the surface I was stretched out on. It felt like rough stone and was cool to the touch.

  I rolled over onto my stomach and pulled myself up on all fours before I turned around and sat down. I whispered a few words and my bracelet glowed. Ouch, too much. I dimmed the light from my bracelet, giving my eyes time to adjust. I was in a large cavern vast enough to swallow the light from my bracelet. Water dripped somewhere nearby, reminding me how thirsty I was. Shrugging my shoulders, flexing my fingers, and stretching my legs, I groped around for my staff. I was grateful, because no matter how I got here, they hadn’t bothered to disarm me. Everything seemed to be working, so I pulled my legs under me, leaned hard on my staff, and slowly stood up.

  I sent out my senses to check for any magic in the area. Damn. I dimmed my bracelet so I was leaving the slightest trace of a magical signature. I was afraid it might be too much, but couldn’t see without it. Wherever I was, the air around me hung heavy with magic, clinging to me like a wet blanket. I moved cautiously forward with my staff, ready to fire if necessary. The hair on the back of my neck was standing on end, and I fought the urge to flee. This place was creepy. There were skeletal remains scattered around the room. I couldn’t be sure, but they didn’t look like human remains. I was too freaked out to investigate.

  Snapping my head up, I glanced around me. There was something out there, something malevolent. Then I saw the red eyes staring at me. Whatever it was, it wasn’t human. I turned my bracelet up to illuminate more of the cavern and saw the Phouka. Where the hell was I? This one looked like a giant cougar, replete with demonic red eyes. Phouka are fae assuming the form of animals; never a good sign. Let me emphasize, this wasn’t an adorable cat. As if on cue, this one charged me. I pointed my staff at it and waited while I built up my magic to fry it. Wait until it gets closer. You can’t afford to graze it. A pissed off Phouka is nothing to mess with. Come on, kitty. Just before it leaped at me, I hit it and leaped sideways. I rolled to my feet and hit it again. It burst into flame and I moved back and away from the heat.

  I dimmed my bracelet again and continued to look for a way out of the cave. There weren’t many landmarks, and I walked on in silence. Finally, I noticed the cavern floor slope slightly upward. Wherever it was, I wanted to put as much distance as I could between the Phouka and myself. It might have friends, and I didn’t think my energy would go undetected for long. The surrounding area became increasingly lighter, so I extinguished my bracelet. It took a few minutes until my eyes adjusted well enough to continue forward.

  Finally, a breeze ruffled my hair, and the air felt fresher. Soon, I would be out of here. Another ten minutes and I was at the mouth of the cavern. I looked out at a heavily forested land. The cave opening was near the top of a large mountain. Nothing looked familiar, and I had no clue where I was. I sat down at the mouth of the cave to think. Something told me wandering around in those woods was a bad idea. That’s when I heard it; the baying of hounds. Oh shit, not Mab’s realm. There was no mistaking the baying of the Cwn Annwn, or as we like to call them, the Hounds of the Hill. Hill my ass, hounds of hell was more accurate. They are two giant white hounds with red ears and matching eyes, fabled for never quitting until they run their prey to ground. They had obviously tracked me across an ocean.

  I had no option but to run. Turning, I climbed farther up the mountain. The higher I got, the fewer the trees until I found myself on the talus near the top of the mountain. I had to settle on a plan, and if I was right, I only had about ten minutes to get it done before they would be on me. I looked around for something to use. They were too quick for me to blast them both. I might hit one, but the other would be on me before I could fire a second shot. Then I got an idea.

  I moved off over the talus and looked for any boulders I might get moving. I scrambled further out across the scree-filled boulder field. It looked like there had been a recent rockslide. Yes! Below me, a large group of boulders wedged up against fallen trees and debris. I needed to do something to get the hounds to charge me. Where was a T-bone when you needed one? Then I settled on a plan. I took off the one-piece suit I’d been wearing when I got sucked to the bottom of the oasis and buried it, leaving only one sleeve out. Next, I cut my arm and dripped blood on the sleeve. Then I ripped a piece of cloth off the suit and tied my arm. At that point, I spoke a few words, and flew twenty feet up the mountain. I landed just before I heard the hounds rushing up the hill. I would get one chance to bury them, or would seriously piss them off. I had few options. We all have to die someday. I just hoped this wasn’t my day.

  Then I spotted them as they ate up the ground on their way to my suit. They sprang at the suit and tore it apart, trying to pull it from the rocks. That is when I spoke the words to send a river of rocks and brush down on them. I didn’t stick around to see whether I’d hit them. They were magically enhanced creatures. I couldn’t kill them, only slow them down. If I were lucky, it would take them a whil
e to dig out.

  Now I was in the Unseelie realm. I needed to get out before Mab realized I was here. She still had a price on my head. I had to get to a place where the veil was thin enough for me to teleport to safety. I needed to find a higher vantage point to survey the terrain, so climbed and scrambled until I pulled myself up to the top of the highest peak in the surrounding area. Since I use the elements in my magic, I needed to find one that would transport me. Then I spotted the pond off in the distance. The water would act as a medium for me to use to teleport back to the Four-Courts. Luckily, I had memorized the runes for our portal.

  I jogged off toward the water as fast as I could safely move. The terrain was steep, rocky, and studded with tree roots. It was difficult landscape to navigate, and I didn’t want to twist an ankle. I was making steady progress, but the baying of the hounds meant they were free. With no time to waste, I picked up the pace. I caught glimpses of the pond through the trees. It would be close, but it looked like I would make it. I rushed out of the brush, sprinting for all I was worth into the open area surrounding the pond. That’s when I saw the two sets of hounds. I was in trouble, because one of those pairs was an illusion, and if I guessed wrong, the real hounds would have me.

  The fae are masters of illusion, and it was possible to pick the fake pair if I had time. Unfortunately, I was shit out of luck where time was concerned. I needed to think. Most fae could project their illusion down one or two layers, so I would know if I got below the surface of the illusion. But how? I needed to move because both sets of hounds were circling and were between me and the water. I did the only thing I could. I pointed my staff at the water and chanted a spell. At first, nothing happened, then the water began to churn, spinning faster and faster until it created a waterspout. I poured energy into it until it rose above the water, then I sent it at the hounds.

  I stood my ground as the two pairs of hounds moved silently forward, stalking me while I watched and waited for the right moment. When the water towered directly over the animals, I released it, sending the torrent cascading down on the hounds. I looked twice to make sure, and saw the hounds on the left had water going through them, not over them. I ran at them and dove into the water. I swear I heard the snapping of powerful jaws coming from where I’d been standing only moments before.

  I pulled myself deeper into the water until I was close enough to the bottom to draw my runes in the mud. I sat and pulled a protective shield over myself while drawing the symbols into the muddy bottom of the pond. Then I muttered the spell. I was immediately tossed around like the spin cycle in a washing machine. Just seconds later, I was unceremoniously dumped on the floor in the basement of the Four-Courts. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier to see a storage closet. I sat there for several minutes before I pulled myself to my feet and went to look for my team.

  Chapter Six

  I walked down the hall toward the conference room in search of my team. The room was empty, so I tried contacting Traygen. He didn’t answer my summons. In fact, no one was answering, including Jason. There wasn’t anyone else to check in with, so I teleported home to shower and change. I must smell like a swamp since I’d been rolling around in the mud. When I got home, Xena greeted me with enthusiasm. At least someone was happy to see me. I felt like a new woman after my shower. A new, hungry woman. I went to the kitchen and made myself something to eat. Clean and full, I transported myself back to the Four-Courts.

  There still wasn’t anyone from the team in the building, and Jason wasn’t answering, so I checked in with the man in charge of the fae’s security. He was in, but didn’t know anything other than my team had taken a transport to the second universe. I headed over there to see what they were doing. I used the portal and found myself standing near the entrance. I saw or heard nothing, so sent out my senses to see if I could detect anything. I found my team and a huge magical presence. I put my shields up and activated my bracelet and staff. I followed the trail created by the magic. It didn’t take me long to realize I was heading right for the spot where I descended into the oasis.

  I crept up into the trees lining the edge of the water, and saw my team fanned out around the area with their weapons drawn. What in the heck? I couldn’t see what they were so intently watching. I edged closer when a chill washed over me. There was wicked dark magic in the area. My skin crawled, and I shuddered involuntarily. Then the area over the water shimmered, and a large explosion threw me to the ground. Stunned, I tried to get to my feet, but I had trouble focusing. Where were Traygen and the rest of my team? They had been standing closer than I stood. I struggled to regain my footing, then staggered toward the oasis. There was nothing left but a crater. Oh my god, where was everyone? Traygen my love, you can’t leave me again. I looked franticly around the area but saw no movement. I ran around the entire perimeter and didn’t see any sign of them. I sank to my knees and let the tears fall.

  “Lauren, oh my god, where have you been?” Corbin asked. Not waiting for a reply, he threw his arms around me.

  “You’re a sight for sore eyes. Where’ve you been?” Tokem demanded.

  “Tokem, go get Traygen and Jason.”

  “Lauren, are you okay? Say something. We’ve been worried sick about you.”

  “I thought you were all dead. I saw you around the water and then there was a large explosion. When the dust cleared, the only thing left was this crater.”

  “We set a trap for the invisible spy, and those were illusions of us to draw the spy out. Unfortunately, whoever it is sensed the trap right before we could spring it. They blew the whole thing up. Come on, let’s find the others. Traygen has been worried sick.”

  Corbin led me back to his hovercraft. Before I could jump on, Traygen landed beside us. I threw myself off the hovercraft and into his arms. I hugged him and sobbed into his neck.

  “Lauren, we’re all okay. Where have you been? Are you hurt? Talk to me.”

  “I’m fine,” I managed between sobs. Once I trusted myself to talk, I stepped back and looked at Traygen and the concerned faces of my team. I started to talk when Traygen flashed his palm, motioning me to silence. We flew back to the Four-Courts and then transported to the Council of Wizard’s compound.

  “Will someone please tell me what is going on?”

  “Not before you tell us what happened with you,” Jason interjected.

  “I went back to the oasis to see if we’d missed any clues. Corbin had taken to the air for a better view. I was walking a grid pattern around the swampy perimeter when I saw a footprint in the mud. I followed it to the edge of the pool and that is when I sank. I tried to get free, but the harder I struggled, the deeper I sank. I was running out of oxygen, sure I would die. Then I felt a stinging sensation in my neck, then nothing. When I woke up, I was in a large underground cavern. I had no idea where I was, and tried to get out. That’s when I ran into a Phouka. Fortunately, I killed it before it could get me. I continued until I reached the cavern’s entrance. I was thanking my lucky stars when I heard hounds baying. Then I knew where I was. Someone had dropped me into Mab’s realm, and the Hounds of the Hills were after me. I barely made it out alive.”

  Traygen let out a low whistle and hugged me. No one spoke for a few minutes, then Jason cleared his throat.

  “I think it’s safe to say someone tried to get Mab’s minions to kill you for them. It’s no secret she has a price on your head, and when she finds out you were in the Unseelie lands, she will increase that bounty.”

  “This could be part of the friction between the two fae courts. I mean Mab isn’t happy with the Seelie Court and with you being the head of security for the games,” Corbin added.

  “Or someone wants us to think that’s the case,” I offered.

  “Lauren has a point. Whoever has been spying on us might be trying to divert our attention from what they are doing,” Traygen noted.

  “Now, will someone please tell me what I just walked in on?”

  “Lauren, when we couldn’
t find you we searched the area and found the foot prints you were following, and they moved off toward the portal and then vanished. Tokem went back to check the video from around the time you went missing. He searched through the footage from around the time when we lost the footprints. That’s when he found the doors opening and closing with no one around, and followed them.”

  “Eyes like an eagle. Gotham City is safe when I’m on patrol.”

  “Okay, Nat Boy, will you let Jason finish?”

  “Tokem reviewed the footage since we first arrived, and found out we had an invisible spy in our meetings. We’re meeting here because our security was compromised. We tried to trap our spy by speaking openly about a new clue, letting slip what we’d found about your abduction. Unfortunately, he sensed something and blew up our trap.”

  “This explains why the portal was breached, and how the guards were found and killed. Do we have any idea who is behind this?”

  “No, that’s why we were trying to trap the spy. Now we are back to ground zero.”

  “Not necessarily. An invisibility spell isn’t hard to conjure. Any average wizard or magic user could conjure one, but I sensed powerful magic just before the trap exploded. There aren’t many who wield that type of dark magic.”

  “Lauren, are you certain it was dark magic?”

  “Jason, it’s forbidden magic, punishable by death from the council. The question is, why use it when they knew we would find out? It’s overkill, almost like they wanted us to know.”

  “Not if they thought you were dead. None of us would’ve been able to detect that level of magic, and besides, they thought we would all be killed in the blast.” Traygen said.

  “Jason would’ve been able to detect it. Still, you make a valid point about the spy thinking you would all be dead.”