by Linsey Hall
Bree bent down and rummaged around on the floorboards, then pulled up the paper bag filled with sandwiches and handed them around.
I tore into mine, my stomach roaring with hunger. As I chewed, the memory of the ghosts of Dead Mountain drifted through my mind.
I swallowed the last bite of my sandwich. “What do you think the ghosts meant by half a Dragon God?”
“He was probably just messing with you,” Rowan said. “Trying to get inside your head.”
“I hope so. But…I think there was something to it.”
“You still have your shield power,” Bree said. “You shouldn’t. Not if you’ve fully transitioned.”
“I’ve been practicing. Trying to hold on to it.”
“And it might be working,” Bree said. “Or…there might be something to what the ghost said.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter.” Rowan squeezed my shoulder. “You’re still a badass. And you’ll figure it out.”
“I hope so.” I needed all the power I could get to defeat the Fates. Of that, I was certain.
We were nearly to the entrance, and my skin began to prickle. We’d only been in the haven once—to rescue Uncle Joe years ago. Back then, the journey through the old mining tunnels had been just as dangerous as the trip across Death Valley.
Unfortunately, we had basically no magic left. At least, I didn’t. “Anyone got any power left?”
“Dregs,” Bree said.
“Barely anything,” Lachlan said.
“You know I’m tapped out.” Bitterness echoed in Rowan’s voice.
I returned the shoulder squeeze she’d given me earlier, knowing it wasn’t enough to fully comfort her. But it was all I could do for now.
“Let’s hope there aren’t a lot of trials to get through the mining tunnels, then,” I said. “Because if there are, we’re screwed.”
8
By the time Rowan parked Mini Mouse in a hidden spot near the entrance to the haven, I was thoroughly exhausted. We climbed out of the vehicle and crept around the giant boulders that hid it.
The sun had finally set and the air had chilled. I shivered and zipped up my jacket.
We left Mini Mouse and walked along the base of the mountain, which formed a ten-foot cliff overhead before it sloped upward to the summit.
“You said there will be challenges within the mining tunnels before we get to the haven?” Lachlan asked.
“Should be, yeah.” I shivered at the memory of what we’d faced before, when we’d made our way through the tunnels years ago to save Uncle Joe.
“Hey, I see something up ahead.” Bree pointed toward the massive boulder that formed the entrance to the tunnel. We hadn’t come though this way last time, but since the other entrance had been so damned difficult, we wanted to try it.
I squinted, trying to catch sight of what Bree had spotted with her super vision. Finally, I saw a pale glow. “A ghost?”
“Could be,” Bree said. “Hopefully a friendly one.”
I hurried forward, braced for anything. By the time I reached the entrance, the ghost was fully visible, standing at the great stone and watching the valley. Her eyes darted to mine and widened.
“Jetpack girl!” Jolinda exclaimed. Her hair was pulled back from her head, and her overalls were an old-timey fashion from the mining days. She’d been here for over a hundred years, I had to guess.
“Jolinda!” Happiness surged through me, a lightness that lifted some of the weight off my shoulders. “It’s been so long.”
“Jetpack girl?” Lachlan whispered from behind me, no doubt directed at one of my sisters.
“A long story,” Bree whispered back. “We’ll tell you later.”
“It’s the whole gang,” Jolinda said. “And a new one.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Not bad looking, either.”
“No, he’s not.” I grinned at her. She’d been one of the ghosts who we’d met during our rescue mission to save Uncle Joe years earlier. “But what are you doing outside?”
She pointed. “Watching the valley. Weird magic out there now.”
“I know. It’s from a Roman invasion.”
“Romans?” She spat on the ground. Or made the motion, at least. Ghosts couldn’t spit. Not really. “Miserable conquerors, the lot of them.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” I wanted to hug her, but it wouldn’t work out. “Have you seen two new guys here? Dark hair and real tan skin? Sort of Middle Eastern-looking?”
She looked from the valley to me. “Two new guys, yeah. I think they meet your description. Came with your Uncle Joe’s big buggy.”
My shoulders relaxed, tension seeping from my muscles. “Oh, thank fates.”
I could hear Bree and Rowan’s exclamations of joy behind me.
“Can you take us to them? Maybe help us pass some of the challenges in the mining tunnels?” Bree asked.
“Sure thing.” Jolinda nodded. “Wouldn’t want you running into Clive.”
The memory of the sleazy dead miner made me grimace. “Thanks. I didn’t like him.”
“No one does, dearie. Doesn’t know when to keep his slimy thoughts to himself.”
“That’s the truth.”
“Clive is a sexist ghost who hits on anyone who comes into the mines,” Bree explained to Lachlan.
“Harasses,” Rowan corrected. She shuddered in an exaggerated fashion. “He licks his lips way too much.”
“Come on.” Jolinda waved us forward, then her eyes widened on something behind us.
I whirled, spotting the oncoming forces. Monsters of all varieties approached, about half a mile away. I could make out a horde of evil fauns, the giant Cacus, and a number of other creatures who I didn’t want to see up close.
“They followed us, damn it.” Fear and annoyance echoed in Bree’s voice.
“Better hurry.” Jolinda waved at the boulder that blocked the entrance. “But you gotta do something about this. The guard who normally stands here and moves the boulder is on break, and I can’t move it.”
“Crap.” My skin chilled, and I looked at Lachlan. “Got any power left?”
“Not a lot, but it’s going to have to be enough.”
“I’ve got a tiny bit left, too. We’ll do it together. Up and to the left.”
“I can push,” Bree said.
“Good.” I turned back to look at the oncoming attackers, my heartbeat thundering in my ears.
Lachlan stepped up beside me, and Bree stood next to the boulder. Rowan positioned herself with her bow facing outward, ready to fire.
“Now.” I raised my hands.
Lachlan did the same, and his magic swelled on the air. Weakness tugged at me as I forced my magic to move the boulder, picking it up just an inch off the ground. It thumped back down before Bree could help push it aside. I tried to lift it again, my magic working in tandem with Lachlan’s.
Come on, come on.
I glanced over my shoulder. They were closer. Nearly within firing range.
“Hurry!” Rowan fired into the crowd. They roared, and she fired again and again.
Finally, we got the boulder up. Bree gave it a shove while we helped move it left, leaving us a foot of space to squeeze through.
“Come on!” Bree darted in through the gap.
I followed, with Rowan and Lachlan pulling up the rear.
“We’ve got to close it!” I turned, catching sight of our attackers through the entrance. They were so close I could see their eyes. Adrenaline made my chest feel like it was going to explode.
Together, we moved the boulder back in place, every second torture.
“Will they be able to get through that, though?” Lachlan asked.
“Not if they intend to do anyone in here harm,” Jolinda said. “New spell since our last troubles. The boulder is a physical barrier, but the spell has really helped protect people.”
“Thank fates.” I leaned back against the wall, panting. Sweat rolled down my forehead, and my breath heaved in my lungs.
/> Lachlan looked pale as a sheet.
Bree bent over, her hands propped on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. “Nice work.”
We squeezed into the darkened tunnel, barely fitting through the tiny gap. Glowing stones were set into the rock walls around us, providing a bit of light.
“Let’s get you all to the bar,” Jolinda said. “You seem like you could use a stiff drink.”
“And a twelve-hour nap.”
We followed Jolinda through the tunnels, passing old mining carts and broken-down wooden supports. I heard the occasional skittering sound in the distance and prayed that it wasn’t giant spiders. They kept their distance, whatever they were. Nothing would screw with us while we were with Jolinda.
At one point, we had to climb along the wall where the floor of the tunnel had fallen away, but we made it safely across. By the time we reached the massive dome-shaped space that marked the main center of Hider’s Haven, I was ready for the drink that Jolinda had mentioned.
We stepped into the main atrium of the haven, and I searched for Ali and Haris.
“This is impressive,” Lachlan said.
I nodded, trying to see it through his eyes. I’d only been here once, but my opinion was colored by the panic and fear and bulldogged determination I’d felt back then. The battle had been huge, and I’d only been able to focus on winning it.
But Lachlan was right.
The place was impressive.
The domed ceiling soared hundreds of feet in the air, and the enormous space in the middle was filled with food stalls and little shops. Hallways containing apartments stretched deeper into the mines, though I couldn’t see far down any of them. Golden lights illuminated the whole place, which had a bustling and busy atmosphere. The people who lived here had made it into a home, at least. Full of outlaws, but a home nonetheless.
“I think they’ll be at the Cavern Pub,” Jolinda said. “Seen ‘em there before.”
“Lead the way,” I said.
She grinned and charged through the crowd. I followed, my friends behind me. We walked by stalls selling food, jewelry, clothes, dishes, and even pale white lizards. There were restaurant booths and bars, as well as a barber and seamstress. The place was a city built without a mountain.
We’d nearly reached the Cavern Pub when I spotted them. They sat at a little round table right under the flashing sign that floated in midair. It might have said Cavern Pub, but all I saw was Holy Fates, You Found Them in bright flashing letters.
I sprinted through the crowd, passing Jolinda with my sisters at my side.
“Ali! Haris!” I shouted.
They turned, surprise stretching across their faces. Both surged to their feet, their grins wide.
“You found us!” Haris grabbed me in a big hug and squeezed.
I clutched him back, then pulled away.
Ali released Rowan and Bree, then gave me a hug. “You were so quick, thank fates.”
“Sit,” Haris said. “You look like you could use a drink.”
“I look that bad?” I grinned and took the rickety chair next to him. Everyone else squeezed in around the table, Jolinda included, though she seemed to float more than sit on the chair.
“You look mad as hell, actually,” Ali said.
“I am.” The low-level rage that had been following me was ratcheting up. I was relieved to find my friends, but that relief just put the worry into stark contrast. The rest of them were still out there. “I’m pissed at the Fates.”
Bree squeezed my hand. “We’ll get them.”
A burly bartender bustled over to the table, his bushy white hair and mustache making him look a bit like Santa. The leather apron over his barrel chest smothered that effect, but when he laid down a tray of cold beer, it felt like Christmas. It might not be my bubbly pink favorite, but right now, it looked fabulous.
“On the house!” he boomed.
Definitely Christmas. But… “Why?”
“Don’t think I don’t recognize you, young ladies! Though you aren’t as young as you were when I saw you last. Mere children then!” His eyes sparkled with mirth.
“We were hardly children,” Bree said. “Teenagers.”
“Teenagers with jetpacks.” He grinned. “Like angels from above, liberating us from bandits. You won’t pay for a thing. Not while you’re here in the haven.”
Warmth spread to my cheeks. We’d saved the people in the haven because Uncle Joe had been here, caught up in the same ambush that had put everyone else at risk. To be fair, we’d have saved them even without Uncle Joe. But he’d been the reason we’d come out here in the first place.
I raised the glass. “Thank you.”
He smiled and clapped his hands together once, then turned and trundled off.
Ali leaned toward us. “So, you found us! We knew coming to Death Valley Junction was the best way to go.”
When the Protectorate had rescued Bree and me from Death Valley Junction last autumn, Ali and Haris had been on the team. They’d seen our strange little town. “Uncle Joe called me and told me you were here. Then Jolinda led us right to you.”
Jolinda grinned. “Had my eye on you, boys.”
“But we haven’t met before,” Ali said.
“Doesn’t mean I won’t spy on you. I’m a ghost. It’s the primary perk.”
“All right, then.” Haris raised a glass to her. “Just don’t peep when I’m in my knickers, aye?”
We all laughed.
“So, you went to find Uncle Joe?” Bree asked.
“Just luck,” Haris said. “We meant to come to Death Valley Junction but didn’t know about your Uncle Joe. The demons chased us all the way from Las Vegas, but we had a little head start on them. Soon as we got into Death Valley Junction, we went to the saloon.”
“That’s where all the good stuff goes down,” Ali said.
“And you ran into Uncle Joe, sitting at his corner of the bar.”
“Exactly.” Haris nodded. “He took one look at us and knew we were in trouble. When we told him what was going on, he mentioned you. Then he gave us his buggy and pointed us here. It was the safest plan.”
“The demons didn’t follow?” Lachlan asked.
“Oh, they did.” An evil smile stretched across Ali’s face. “But they didn’t have the vehicle we had. Didn’t make it halfway across the desert.” He shrugged, his expression turning dark. “But then, the other dangers came.”
“We’re lucky we made it this far,” Haris said. “Our magic isn’t exactly suited to the desert.”
“No, I guess not.” They were djinns and could possess other people’s bodies. It was a damned handy skill, but the long-range offensive magic was best in the desert. “But you’ve got mad fighting skills.”
“That we do.” Haris gave a little salute. “And it’s the only thing that got us here. Thank you for coming.”
“We knew you would,” Ali said.
Bree laughed. “So you sat down with a beer to wait.”
“Aye,” Ali said. “And recoup our strength. Which it looks like you could stand to do.”
“Just enough to get us strong enough to leave,” Rowan said. “Over eighty percent of the Protectorate members have been kidnapped. You’re our only good lead.”
Both Ali and Haris turned completely pale, their eyes stark in their faces.
“What?” Ali whispered.
“Not possible,” Haris said.
“Very possible.” I swallowed hard, then told them the story.
Ali leaned back in his chair and scrubbed a hand over his face. “So we were just part of a bigger operation.”
“But they failed with you,” Bree said. “Do you remember anything about them? Did you ever hear them say anything that would identify them?”
Haris frowned, clearly thinking back. “While we were running from them in Vegas, we hid in a warehouse behind some crates. One of them said to the other ‘we’ve got to get them back to the Labirinto di Orvieto before those bitche
s take our balls.’”
“Those bitches must be the Fates,” I said.
“But what is the Labirinto di Orvieto?” Lachlan asked.
There was silence all around.
Damn.
“Someone at the Protectorate might know,” I said. Not that there were many left to ask. “Did you learn anything else?”
“There was mention of a cathedral,” Haris said. “At least, I heard the word Cattedrale, and the internet said that was cathedral in Italian.”
“Good, that could help,” Rowan said.
“And they were Soriento demons,” Ali said. “Brutal. They always take the worst jobs for the lowest pay—because they like the fight.”
“Soriento sounds Italian,” Bree said.
“Aye, they might be from Italian myth,” Haris said. “Though I couldn’t say for sure.”
“This helps,” I said. “We’ll find out what Labirinto di Orvieto is. Where it is. Then we’ll save our friends.”
“In the meantime, we need to figure out how to get out of here,” Ali said. “All those challenges are in the desert, waiting to grab us again.”
“They’re right at the front door, now,” I said. “Chased us right up to the entrance.”
Ali and Haris paled.
“Is it possible to transport out?” Ali asked.
“Not from within the valley,” Rowan said. “We’d have to go over the mountain range that blocks us in.”
“If you try to go that way, you might make it,” Jolinda said. “Or they might get you. But I can hold them off. Give you a bit of a head start. Then you could transport out. It’d take you a fraction of the time compared to going back through the desert.”
“That’d be amazing,” I said. “Could we go now?”
“We’re too weak to go now,” Bree said.
She was right, and I hated it.
“Better to do it at midnight,” Jolinda said. “I’ll get my girls to help, but our magic is strongest at midnight.”
“That’s only six hours away,” Ali said.
“We’ll be rested and stronger. It’s a good plan,” Lachlan said.
I had to agree. I was so damned tired—and tapped out, magically—that we needed the rest.
“Okay, deal,” I said. “Then we’ll go hunt those bastards down.”
