Avenger

by Heather Burch

  Well.

  Raven clapped a couple of times. “Thank you. I’ve been wanting to give her a wake-up call for a while now.”

  Nikki’s cheeks were fire hot and she couldn’t utter a single word. Not that she wanted too. Crawling into the nearest crack in the unidentifiable wall seemed a much better solution. Who was she kidding? Frank was right. She spent half her energy feeling bad for, well, everyone, even though they didn’t feel bad for themselves. She needed to get over herself.

  The boys continued to talk, but she caught only bits and pieces of the conversation. Something about seekers, victims, knowledge. How much energy had she spent worrying about the circumstances rather than taking action? Too much. She purposed to do what Frank challenged her to do. Be a warrior. Be worthy of the battle.

  She tuned back into the discussion just as Raven explained what had occurred when the seeker arrived at the castle in France. As she listened, all the pieces of the puzzle settled into one giant question. “Why would the seeker go to Deux’s home rather than Viennesse?”

  The boys stopped chattering and stared at her.

  Warmth — the first she’d felt internally since entering the subterranean world — surged through her like hot soup on a cold winter’s day. It was the heat of knowledge, the realization that she’d stumbled onto something that could help them. “Don’t you see? That’s the clue. My scent is all over Viennesse, and in a much heavier concentration than it ever was in France. If it was tracking me, why would it start anywhere else?”

  Frank rubbed his chin and stared at the ground. “Maybe it was following the freshest scent?”

  Nikki raised her hand. “The freshest would have been coming from France to Viennesse.”

  “She’s right. So, what does that mean?” Raven glanced between the two of them.

  Frank shrugged. “Don’t know. We need help. Wisdom.”

  Dane jumped up and down. “The Owl! We need to ask the Owl. He knows everything.”

  Raven pointed. “I thought your brother knew everything.”

  Dane’s eyes expanded behind his bubble glasses. “He knows even more of everything than Frank. The Owl has been alive for forever.”

  “Who’s the Owl?” Nikki blinked.

  Frank winked. “He’s an old dude. Kind of quirky and strange.”

  “Great,” she muttered. “Just the sort we tend to attract.”

  “Where’s he at, Dane? Seems like he left awhile ago.”

  He did.” All the blood seemed to drain from the small boy’s rosy cheeks. “He’s in the dungeon.”

  Raven flashed a plastic smile. “Dungeon? Perfect. Let’s go to the dungeon to talk to the Owl.”

  Frank turned to the group of five guys who’d been huddled around the table, and with a slight nod one of them disappeared for a moment, only to jog over with a thick, heavy raincoat that looked like it had been designed for a seven-foot-tall giant.

  “Well, what are you waiting for, miss worrywart? Put out your arms.”

  Nikki could only stare at Frank as he enrobed her in yards of rubberized fabric that happened to have sleeves. “There’s only one way in and one way out of the dungeon, and this might be the best chance we have of holding your scent in once we reach the surface.”

  Her lips begged to ask how that level of protection was possible, but the looks from everyone else convinced her it was best not to argue with the bruiser in the white tank.

  As Frank and the corner table crew, Raven and Nikki, and Dane made their way out of the tunnels, the coat dusted the ground with every step Nikki took. At least I know every inch of me is covered. They traversed a long corridor, opened a creaky door, and started up an impossible amount of stairs leading to the surface. “Why not garden or palace or even courtyard?” Nikki mumbled.

  Frank stopped, backing up the traffic behind him. “Huh?”

  Nikki shrugged and a thousand pounds of yellow rubber slicker bobbed with her shoulders. “Cave, dungeon. Those names are depressing. And why not bring a few plants down here to brighten things up a little?”

  Shock twisted Frank’s features. He pointed at Nikki but directed the words to Raven. “Is she kidding?”

  Raven nudged her with his shoulder. “What’s up with you and the Suzy-Homemaker thing? It’s not like you, Nik. It’s freaking me out.”

  What was up with her? She shrugged beneath the yellow blob again. Nervous energy, I guess. Since she’d been instructed not to feel sorry for herself, her mind had to stay busy doing something. Apparently mentally redecorating the underground tunnel systems of Paris was the answer. She snaked her hands from under her too-big cuffs and saw her palms were sweaty. She lightly blew on them as Frank turned to continue up the stairs.

  “The dungeon got its name when a section of tunnel collapsed, closing it off from the rest of the underground,” Frank said to Raven. “That’s where we’ll find Solomon.”

  “Solomon?”

  “The Owl.”

  Already Nikki felt the whoosh of fresh air swirling around her ankles. She opened the raincoat slightly to let some of that fresh breeze in, but clamped it closed right after. She hoped no one had seen her brief mistake.

  The last doorway opened onto a Paris street, but she barely got a glimpse. Frank turned to her and wrapped the raincoat tighter, then tugged the hood up and over her head. It felt like she’d been submerged in some sweaty fog. “Stay close and, uh, don’t breathe.”

  She held her breath for a few seconds until she heard him chuckle. Nikki sank a fist into his arm from behind.

  “Solid punch,” he said. “For a girl.”

  That comment awarded him another hit.

  The nine of them walked single file, Nikki hovering near the middle of the pack, able to actually smell the boys’ taut attention. Their alertness crackled through the air. She wondered why guys she didn’t know — who weren’t even Halflings — would put their lives on the line like this, so ready to face a creature beyond their worst nightmares. Her appreciation grew.

  She felt a small hand reach up into the sleeve of her raincoat and entwine his fingers with hers.

  Dane was whispering about the entrance to the dungeon. “See the row of trees behind the edge of that building?”

  “Yes,” she whispered back, adjusting her hood slightly.

  “That’s the entrance to the university. That’s where the Owl — I mean, Solomon — likes to hang out. He used to be a professor there, but when he went cuckoo —”

  “Cuckoo?” She tried to look down at him, but her vision was again blocked by yellow. She pushed the material back.

  “Yeah, like a clock. You know.” His head tipped from side to side and his voice rose to a chirp. “Cuckoo, cuckoo.”

  “Stop it, Dane,” Frank hissed.

  Nikki’s attention returned to the entrance ahead.

  Dane squeezed Nikki’s hand, and when she looked back down at him he did the cuckoo clock impersonation again, this time silently. By the end he had to press his hand to his mouth to keep from giggling.

  She was glad for his moments of levity when they made it into the next tunnel system. Nikki now understood the name dungeon. No other handle would fit this dark, stale place.

  “We’re almost there,” Frank said when they reached the end of yet another long staircase leading into the depths of the dungeon. “If we have any … uh … interruptions before we find Solomon, just stay close and keep quiet.” His gaze burned a laser hole through Nikki. She widened her eyes at him as if to say, “What?”

  He didn’t answer. And five minutes later, she found out what “interruptions” were.

  A group of guys stopped them as they entered what Frank had said would be the last room before the entrance to Solomon’s place.

  Nikki lowered her hood and tried to do a quick head count — not that it was necessary. They were outnumbered. Frank stepped forward after the initial pause, and Nikki marveled that Raven was letting someone else lead. She was suddenly aware of his proximity to her.
Close. Always close, always there, and always ready. It was like having a personal pit bull.

  The leader of the other group stepped out as well, and Nikki watched the anger build as he stared down Frank.

  “We’re just here to see Solomon.” Frank held his hands up in a back off, we don’t want trouble kind of way.

  The guy opposing him had dirty jeans, long hair, and enough tattoos that a kid with a Matchbox car could drive forever along the green paths on his muscled body. A scar marred his face from cheek to jaw, and when he turned his head to spit on the ground, she saw the scar ran the length of his neck too, hiding beneath the collar of a soiled T-shirt. Guess they grow them tough down here.

  “Look, Skully, I don’t need any problems right now. This is important.”

  Skully stiffened. “Important? Like you told my sister she was important?”

  Uh-oh. This could get ugly.

  Raven moved and slid Nikki behind him.

  Frank shot a glance back to his guys and winked, which led to a few snickers.

  Nikki rolled her eyes. Ugh. Could guys ever resist being … guys?

  “Tell her I said hi.”

  “You can tell her after I’m done with you.” Skully rolled his shoulders, hiked his jeans a little, and readied to fight.

  And so did the rest of the guys. Both sides.

  Raven stepped forward, between Skully and Frank. “Look, I can appreciate this little fight over your sister’s honor, but we don’t have time. Someone needs to tell me where to find Solomon. Right now.”

  Yep, that’s more like Raven.

  Skully dropped his hands and scoffed. “Who’s the newbie?” He nodded in Nikki’s direction. “And what’s up with the banana costume?”

  Nikki kept her head down, not making eye contact. She probably did look like a giant piece of fruit. But at least she didn’t look as if she’d been stamped like a package of USDA beef.

  “My name’s Raven, and you’re wasting my time. Where’s the Owl?”

  Skully stepped until he was inches from Raven’s toes. “I guess you’re confused about how things work down here. First of all, no one orders me around. And second, you’re probably just scared to fight because you know we’ll slaughter you.”

  Raven fisted his hands around Skully’s shirt and lifted him off the ground. “And apparently you’re confused about what I said. But since I’m still in a relatively good mood, I’ll make myself clear. Tell me where Solomon is, or I’ll use your head to carve a new tunnel.”

  Nikki swallowed, watching as her dark Halfling dangled a huge, muscled man six inches off the ground without breaking a sweat.

  Frank stepped in, placing a hand over Raven’s in a silent plea to put Skully down. Raven flashed Frank a look then slowly lowered his prisoner, who practically collapsed when his feet touched the floor …

  After a few tense moments and stares from the other dungeon guards, Frank broke the silence. “Just let us pass, Skully. I’ll be more than happy to pick up our dispute later.”

  Skully crossed his arms over his chest, but not before taking a step back. “Can’t do it.”

  Frank swept a hand toward his guys. “You know you don’t want to fight us.”

  “And what would it do to my reputation if I just let you through? I owe you, Franky.”

  Frank huffed a breath. “You do.” He pointed a finger at Skully, then a thumb at himself. “You and me then. If I win, we pass. If you win, we leave.”

  Raven’s hand slapped against Frank’s chest. “I’m not going anywhere. And I’m not trusting our fate to a guy I’ve never seen fight.”

  Frank started to argue, but Skully cut in. “You choose a fighter from our side to represent us, then. We’ll choose one from yours.”

  Raven shook his head.

  Skully shrugged. “Fine. Try to work your way through us, but you’re only burning hours. I’m merely giving you a way to save time. If your man wins, we let you pass. If ours wins, I’ll listen to your reason for seeing Solomon.”

  Power games. Gah! Why can’t guys find a better way to settle disputes?

  Skully walked back to his group and Frank walked toward his, then motioned Raven to his side. Raven put his arm behind Nikki so she would follow. Always keeping me close.

  “I know these guys,” Frank said, in a hoarse whisper. “Skully will pick you to fight. You’re the new guy and you insulted him.”

  “I also lifted him off the ground.”

  Frank nodded. “Yeah, even more reason for him to choose you. He’s a cage fighter, so he knows his close combat. You can’t grapple with him down here; he’ll be all over you. The guy’s like a monkey with a thousand arms and legs once he’s on the ground. If he gets you in a sleeper hold, it’s lights out. I hope you’ve got plenty of stamina, Halfling. You’re gonna need it.”

  Nikki’s heart was racing. Raven was a great fighter, but this guy sounded like a pretty tough opponent — even if he was a human. She looked down and saw Dane was still clutching her hand under the yellow slicker. She’d forgotten until he squeezed.

  Frank leaned in, clearly as oblivious to his brother’s presence as she’d been. “Look, I know you’re a Halfling, but I’m telling you, strike fast, strike hard. He won’t go down easy.”

  “Got it,” Raven said. “Let’s just get this over with as quickly as we can.”

  Skully’s sharp voice prevented any further strategy. “You ready to choose, Frank?”

  “Yeah.” He stepped forward until he was a few feet away from Raven and Nikki. Then he looked at Raven, then frowned, then focused his attention on a thin, sickly guy hovering near the back of Skully’s crew. Nikki wasn’t sure whether his pensive expression was good or bad.

  Raven must have noticed too, because his eyes shot to Frank. “Don’t do it!”

  Raven lunged forward and placed a hand on Frank’s shoulder to spin him around, but Frank’s voice already filled the room. “We’ll take the guy in the back.”

  Nikki felt intense anger fly off Raven in waves. She just couldn’t sense why he was so irate. Skinny-boy didn’t look nearly as tough. Maybe Raven figured Skully would still attack Raven as retribution.

  Then the skinny guy made his way to the front of the pack and paused by Skully. Once closer, Nikki could see the vines of knife wound scars layered on his arms.

  “No weapons,” Frank said, face draining of color. Nikki worked to keep herself steady as well. She knew from her karate training that undersized opponents often find creative ways to compensate for their size. And what better way than to master something no body can withstand?

  Skully held his hand out while a variety of knives were handed to him. The thin guy’s eyes were cold and calculating, not a hint of fear in his posture. He leaned over and whispered something to Skully and they both smiled at Raven.

  Skully nodded toward Raven. “We’ll take the new guy.”

  Raven stepped out.

  “Not you. The one in the raincoat.”

  Chapter 4

  This is stupid. Completely stupid. Here we are running for our lives, trying to hide from a creature so evil and so destructive it could rip all of us apart, and this group of guys just wants to puff out their man chests. And they think they’re so clever, picking the poor kid in the raincoat.

  “No.” Raven said, turning toward her.

  But it was too late. Nikki stripped off the coat and threw it to the floor. She felt her hair fall in a cascade down her shoulders and heard the gasps from the onlookers. Huh. Gasps from guys. Go figure.

  She stomped out from the side wall where she’d been gathering her frustration. She felt like her body was engulfed in empowering flames, and her eyes must have turned to molten lava, because Skinny’s brows rose slowly as he stared.

  She could hear laughing from the back of Skully’s group.

  Typical immaturity. Always having to fight to prove who’s tougher. Always quick to pound someone into the ground. Nikki’s adrenaline rose, coursing through her veins, fillin
g her with righteous anger. They need to be taught a lesson in a language they understand. Not that she wasn’t quaking a little on the inside at the prospect. Skinny Boy undoubtedly knew how to fight. But so did she. And the longer they stood sizing each other up, the closer the seeker came. Which made this whole show of caveman strength even more utterly ridiculous. Nikki growled in frustration.

  Skinny rocked back on his heels, making her even angrier. So much so she fisted her hands and yelled at him, “Come on!”

  More laughter. Ugh, when this was over, she was going to kill them all. One by one. Then she’d dress them in evening gowns and hang them from the Eiffel tower. Where’d that come from?

  “A girl?” Skinny said with a thick French accent as he lumbered nonchalantly toward the center. “Please, Skully. You insult me.”

  Nikki surged forward, catching him by surprise, and landed a power-packed back fist to his face. All that anger, all that frustration released in a single blow.

  Skinny staggered, one step back then another. His head bobbed once, eyes going glassy, before he dropped like a leaf from a tree, his limbs wavering and folding as he went down.

  Silence.

  Then a roar of laughter. It came from all sides and filled the room, scattering the tension. Nikki turned to face a smiling Raven. “Will taught me that.”

  Raven winked at her, his eyes animated and sparkling in the dim cavern light. “It’s definitely effective.”

  She rubbed her palm over her fist as she walked back to him.

  Raven took her hand in his. “You okay?” His tone dropped to that purr he reserved for only her, and his fingertips trailed over her skin, causing goose bumps to materialize on her arms.

  “I’m fine. Bleeding a little,” she said, trying to ignore how his touch made her feel. “Must have caught one of his teeth on my knuckle.”

  Around them, people were trying to help the wobbly, skinny knife fighter to his feet.