Dream Magic

by Michelle Mankin

  Her brow furrowed in concentration for a moment before she shook her head. “Not from inside the cells. If we could get out into the corridor I know a secret way through the ventilation tunnels.”

  “Very well.” I pulled in a settling breath. “When he comes back we must have a plan. It is obvious that he does not intend to relent until both of us are dead. We can no longer bargain for your life since you no longer have the gift of foresight.”

  “Why do you say that?” she asked.

  “Because when you picked up Thyme’s tome you saw only the past.”

  “I saw more than that. I just haven’t had a chance to tell you.” She frowned. “Thyme is here in this same dungeon. She had the form of a cat with violet eyes. You never told me that she had been polymorphed. I think I saw her the night I released Landon. But I just thought she was a regular cat.”

  “Was?” My stomach tensed.

  “Phoebus has returned her to her natural state. Laveau is his prisoner as well, and Phoebus provided the ingredients she needed to perform the complicated spell. Your best friend is quite beautiful. I saw her years before in a vision with Apollyon, but I didn’t know who she was and didn’t understand the connection back then. I don’t recall you sharing how lovely she is.”

  “She isn’t you.” I shrugged. All women paled in comparison to Cecilia. “And she is my brother’s. Why is Laveau here?”

  “Phoebus was holding Thyme and Laveau for Apollyon, but with Calliope he thinks he now has the ultimate bargaining chip and doesn’t need Apollyon’s support anymore. He has decided to blackmail him instead.”

  “Well then we should free them while we are here,” I decided.

  “You say that as if it is just a minor task.”

  “It is for me. I am the Dream Falcon. The most handsome man alive with unparalleled prowess in bed. And unrivaled skill in combat.”

  She snorted. “Conceited.”

  “Besides I have you.” I ran the knuckles of my hand down her cheek pleased to see that her color had returned to normal and that the marks from the whip were fading. “Do you feel better?”

  “Yes. I’m just sore and thirsty.”

  “That can be remedied. But first we must get out. The Sun King doesn’t know about my talons. That is one advantage. He continues to underestimate you. That is another. Tell me, what are Phoebus’ strengths and weaknesses?”

  “His pride and madness are his soft spots. He draws his strength from the sun like all Light Immortals so if it is dark he won’t be at full Progeny strength even though this is his domain. He can stun, poison or kill with the UV power in his hands. He is good with a crossbow but he is not an accomplished hand to hand fighter.”

  “Persuasive speech?” I inquired.

  “Only when he plays his talisman. His lyre. And he keeps that back at the palace.”

  “Very well. I will return to my manacles and pretend I am still restrained. But I will leave most of the acting up to you, Cecilia. You know him best. You are smart and resourceful. Just get him distracted and I will do the rest.” I grinned. “But kiss me before I go back. I need to taste those sweet lips of yours once more.”

  I held my fingertips to my lips. They still buzzed from Morpheus’ masterful kiss. He had only just gotten his wrists back inside the manacles when Phoebus returned. From the agitated look on the Sun King’s face I was glad we had a plan because he looked like he was in the mood to deal out more pain. I got the idea that whatever was happening outside the prison, things weren’t going well for his side.

  “Phoebus.” I pushed away from the wall purposefully moving in a way that I hoped was seductive and that caused what was left of my robe to separate revealing much of my cleavage and what beckoned between my legs.

  His eyes flared and lingered.

  Oh, joy.

  “I’ve changed my mind about the falcon,” I lied. “His arrogance knows no limits.” Behind Phoebus Morpheus actually winked at me. Somehow I kept my sexy face on and maintained the ruse. “And besides now that I’ve had some time to think it over, how would I know he’s the best? I would need a basis for comparison. And sadly since you and I never…well…” I lowered my gaze and looked at him through my lashes. “If I asked nicely would you show me what it feels like to make love to a Progeny as powerful, purely blooded and well-formed as yourself?”

  He formed a sly smile at my words. “Absolutely, my pet. I am feeling…” He trailed off and straightened himself as he strode toward me. “Magnanimous. And it will be delightful punishment for Nyx’s spawn to see me take you, to know how wanton you are, to watch how quickly I have always been able to make you come.” He took the hand I offered him and yanked me to him. He crushed my mouth to his and speared his tongue into it. Just when I was about to gag, Phoebus suddenly stiffened.

  “Step away from Cecilia.” Morpheus’ voice was a low menacing growl. “Nice and slow.” His sharp talons were in two places. The one over Phoebus’ carotid certainly gave him pause, but I think it was the lower placement that had the Progeny rattled. My badass falcon’s eyes met mine. “Not much to recommend him, Cecilia, even if he is a Progeny. Quite miniscule. Definitely not legendary. You made the better choice picking me.” He gave me his arrogant cheek creasing grin. “Tear off some strips from your robe and bind his hands. It won’t hold them but it will keep them where I can see them for the moment.” I ripped off several and after I had Phoebus’ hands tied securely behind his back, Morpheus inclined his head toward the door.

  I moved toward it and frowned. “It’s locked. I don’t see a deadbolt or a key hole anywhere.”

  “It is retina scan activated. I had it installed after the last breakout. There is one on the maximum security cells now.” Phoebus gloated. My gaze met Morpheus. I tried not to let my dismay show. “You’ll never get out. There are guards on each level, too. You are making the wrong choice, my pet. Call off your canary and maybe I will grant you clemency.”

  “You will get us out or you will be singing along with that lyre at a much higher octave.” Morpheus tone was deadly soft. “Move,” he ordered and Phoebus moved. I stepped aside keeping out of Morpheus’ way. Holding Phoebus by the hair, Morpheus positioned his face in front of the wall mounted scanner. The light turned green. I followed Morpheus and Phoebus out into the hall.

  The narrow stone corridor was empty. Thank the Creator.

  “Thyme Bellerose, Laveau and Calliope. Where are they?”

  Phoebus’ eyes brightened and though Morpheus had the advantage at the moment, I got the idea that it was a tenuous one, like a snake handler that gripped a poisonous serpent behind the head to keep from being struck by the fangs. Morpheus’ talons and a few strips of tightly tied cloth were all that stood between us and the Sun King’s potentially lethal wrath.

  “Do not think to negotiate with me. I am not a patient man. Where are they? Tell me now!” Morpheus pierced Phoebus with his sharp claw and blood welled from the wound that did not look insignificant. Phoebus paled. “I can play pincushion with you all day.”

  “Down the hall. The last three doors.” Phoebus choked out after earning another piercing. Morpheus pushed him ahead as I followed the two of them. At each metal door we came to Morpheus used Phoebus’ own retinas at each scanning device to open the locked doors and release prisoners.

  “Go,” he told two bedraggled demons and a vampire whose eyes were pink instead of red from lack of sustenance. “I have others to release on this floor. Gather anything that can be used as a weapon. Open the other cells. We will join you at the stairs. The oracle knows a way out.”

  They scrambled. We opened two more cells that were empty before reaching the final three. After Phoebus’ eye was scanned, Morpheus stepped aside with his talons still poised at the Sun King’s neck. A woman with coal dark eyes and sharp features slid out from within. The ritual was repeated and a regal woman with a colorful African headdress emerged from the next cell. Only one remained to unlock.

  “Morpheus, what are
you doing here?” Calliope asked her black eyes widening when she saw who he held.

  “It’s a long story. I will explain when we are safe. For now you and Laveau stay behind me.” Calliope immediately moved to comply. Laveau moved slower, her eyes bright and calculating as she studied each of us. She had not changed at all since the last time I had seen her.

  “Cecilia,” she acknowledged.

  I dipped my chin.

  “You have allied with the falcon. It is happening as I had foreseen.” My eyes widened. She had to use twisted creation magic to see that far into the future. She must have been seeking specific information about me and Morpheus, but for what purpose and for whom did she do it?

  “Thyme,” Morpheus called as he opened the final cell. “Come out. It’s Morpheus. I’m taking you away from here.”

  A beautiful girl with smooth café au lait skin, cinnamon hair and violet eyes glided into view. I recognized her from the vision I’d had all those years ago when Apollyon had insisted I tell his future. She moved slowly as if half-asleep blinking when she saw Morpheus and recoiling when she noticed Phoebus.

  “It’s ok, Thyme.” I stepped forward and took her hand. “Morpheus has him. He won’t hurt you anymore. I’m Cecilia. Why don’t you stick close to me until we get out of here?” I tugged when she didn’t move. She seemed bewildered. “Something’s wrong with her,” I told Morpheus, my gaze sliding to Phoebus. “What did you do to her?” I accused.

  “I did nothing. She’s been silent since the reversal. It’s not uncommon. Ask the witch if you don’t believe me.”

  “He speaks the truth,” Laveau stated.

  Morpheus jerked his head back in the direction we had come. “Let’s get out of here. Once we get her to Billy, I’m sure she’ll feel better.”

  We opened all the other doors on the way to the stairs, but only gained one more supporter, a demoness who looked half starved. The demons and vamp we had freed earlier had found a wooden chair which they had smashed. They held the legs like clubs. They gave one to the demoness.

  My grip tightened on Thyme’s hand. Calliope stuck close to Laveau who looked like she could hold her own in a fight even though she had no weapon.

  At the entrance to the stairs, Morpheus instructed me to stay behind everyone else.

  “Protect Thyme,” he said.

  I nodded and our gazes tangled briefly. His eyes said more, that I should look to myself as well. I heard the unspoken warning. He turned and started up the stone stairs with Phoebus. His feathers bristled. He was worried. So was I.

  Turns out we hadn’t been worried enough.

  The next level was quiet like the one below it. Morpheus forced Phoebus to open a couple of cells that turned out to be empty. I think he was about to abandon the strategy of garnering more supporters from the prison population when I was suddenly seized from behind. Two strong arms clamped tight around me and I lost my grip on Thyme.

  “Morpheus!” I yelled trying to twist free from the grip of the guard who held me, but said nothing more when I found the nocked bolt of a crossbow pressed to my temple by another guard alongside my captor. His grim turquoise face had the tattoos of many kills.

  “Surrender the king or she dies,” the elf who held my arms pinned to my sides ordered. His grim faced friend remained resolute with his weapon trained on me. My heart beat so rapidly I almost didn’t hear the sound of footsteps ringing on stone. A dozen more crossbow wielding elves spilled into the corridor separating me from the rest of the group and Morpheus.

  “Let her go or he dies,” Morpheus countered. He sounded calm but I saw the tension in his frame.

  “Go on,” I told him. “They won’t kill me. I’m still valuable. I can still prophesy. Get Thyme and the others out.”

  I could tell by the stubborn tilt to Morpheus jaw that he was going to refuse but then Evercy appeared behind his group. “Come, Falcon.” The Sun Elves bristled as a unit training their weapons on Morpheus and the others. Evercy kept behind him as she made her appeal. “Follow me. I know the way. It is not over. We will defeat him in the end.”

  The Sun King laughed at that but Evercy ignored him.

  “Cecilia will be back in your care soon.”

  I begged Morpheus with my eyes to go with Evercy. Go and come back for me, I said silently over and over again inside my mind hoping somehow that through our connection that he would hear and agree.

  He seemed to acquiesce but it made him furious. His eyes glowed and his wings rustled with restraint. I could tell he wanted to unfurl them, but their power was not useful in the tight corridor with all the ranged weapons. “Stay safe no matter what,” he told me, his iridescent gaze hard. “I will release your king when my friends are safe,” he announced to the guards. “If any harm befalls the seer, I will personally remove the heads of each of you. That is a promise,” he warned. He held Phoebus like a shield should any of the elves get trigger happy before he turned gesturing for the others to precede him down the dead end corridor.

  He went down the trapdoor into the secret tunnel last and my heart rose into my throat because as soon as he disappeared the elves surged forward after him.

  I held my breath, praying and hoping.

  After what felt like an eternity of straining my ears and hearing only distant clamor, one of the elves reemerged from the tunnel entrance looking frazzled. He limped to the guard who no longer had his cross bow arrow trained on me. He didn’t perceive me as a threat since his cohort still had a tight grip on me.

  “Gustavo,” he panted. “We killed three of the demons and the vampire but Phoebus is sorely wounded. The falcon sliced him in several places. They are bringing him up out of the tunnel now. Unfortunately, the mercenary and the others escaped.”

  Grateful that Morpheus and all the others had escaped, I stood quietly in the corner of the prison office trying not to draw attention to myself as the physicians administered to Phoebus’ wounds. Still, his homicidal gaze repeatedly fell on me. I could sense the madness rising in him, like an overwound guitar string about to snap. He had never been more of a threat.

  I looked away from him knowing that soon he wound punish me. The flames in his eyes told me he would hold me personally responsible for all of the events that had been set into motion.

  He couldn’t have missed the fierce pride shining from my eyes. Since Phoebus wasn’t gloating about it, I knew my falcon had bested him in their fight. And I could see out the window that Phoebus had more problems than his injuries.

  Hundreds of torches lit up the night. It appeared as though the entire population of the Dark City had gathered on the other side of the Soleil River. Though he tried to hide it, Phoebus was worried. He should have been. The Dark Immortals far outnumbered his Sun Elf guards.

  “My liege.” Giles stumbled into the room, out of breath, his wig askew. “Your daughter is asking to meet with you.” He twisted his hands. “She wishes to discuss the terms of your surrender.”

  “My what?” Phoebus yelled, rising out of the office chair where he had been reclining. He shooed the physician away with an irritated flick of his hand. Not that there had been much for them to do for the obsidian wounds Morpheus had inflicted. Their salves would prevent infection, but without a Fated to heal him or his daughter’s blood, Phoebus would bear those scars forever and be reminded of his inadequacies every time he looked in the mirror.

  “Yes, well as I informed you earlier, it is not just the Dark Immortals that rally beneath the Cypress banner.” My eyes widened. Was Fiori hijacking my cause? “Many of my brethren have defected and now stand with her.” Giles crossed to the monarch and handed him an envelope with the Cypress seal. Leaning a hip against the desk, Phoebus leaned back, swept a wad of cotton balls aside and withdrew a very familiar dagger. Shock made me feel as brittle as glass. How had he found it? Someone must have searched my room while I had been imprisoned. My heart sank as he used the blade, my blade, the one I had planned for him, to break the seal. He scanned the missiv
e, his frown deepening as Giles shuffled on his feet looking extremely uncomfortable. “I estimate that three quarters of your troops have already sworn allegiance to her,” he added in a whisper as if that would make the news easier for the Sun King to stomach.

  “And who do we have to thank for that?”

  All eyes turned on me.

  “Santa Mierda.” I shouldn’t have said that out loud.

  “This is your fault. Your influence on her.” Phoebus’ eyes glowed like a jack o lantern as he moved toward me, his angry strides quickly removing the buffer of space between us. I wanted to retreat but I was Morpheus’ Fated. I lifted my chin and held my ground. “My daughter sees you as her equal. She thinks to integrate Lights and Darks into one city. She talks about opening the perimeter to the outside world. She promises many nonsensical things and the fools believe her.”

  “Good for her.”

  “Insolent bitch.” His slap was so unexpected and so forceful I stumbled into the metal filing cabinet where he kept his little black book of favors and his records on everyone in the city. Loose papers atop it rained to the floor. Phoebus’ lip curled as he glared down at me, but his next words were for Giles. “Send for her, then. If Fiori wants to talk, so be it. But we will do it here. On my terms.”

  As Giles scurried off, Phoebus advanced, his expression more menacing than it had ever been. “Seems as though I’ve got some time on my hands. Sadly you have no Fated close by to heal you. I think I would like it very much if my pet and I wore matching scars.”

  I took Thyme aside as soon as we were all safely out of the tunnel. Evercy closed and locked the grate, an unnecessary precaution in my estimation with the passageway now collapsed. Her violet eyes wide, her body continued to tremble after our harrowing escape and she still had not spoken a word since we had liberated her from Phoebus’ dungeon.

  “I’m so sorry we didn’t find you sooner.” I wrapped my arms and wings around her, but instead of being comforted by the familiarity of the gesture, she began to shake even more violently.