Fanning the Flames (Going Down in Flames)

by Chris Cannon

  “Miss Enid,” Valmont called out, not acknowledging Bryn’s comment.

  When the librarian climbed down, she headed for the desk. “We might find something interesting in these drawers.”

  “Solve a puzzle for us,” Bryn said. “Do you think that is antique plumbing, or a spy-scope.”

  Still wearing her gloves, Miss Enid approached the metal box. “I’ve no idea. Let’s investigate.” She touched the edge of the lid and gently pushed up. Rather than the lid moving, the side dropped down like the loading ramp for a truck. “There’s a glass lens here but it’s blank.”

  “Someone should go back up to the entrance,” Valmont said. “Maybe we could see them.”

  “Let me figure out how this works first.” Miss Enid fiddled with the box until it made a metallic clicking noise. The two shorter sides folded down, and the lens looked more like a screen.

  “Amazing,” Miss Enid said. “If I look straight down, I can see the entire store room and the trap door in the floor. It’s like I have a bird’s eye view. The guards would be able to keep watch over the entrance without physically guarding the room. Kind of an old fashioned version of the surveillance equipment we use today.”

  “So it’s an antique spy-cam?” Valmont asked.

  “That’s one way to put it,” Miss Enid said.

  Bryn’s grandfather descended the ladder. “Show me what you found.”

  He joined Miss Enid at the box. Four people in the room was a bit claustrophobic. “Let’s go up so the others can come down.” Bryn grabbed the ladder and headed up. Valmont followed. When she emerged in the room, Keegan and David were heading out the door.

  “Bryn, you and your knight should leave as well,” Ferrin stated.

  For once in her life, she didn’t feel like arguing, but just to annoy him, she went over to the ladder and hollered down. “We’re going to dinner. See you later.”

  “Good night,” her grandfather called back up.

  Ferrin sneered.

  “I’m too hungry to comment on that display,” Bryn muttered to Valmont and then headed for the exit. When they reached the dining hall, Clint and Ivy were halfway done with dinner.

  “I was starting to worry,” Ivy said. “You never willingly miss a meal.”

  “True,” Bryn said. “We were in the vaults.”

  “Keegan came in late with a guy we didn’t recognize. Is that his knight?” Clint asked.

  “Well done, Sherlock.” She didn’t think her grandfather would mind if she shared details with Clint and Ivy since they’d already been in the vaults and knew all about Blood Magic. “Keegan found a safe room where a Red could hole up and keep watch on the entrance to the vaults through some weird periscope thing.”

  “No multi-talented bracelets or cuff links?” Ivy asked.

  “Nope, but I bet there are still some cool weapons down there for Reds. We just haven’t found them yet.”

  “I don’t think Keegan could get away with cuff links,” Valmont said, “Which makes me wonder what type of jewelry a Red dragon could wear without drawing attention.”

  “A ring maybe?” Bryn said.

  “Or a watch,” Clint said. “That’s about it. Anything else would stand out.”

  “Why did you and Valmont have to go with them?” Ivy asked.

  “I don’t know, maybe since I vouched for Keegan, they wanted me there.”

  “Or,” Clint said, “maybe your grandfather wanted Keegan to feel comfortable, since Ferrin tried to bleed him dry.”

  She wasn’t sure her grandfather had been concerned with Keegan’s feelings, but he had probably wanted her there to rub it in Ferrin’s face that it hadn’t been his son who’d started the whole discovery process. And at this point, she didn’t mind if that was his reason. Ferrin deserved all the grief he could get. He put nothing but bad karma out into the universe, so he shouldn’t be surprised when it came back to bite him.

  Chapter Seven

  After finding the hidden spy-scope room in the vaults, the rest of Bryn’s school week seemed oddly normal. On the walk back to her room Wednesday night after dinner, she kept turning around at every noise expecting something to jump out at her.

  “What is your problem?” Ivy asked when they stopped in front of the Blue dorm.

  It was hard to put into words without sounding like she was a paranoid pessimist. “I don’t know. It’s like the calm before the storm. I know the bad guys are out there watching and waiting to make their next move. I’m afraid if I let my guard down, something bad will happen.”

  “Maybe the Rebels have backed off since the Directorate increased security,” Clint said.

  “Maybe.” She didn’t trust that analysis. The Rebels didn’t seem like the type to give up.

  Valmont opened the front door to the Blue dorm. “It’s almost curfew. We should go.”

  “Right,” Clint said. “See you tomorrow. If the world isn’t overrun with brain-eating aliens while we sleep.”

  “Smart ass,” Bryn said.

  Ivy laughed. “What’s that saying…just because I’m paranoid doesn’t mean people aren’t out to get me.”

  “Better yet, if I know I’m being irrational that means I’m sane, right?” Bryn said.

  “We’ll go with that for now,” Valmont said.

  “Good night.” Ivy gave a half wave and then walked off hand in hand with her boyfriend.

  “I understand how you’re feeling,” Valmont said as they entered the dorm and climbed the marble staircase to her room.

  “It’s like I expect things to go wrong all the time now, and I hate it. I don’t want to be the person who is always waiting for the next disaster.”

  “It is better to be on guard than to be caught by surprise,” Valmont said.

  They reached the second floor where Bryn’s room was located. As she stuck her key in the lock, she heard her phone ringing. That was weird, since Clint and Ivy were the only people who called her, and there was no way they’d made it back to their rooms in the Black dorm yet.

  Pushing the door open, she crossed the room in four strides and picked up the receiver. “Hello?”

  “Meet me in Rhianna’s room,” Jaxon ordered and then he hung up.

  Bryn stared at the phone in her hand. Okay, then.

  “Something wrong?” Valmont asked.

  “That storm we were waiting for might have hit.” She told him about Jaxon’s odd command and then went into her bedroom to retrieve her Elemental sword bracelet. She slid the platinum and sapphire cuff onto her wrist and then squeezed the bracelet with her left hand to turn off the safety. When she pantomimed holding a sword, the blade of fire and ice shot from her hand. No matter how many times she did that it always gave her a rush to see her elements formed into such a cool weapon. And now she felt prepared to do battle.

  Since she couldn’t walk down the hall to Jaxon’s room wielding a fire and ice sword, she pantomimed releasing it so the blade disappeared. She pressed the top of the bracelet to turn on the safety feature so she couldn’t accidentally stab one of her friends. “All ready.”

  “Okay,” Valmont said. “Let’s go see what Mr. Sweetness-and-Light wants.”

  They exited Bryn’s room and headed down the hall to Rhianna’s. Bryn knocked quietly, not wanting other Blues to think anything was amiss.

  Jaxon yanked the door open and waved them in. Rhianna sat on the couch with her arms crossed over her chest and her lips set in a thin line.

  “What’s going on?” Bryn asked.

  “It’s George, my knight,” Jaxon said. “Someone’s taken him.”

  “Taken him?” Bryn crossed the room to sit beside Rhianna. “As in kidnapped?”

  “Yes.” Jaxon paced back and forth in front of the coffee table.

  Valmont came to stand next to Bryn like he was on guard. “And you know this how?”

  “My father called half an hour ago. He received a photograph of George tied to a chair and bleeding from a gash on his forehead.”

/>   Anger stirred in Bryn’s gut, igniting the flames inside of her. “What do the kidnappers want?” Smoke drifted from her lips as she spoke.

  “That’s just it.” Jaxon continued pacing. “They’ve made no demands. It’s like they want us to know they have him. Until they make a demand, there is nothing we can do.” Frost shot from Jaxon’s nostrils. “George is an honorable man. Just sitting here while I know he is injured is wrong.” Jaxon growled. “I want to blast someone.”

  “I wish they’d call and tell us what they want,” Rhianna said, “because waiting is only making the situation worse.”

  “Wait a minute. It’s like that stupid uncomfortable couch,” Valmont said. “Whoever took George is letting you stew in your anger so you won’t be at your best when it’s time to make a decision.”

  That is an interesting and, more than likely, accurate interpretation. “Okay,” Bryn said. “Let’s assume Valmont is right. Does that mean we have to sit here and wait for someone to make a demand?”

  “There isn’t much else we can do,” Rhianna said.

  “True,” Bryn said. “But that doesn’t mean we have to fall into their trap.”

  Jaxon stopped pacing and turned to glare at her. “Knowing they are attempting to manipulate me doesn’t make me immune.”

  “It didn’t make the God-awful couch any more comfortable, either,” Bryn said. “But you’re a Westgate and a Blue. Pull up that snooty facade you live behind and take a deep breath. Calm down. Think rationally.”

  “How dare you––”

  “She’s not wrong,” Rhianna interrupted him. “If the kidnappers called and demanded we meet them somewhere, are we ready? Is there anything we should take with us?”

  Bryn held up her arm and pointed at the Elemental bracelet she wore on her wrist, but she refrained from speaking, because Jaxon looked like he was two seconds from losing it. She didn’t want to add to his stress at this moment. Although, she did reserve the right to antagonize him about it later.

  “Fine.” Jaxon stalked into his bedroom and came back out a few moments later wearing his Elemental sword cuff links. The blank expression on his face made it appear he had his emotions under control. They’d put out that fire. Now, what should their next move be?

  And then a terrible thought occurred to Bryn. “Did anyone check on Ivy’s or Keegan’s knights?”

  “Keegan has a knight?” Rhianna said.

  Jaxon nodded. “My father told me this morning they enlisted him to help find information that may have been hidden by Reds.”

  “Should we call Ivy and Keegan to make sure their knights are okay?” Bryn asked.

  Jaxon grabbed the phone and called his father. The conversation he had was swift and to the point. He hung up and then held the phone out to Bryn. “The Directorate will send guards to Mary and David’s houses. You should call Ivy and Keegan and let them know what’s going on, just in case they’re in danger, too.”

  Well, hell. She hadn’t thought about that. Bryn dialed Keegan and explained the situation to him.

  “What can I do to help?” Keegan asked.

  “Right now it’s a waiting game,” Bryn said. “There isn’t anything we can do until they make some sort of demand.”

  “As long as the Directorate sends someone to look after David, I can take care of myself. Let me know if you need anything.”

  “Thanks, I’ll get back to you when I have something to share.”

  Next, she called Ivy. Her heart pounded as the phone rang and rang. On the sixth ring Ivy picked up.

  “Thank God you’re okay.”

  “Hello to you, too,” Ivy said.

  Bryn filled her in on the situation with George and their fear about Mary.

  “We’re coming over,” Ivy said.

  “Don’t. It’s after curfew,” Bryn reminded her. “Plus, leaving your dorm could put you at risk.”

  “Who gives a crap about curfew?” Ivy said. “I need more information.”

  “I understand. When I have some, I’ll call again.”

  Bryn could hear Clint talking in the background.

  “Clint said you should have your grandfather send some guards to escort us to your room.”

  Her grandfather would never go for that idea. “I’ll ask him. Stay put until you hear from me again. Okay?”

  “Fine.”

  Bryn hung up.

  “What’s wrong?” Valmont asked.

  Why did that particular question seem to be the theme of the evening? “Ivy wants me to ask my grandfather to send guards to escort her over here since it’s after curfew. I’m not sure I should.”

  “You absolutely shouldn’t,” Jaxon said. “The Directorate members are working to solve this problem. Taking time out to babysit your friends won’t help rescue George.”

  “You have to call your grandfather,” Valmont said, “because you told Ivy you would.”

  The fact that she could see both points of view made Bryn’s head pound. “You’re both right.” Where did that leave her?

  “Call your grandmother,” Rhianna said. “She could ask someone to escort Ivy and Clint without distracting the Directorate.”

  “You’re brilliant.” Bryn called Sinclair Estates. Rindy, the phone operator, placed the call through to her grandmother.

  “I appreciate that your friends are concerned for Mary’s safety,” her grandmother said, “but sending guards to their rooms will only draw attention to them. Right now, this is a power play between the Directorate and the Rebels. Two Black dragons and a Black knight probably aren’t even on the Rebels radar.”

  “I don’t love your answer,” Bryn said, “but I’ll respect your decision.”

  Bryn called Ivy back with the not-so-good news.

  “This totally sucks,” Ivy said.

  “I’m sorry. When I have any information, I’ll let you know.” She hung up and recapped what her grandmother had said.

  “At least this way you asked,” Valmont said. “You kept your word, and you did what you could.”

  Somehow, that didn’t seem like enough, though all four of them sat and stared at the phone, willing it to ring. A stray thought occurred to Bryn. “Jaxon, why are you taking phone calls in Rhianna’s room instead of yours?”

  “These bastards took my knight, which means they want leverage over me or my father,” Jaxon said. “I wasn’t about to give them the chance to take Rhianna, too. She’s been through enough already.”

  Jaxon did really love Rhianna. These glimpses of him being kind to his girlfriend were what made Bryn think that deep down, he was a much better person than his father.

  “Is that why you asked Bryn to come here?” Valmont said. “Do you think she’s in danger because of her association with you?”

  Double hell. That’s another thing I haven’t thought of.

  “It’s not like she needs my help to be a target for murder or kidnapping,” Jaxon said.

  Valmont opened his mouth like he was going to argue, but then he sighed. “I have no valid argument against that statement.”

  “Sad but true.” Bryn reached up to rub her temples in an effort to stave off the headache she could feel coming on. “So if you weren’t worried about being the cause of my abduction, why am I here?”

  “You two started this whole knight-Blood Magic situation, so I thought your perspective could help.”

  The phone rang.

  Jaxon grabbed it and nodded along to whatever the person on the other end of the line was saying. “I understand.” He slammed the phone down. “I’m leaving. Bryn, you and Valmont need to stay here with Rhianna.”

  “There’s not a chance in hell that’s going to happen,” Bryn said.

  “I know.” Jaxon sighed. “But this way I can say I followed orders. Now, because I don’t want to leave Rhianna alone, all four of us are going to meet the kidnappers and see what they want.”

  “Where are we meeting them?” Bryn asked.

  “There’s an envelope waiting for u
s at the back gate. It will tell us where to go.”

  “Seriously?” Bryn threw her arms up. “We’re supposed to trust them and do what they say?”

  Jaxon growled and frost shot from his nostrils. “I’m not happy about this, either. Right now they are in control. We’ll bide our time, and then we will take them down.”

  Together, they exited the Blue dorm and headed for the back gate. Since it was after curfew, the only people roaming the campus were guards.

  As she walked down the path, Bryn said, “I keep waiting for one of the guards to stop us.”

  “I’m sure they are aware of the situation,” Valmont said.

  At the back gate, a guard stood next to an SUV. He held a white envelope.

  Jaxon marched forward. “Is that for me?”

  The guard nodded and placed it in Jaxon’s hand. From the envelope, Jaxon retrieved a set of keys and a note. He read it and then passed it to Bryn.

  Drive toward Dragon’s Bluff and take a right at the sign. Continue until the road dead-ends at a cabin.

  “So we’re doing this?” Bryn asked.

  “The SUV should have everything you need.” The guard gestured toward the black vehicle. “There’s a special new tracking system so you can’t get lost.”

  Did he mean like a GPS guidance system or something that would let the Directorate keep an eye on where they were going?

  Jaxon climbed into the driver’s seat while Rhianna rode shotgun.

  “I don’t like this.” Valmont opened the back door for Bryn and then climbed in beside her. The vehicle smelled of hot plastic, like something in the interior had been drilled through or melted.

  Valmont sniffed. “Not the new car smell I expected.”

  “More like new wiring smell,” Bryn said. “Hopefully, that’s a good thing.”

  Jaxon started the SUV. Its engine roared to life. He turned on the headlights, checking to see where the high beams were. “I hope we can see the sign the Rebels mentioned.”

  “What sign do you think they are talking about?” Bryn asked.

  “I guess we’ll know it when we see it,” Rhianna said as Jaxon put the SUV in drive and headed down the road to Dragon’s Bluff.

  Bryn peered into the darkness as gravel crunched under the SUV’s tires. Streetlights would have been helpful. She’d never realized how dark it was outside of campus at night. The scenery out the window was an ever-shifting mass of shadows and trees.