Thomas blinked, the heat in his eyes fading to incredulous instead. “Sadie, do you ever not land yourself in a crap storm?”
I glared at him. I didn’t appreciate the reminder. “No more than you, right?” I shot back.
Fern clapped her hands beside us. “Hey, dummies! Pay attention and stop wasting time.”
We stared at her, Neil trying to conceal a smirk next to her. How had I forgotten Fern’s innate lack of tact and social skills? She didn’t wait for my response.
“You are coming from Drae Hallow, so I am assuming you’ve exhausted all the possibilities you could think of there? Well, we were just agreeing to help Thomas see if he can turn up anything on Sirris. We are looking on this side of the mountain and near the lake. Mayhap we could help look for Wendy while we are at it.”
I stared at her in confusion, still trying to figure out how she was here in the cave. Seemed like an enormous coincidence. “Where were you for the last two weeks, anyhow?”
I blinked in astonishment when her cheeks turned bright pink. Was Fern Mason, my hard as nails weird friend, blushing?
“I went to Greylock Mountain camp to visit. Franz Hobert needed my witches skills to help with something.” She murmured evasively.
“So, you’re done with your visit and you both came back here looking for Thomas in the cave by the hot springs?” I asked skeptically. We all watched a flush climb Niels face all the way to the roots of his hair.
He choked and Fern elbowed him in the side hard enough to make him double over. He shot her a filthy glare, rubbing at the injury. “Hey, was that necessary?”
Fern’s expression forbid further comment. “Never mind all that, we are wasting time we don’t have. Finding Wendy Seul and Sirris, that’s the point, isn’t it? That’s what’s most important at this moment.”
She was right, the other could wait. “Let’s go then. First up are the caverns in the cliffs above us where the Demon wolves hid last year.
#
Several wasted hours later we were knocking on the secret room where Jerry was still, we assumed, holed up and busy producing more of the antidote we’d used on the rogue vampires to help them recover.
He opened the door, looking frazzled but satisfied. His eyes lit up when he saw Thomas, and much to my missing friend’s disgust, he pulled him in for a man hug. “Have you been up to see your father yet? He’s insane with worry. What were you thinking, boy? No word, no sign if you were okay. I don’t think you kids have the faintest clue what it’s like to worry like that.”
Thomas looked vaguely guilty. “I’m headed up there in a minute. I’m just checking in to see how things are going here first. Next stop, I promise.”
Jerry nodded. “Well, I’m almost done with the next batch. Now that I know what I’m doing, it’s going much quicker.” His expression hardened. “Have you had any luck in your search for Wendy?”
I knew that Lucas had informed Jerry and the Major about the kidnapping several hours ago, to get their take on the situation and to make sure they kept their eyes open for any sign of Fino Vas.
“No. Not a lick. We’ve looked everywhere we can think of.” I reached out to Nick, silent and brooding at my side. The harsh graze of his eyes over mine made me pull my hand back. He wouldn’t welcome my sympathy at this point. Nothing less than finding his mother alive and unharmed would do.
“Well, let’s head on up to the house then, see if the Major has had any more ideas on where they might hold her. This can wait a couple hours at this point.”
We closed the secret door behind us and headed for the house.
#
Wendy had been missing for nearly twelve hours and I knew Nick, like the rest of us, was secretly counting those twenty-four hours down. There had been no new promising developments and despair and hopelessness was sinking in as we tried to plan our next move. Supper, a quick stew thrown together with less care than normal, sat untouched on the table between us. Nobody had much of an appetite.
The last person we expected to see bust through the door was Emerald, followed by a seven and a half foot tall Yeti that hadn’t bothered to conceal himself.
The Major was on his feet in an instant with a shout, reaching for his bow. The rest of us jumped to our feet in surprise as well.
I had to reach out and grab the Major’s arm before he shot Bale. “It’s okay. He’s with us.”
The Major looked doubtful, his eyes on the imposing man-beast with distrust, but he took his finger off the trigger.
“Emerald, what are you doing here. Didn’t we leave you in Wyndoor with your mother? Did something happen to her?” I asked, panic edging my voice as all the disasters that could have happened paraded through my head.
She shook her head. Huffing, Bale stood silently at her side, dark brown eyes roving curiously over our small group. His lips curled in disapproval when they landed on Thomas and the Major. He recognized werewolves when he saw them.
“No, it’s not that. I saw something. Another day dream.” Her eyes met Nick’s. “It’s about your mother, Wenday Seul.” Her pronunciation was way off, but we knew who she meant. How she knew was a question for another day.
“What is it, what do you know?” Nick whispered, the sound a shout in the heavy silence of the room.
“I saw her. In a room. In a cage. It’s dusty and there’s a small dirty window up high on a wall.”
Nick took a step in her direction, his eyes alive with power and determination. Bale stepped in front of Emerald, teeth bared, eyes flashing. Emerald pulled him back. “It’s okay, I’m alright.”
“I’m sorry. I only ever see pieces. Like a series of moments that jump me forward through an event and from place to place. It’s my mind’s walkabout. I was on this street, and then I was on a pair of wobbly steps… and then the room… and that’s all.”
Before Nick could say anything I spoke up, something she’d said catching my attention. “You said street, did you catch what it said?”
Emerald frowned. “I don’t read English real good. I’m sorry.”
We sighed with heavy disappointment.
“But I could draw it.” She murmured.
#
“Ter…” I mumbled, a map of Breathless laid out before us. Our fingers moved over the street names, concentrating on any with those first three letters. There were at least seven different ones with that same beginning. Then we thought about what else she’d said. A high window could indicate a basement with an egress window. That eliminated three of the streets right off. The high water table close to the river would prevent them from having basements. We needed to move away from the lake and river.
I looked at Emerald’s childish face, Bale standing anxiously by her side as I read the remaining four names, hoping one would click more than the other. “Terry… Terrence… Terrace… Terrill…”
Her eyes flew to mine and flashed blood red. “I remember. Terrace Street. That’s the right one. Does that help?”
Nicholas reached out and gave her a fierce hug that made her giggle. Bale growled but kept his claws and teeth to himself. “More than you could ever know,” he whispered.
He was already heading for the door, the rest of us close behind him.
#
Wendy’s blue eyes narrowed in frustration, staring down at her useless legs. Beyond the bars, she took stock of several crates and a rickety folding table that looked like one leg was bent at an odd angle. It would never hold her human weight, even if she could stand. She bit the corner of her lip, chewing the tender flesh in thought. Her eyes rose to the small window. It was closed, dammit. Even if she got her fox that high, how was she going to unlock and then open a window that had probably been closed for years.
Her eyes moved back down to what else was in the room. In the corner sat what might have once been a small workbench. Not much remained behind. Nuts, bolts, various small tools that had been abandoned scattered over-the-counter top and littered the floor where they’d fallen. She a
lmost missed it. Her eyes shot back and narrowed. And then Wendy Seul smiled, called her fox, and changed.
#
Terrace was a dead-end street. There were a lot of those in a town that butted up to Shephard’s Mountain in the background. We had no way of knowing which house it was, but we had to assume it was one that was abandoned. The last house on the right, a dilapidated two story Tudor with twin sagging pillars holding up what was left of the porch, was a possibility.
We circled the house cautiously, wary of any members of the Guild that might guard her. We made it nearly the entire way around when we found what we were looking for. A small grimy egress window, partially covered in weeds and overgrown grass, was just visible near the base of the house.
We were just moving in for a closer look when the glass exploded.
#
It took several moments for Wendy to change into her fox form and slip through the bars and then change back. With a disgruntled expression, she stared at her useless legs. She used her arms to drag herself across the floor.
Several gasping moments later, she stared at her handiwork. She’d made a pile of several boxes and crates, using an old broom handle for the taller ones. They balanced precariously on the wobbly table, close to the egress window and well within reach of her fox. Once more she called her change.
The small red fox with the bright blue eyes and the severe limp moved to the corner of the room and the old workbench. She used dainty jaws to bend down and pick up the old rusty chisel that lay among the old nails and bolts and nuts in her strong teeth. She looked at the small window ten feet in the air. Gathering herself, she leapt onto the rickety table. It tottered briefly and held. The box was next.
#
When the window exploded we all dived for the ground, wondering if we’d been shot at. But when nothing else happened, we raised our heads and stared at the shattered frame. Only a small portion of the window had given way, blasted outward and into the grass.
In astonishment we watched a dark shiny nose and then long twitching whiskers attached to a fine dainty muzzle breach the opening. A slim canine head and bright blue eyes followed it.
With a cry, Nicholas reached out and scooped up his mother and cradled her in his arms.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The hour drew near and Lucas’ Seul’s gut churned with nausea. He stared impatiently at the key members of the council as they filed in quickly, taking their seats in confusion to hear the supposed emergency conference he was preparing to deliver to them.
The contents of that speech was still at this late hour, as yet undecided.
He ground his teeth and his fists squeezed tight on the table in front of him. He shouldn’t be here. He should be out looking for his wife with the others. Kids, most of them. He’d entrusted his beloveds wife to a bunch of teenagers.
He stared at his phone, black and dark on the table in front of him, waiting for that little ping and the flashing green light to tell him he had a message. A most important set of words to set him free from the agony of uncertainty.
The council members, several of whom he counted as close personal friends, stared at him in alarm.
Their normally well-kept and confident mayor was a wreck. There were stains on his robes as if he hadn’t bothered to change, and his hair was not combed and neat. And his eyes, streaked red and dull from exhaustion, filled his gaunt face.
Before she could help herself, Carol Shamon spoke up. “Who died?” Absent was the characteristic sarcasm she was famous for. Replaced with nervous uncertainty.
Lucas winced and bit his tongue.
“Nobody has died.” Yet. He amended to himself, his stomach churning with the remnants of yesterday’s breakfast, before his life had gone to hell.
“In fact, I’m pleased to report that all the previous victims of the attack in the infirmary are showing signs of recovery. It was close. But so far nobody has died.”
“But we still have a major problem that needs to be addressed. As we speak, we are working to make sure what happened in Bitterroot doesn’t happen again. I have agents inside Wyndoor working in conjunction with several other vampires, to control the situation.” He hesitated to tell them there had been signs of success. He needed to be careful here. He didn’t need certain facts leaking back to the Judge before Wendy was safe.
Carol Shamon spoke up and Lucas’ eyes narrowed. He was in no mood for her dramatics. “How does that impact us? What’s happening in Wyndoor. Why do we care about what happens there? I’m worried about what’s happening here, with our own people.” She finished; voice sharp with self-righteous indignation.
Lucas had the sudden image of his hands encircling her neck and squeezing the sass right out of her.
He ground his teeth and worked to control his temper. “Because, Ms. Shamon, the vampires there were poisoned, by somebody from here! Care to imagine what will happen when the growing vampire population in Drae Hallow, and beyond the mountain in neighboring cities, receives the same pill, and they lose control to go on a feeding frenzy on the rest of the humans and Magicals there?
The color in Carol’s cheeks faded and her eyes widened. “Who? Tell us who in Drae Hallow would do such a thing?” she whispered.
Lucas opened his mouth to speak, not even sure what he was going to say to them. The entire table stared at him in dawning fear and horror. He hated to add to it. He looked at his phone. Blank. Where are you dammit?
Before he could, the door behind them burst open and slammed against the wall, invoking scattered screams and shouts of alarm as the council turned to stare at the cloaked figures that filtered into the room and moved around its perimeter, standing shoulder to chair with the council members.
Last in was the Judge, Fino Vas. He was the only member who hadn’t bothered to conceal his identity.
Lucas casually reached down and moved the volume on his phone to mute and covered the screen with his hand.
“What the good Mayor was about to tell you, is that he has decided, considering certain events, to resign as Mayor and head of the Council in Drae Hallow.” He turned to level a cool look in Lucas’ direction. “Isn’t that right, Mayor?”
Lucas jaw closed, his eyes hot. But he said nothing.
The Judge turned to smile at the Council and the entire room shivered, frozen in alarm by the implied threat of the Shadow Guild that surrounded them.
He continued with a cruel certainty. “You see, it is the Mayor, Lucas Seul, that is responsible for the attacks on Bitterroot this past week. His mishandling in containing the portal into Wyndoor allowed them in. Because of his ineptitude, he no longer feels worthy of your trust. But I am here to assure you all that I have your best interests at heart. I will take over as Mayor of Drae Hallow.”
Nobody dared to correct him and inform the Judge that the council seat Lucas held was an elected one. The pressing threat looking over each of their shoulders had rendered them silent.
Lucas sat frozen, lifting his hand just enough to see the faint green glow. He had a message. He tried to hide his reaction. He didn’t dare open it. He had to have faith it was a good one.
Fino caught Lucas’ eye and smiled in satisfaction. “Yes, times up for your good Mayor. I have it on good authority that there is already unrest in several outlying communities. Far-reaching communities.” Lucas read between the lines; the message clear. The twenty-four hours had passed, and the poison was secure in the blood banks of neighboring cities. “But don’t fear, as your leader, with the help of my Shadow Guild, I am sure we will have things under control shortly. All you need do is to pledge your fealty to me, your new leader.”
Several gasps were heard the length of the table, hands whipped up to cover the sound as the smell of fear along the length of the table spread. Marcus Tannon alone looked like he was about to erupt, his face purple with contained rage. Lucas knew the feeling.
The Judge turned more fully in Lucas Seul’s direction, as if now that he was here, he couldn’t resi
st the urge to gloat. But everything was subterfuge, the hidden meaning clear to Lucas—remaining a confusing jumble of misdirection and illusion to the rest of the room.
“Yes, our own Ms. Shayla Silvers apparently did not take your attempt to cast a disparaging light on our Far-Reaching plans to keep the world safe from the rogue vampires seriously. Perhaps she is getting too old and fat. Maybe she should think of resigning her post as well?” He shared, expression dancing with glee. Lucas stared at those hopping eyes. How had he missed it? The Judge was as mad as the monsters he’d created.
“I have to leave to handle the containment of said rogue vampire groups that are showing themselves. It seems my work is never done.” If he was trying to bring levity to the group, he failed. No smiles cracked in the room.
“Members of my Shadow Guild have agreed to remain behind to maintain order though, so never fear, you will not be left unprotected.”
Lucas knew he meant unguarded. The expressions gracing the faces of his council members, every one, told him they had caught the difference too. He hadn’t selected them for his committee because they were stupid.
For good measure, Fino added one parting shot. “Yes, they will make sure to check on the families of the council members in particular, to make sure no harm comes to them”
Lucas imagined he could feel the collective shudder that shivered the length of the table.
The Judge was still smiling when someone else spoke from the back of the room near the door where they had had taken up residence, undetected. “Is this where the party is at? Oh my, I hope I haven’t missed out on desert.” Drawled a cold, soft voice.
Fino’s eyes blanked in shock and his smile slipped as he turned slowly to stare at the Vampiress, Shayla Silvers, standing in the doorway. She wore a lovely designer dress, bare in the back and trimmed in purple to showcase her lush curves. She stood as proud as any African queen, staring coldly at Fino Vas. A virtual army of uniformed vampires stood at her shoulders, waiting impassively for her direction.
Rule 9 Academy Series Boxset: Books 3-5 Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy (Rule 9 Academy Box Sets (3 Book Series) 2) Page 49
