by Kailin Gow
“We have to do something.”
I smiled. “I was thinking the same exact thing.”
A tight grimace quickly flashed across Liam’s face, but he shot his disapproval aside and nodded. “Fine. Let’s hurry and get as many of them free as we can before all hell breaks loose.”
Liam opened the door to the office and peered down the hall. “Okay, Gorge is coming to replace Zanlord. He just stepped off the elevator. We’ll hurry toward the right and head down the stairs.”
“You guys are aware that the moment that replacement sees Zanlord tied and bound, and sees that I’m no longer in the bottle every alarm bell in this facility would go off,” Torrid said.
“Unfortunately, yes. I’m well aware of that,” Liam said with a hint of annoyance.
“We have to hurry,” I threw in.
“Walk out in front of me,” Liam ordered Torrid. “I’ll step in behind you and block Gorge’s view.”
Torrid stepped out with Liam and I close in behind him. The temptation to look back was hard to fight, but it was important we all walk calmly, slowly as though nothing was going on.
But when we reached the door to the stairwell, Liam stopped. “Kama, you head down with Torrid. Few take the stairs so chances are slim you’ll run into someone, but once on the ward floor your chances of being seen are greater.” He turned to Torrid. “Keep your head down, don’t make eye contact and hold your hands behind your back.”
“Liam, why are you telling us all this. Where are you…?”
“Listen to me, Kama. Just strolling into the ward with a large djinn is not going to pass unnoticed. You have to be convincing. You have to show other Catchers that this is your prize; that you're bringing in a new Magical One. You also have to pray no one will recognize him as the Prince. Hold onto his arm and guide him into the ward, even push him around if you have to. Other Catchers won’t pay any attention to you if they see you're just doing your job.”
“Once inside, what do I do? Where do I go?”
“As you enter the ward you’ll see stairs that go up to the first landing of bottled djinns. Go up, always keeping Torrid in front of you. When you reach the landing take a left and follow the row of empty bottles until you reach the ones that are occupied. This is where you’ll be expected to bottle Torrid, but…”
“We’ll start cracking those bottles open instead,” Torrid finished.
“And what will you be doing?” I glanced down the hall to see Gorge approach the door where Zanlord was bound.
“I’m going to see what I can do to stall Gorge for a few minutes. At least give you guys a chance to make it down there.” He gave my shoulder a gentle yet firm push. “Hurry! Go!”
He turned and called out to Gorge in a very relaxed and matter of fact tone. “Hey, I was wondering when you’d arrived. Can you imagine I had to get stuck keeping watch with a girl who has to go to the bathroom every two minutes.”
The last thing I heard as I led Torrid down the steps was Gorge’s derisive chuckle. Liam’s attempt to stall him and keep him from finding out what had happened inside that office seemed to be working.
I followed Liam’s order to a tee and took a firm hold of Torrid as I led him to the ward, while Torrid did a wonderful job of playing the down and out Magical One who’d just been caught. He hung his head low, and slumped his shoulders down in despair while shuffling his feet.
Inside the ward the Catchers reacted exactly as Liam had predicted. They saw me as just another Catcher who’d arrived with the spoils for the day. Our feet clanged loudly on the metal steps as we made our way up to the first landing, but no one paid any attention.
“This is almost too easy,” Torrid said.
I heard the concern in his voice. It echoed my own concerns.
The row of empty bottles seemed endless and I wondered if we’d make it to the first occupied ones before the alarm went off.
Just as I began to see color and movement in the distant bottles, just as we were about to arrive at the first occupied bottles a hush fell over the ward. A chill ran up my spine. I knew something had happened.
Ignoring the sensation, I kept my head high, pushed Torrid along and prayed we’d make it.
“…who is…?”
“Don’t recognize… looks like… could be…”
“… know what the Prince looks like…?”
“Can’t be… special housing. He doesn’t belong here.”
The murmur of speculation and questions sent a shot of adrenaline rushing through my body. We were about to be found out.
“Don’t panic,” Torrid whispered. “We’re almost there.”
“I’m sure it’s him,” the murmur continued.
“Hey!” a firm voice shot up. “Hey, you! Up there.”
Our steps continued to clang down the metal landing as we ignored the calling.
“Hey! Who do you have there with you?”
The occupied bottles were almost within reach. Just a few more steps…
“Answer or…”
While Torrid stood behind me blocking the view, I reached for the first occupied bottle, shook the djinn awake and set him free. In quick succession I awoke and released another and another. I was able set five djinns free before the Catchers below became fully aware what was really happening.
“Go after them,” one called out.
“Break as many bottles as you can,” Torrid ordered as he reached out, grabbing two bottles at a time and cracking them open off the side of the metal shelf.
Confused and bewildered the newly freed djinns just stood there staring, unsure what to do; what they could do. Many were groggy from long hours of sleep and inactivity.
Only when the first Catchers arrived on the landing did they finally come alive.
“Fight for your freedom,” Torrid shouted.
The narrow landing allowed for only two Catchers side by side, making it a little easier to fend off, but they kept coming and kept coming.
Torrid sent a few of them flying down to the main floor and others, seeing the futility in fight jumped down on their own. The djinns stopped all of the Catchers who tried in vain to rebottle them.
It was only when a whole army of Catchers and guards made their way to the second landing and started attacking us from above, did we falter.
Several djinns were caught and bottled.
A loud blaring siren cut through the battle, startling both djinns and Catchers.
“Code black!” A robotic voice called over the loudspeakers. “Code black. All soldiers to the ward floor. All soldiers to the ward floor.”
The loudspeakers crackled and popped, went dead then fizzed again as a live voice sounded. “Catchers, be on the lookout for our most prized captive. I repeat, be on the lookout for the Prince. Above all, he must be caught.”
Every Catcher released the djinn he had in hand and turned his attention to Torrid.
“I knew it was him.” It was Noj. He looked at me and narrowed his venom filled eyes. “I knew there was something about you.”
He reached out for my wrist. “You're no Catcher.” He turned to the band of Catchers around him. “This is an imposter.”
Chapter 8
The moment Noj touched me; Torrid flew off the handle and attacked him. The surprise attack threw Noj back, but he kept his hold of my wrist, bringing me crashing to the floor with him.
My head hit the metal landing with a resounding clang and all the sounds around me suddenly were muffled and distant.
Still grasping my wrist, Noj fought Torrid off. He yanked me up, adding to the already dizzying effect of the blow I’d taken.
“We’ve worked too hard and gone through too much to let you go now,” Noj said. “The governor of Arcadia is counting on you.”
“You mean he needs me. He wants to keep me as a bargaining chip.”
Noj, his movements practiced and agile, pulled out a leather band and whipped it at Torrid’s wrist.
His eyes narrowed with amusement
, almost mischief, Torrid kept his gaze fizzed to Noj’s face as he flicked back his wrist, avoiding the leather band. “I’m not going to let myself get caught aghhh…”
The last word didn’t have time to make it out of his mouth. Three Catcher’s jumped on his back and tackled him to the floor while Noj watched on with glee.
Before long dozens of djinns and hundreds of Catchers filled the ward floor, each side battling for their idea of freedom.
Through the swirling buzz that still made my head ache, I found the strength and presence of mind to wring my wrist free of Noj’s grasp.
A loud clang from the floor caught my attention and that of many Catchers.
“Bring me the head of that damned djinn,” Zanlord bellowed with fury as he pushed the heavy doors of the ward open.
I turned to Torrid. “We have to get you out of here. At this rate they’ll kill you.”
His bellow only added fuel to Torrid’s fight. With sudden herculean strength, he flung off the Catchers on his back then turned his fury on Noj.
The aching in my head faded just enough to allow me to do my part in the battle. I took the lead of a nearby djinn and bottled a Catcher. The reduced Catcher shouted his displeasure, but it didn’t keep me from bottling another and another.
Soon the Catchers were outnumbered and the few who remained, chose to abandon ship. They ran for cover, pushed through secret escape doors while djinns and Magical Ones took over.
But one Catcher stayed put, determined to get the prized djinn.
Zanlord pounded his way up the steps that led to the landing. “You should have stayed where you were safe and sound, Prince. Out here anything can happen. Out here accidents happen when Catchers get a little overzealous.”
He pulled out a large leather whip, the tip equipped with the leather band meant especially for Torrid’s wrist. “Safe inside the confines of that office, I was responsible for your safety, but out here…” He snapped the butt end of the whip into his open palm. “Out here I can’t be held responsible for what happens to you.”
With a quick flick of his wrist, he snapped the tip of the whip to Torrid’s wrist. For a moment I thought Torrid was caught as the leather band wrapped three quarters of the way around his wrist, but he dodged the band.
Seething with hatred and resentment, Zanlord flicked the whip repeatedly, each time stepping closer.
“Run while you can, Kama,” Torrid ordered as the oversized Catcher came closer.
“No, Torrid. I’m staying with you.” More confident than ever in my magical powers, I turned Zanlord’s whip and leather band on himself. His eyes wide with shock he looked at his wrist, while his jaw dropped with disbelief.
“This fight is over,” I said. I grabbed one of the smaller bottles, rushed to Zanlord and bottled him before he could even see me coming.
Chapter 9
We didn’t have time to rejoice.
Part of the battle was won and without Zanlord to lead them, many of the Rogue djinns ran around aimlessly, fighting off Magical Ones in an offhand manner.
“Continue to free as many djinns as you can,” Torrid said. “It won’t be long before more reinforcements come in to try to stop us.”
But before I could free even one djinn, a strange and foreboding silence fell over the ward. I wanted to believe it was the fall of Zanlord that was responsible for the sudden hush, but as I looked into the startled eyes of the freed djinns around me, I knew that our luck was about to run out.
I turned, my eyes wide with surprise as I looked into the equally surprised eyes of Dr. Sanz. An army of hundreds stood at attention behind him.
“I guess these are the reinforcements you were dreading,” I murmured in disbelief.
“Well, well, darling,” Dr. Sanz called out. His voice echoed into the furthest corner of the ward, bringing chills to every djinn and hope to the Rogue Magical Ones.
I tasted the bitter bile that rose to the back of my throat; fear mingled with hatred.
“Is this the infamous Dr. Sanz I’ve heard so much about?” Torrid asked.
“The very same.” I cocked my head prettily to Dr. Sanz and pulled out the most confident and self-assured voice I could. “Are you surprised to see me, Dr. Sanz?”
He cleared his throat and blinked repeatedly then straightened up. “I’ll admit I didn’t expect to see you here in the ward.”
“I imagine you didn’t expect to see me anywhere. I’ll make an admission of my own; I nearly didn’t survive the fate you’d reserved for me, but…” I smiled an angelic, feminine yet devilishly pleased smile. “I guess I’m made of stronger stuff than you thought.”
Sanz grinned while his eyes retained their evil intent. “We’ll see about that.” With a quick flick of his wrist, he pulled out a small riding crop loaded with several leather bands on the end. He slapped the leather bands into his palm. “I’ll just have to go up there and we’ll see about this strong stuff you're made of.”
Though my insides jumped at the smooth but clear threat, I refused to show the slightest amount of fear.
“I’m right beside you,” Torrid reminded me.
“How big of you, your majesty,” Sanz spat, the royal title sharp and biting on his tongue. “You're a real prince, saving your lovely damsel in distress.” His short legs took tiny but quick steps to the stairs, but before he climbed up, he sent a small army of Rogue Magical Ones up ahead of him.
When he reached the landing and faced us, Torrid greeted him with a derisive chuckle.
“Somehow I always imagined you’d be a tall and worthy adversary, but you're just a puny little man with a big mouth. It’s no wonder you’d come up here and prepare to fight a mere girl like Kama with an entire army of yes men.”
Sanz’s eyes flared with indignation. He shot his hand into the air. “Halt!”
His little band of followers stopped and turned to him.
Sanz pushed through his army and came to stand a few yards away from Torrid. With his chin jutted out and his eyes narrow, he tried to stand as tall as he could.
“I’m impressed,” Torrid said.
Frowning, I turned to him. “What? Impressed. Torrid he’s…”
“I know very well who and what he is,” Torrid said. His eyes darkened with murderous rage; controlled and subtle, but there all the same. “For such a diminutive man, he’s managed to rake up a rather impressive reputation. He is the biggest traitor the world of djinns has ever known. Not only did he turn and side with the man who would chase, trap and enslave every djinn he could get his hands on, but he was instrumental in creating all this.” He swept his hands around him and looked at the row upon row of bottled djinns.
“You give me far too much credit. I simply chose the winning side, dear Torrid. Your father has misguided you, letting you and your brother believe that a perfect world can be had if you're good, pure and obedient. The world is full of danger and the best defense against such danger is a good plan, a strong army and the accumulation of as much magic as can possibly be brought together.”
“This is nothing less than a slave encampment and you know it.”
“This is the epitome of a perfectly well tuned machine.” Dr. Sanz looked at me and winked. “Did you not grow up in an idyllic neighborhood, Kama? Was your life not perfection? My only aim as I created this perfect world, was this Arcadia in which everyone was happy, everyone had their dreams come true.”
“Really?” I challenged. “And what was the Coliseum supposed to be?”
“You're too young to understand the importance of the Coliseum.”
“Try me.”
With speed that didn’t match his short stature, he stepped up close to me and flicked his riding crop, the leather bands on the end just missing my wrist.
Torrid jumped between us and quickly took up battle with the small doctor. Forgoing any magic tricks, he simply grabbed the riding crop out of Dr. Sanz’s hand and threw it down to the ward floor.
“I may be small in stature, Torri
d, but don’t estimate the power that surrounds me,” Sanz warned.
Torrid gave him a short, sharp push. “I’ll avenge every day spent in this hell hole by every djinn. I’ll not leave here until every last one of them is freed and your power to recapture them is extinguished.”
“What noble ambitions, Torrid, but truly, what can you, a sole and solitary djinn, as royal as you may be, do against the power of my Magical Ones. Their magic has been honed, and they’ve learned how to counter the magic of any and every enemy, something you apparently neglected to show Kama here.”
I saw the instant flash of guilt that came to Torrid’s eyes. “Don’t listen to him, Torrid. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. You taught me as much as you could in the time we had together.”
The lack of conviction remained in his eyes, but he kept his focus on Sanz. “Perhaps I could have spent a little more time showing her the evil that lived within certain Rogue Magical Ones…”
“Then again,” Sanz said with a wry chuckle. “Even you, a trained and experienced warrior, turned out to be helpless against the poor and weak Magical One I sent to capture you.”
“Ah, yes… the prisoner who… requested my aid. Yes. Well played, Sanz. You played on my desire to save those prisoners.” Torrid glanced back at me, his eyes filled with regret and more guilt.
“A gamble that paid off.” Dr. Sanz turned to me. “Well, almost.”
Without further warning, Sanz clapped his hands and the army of Rogue Magical Ones behind him jumped to action.
Five took to Torrid while three came to me. We fought as one and within twenty seconds four had been bottled and one had been flung over the ramp to the ward floor below.
More Magical Ones followed, though with fear and reluctance. Their reluctance led to halfhearted attacks that were quickly and easily thwart by Torrid alone.
He was magnificent to watch and a quick glance at Dr. Sanz told me he agreed, though his admiration was coupled with great fear. Wide eyed and mouth gaping, he tallied the number of fallen soldiers and realized he was soon to be the next to fall victim to Torrid’s wrath.
