“The book is still there,” she said quietly. “I can see why Darian reacted the way he did. Dark power oozes from it.”
“Did you see anyone else in the room?” Eli asked.
“No, but the power from the book was overwhelming,” Juana replied with a shiver.
“Charles, can you take us to that room?” Eli asked, turning his attention to their companion.
“Yes,” he replied, taking their arms and traveling inside the castle.
They arrived in the hallway outside of the room where the book was located. Juana winced; a line formed between her eyebrows. Eli laid his hand on her arm and she shook her head.
“Go back to Santuario, Charles,” Juana whispered, just loud enough for Charles to hear. “We’ll go inside and grab the book.”
“I left Darian here and should not have,” Charles whispered back. “I will not leave you.”
She shook her head again and turned to open the door. As soon as they stepped through, she knew they had made a mistake. Zar’Asur stood before them, holding the book, with an evil smile on his face.
“Welcome, Eli and Juana. I had expected another, but you’ll do nicely.” Before any of them could react, a fireball engulfed Charles, leaving nothing but a pile of ash within seconds. “He is not needed, and I cannot have anyone running back to Mikel with the news of your capture.”
Juana and Eli both tried to leave, but found they were unable to move. Eli strained against his invisible bonds, the veins on his neck and face bulging from his efforts.
Zar’Asur cackled. “I will enjoy breaking you, Eli. I have no one who can match your strength, which is amazing, by the way. It will be a pleasure to find out where it comes from.”
Juana snarled at him. “You cannot keep us here. You don’t have bonds strong enough to hold us.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, my dear.” Zar’Asur sneered at her. “The power from this book will hold you, and Eli will not leave without you.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eli looked at Juana, the silent communication passing between them. Zar’Asur opened the book, and Juana screamed before she crumpled to the floor, unconscious. Eli strained to get to her as she fell to the ground, but he could not move. His fury darkened his face, and he glared at the evil in front of him.
“What do you want from us?”
“I need someone strong enough to use the power from this book to summon my army,” Zar’Asur explained. “I believe your Watcher will do nicely, at least for a little while. I don’t think she has the strength to withstand it for long periods of time, but she will endure long enough.” Malevolence oozed from every part of his being. “Pick her up and follow me!”
Eli had no choice. His body moved as commanded even as his mind screamed in denial. He picked up the woman he loved and followed Zar’Asur out of the room. As they walked through the castle, he passed by dozens of Csökkent who had fallen to the ground. At first, he thought it was in reverence to their master, but soon he realized it was because of the book that Zar’Asur still carried. Most of them held their heads between their palms, moaning in pain. Eli was thankful it had no effect on him.
They went through an old wooden door at the back of the kitchen and descended into the depths of the earth. It didn’t take long to realize that they were in the dungeons. Eli stopped at the end of the long stairwell, staring at the rows of cells before him and trying to ignore the smell of death and unwashed bodies. Each door was made of thick metal bars that were so close together Eli wasn’t sure his hands would fit between them. Zar’Asur motioned for him to go into the first cell with Juana. He closed and locked the door, then laid the book on a small table across the hall from their cell. Eli knew he would leave it there in order to keep Juana immobilized. He sat on the floor next to her, tears threatening to overwhelm him. How could they survive this?
Chapter 11
After an hour had passed, Mikel went from pacing to yelling.
“I never should’ve agreed to this! My instinct told me it was a trap, and I should have listened to it,” Mikel said, berating himself. “I knew he would not let them leave. Not only are we missing the book, but now we are also missing our best chance at defeating Zar’Asur.”
“Do we go after them?” I asked.
“No, at least not right now,” Mikel replied dejectedly. “He would only trap you as well. I imagine he probably killed Charles.” He shook his head in sadness and frustration as he walked back towards the tower.
“What are we going to do?” I asked no one in particular as I watched Mikel walk away.
“You’re going to take me to the room where the book was,” Adalina said. “I have a score to settle.” Her intensity was intimidating.
“If Charles, Juana, and Eli could not escape him, what do you think you’ll do?” I asked sardonically.
She glared at me, her whole-body tensing. Raphael stepped between us. “It won’t do us any good to fight each other. Mikel will come up with a plan. We just need to be patient.”
“How can we be patient while our friends are enduring whatever that evil being is throwing at them? I’m quite certain he did not give them one of the honored guest rooms in the castle!” Adalina bellowed. She then stormed off towards the arena. Raphael let out deep breath.
“Try to get some rest. I have faith that Mikel will come up with something,” Raphael said reluctantly, his doubt evident in his expression. “I’m going to spend some more time in the library. There must be some reference to this book. We have texts that are hundreds of years old; I should be able to find something.” He started mumbling as he walked away.
I stood in the courtyard, trying to sort out the indecision in my mind. I knew what I wanted to do, but it too closely resembled Adalina’s plan. I walked towards the garden and the pool that wasn’t really a fountain. I could probably get into the castle unseen easily. If I were Zar’Asur, I would take Eli and Juana to the dungeons to hold them. Would the demon have kept Charles alive or killed him immediately? He could use Charles as a bargaining chip with the Council, but I had a difficult time believing that was his intention. It was more likely that Zar’Asur killed Charles to prevent him from returning to Mikel. The thought grieved me. Charles and I had become close friends, and I didn’t like the thought of losing him. I also struggled to accept that the warriors weren’t invincible. Their strength, coupled with Magdelin’s healing talents, made me think they couldn’t die. I needed to maintain hope that all three of them were still alive.
My thoughts turned to the demon and his book. Did Zar’Asur take the book with him to the dungeon or did he leave it in the bedroom? Did he need the book to sense my presence, or could he do that on his own? Did I dare take the chance of finding out? Did I risk leaving Juana to suffer the power of the book, knowing that Eli would likely be tortured not only by her suffering, but in the more traditional sense as well? How would Zar’Asur possibly hold them? Eli’s strength was astounding. I had not witnessed it myself, but I had heard the other warriors tell tales of his strength in battle. As I sat there looking at the ugly statue of the unknown man, I knew I had already made up my mind. I would go to the castle, hopefully unnoticed by Zar’Asur and Mikel.
I went to the barracks and selected several throwing knives that the blacksmith had made for me, along with two long daggers. I took a deep breath and traveled to the tree line outside the castle where Charles and I had first arrived. Sadness and guilt threatened to distract me from my purpose.
I decided to search for the book with my mind sight first rather than traveling straight to the room where I saw it last. If Zar’Asur could capture Juana, then he could certainly hold me. Although he hadn’t been able to last time, this time he would surely be prepared. I laid on my stomach beneath the thick pines and closed my eyes. I pushed my mind through the front gates, past the monstrous demon in the courtyard, and into the front doors of the castle. Charles and I had entered through the kitchen, so I was momentarily disoriented, but soon found
my way to the central stairwell that led to the master suite. I passed the outlines of several Csökkent who were lying on the floor and barely alive, a faint pulse of life emanating from their bodies. As I approached the door I was looking for, I realized the book was not there. I followed the steps back downstairs and towards the kitchen entrance. I noticed a door leading out of the kitchen, but when I tried to look past it, I hit a thick, elastic barrier. I retreated back to my body, strained from the exertion of pushing my mind. I pulled several pieces of dried meat out of my pack and chewed on them while I thought about what to do next.
Zar’Asur had not left the book in his room, so he must either have it in his possession, or he left it in the dungeon with Juana, Eli and Charles. I guessed that the answer to where would depend on his intentions. What did he need them for, and how did he intend to use the power in the book?
I came to the conclusion that sitting in the snow would answer none of my questions. I wrapped the air close to my body, mirroring the snow-covered environment around me, and traveled to the kitchen door. Just as I was about to open it, the door knob started to turn. I stepped back into the shadows as a small boy emerged. He looked both ways to see if anyone was there. Satisfied that he was alone, he closed the door behind him and headed towards the rear of the castle. My curiosity was peaked.
I had to assume he was a slave; his shabby clothing and unwashed appearance would certainly support that theory. I decided to follow him, quietly sliding along the wall towards the rear of the castle. Instead of turning around the corner of the castle, he headed into a small group of pines and disappeared in their thick branches. I sprinted across the open space and slipped into the trees as well. I found him kneeling next to a small wooden cross made from two sticks tied together. He was crying softly and mumbling to himself. My heart ached for this young boy, who had clearly lost someone dear to him and was stuck in this evil place with no hope of escape. I dropped my illusion and quietly knelt beside him, placing my hand on his shoulder so he would not run. He gasped and struggled to get free.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m not here to hurt you,” I said in a soothing voice. He looked at me in confusion, and I realized he did not speak English, so I switched to Hungarian.
“You are not one of the evil men, are you?” he asked in a small voice.
“No, I’m not,” I replied. “I’m here to find my friends whom I believe were captured earlier today.”
He clapped his hand over his mouth and started shaking in fear. “You’re one of the angels, aren’t you? I saw them earlier. The master was taking them to the dungeons, but I could see them glowing.” The fear subsided slightly. “The master cannot hold the strong man. He glowed so bright I could hardly look at him. The pretty lady’s glow was a lot like yours, but not as bright as that very strong man.” The little boy smiled at the memory. I was confused by his description of us. I didn’t notice any of us glowing.
“How many people did he take to the dungeon?” I asked, thinking of Charles’ fate.
“Just the large man and the pretty lady,” Cyrus replied.
I frowned at his response.
“Can you tell me where the door to the dungeon is?” I asked him.
“Yes, it’s just off the kitchen,” he replied, confirming my suspicion about the barrier I encountered in front of the door. Zar’Asur must have a way to block some of our abilities.
I could not leave this child here. There was something about him that made me believe he needed to be at Santuario. If he could see an aura glowing around us, he had to be something special. I had come to the castle looking for a way to rescue Juana and Eli, but found someone else who also needed to be rescued.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Cyrus,” he replied shyly.
“Do you have any family here?” I glanced at the small grave and suspected that I knew the answer.
“No, my brother died last week.” He pushed back a sob. “He was the last of my family.”
“I would like to take you somewhere safe, away from here,” I said shifting my weight as I continued to kneel in the snow. “Will you go with me?”
“Can you really do that?” he asked with hope in his eyes.
“I can, if you’re willing,” I replied, holding out my hand.
He placed his small hand in mine and replied, “Yes, I would love to leave this place. Anywhere you take me has to be better than here.”
I smiled. “I promise it will be better.”
Chapter 12
When we arrived at the gates, the guards gave me wary glances as we waited for Cyrus’s stomach to settle.
“Who do we have here?” one of them asked, looking at the small boy next to me.
“This is Cyrus,” I replied. “He recently met Juana and Eli.” I raised my eyebrows, indicating there was more to the story. The guard looked at me with surprise and understanding. Word traveled quickly around Santuario, so I was certain they knew what had happened.
“Well then, welcome to our new honored guest,” he said as he opened the gate.
Cyrus stood there stunned, looking at the ornate gates as they swung open. I tugged on his hand and he followed me inside. I decided it would be best to take him to Magdelin first. I knocked softly on her door, hoping she was there and relieved when she opened it. She gasped in surprise at the sight of Cyrus.
“Can we come in?” I asked, continuing to speak Hungarian for Cyrus’s benefit. Magdelin was fluent in most languages, even ones I had not heard of, so I was certain she understood.
“Oh, yes! Please come in,” she replied, trying to compose herself. “Who is this young man?”
“His name is Cyrus,” I replied. “I found him at the castle.” She frowned at me, and I knew I would have to explain myself at some point.
Cyrus was staring at Magdelin, which made her blush. She held out her hand to him. “Hello, Cyrus. My name is Magdelin.”
He reached for her hand and shook it. “You’re an angel too,” he said then looked at me. “Is everyone here an angel?”
I chuckled. “We are not angels, just people chosen to fight the evil that lives in the castle.”
“Oh.” He looked disappointed, and Magdelin looked at me, shrugging her shoulders.
“Do you want something to eat?” she asked him. He nodded eagerly. “I’ll be right back.”
Cyrus looked at me with a confused expression. “What were you doing at the castle? Did you really plan to save your friends?”
“That was my plan,” I replied as I led him to one of the chairs in the dining room. “Or at least to find out enough information in order to make a better plan to save them.”
“Why did you take me away?” he asked.
“Did you want to stay?” I asked in return.
“Oh no! I just don’t understand why you would rescue me instead of your friends.”
I looked at the young boy in front of me. He had a very small frame, likely from lack of nutrition. His mousy brown hair was dull and flat, but his brown eyes were bright and intelligent.
“You said you could see a glow around us,” I replied. “I had not heard of anyone describing us that way. If you can see the difference between good and evil, you have something special inside of you.”
Cyrus smiled shyly then giggled. “You have not told me your name,” he said, changing the subject suddenly.
It was my turn to be embarrassed. “I suppose you’re right. My name is Darian.” I held out my hand to him and he shook it.
“I’m very glad to have met you, Darian.” He straightened his back, trying to look bigger. “Does everyone here speak Hungarian?”
I laughed. “Probably. Most of us speak several languages, which they will likely want to teach you as well.”
Magdelin came in with a plate of food, and all conversation stopped as he ate.
“I would like to take him to Raphael,” I said. “I believe he will be able to tell us a great deal about our young friend.”
“
That’s a good idea,” Magdelin replied. “But I suggest a bath and clean clothes first.”
Cyrus moaned as any young boy would about having a bath. I laughed quietly as Magdelin led him away. “I’m going to see Mikel, then I’ll meet you at Raphael’s,” I called after her. I was certain she heard me in the small house, so I didn’t wait for a reply.
When I was halfway across the courtyard, I noticed Mikel leaving the tower and headed my way.
“Hello, Mikel,” I called out. “I was on my way to see you. Do you have a few minutes to talk?”
“Yes, I’m on my way to talk to Raphael,” he replied. “Walk with me.”
“That’s perfect, as I need to see him as well.” It might be better if I talked to both of them at once. “Both of you should hear my news.”
“Of course,” Mikel replied with a questioning look.
“I’d prefer to explain it just once,” I replied.
Raphael was in the library, which was a small building situated between the houses. I had only been there once, looking for books about Amazon warriors. The book I found explained a great deal about Adalina’s personality, but it also created more questions. It seemed unlikely that she was truly an Amazon, as most texts implied that they were just a myth. But a few months ago, I believed demons were myths as well.
We found Raphael in the oldest part of the library with stacks of books piled on the table in front of him. His dark hair stood on end, as if he ran his hands through it a dozen times. He looked up when he heard our approach.
“I still haven’t found anything, Mikel.” He sounded defeated, with lines of disappointment around his brilliant eyes.
“I may have found an answer,” I offered. “Or at least someone who can point us in the right direction.”
Light's Rise Page 9
