Awakened Magic (The House of Rune Book 2)

by J. G. Massie

  “Amber.”

  “Okay, fine, I was a little scared. But that wasn’t going to stop me from—”

  “Amber!” Her eyes snapped back into focus as if suddenly remembering I was standing there. “Amber, I know all this. The same thing happened to us at Darkeum Cove.”

  “Oh?” She lowered her foot, thoughtfully eyeing the empty space over my head. “Oh!” she repeated, this time with the ring of full comprehension. “So this is happening everywhere?”

  “Amber.” I cupped her cheeks in my hands, forcing her to look right at me. I didn’t mean to be so rough, but I really needed her to focus right now. “Why are your people so mad at us?” I knew the answer, but I just needed to hear it from her face.

  Cheeks puckered in my hands, she looked like a little puppet as she spoke. “They think you guys probably brought them here.” And there it was.

  I released her face. “But you told them that we didn’t, right?”

  “Yeah, that’s the thing.” She cleared her throat. “I don’t really have that much pull around here. She doesn’t really care what I have to say on the matter. So...um...we better not keep her waiting any longer. She really wants to talk to you.”

  “Who is she?” But Amber was already off and leading the way. Heart sinking, I followed along with the others in tow. I just knew it was going to be one of those days.

  Chapter 13

  Finding Amber some clothes was as easy as a quick handoff from one of the shifters. I could only assume they shared a lot of their simple clothing with one another, and wore them only when they felt like it.

  As we made our way down the stone path, I couldn’t help but notice that Autumnpond Isle seemed a little more primitive than Darkeum Cove. Instead of structures made of brick and wood, the roads were lined with huts constructed of bamboo and straw. Crude and flimsy, they looked as if a stiff wind could wipe this place off the map.

  Still, the simplicity had a charm all its own. I already figured the shifters were a wild breed, and everything I saw so far only served to reinforce that belief. Slitted eyes peered at us through darkened windows while watching our every move. Giant cats stalked back and forth across thatched rooftops, practically daring us to try and run for it. It was clear we had some explaining to do, and they weren’t about to let us leave until we did exactly that.

  But when we turned the next corner, my impression of how primitive they were changed in a flash. Practically right in the middle of the road stood a gleaming white temple. Constructed from pure marble slabs, complete with carved lion statues sitting at the top of the long, steep steps, I nearly fell right on my face when I saw it!

  “Holy crap! Like, that’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen!” My low level of sophistication was now on full display, but I didn’t care. I had never seen anything like that in my whole life.

  “You like?” Amber glanced back at me, her familiar grin helping to calm my nerves. “I guess I’m just used to it. That’s is where she lives.”

  Even Mandla’s jaw dropped. And believe me, when he showed emotion, then you knew it had to be pretty spectacular. But Isaac’s face remained pretty much the same. That also told me something. Either he had seen this temple many times already, or he was just not looking forward to talking to her.

  Amber led the way, bounding up the white stone steps while we struggled to keep up. The guards waiting at the top lifted their crossed spears and stepped away from the door without question. No doubt we were expected.

  Just inside the doorway was yet another guard. Eyes only on me for some reason, he sneered before turning to lead us through the temple. Large and thick, he didn’t look anything like the other shifters. With furry legs much like a tiger, his entire upper body was all smooth skin and rippling muscles. It sort of seemed like he got stuck between shifts, with only his lower half changing to that of a cat.

  His flowing brown hair was woven with tiny bells, which jingled with each graceful step. Not so long ago I might have mistaken his flowing movements with those of a dancer or something, but now I knew better. That graceful walk was the walk of a killer, a trained assassin who was perfectly in tune with his surroundings. His senses were so sharp I almost felt them, a completely separate energy which practically filled the hall.

  After marching us through white-walled halls with gold and red carpets, he led us to a thick set of double doors with large gold doorknocker shaped like the head of a lion. But instead of knocking, his back muscles flexed as he pushed back the doors that should have required the force of at least four normal-sized men to open.

  “My lady, I take my leave,” he said into the darkness. With a last sneer just for me, he split right between us while seemly trying to shoulder bump each person as he left.

  “Whew,” Amber said, her chest rising and falling with a rush of air. “Don’t take any of it personally. That guy was born mad and just got bigger each day. Okay, let’s go.”

  We barely set foot into the darkness when we heard a sharp clap. The room illuminated and there she was, sitting in a white and green wicker chair big enough to make it seem like a royal throne.

  I jumped back as this giant of a woman rose from her seat. Well over six feet tall, she loomed over me like an oak tree. A lion shifter to be sure, her slitted eyes shone with a brilliant green hue. Her wide nose spread across her face, and her nostrils flared open with each ragged breath. Her sandy blonde mane flared out in all directions, giving her a truly wild appearance. As beautiful as she was dangerous, there was no doubt about who was in charge here.

  “May I introduce the Lady Lura Virleth,” Amber said, dropping down into a low, sweeping bow. We all followed suit, resisting the urge to rise before Amber did. After a good thirty seconds or so, my knees began shaking. When I wasn’t sure I could take it anymore, Amber finally swept back upright.

  “How dare you?” Lura snarled, her icy glare sweeping across the room. It wasn’t even clear who the question was directed at. Oh great, this little meeting is sure off to a good start.

  “Lady Virleth, I—”Lura raised a silencing finger so suddenly, had it been a punch it would have knocked Amber out cold.

  “I asked you a question.” That frosty glare finally settled on me. “Keeper.” She spit out the word as if it tasted like raw lemon. “You have some nerve, don’t you? First you lure those angry spirits right to our doorstep, then you show up out of nowhere expecting to be welcomed with open arms? It’s hard to tell which extreme I’m looking at here. You’re either unbelievably arrogant, or unbelievably stupid.”

  “You think I did this?” I yelped, astonished at how direct her accusation was. “How would I even begin? It’s not like I’m good buddies with those creatures. What, do you think I called in a favor or something?” I held my hand up to one ear. “Yeah, Bob the wraith master? It’s me. Could you do me a solid and go attack the shifters? Appreciate it... Have fun storming the castle.”

  “You may not have done it on purpose, Keeper,” she hissed, clearly in no mood to humor my tasteless joke. “But one way or another, this was definitely your fault.” This time I didn’t say a word. I had to consider the possibility that she might be right about that part.

  “Nonsense,” Turner interrupted. “You can’t blame the Keepers for what happened here. If that’s your stance, then explain why I have never seen anything like this until now.”

  “That much is true,” Lura acknowledged. “The rip in the veil did not occur when your powers awakened.” She snapped her fingers in my face. “It occurred when hers did.” And there it was. She already knew all about the rip in the veil, and had somehow still connected it to me. I had to admit, this sure was one heck of a coincidence. “Therefore, it is this Keeper I am concerned with, not you.”

  “The attacks didn’t only happen to you,” Lindsey added. “It happened to the Noctem as well. You’re making is sound like the shifters were singled out.”

  “And that is supposed to ease my concern?” Lura hissed. “I will not just
ify whether or not a vampire’s life is worth more than a shifter’s! One death... Ten thousand deaths... Shifter, vampire, or human, this never should have happened in the first place!”

  Despite her unfairly blaming me for this tragedy, Lura had just earned my respect. If nothing else, she had proven to me where she stood on the matter. All life was precious in her eyes, and she was not about to take sides. It was just as Isaac said. The shifters were neutral, and I, for one, could get behind that.

  Now I just had to find a way to prove my innocence to her.

  A terrible thought hit me out of nowhere. “Are the humans being attacked as well?” I blurted, thinking out loud. What was going on here was bad enough, but if this chaos was spreading to the rest of the world, it might already be too late.

  “They are not,” Lura said firmly, crossing her arms across her ample chest. “Not yet, anyway.”

  “Are you sure?” I pushed. I knew that pressing her wasn’t the best way to handle someone who didn’t like me to begin with, but I really needed to be certain.

  “Look, I trust the humans about as much as every other underworld race does, so we are always watching them closely. I have spies everywhere, and they report back to me on a regular basis. So yes, I am sure. How long will they remain safe? That is another question.” Her hard demeanor seemed to soften a touch, and her hands dropped to her sides. “You really do care, don’t you?”

  “Well, of course. Why wouldn’t I?” To me, the question itself was ridiculous. “Like you, I don’t want to see anyone get hurt, human, vampire, or otherwise. I felt that way long before any of this started, but as a Keeper, it is also my sworn duty to protect everyone. And that is what I intend to do.” Feeling my own anger rising, I took a step forward. In fact, her tits in my face were the only thing keeping me from getting any closer. “With or without your help.”

  Thinking I might have overstepped, I lowered my head and drew in on myself as I took a step back. “But it would be easier with your help, Lady Virleth,” I practically whispered into my shirt collar.

  Lura stared at me, unblinking during the long ensuing silence. If she was trying to intimidate me...it was working. I mean, it was really really working. But although I had to clench my fists and lock my knees together to keep them from shaking, I refused to look away. Strange how a thing as simple as maintaining eye contact could feel like the hardest thing in the world.

  “Indeed,” she said after what felt like an hour of awkward judgment, her hard eyes finally easing up a bit. The relief was like someone taking a foot off my throat. “I can’t explain it. I don’t know why, but I believe you. I believe you are sincere in your request.” She shrugged. “Then again, perhaps I’m the one being a fool. Only time will tell, I suppose.”

  “So you’ll do it? You will back the Keepers in our quest for underworld unity?”

  “I said no such thing.” My heart sank. What did this woman want from me? Lura sank back down into her chair and casually flicked her wrists toward her bodyguards. Emotionless as stones, the two women, who were every bit as tall as the men, turned and left the room. At first I thought she was dismissing them so we could be alone to talk, but the continued silence told me otherwise.

  After another long silence, the two guards returned, each holding one end of a large wooden chest. And they had not returned alone. A swarm of angry-looking, monk-type cats quickly formed a ring around us. Scowling from beneath their drooping red hoods, for once it looked like their anger was not directed at me. Not directly, anyway.

  Well, that was a switch.

  “Lady Virleth,” the first woman grunted. The long, lingering sound bubbling up from her throat sounded like something crossed between a growl and a purr. “What is the meaning of this?” Even among all the confusion, I found it odd that anyone would dare speak to Lura Virleth in such a blunt manner.

  “Are you challenging my judgment?” Lura asked, rising from her seat. It was a relief to finally have her glare directed toward someone other than me.

  “No... I-I would never,” the lady answered, raising her open hands as she shied back.

  “Then what are you saying?” Lura pressed, taking back the distance created with a big step forward. “Do you think it is just a coincidence that she shows up out of nowhere just before we get attacked by wraiths?”

  “But my lady,” another chimed in, the man standing near the corner. His pointy orange ears and striped cheeks put his tiger shifter origin firmly on display. “She is just...” He cleared his throat, stalling while he considered a different choice of words. “She is just a child,” he finished with a shrug, conceding there was just no other way to say it.

  “Indeed she is.” Lura turned and looked me up and down, as if only now considering that fact for the first time. “But that alone does not mean she is not the one. Yes, I may very well be wrong on this, but it is my obligation to know for sure.”

  “And that is your burden, Lady Virleth.” The first monk threw up his hands with a sigh. “But you do know that she may well die if you are wrong, don’t you?”

  Lura shrugged in response, as if that little detail were nothing but an afterthought. “If that is the result, then she obviously was not the one. Our people lose nothing. Now open the chest.”

  Die? I could die if they are wrong? Wrong about what? Everything about this is really starting to suck.

  “Hey, hold on a second,” I protested. “You guys are just talking about me like I’m not even here. Don’t I have a say in any of this?” My answer came in a quick chorus of noes, only one or two even bothering to look at me. The other two fiddled with the chest until the latch flipped open. But rather than opening it, the two just picked it up and led the way out of the room.

  We followed the guards out of the temple and down the steps. They moved so easily that I figured whatever was in that chest must have been pretty light. Shifters lined the streets, whispering and pointing at our silent parade. The weight of their judging stares was crushing, making it hard for me to keep my head up.

  But the moment that strong arm slipped firmly around my waist, I was whole again. My rock, my everything, Isaac’s mere presence was enough to give me strength. His powerful glare swept the growing crowd, even driving them back a few steps as if his eyes were lasers. It seemed the Sabbot prince’s reputation was still intact, even in a place as strange as this.

  We’re all on the same side. So why does it always seem like everyone is against me?

  Soon we found ourselves walking down a seldom used path thick with wild thorns and dense green overgrowth. Although I was glad to get away from those shifters, the thorns biting my ankles and thighs were not a fun alternative.

  Lura raised her hand and we all stopped, save for the two guards who set down the chest and moved up further. Sweeping back some vegetation with their probing feet, they eventually found what they were looking for. Two chains kicked up sprays of dirt as they yanked them up from the ground and started to walk backward.

  A perfectly hidden panel slid back, exposing a wide passageway leading down into the ground. After firing up two torches, they picked up the chest and led the way down some stone steps.

  We began our descent into the blackness, keeping a safe distance while following the flickering light ahead. Spitting while slapping at my mouth, I seemed to be eating all the cobwebs that just happened to be missing everyone else for some reason. Yay, lucky me... Each new wall torch lit by the guards brought with it a slightly better glimpse of our surroundings. As far as I could tell, we were in some kind of underground tomb.

  Entering a large room, the guards walked the chest over to the far wall and set it down. “Open it,” Lura said, arms crossed as she tapped her foot. Already unlocked, they flipped back the latch and retrieved the only two items inside, a white scepter and a small golden tube. The strange items had me scratching my head, but Lura didn’t look the least bit surprised.

  Snatching the gold tube from one of their hands, she unscrewed the end ca
p and shook it until a tightly rolled parchment slid into her palm. It looked ancient, dry and yellowed with age. She carefully removed the leather tie and slowly unrolled it, each revolution shedding away tiny bits of black crumbs.

  Man, that looks brittle. One good sneeze and that thing is dust.

  She cleared her throat and started reading it out loud. “Know this, mortal possessor of the Scroll of Tibany. A day shall come when one world becomes two, and the rip will unleash a darkness never before seen. Dark angels will blacken the sky and rain shadows down upon the Earth...”

  Suddenly her voice dropped in pitch, and her words were no longer in English, or any other earthly language for that matter. Guttural, unworldly, it sounded more like a demon was trapped in her throat as tongue-twisting words spewed forth. Haunting, dark, the howling sounds were painful to listen to, but at the same time I couldn’t shut them out either.

  Her voice seemed to shatter, hitting both the highest and lowest notes I had ever heard at the exact same time. With the explosion of sound came a flash of light. Then her eyes began to clear, and she dropped the suddenly burning scroll. It floated to the floor, the page curling and blackening against the stone. Probably wondering what the heck just happened, she rubbed her sooty fingers together. Gasps of disbelief echoed around the chamber, and not even the monks knew what to say.

  “That— That proves nothing,” one of the monks finally spoke up. But the weakness in his voice was less than convincing.

  “Which is why we must be sure before this goes any farther. Let the trials begin.” Lura snapped her fingers toward the guard still holding the scepter. “The key!” The guard followed her eyes, then stepped over to the far wall. I hadn’t noticed it before, but there was a metal-bordered slit carved right into the wall. Lura nodded her final assurance, and the guard jammed the scepter into the slit.

  Despite its size, the scepter slid right in like a buttered knife. The guard let go and backed away as the key started to rotate on its own. Clicking left and right like someone trying to open the dial lock on a safe, the outer ring began to shine with white light. When it stopped rotating, the light faded away.