Fern and Sirris walked in behind Giat, both their chins tucked and heads low to appear beaten. Thomas tried to affect the same demeanor, his eyes watchful and ears alert. They had barely crossed the thresh hold when a flurry of movement in the doorway behind him pulled his attention. Dae, Jorta and Abe’d had made quick work of the three guards, unprepared for the brief, savage attack. Both lay on the floor wounded or dead, Thomas wasn’t sure which.
The chamber they were in was much more opulent than any other room they’d been in, hung with fine tapestries decorating the walls and curtains on the windows done in dark blue Damascus trimmed in gold with matching tasseled tie backs. A massive desk sat to the back of the room in front of a window the size of a compact room that overlooked the crazed battle taking place in the courtyard below. It was a long way down.
To the side beneath a large alcove was a king sized canopied bed done in colors to complement the rest of the decor.
Beside him, Fern and Sirris raised their heads, no longer subservient or afraid. The wolves spread to one side, while Jorta and Ab’et took the other.
Behind the desk, cool and collected and unsurprised to see them, stood Will Bennett. His brown eyes moved with disdain over the small gathering in the door of his apartment. His roving eyes stopped on Thomas.
He nodded out the window. “Your doing, I presume. Clever. Keep the dogs busy while the Magicals play.”
Thomas growled at the intended slur. Will smiled with sly pleasure as he moved casually from behind the desk.
“You look good for a sorcerer that was tossed against his will into an alternate dimension.” Sirris observed unkindly.
“Yes, I rather do, thank you. But against my will... was it?”
Fern spoke up for the first time. “I believe it wasn’t part of the plan professor. Not at first.” She moved further right and into the room as his eyes narrowed.
“Don’t get too comfortable little witch, you’re no match for what I am,” he advised, eyes never leaving her slight frame.
He continued. Will Bennett had always loved being the center of attention. “You’re right, of course. I hadn’t originally planned to use the wolves beyond the need to control the Macu demons. I have to thank you kids for that. This plan is so much better. If I can move an army into Drae Hallow and take it over from within? Well then, the humans below will have more incentive to rebel when the terrified people of Drae Hallow come fleeing down the mountain chased by the monsters from their dreams.
Those that survive that is. Every nightmare or skewed belief the humans have ever imagined come to life in living color and at their front door. They’ll grab their guns and hide their children. It’ll be war on both sides. And guess who will step in to restore the peace? It will be epic. The humans will think they are in control when I save the day. They won’t even know they’ve lost the war until it’s too late.”
He laughed, moving closer as the group spread wide. It was never good to be in a crowd when dealing with a sorcerer of Will Bennett’s ilk.
“No, behind the scenes we’ll move in and take over. First banks and businesses, then politics. We’ve already started. Bet you didn’t know that, did you? But we aren’t stopping there. Before they know it, humanity will be the ones in hiding and we’ll be in charge like we were always meant to be. It’s already begun in countless states and other countries too.”
Thomas frowned. For being trapped and outnumbered, Will Bennett didn’t look as worried as he should have.
He went on. “I’m only an insignificant piece in a much bigger picture.” Will’s eyes stayed on Fern and Thomas had the distinct impression all of a sudden he was missing something important. His eyes narrowed.
“The faction is taking their rightful place, and we’ll do it by hiding in plain sight.” He smiled at her, eyes cruel.
Fern’s own eyes darkened with determination. “We’ll stop you. You aren’t near as powerful as you think. Not everyone that is a member of the faction thinks as you do. Be careful of the friends of your enemies, Will Bennett.
He laughed. “Whatever, it won’t be you, witch. You and your friends won’t be there to see it happen or stop anything.”
Something in his tone made Thomas take a step forward. Fern’s eyes sharpened as well, and Thomas realized her fingers were moving by her side, teasing the air in small circles beneath the long sleeves of her tunic. A slight flutter of movement and what looked like a tiny grey moth emerged to seamlessly join the other winged insects that buzzed around the room. Castle windows did not have screens.
“Did you really imagine little witch, any of you, that I wouldn’t know the moment you crossed through that dimension into this one? It took you long enough to get here. I knew you’d come to rescue the Tuttles; I counted on it. Foolish children, ruled by sentiment. I have to admit I didn’t see the Juggat’s coming though. That was unexpected.” His hands had emerged beneath his own robes and he had drawn a small circle in front of him. The circle widened as he talked until it was the size of a basketball rimmed in a slim line of gold light, flickering and jumping as the circle widened. “See, I only waited for you to get here, so I could go there. While the Juggats have kept the wolves here busy, the rest have gathered and prepared. They are waiting for me. I need to hurry or I’m going to be late.” The circle had grown to the size of a small pony. Inside the circle, the air was a blur of dim shadows.
Will Bennett’s eyes danced with excitement and his voice rose to a crescendo of anticipation. “And while I’m there... you won’t be going anywhere.” And before they could do more than stare in astonishment, he stepped forward into the circle and disappeared. A high-pitched giggle followed him before it abruptly cut off and the portal vanished with a tiny sizzle and a pop.
Fern winced and shook her fingers. “Asshole. That hurt!”
Everyone else rushed forward towards the spot where he’d disappeared. It was too late. He was gone. Thomas wrinkled his nose at the sulfuric smell of something small burning. It reminded him of the stench bug zappers gave off when they fried their small victims.
Thomas turned to look at Fern, who hadn’t moved. She stood fuming, her small frame trembling with anger.
“He was quicker than I expected,” she admitted, scowling. Her eyes flashed to Sirris and Thomas. “But no matter. I saw where he went before he zapped her.” Fern’s expression became desolate. “But we’ll never make it there in time.”
THEY RACED ALONG THE corridor as fast as their weary feet could carry them. Thomas wasn’t sure why they bothered. By the time they made it back to the portal, it would be too late.
Will Bennett was already there, his army already going through that portal with him, flooding Drae Hallow and preparing to attack.
It didn’t matter that Jerry Waverly waited there with the last bomb to diffuse the portal and close it up. Will would be through the dimension and on him before he could pull back his throwing arm. He was human and Will Bennett would kill him because he could. And Sadie and everyone else with her would be there too. Maybe it didn’t even matter. It was probable that the Demon wolves waiting at the portal for Will Bennett had taken care of them as soon as they arrived.
Thomas ran faster, snagging Ferns and Sirris hands with his and pulling them along as his eyes gleamed firefly yellow through the gloom. Beside him ran the other two wolves with Jorta and Ab’et. This was no longer a fight for humans or Magicals, or vampires and werewolves from an alternate dimension. This had become a fight for their families and friends and loved ones.
When Thomas’ lungs were on fire and he was sure his heart would stop, Fern pulled ahead and used the magic inside of her to revive their flagging spirits and push them harder.
NICK YANKED ME BACK at the last moment before I ran over the crest of the hill and out in front of the Demon wolves clustered around the portal. Behind us the rest of the Tuttles gathered in a circle, taking direction from Todd, who stood tall and weary but unbeaten in their midst. His experiences here would sha
pe him into the man he would become. I wondered how they were shaping me. I gave Nick a grateful glance and turned to Elise.
She ignored me, getting on her side as low as she could get to the ground with a basketball for a belly. She peeked over the rim; eyes narrowed in confusion.
We sidled up beside her. “That’s it. That’s where we have to go.” She showed us a pile of rocks in the center of a tiny depression in the open field that skirted the forest. It contained little besides scrub weeds and a few twisted bushes. “What’s with all the Demon wolves gathered there, though?” she finished.
“I don’t know. I thought they were all back at the castle fighting it out with the Juggats? I didn’t realize how many he had.”
“What are they just standing there for?” asked Nick, breath tickling my ear.
I wanted to know the answer to that one myself. I looked due east and realized just how close we were to where we’d come in. The woods we’d arrived in was less than a quarter mile away.
I stared at the milling wolves. None of them were looking in our direction. Instead, they seemed focused on the portal and the rocks surrounding it. They lounged about, arguing and sleeping as if they were waiting for someone. And then somehow I knew. I felt the blood leave my cheeks.
“They’re waiting for Will Bennett.” I stated, as sure of that fact as I’d ever been of anything.
“He’s back at the castle. The rest of the group went in to stop him.”
I shook my head. “Sorcerer, remember. I should have seen it! He probably knew we were coming the moment we popped through that first portal. We didn’t stop the army back at the castle. They were just the extras, left behind to make us believe we were making a difference. The real army is waiting down there for their leader to take them through the portal into Drae Hallow.
“Then where is he?” Elise whispered.
“Waiting to make sure the others arrive where he wants them. Out of his way.”
As if Elise’s question had conjured the man of the hour himself, a humming vibration moved over the ground and through them. The army of wolves looked at the portal expectantly. A burgeoning light just to the left of the pile of rocks grew and expanded until it was man sized. With a pop not unlike that made by the Macu from before, out stepped Will Bennett in a swirl of robes. He stood for just a moment and looked around. We ducked as his eyes moved beyond the circle of Demon wolves and towards the distant woods and the bluff we hid behind.
When next we looked he was striding towards the Demon wolves that all gathered to listen to instructions. They didn’t look so lazy now.
I pulled back below the crest of the hill with Todd and the others. Elise and Nick joined me.
“He’s going through that portal with the army. If he makes it to the other side, the people of Bitterroot and everyone at Rule 9 academy won’t stand a chance.” Nick said.
“That’s right. I don’t know where the others are, and we can’t worry about that right now. We have to stop them.”
Elise looked at me as if I’d lost my mind. Maybe I had. Todd had gathered at my elbow. He hadn’t said a word in response to my outlandish suggestion.
Nick drawled at my elbow. “I like it. We’ll just charge down the hill and use the element of surprise to overrun close to 100 Demon wolves and a Class B Sorcerer with ten nearly dead prisoners, a pregnant vampire and a bunch of teenagers. Brilliant plan, Cross.”
I had to remind myself that socking Nicholas Seul in the nose wasn’t an option.
“Do you have a better idea? If we don’t do something soon, we won’t have anything left to take the Tuttles back to. It will all be gone.”
His face said it all as he looked away.
I crawled back to the edge of the hill; not sure what else I could do. Nick was right. What I was proposing with what we offered was nothing short of suicide. It wouldn’t stop the outcome. It might delay it by the ten minutes it would take to kill us all.
“I do have a better idea. And you do smell sweet.” Murmured a droll voice, raspy with age, on my left. I jerked violently in shock and turned to stare into the amused eyes of the vampire king. The same Vamp that had suggested inviting me to dinner as the main course. It was too late to run and I was too terrified to be any further frightened by his bullying.
“What do you want?” I asked. Elise gasped on the other side of me.
He leaned forward and caught her wide eyes. “Hello daughter. Taking excellent care of my grandson, aren’t you?”
Elise frowned. “Granddaughter.” She corrected.
He sighed. “A vampire can hope.” His eyes moved to mine with cold precision and I was reminded that he could order my death with a single snap of his cold clawed fingers.
He gave a nod back over my shoulder and I turned to look down the hill. Our numbers had grown by at least twenty more men and women. Stoic and pale, they stood to the side and waited without a word for instructions. I caught more than the occasional glitter of teeth. I worried about the captives, but then I remembered. They weren’t interested in them. I was a different matter entirely.
“That’s all you could come up with?” I asked before my brain caught up with my mouth.
He scowled, eyes glowing in his pasty face. Elise yanked viciously at my shirt. Trying to get me to shut up, I was sure.
He puffed his chest up. “Twenty vampires is more than a sufficient match against any number of werewolves.” He stated. I stared at him without speaking a word.
He sighed and his chest deflated as he admitted. “And that’s all that wanted to come. I gave them the choice. I’m getting soft in my old age.”
I relented. “Better than nothing. At least now maybe we can eliminate a few of them before they kill us all and enter Drae Hallow.”
I thought of something else.
“I’m sorry. What’s in it for you again? I mean, fewer wolves and saying goodbye to the other end of Will Bennett has got to be splendid news for you. You don’t have to get involved at all now... so why are you?”
“Not so dumb, Sadie Cross.” His eyes slid across to Elise.
“Let’s just say I’m protecting my interests. I’m getting old and Elise carries the next vampire queen inside her, though she doesn’t know this yet.” I believed him when Elise gasped beside me. “Our help comes with a condition, just a small one.”
I was tiring of everyone asking me to negotiate.
“You get our help for as long as it takes, and so long as Elise stays back with the weak and wounded and doesn’t join in the fight.”
Elise opened her mouth to protest.
“Silence!” he hissed, the whisper carrying like a roar. “I will not risk you and the child you carry.” He went on, his voice softening. “Please daughter, do this for her; and me.”
Elise ran her hand over her belly. “Fine. For her, not for you!” she bit out.
He smiled. “Atta girl.” He glanced at me. “So what’s your plan?”
I shook my head. “Not much. Flank them, rush them, take out as many as we can.”
He sighed. “Your strategy is astounding. Perhaps I can lend my assistance.”
DISTANCE AND EXHAUSTION forced them to slow down or drop. They’d long since left the riverbed behind, coming topside to angle at a complete diagonal across the large prairie of dried grass they’d made a point of avoiding before. They were past caring about the possibility of running into any more Dragons. Besides, most of them were still wreaking havoc back at the castle where they’d still been going strong when they left them behind.
Thomas led as they topped the rise, Jorta running by his side as they made for the portal. Fern, Sirris and the wolves trailed close behind.
Jorta slid to a halt at the top along with everyone else. They gaped at the scene that spread out before them like an awful dream.
In the valley below, Demon wolf battled vampire battled Other battled Magical. A blur of motion moved on that field amid snarls of rage and the sharp screams of the wounded and not so luc
ky. On a slight rise due east of the battle stood Sadie, notching bolt after bolt and hitting her targets almost every time. Vampires moved in with teeth and claw to finish what she started. Flashes of fire and the whir of a staff pinpointed Nicholas, to one side of the fray, blue lightening flashing from the end to fry flesh and bone. The familiar gait and lunge of an Other caught his eye, and Thomas’ eyes teared up as he recognized his brother. Had he discovered him only to watch him die all over again? He opened his mouth to scream his name when his attention was pulled to the center of the field and a much larger report of light, flaring so high it lit the sky with firelight.
They’d found Will Bennett. He stood in the middle of the battlefield, systematically sending bolts of lightning towards the attacking vampires, picking them off one at a time with every blast of light.
They were fighting; and they were losing badly. It was all he could think as he took off down the hill to join them, his scream of rage bouncing in the wind. The others were right behind him. Sirris ran at his right, her long hair a banner behind her as she held her staff aloft in one hand, the green glow at the end ramping up. Fern on his left somehow kept up, her hands weaving threads of some spell through the air.
With a shout, they reached the battlefield and threw themselves into the melee.
WE WERE GOING TO DIE here in this foreign land and nobody was going to know what had happened to us. I sent another bolt and grunted with satisfaction as it hit its mark and another Demon wolf twisted in midair from the strike. He reached down to yank at the bolt, but it was too late as his movements slowed and the vamps were on him. I had to look away from that part. He wouldn’t be getting back up. My eyes traveled the length of the field. From my perch on the bluff, it was all laid out before me.
Fire Bound Dragon Page 25
