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Ari
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PASSING THROUGH THE layers of concrete and steel up to the ground floor, Greg and I emerged into a study. Books lined the shelves and the heads of long-dead shapeshifters graced the walls. For a moment, I thought we were in Spencer’s mansion in Rosethorn. Then I realized the trophies and furniture were different.
My new vision wasn’t good enough to see through the walls to all the rooms that surrounded us. Going with my gut, I drifted out into the hall and followed it to a set of stairs leading up. I wasn’t sure where we were, but it had to be one of Von Hades’ properties. If the house was enchanted, it didn’t affect us. We flew past rooms that stayed put and finally came to another set of stairs.
Heading up, I took hallways at random until we came to a room that was in the same spot where the dragon heart had been kept in Rosethorn. The two mansions were very similar in design and layout. My sense of direction was much better in spirit form.
Seeing a group of people gathered inside, I stopped at the door to watch through the wood without entering the room. Von Hades stood next to a cage with silver bars. Alakay was imprisoned inside and stared at the demon with a sardonic look. Harrow was hunched behind his master, hatred pouring from his eyes. It was clear to me that he wanted his evil overlord dead. Spencer’s hold over him was too strong for him to break free.
A dozen druids stood before the creature they’d just learned was their true master, listening to him speak. Their backs were to me, but their posture indicated they were uneasy and frightened. They’d thought Harrow was in charge, but he’d played them as well as us. We’d all fallen for his ruse that he’d escaped from the demon’s control.
“Listen,” Greg said, reminding me why I was there.
“With this mask, I will ascend to new heights no one on this planet has ever dreamed of,” Von Hades said as he paced up and down. The wooden mask had been repaired, but it just looked like an inert piece of art to me. I could sense the souls that had been sucked inside it, yet it seemed to be dormant somehow. “I just need one final element, then the power of the dead god shall be mine!” Spencer added. A fanatical gleam in his gray eyes gave me a shiver of dread.
“I thought infusing it with souls would activate the mask,” I said to my companion.
“Apparently not,” Greg replied. “We need to discover what is missing and how he intends to gain it.”
Reaching into his pocket, Spencer held up a clear glass vial. Red liquid sloshed around inside it. I could feel a preserving spell on the vial. “With this dragon blood, I can separate the witch’s reaper from her body,” he said. “The strongest of you will need to cast the spell to enable this to happen, while the rest of you will capture the reaper before he can turn on us.”
“But, the spell is too powerful,” one of the druids said timidly. “None of us are strong enough to cast it and survive.”
Turning on the man, Von Hades’ expression told them how little he cared about their welfare. “As I said, the strongest of you will cast the spell. Once the witch is mortal, she will pay the price for crossing me.” Harrow sneered, then smoothed his expression to neutrality when his master spun around. “Is everything ready?” Spencer asked.
“Of course, master,” the Grand Druid said with a low bow. “We need only lure the witch to the altar, then we can enact your plan.”
“This world will be mine,” the demon said, turning to face the druids without seeing them. “With the power this mask will grant me, I will open up portals to finally allow my minions to escape from their fiery captivity. My kind will rule this dimension and every other realm that is within my reach.”
“Yes, master,” Harrow said in a servile tone, secretly rolling his eyes at the demon’s megalomaniacal attitude.
“As for you,” Spencer said, turning to the master vampire. “You will serve your purpose, leech.”
“And what purpose is that?” Alakay asked arrogantly.
“I hear you’ve been seeking revenge against the witch ever since she stole your life from you so long ago.” The demon’s expression turned sly before he continued. “A little birdy told me she also stole your manhood.”
Rage suffused the bloodsucker’s face, turning it into an icy mask. Morgwen hadn’t actually chopped off his most prized body part, but she’d rendered him impotent. He’d hated her more for that loss than for the loss of his life. “I would gladly kill the whore with my bare hands for what she took from me,” he hissed.
“Perhaps you shall have your chance,” Spencer said with a chuckle. “Come, we need to travel to Russia and gain the witch’s attention. Once she sees me, she won’t be able to resist the lure.”
That answered the question of what bait they would use to lure her to one of the druidic woods that were scattered throughout the world. He intended to use himself to get her to follow him. Considering how much she hated the demon, I had no doubt that he would succeed.
“You need to return to your body,” Greg said, tugging on my shoulder. “You are beginning to weaken.”
Allowing him to draw me away, we headed downward. Seeing the skeletons of dozens of hybrid monsters first, we descended into a room that was full of the creatures. Their energy pulsed around me, supernatural mixed with human. An idea seized me and I paused long enough to suck their essence into me. Even from a distance, I felt my body take it in through our tenuous link.
“Hurry!” Greg said and yanked me hard.
Still draining the hybrids, I allowed myself to be pulled back to the cell where my slumbering body lay waiting.
Jonah still stood in the same position, looking down at me. He started when Greg shoved me back into my body and I sat up with a gasp. Overflowing with too much power, I searched for a way to expel it and found nothing. “That might have been a very bad idea,” I said with a groan. My head felt like it was going to split open if I didn’t get the energy out of me. Standing, I staggered over to the door and placed my hands on it.
“Did it work?” Connor asked anxiously, then saw the sweat that stood out on my forehead. “What’s wrong?”
“Energy overload,” I replied. Groping with mental hands, I distantly felt the spells that were engraved on the outside of my cell. Acting on instinct, I shoved the energy into them. Like a circuit being shorted out, the runes and sigils became inert. The ability to cast magic flooded back into me and I unlocked my door with a thought.
“How the hell did you manage to do that?” Quin asked.
“No time,” I replied, hurrying over to her door. “I’ll explain when we get out of here.” I unlocked her door, then Connor’s and Stephanie’s.
The Archivist woke up when her door clanged open. “What’s going on?” she asked fearfully.
“We’re breaking out of here,” Connor told her as he strode inside. He helped her to her feet, then tucked her arm through his. I squashed a surge of jealousy, knowing I was the only woman he loved. He flicked me a small smile, picking up on my emotions. “Take us back to Scotland,” he said to Jonah.
“With pleasure,” my bestie replied, then whisked us all to our base.
