Fire in the Darkness (41 page)

“You know I can never resist when you call for me like that, darlin’.” His voice was forced and gravelly. Pained.

“West . . . oh God!” My gaze took in his wounded, damaged body. His neck was ringed by a spiked-lined collar, cutting into his throat every time he swallowed or talked. “What happened? Why are you here?”

He swallowed, a trickle of blood slid down his neck. His eyes darted up to mine. Sorrow, pain, and anger rolled around in them.

“Lorcan.”

My eyes closed briefly in understanding. I had always hated Lorcan, but now fiery abhorrence consumed me. Protectiveness of West made me want to tear at the bars, to shelter him, to keep him safe.
Family.
The notion tore through me followed by a guttural growl.

“Ember?” My mother’s hand reached down to my shoulder, her voice unsure. With a protective snarl, my gaze flashed up to her. Her hand went to her mouth and she stumbled back with a gasp.

“Whoa, darlin’ . . . .” West said bringing my attention back on him. A strained smile twisted on his face. “It’s okay. I’ll be all right.” Dread gurgled in my stomach as I looked at him in pain. I couldn’t be reassured. Another small rumble came from my chest. West placed his hand over mine. “I'm thinkin’ Eli’s blood did more than just save your life.”

It finally hit me what everyone was freaking out about. My eyes and actions had become full Dark Dweller. Looking down, I took in a deep breath, trying to calm my instincts.

Shit!
I recognized right then Eli was not someone I could easily walk away from. No matter what he did or didn’t do, he was a part of me. There wasn’t a piece of me that wasn’t intertwined with him now. Even my freaking DNA.

“Ember?” my mom’s voice broke me out of my thoughts.

“I’m okay, Mom.” I looked up at her.

“What the hell happened? What happened to your eyes? Who is he?” She pointed to West. I could tell she already sensed what he was but needed me to actually confirm it.

“This is West . . . and he’s a Dark Dweller.”

It took her a moment before motherly instinct took over. “Get away from him!”

“Mom . . . you don’t understand.”

“All I need to know is that he’s a Dark Dweller.” Her voice was severe. “Now get the hell away from him!”

“No,” I responded.

“No? Did you just tell me no?”

And I’m back to being five again.

I turned back to West, ignoring her rant.

“Mommy’s pissed darlin’ so you probably should listen to her. You guys need to get out of here.”

“I am not going without you.” My jaw set firmly.

A pained smile formed on his mouth. “I always knew I liked you, but you can’t help me. These spikes stop me from changing and the collar is spelled so it can’t be undone even with a key.” He took a jagged breath. “Go while you can.”

“West . . .” I reached up touching his cheek again. I heard Mom suck air angrily between her teeth.

Wait till she learns about my full connection to the Dark Dwellers. That'll be fun.

“Please, go.”

I bit down on my lip. I couldn’t help him, but it was hard to leave him. Against all odds, he was my family now. My blood made him so, and I protected my own. “I’ll be coming back for you. I will not leave you here.”

“Somehow I know you won’t. You are one of us now, aren’t you?” His eyebrow hitched up in curious amusement.

“Yes,” I nodded. “I am.” This was not something that would ever go away. I was part Dark Dweller and proud of it. More than I thought I’d ever be. Giving his hand a squeeze, I pulled back, and stood up.

“Until we meet again.” West leaned his head back against the wall, giving me one of his infamous grins.

“Until we meet again.” I winked and then I herded my mother down the dark corridor; Simmons and Cal on our tail.

“Think we got more trouble on our hands with this one than we planned on, Simmons,” Cal said from behind me.

“Why Calvin, for once I think you are right.”

TWENTY-NINE

“The only way we’re going to get through this castle and to their rooms undiscovered is if you guys go ahead of us. You can hide in the shadows and warn us if anybody is coming. This could get really dangerous,” I whispered to the pixies.

“When we were trying to find you, my lady, most were retiring.”

“Well, that’s a little good news.” I sighed. “Now go.”

Simmons saluted me. “Aye, my lady. Your wish is our command.”

“But why can’t the wish ever consist of me lying next to a rambling brook with a glass of juniper juice?” Cal grumbled, but took off after Simmons.

“You’ve been in the Otherworld for a short time and already have two pixies at your command?” Mom’s head wagged back and forth. “Impressive. Pixies are usually self-absorbed, isolated creatures. They rarely help others or even other pixies.” It was strange to hear my mom talk about the Otherworld. It was odd to associate her with this world; she had hid that life from me so well for so long.

A tiny figure zipped back into the room. “The soldiers guarding the dungeons are directly on the other side of this door and are snoring. Cal insists they are not pretending, but I recommend going forth with caution, my lady.” Simmons’ advice lingered in my ear.

“Thank you, Simmons. I will take it into advisement.” Gripping the knife tighter in my hand, I tiptoed through the door inching it open until I could pop my head through.

Exactly as Simmons reported, the soldiers were sound asleep, their deep snores echoed off the stone walls. Mom and I crept past them. Room by room, hallway by hallway, this strategy played itself out. The castle was quiet and a minimal number of people were around, which was very helpful. My newly found Dark Dweller attributes helped. Being slinky and quiet seemed to come naturally to me now. I was also surprised how quiet Mom could skulk. It seemed part of her nature, too. Both of us easily kept to the shadows, undetected by the few we did run across. The real problem was getting past the guards who protected my friends' and Dad’s rooms. From my dreamwalk I had a general idea where they were. I sent Simmons out to case the outer windows of the castle.

“My lady! My lady!” Simmons came hurling down the hallway a few minutes later.

“Shhhh!” I held a finger to my lips.

“They—your friends—are in the last room down the hall on the left,” he whispered excitedly.

“Any guards?” Simmons had probably awakened the entire castle by now.

“Only one. The Queen obviously feels your friends are a very low threat.”

Drying my sweaty palm on my jeans, I re-clenched the knife I had been holding in a death grip. “Okay, here is the plan: We get my friends out first. Cal and Simmons can take them into the forest while Mom and I find Mark. Then we’ll all get the hell out of here.” My voice was strong and direct, but I knew how flimsy the plan was. They knew it, too, but they all nodded, too scared to think of all the things that could go wrong.

The guard near their room was also asleep, which seemed odd. I thought we had lucked out with the first guards being asleep, but this was beyond lucky. Glancing up at Cal, my brow furrowed.

“So, they had a little help going to sleep . . . . Indict me.” Cal crossed his arms.

“I think I owe you two kisses now.” My smile widened at Cal.

Six inches of pixie flushed red from head to toe. “What makes us drunk causes you big Fairies to sleep like babies.”

“Cal, I am so loving you right now.” He only turned redder.

We moved closer to the passed out guard. Recognition hit me as I stared at him. I couldn’t recall his name, but I knew it was the beautiful guard who had come into the room in my dreamwalk. I had respected how well he treated my friends. He did not seem to believe they were beneath him, as so many other Fay thought of humans. He reminded me of a younger Torin, proud and honorable, but who would go against the Queen if he believed she was wrong.

Cal flapped down to where the keys were hooked on the guard's belt. I clenched my teeth and held my breath as Cal slowly pulled the keys off. This could go so bad so quickly. The young man stirred, but his eyes remained shut. Cal flew to the door, twisting the key in the lock. With a click the lock turned over. We all froze and looked at the guard, waiting for him to awaken. I knew from here on we would have to be swift and methodical in our movements and choices. When I slipped into the room, my finger was already at my lips telling them not to react.

Kennedy was the first to see me. She jumped off the bed about to say something, but stopped when she saw me shake my head. Josh and Jared followed suit, standing quietly. When we were all in the room, I closed the door.

Kennedy was in my arms before I could even blink. “Em . . . I knew you’d come."

I pulled her close, hugging her tightly. “I don’t work without you guys.” My heart realized how much I had missed her.

“Ryan and I feel the same. We don’t function without our spice.” She squeezed me then pulled back. That was when I noticed that Ryan hadn’t moved even an inch.

“What’s wrong with him?” I took in Ryan’s labored breathing and perspiring, white pale skin.

“We don’t know. He was fine but suddenly became really ill,” Kennedy responded.

I moved closer to him and my mom came to my side. She laid a maternal hand on his head. “He’s burning up.”

“What are you doing here, Ember?” Josh’s tone was tense.

“Josh . . .” I walked over and threw my arms around him. Stiffening under my grasp, he patted my back uncomfortably. Josh and I always had a touchy, relaxed relationship. It was clear he no longer felt comfortable around me.

“Em.” Jared took me in a bear hug. His arms felt like they bulked up a size since I saw him. “So good to see you.”

“You, too, J.” I stepped back, knowing I had to tell him something he would take badly. Blurting it out was the only way. “West is here.”

“What? West?” Jared reacted. “What do you mean West is here?”

“He’s locked in the dungeon, and I couldn’t get him out.” My hands reached out to Jared knowing his impulse would be to go to him. “We will come back for him. I swear to you, Jared, we will get him out.”

“How did he get here? I don’t understand…”

He was a smart kid, but denial was a strong seductress. Tilting my head, I said only one word. “Lorcan.”

He shook his head back and forth rebuffing my answer, then stopped. The certainty of it washed over him. “Fuck,” he swore. I could feel him holding back the scream he wanted to belt out. His hand took a swing at the wall. Blood poured instantly from his knuckles.

“Jared, stop!” Kennedy exclaimed, rushing to his side. She took his damaged hand tenderly into hers.

I sat down on Ryan’s bed. Sweat soaked his clothing and his cheeks flushed a bright red as fever ravaged him. Glimpses of consciousness flickered across his face. “Ryan, I have to get you out of here.” His eyes opened for a second before shutting again. “Please, I need you to sit up.”

“You won’t be taking him anywhere,” a voice spoke from behind me. The entire room swiveled around with a start. The guard we had snuck past now stood in the doorway.

“Castien, please . . . .” Kennedy stepped towards him, cautiously. The name finally connected with his familiar face.

“Ryan is too ill to move. You will kill him if you try to take him to Earth. Humans do not take passing through as easily as Fae do. If he was healthy, I would not object, but he is not. I will not allow you to remove him from the premises.” Castien’s tone held a protective note in it.

“What?” I couldn’t help from blurting it out. I felt confused. He wasn’t turning us in? He was not screaming down the hallway for the Queen or more guards?

“We can’t leave him behind,” Kennedy exclaimed.

“If you take him, he will die. If he stays, he will be a prisoner but will live. I will make sure of it.”

Looking around the room, Mom and I had the same dumbstruck expression on our faces. The others did not. This was not as much of a shock to them as it was to us. Looking down at Ryan and back to Castien, something clicked. “You like him,” I smiled.

“Ryan is special. I will keep him safe,” Castien replied, neither confirming nor denying. “Now, if you are going to sneak out the window, you better do it now. The wards will go off instantly, but I will try to delay them as much as I can.”

A small chuckle escaped my throat. This night could not get any stranger. Leaning down I kissed Ryan’s head. “I love you, Ry. I will be back for you, okay?” Ryan only mumbled something incoherently, sound asleep. Castien took this moment to exit the door so we didn’t have long.

“I’m going to jump down first. Ken, you jump next, then Josh. I’ll catch you guys.” Jared motioned Kennedy to move to the window, then looking at me. “When they’re down I’ll start for the woods. You’ll help get your mom down?” I nodded. Jared climbed onto the sill, pushing through the bars.

“Jared?” His head turned back around to look at me. “Keep them safe. Simmons and Cal will show you where to go. Follow them.”

“What are you doing Em?” Uneasiness filled his tone.

“Going after my Dad. I won’t leave Mark here.”

He watched me before he reluctantly nodded. The next instant he was gone, vaulting out the window. Several seconds later we heard a soft whistle. Kennedy crawled onto the ledge. Instead of jumping she sat there, shivering as she gazed down. I remembered she was scared of heights. “Ken, I love you, but if you don’t jump, I’ll push you.” She took a deep breath and then plunged into the darkness. Josh was next, but he also hesitated at the window.