Legacy of Flames- The Complete Trilogy, page 29
part #1 of Legacy of Flames Series
Whoa. Apparently Becks had been carrying around some pent-up rage. Then again, so had I, but it was more directed at Astor, and wound up in so many other conflicting emotions that I never knew what to say to him.
Giselle watched her. “You’re lucky Astor ordered me to keep you here, but you’re trying his patience and mine. He never said all your friends could stay here indefinitely, Ember. I wouldn’t push us. And you’d be unwise to forget what we are. Astor might be looking to make up for what he did. I never said I was.”
She hobbled to the weapons room and slammed the door behind her. We watched, warily, half expecting her to come out with a gun and shoot at us. I knew she had some of the hunters’ weapons in there. But she didn’t return. Becks took her place on the sofa. “Never thought I’d say this, but I’d rather spend time around your hunter than her.”
“He’s not mine. Believe me, this situation is less than ideal.”
The faerie wailed in his sleep, beating at the mattress with his fists.
“Me, too, mate,” I muttered. “Me, too.”
7
Will returned within two hours, which was a good job, because I’d chewed my nails to ribbons by that point. Giselle remained in her room without speaking to us, which was no surprise whatsoever. Astor hadn’t shown himself after our confrontation, either. Apparently he planned to sulk in his room all day like Giselle.
I talked to Cori a little, like I did every day—just updating her on the situation, even though I knew she couldn’t hear me in her sleep. The sedation was too strong. It was really lucky the potions we used to keep her alive had survived the journey, because if not, we’d be in even more trouble. We needed that Moonbeam. At least now we know what it looks like.
A fluttering noise outside the window heralded Will’s return. I looked at Becks and we both ran to the door to let him in. He hadn’t used the phone, which hopefully meant nothing bad had happened. Will landed, feathers sticking up in all directions and the distinct smell of smoke hanging about. He turned human again, coughing.
Becks spoke first. “Any signs of the Moonbeam?”
“Another gargoyle died,” Will said. “There’s a fire, police everywhere—the human ones.”
“Shit, really?” I asked.
“Yeah.” Will coughed again, shuffling after us through the door. “It looks like he was killed in mid-air and crash-landed. The fire started a minute later, or less.”
I stopped halfway through the door to the living room. “You’re kidding.”
Will filed in behind me. “I know. I need to get another shadow spell together before I go poking around. I don’t get why the gargoyles are leaving their own territories, either.”
“Hmm. Might another gargoyle have done it?” I looked uneasily at the others. Someone killing supernaturals was usually bad news for the rest of us.
“No clue. I bought some more ingredients, though.”
“For what?” Becks asked. “I thought you were supposed to be looking out for the Moonbeam.”
“Yeah, but there’s not much I can do without bringing it up by name,” said Will. “I did, however, get some interesting information from a former contact.”
“Like…?”
“I know how to brew up a spell to counter iron poisoning.”
My gaze went to the faerie sleeping in the corner. “You do?”
“Yeah. It’s complicated and will take a while, and I don’t know how much damage the hunters did to him. But it’s curable.”
“Oh, good.” I sighed. “But Cori. Did you…?”
“That’s the bad news. The other bad news,” Will amended. “There doesn’t seem to be a cure for never-ending sleep. I’m inclined to believe the assassin told the truth. The witch I spoke to is one of the most knowledgeable people I’ve met, and she said most knockout potions have less effect on shifters than on regular people. So they must have modified theirs specifically to affect shifters.”
“I don’t think Astor lied,” I said. “So you spoke to the witch, and then found the gargoyle?”
“I didn’t see him. I did see the fire, though. It was pretty noticeable.”
“Damn.” So much for doing some investigating of my own.
“The assassin’s car’s gone, by the way.”
“Is it?” asked Becks.
“Must have climbed out the window. Or just been really quiet.” Damn. So much for him telling us what he was up to. At least now we knew his secret, even though it was beyond me to guess why he’d decided to spy on the mages of all people. I doubted they’d be able to find the Moonbeam. The only advantage I could see was that the mages would be able to keep the Moonbeam from falling into enemy hands—but also stop us from using it. So, we needed to find it first, regardless of the mages’ supposed good intentions. Unfortunately, not only did they have more reach, the gargoyles were scared of them. And probably pissed off, considering they shot a lightning bolt at one of them.
“So we can’t take the car,” said Becks. “Right. Will, can you carry both of us?”
“If you’re in cat form, yeah.”
“Maybe I’d be better off shifting,” I said. Except every time I’d done it, I’d passed out immediately after shifting back into human form.
“Give me an hour,” said Will. “I’m tired, and besides, we need to get a head start on this anti-iron poisoning potion.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” So much for our plans. “We need a new hideout that’s not out in the middle of nowhere.”
“You know, I never invited you here,” said Giselle, the door to her room swinging open.
“That’s not what I meant,” I said. “If I could shift into dragon form without passing out and drawing attention, I would.”
“Passing out?”
“That only happens the first time you shift,” said Becks. “Or second. Maybe you need more practise.”
“Look, I turn into a six-foot-long dragon. Is this the best place to do that?”
“No, and don’t even think about it,” said Giselle.
“Whoa. Calm down.” Will raised both hands. “I’m going to make those spells. Try to have a civilised discussion.”
“About what? How my sister’s on limited time, and those gargoyles decided to screw around with us for no reason?”
“I wouldn’t say it’s for no reason,” said Will. “I’m guessing there’s some sort of feud taking place. You don’t normally get so many of them killed at once. It’s weird.”
“Still unhelpful,” I said.
“This isn’t.” Will held up his phone. “Turns out I can find my old contacts through here.”
“And?”
“And I have someone looking into whether there might’ve been any break-ins or weirdness three months ago at Carter’s place.”
“Good. So once the potion’s ready, are we definitely heading back into the city?”
“Only if you help me with the spells.”
An hour later, I settled onto Will’s gargoyle back, Becks perched on my shoulder. It wasn’t particularly comfortable—gargoyles weren’t designed to carry humans, and I hoped Becks could keep her balance. But it was this or wait for Astor to come back. Knowing him, he’d taken off for good. Or for some other motive. Whatever. He’s the most unreliable ally ever, and you should be glad to be rid of him.
Will flew above the lowest clouds, getting all of us drenched in a fine drizzle. Gargoyles didn’t mind getting wet, but Becks hissed and dug her claws into my leg, while I ducked my head to avoid becoming more soaked than I already was. London unfolded beneath us, the ribbon-shape of the Thames winding amongst the buildings. It wasn’t clear from this height that the faeries had done so much damage to the city. Only the significantly wider patches of green where faeries’ magic had hit and caused the wild plants and trees to grow excessively hinted at the sudden increase in magic in this realm. The urban sprawl remained, the same as ever.
A shadow fell overhead. A big, winged shadow. Gargoyles. Must be. Nothing else could fly, except for me. Will flew right into the clouds, prompting a stifled yelp from Becks as she was drenched in rainwater. I wished I’d worn a coat, but I’d rather be damp than a target. The shadow was huge for a gargoyle, and I hadn’t even seen the beast yet. Any higher and we’d be struggling to breathe. A few tense seconds later, Will dropped out of the cloud. The shadow had gone.
When we flew lower, a fire blazed along Oxford Street. Damn. The target had been another of the witches’ hidden avenues, and a number of people gathered nearby. Will avoided the cluster of emergency services vehicles and landed in a nearby street. The smell of burning was thick in the air.
Becks turned into human form again. “Never again,” she said. “I could hardly breathe up there.”
“I think you clawed a hole in my leg.” I grimaced. “Okay. What now?”
“Put the shadow spells on,” Will said. “I’ll go and question people.”
“But you’re the one the gargoyles are after.” I reached up my sleeve for the band-shaped shadow spell, which had ridden up my arm while we’d been flying. One twist and it’d activate.
“They aren’t here,” said Will. “The witches don’t know you guys, and we don’t want anyone to know all three of us are running around.”
“I don’t need a shadow spell,” Becks said. “Nobody ever notices a cat sitting nearby.”
“Okay, I’ll use one,” I said. “But if the gargoyles come back, we’re getting out.”
Will approached a lone witch walking out of the avenue, a middle-aged woman with dark hair streaked with grey.
“Hey,” said Will. “What’s going on?”
She turned accusing eyes onto him. “You’re the one. You and the girl. You started it?”
What?
“What are you talking about?” asked Will, echoing my thoughts.
“You shifters are all the same. Starting fires, killing one another…”
I couldn’t see Will’s face, but I’d bet he looked as bewildered as I felt. “We didn’t hurt anyone. Why would I start a fire?”
“Your dragon friend would.”
My breath stopped. It was lucky I was in shadow, because I’d never have been able to hide my reaction. Obviously, word about what we’d done at the Stronghold would have spread by now, but I hadn’t expected the witches to know. Much less that they’d blame me for random acts of arson. I mean, wouldn’t people actually see a dragon?
“No.” Will stepped back. “I didn’t do that. I came to ask what happened—”
“Shifters happened,” said a man across the street. “You’re a menace. Slaughtering one another left and right, attacking the rest of us. No wonder they want you on a register.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I came here because I saw a fire next to my home. Which the hunters trampled, by the way. Supernaturals are on the same side. What do you mean, register?”
“Don’t you work in Magic Avenue? They asked everyone to sign up yesterday.”
“No. I don’t live there anymore.” Will paused. “I’m not the one you should be blaming for this. Who wants this register?”
A whistling sounded and a small explosion hit the pavement inches away, thrown from a nearby window. I backed away and ran, recognising the blast as a witch spell, and not one of ours. Becks streaked past in cat form, and Will and I didn’t stop until we were several streets away.
“Damn.” I rubbed smoke from my eyes. “That was a nasty piece of work. What the hell is going on here?”
“Apparently someone blamed us for both the fire and the gargoyle murders,” said Will. “Meanwhile, that dude’s register apparently isn’t unique. Who’s compiling a list of shifters?”
I gave him a look. “Who’d have reason to?”
There was a buzzing noise. Will pulled his phone from his pocket.
“I got a reply from my contact,” he said. “The only time anyone broke into Carter’s place three months ago—it was on the hunters’ last raid.”
Oh, shit.
We all looked at one another. All thinking the same thing. The hunters must have the Moonbeam. Did Astor know? Surely not—he wouldn’t waste time with the mages if he did. But… Ember, you should have known. Malkin had considered using Cori in his plans. He wouldn’t have left her to sleep indefinitely. Of course he had the cure.
But had it been in the Stronghold? He must have taken it with him. A valuable item like that wouldn’t be left behind. And… and the dragon shifter in jail must have known it wasn’t there, and that they’d put Cori to sleep without any means of waking her up. Had Malkin calculated this? Maybe. No wonder he’d let us come into the prison. Even on the tiny chance that we escaped with Cori, Malkin had known we’d be forced to come back and challenge the hunters again if we wanted to undo what he’d done to her.
“The fucker,” I growled.
“We’ll snap his neck this time,” said Becks, getting who I was talking about.
“Wait,” Will said. “This was three months ago. No telling where the hunters are now. Nobody’s seen them.”
“But they can’t hide forever,” I said. “They want us dead. All of us. It wouldn’t surprise me if they were in on the gargoyle thing, but I don’t think they’re trying to lure us in this time. They left too many clues before, which was probably deliberate.”
“You’re right,” said Becks. “They have the field advantage, too. They probably had a backup Stronghold. They’ll still be catching shifters…”
“Through registers?” I suggested. “He implied everyone’s being asked to make a list of shifter employees. The mages wouldn’t have a reason to.”
“No, but… the hunters? They could come and snatch any of us in person, if they wanted to,” Will said. “They did. With Cori. I don’t see how making lists will help them. A lot of supernaturals don’t work regular jobs.”
“But they only wanted one of us when they captured Cori,” I said. “Me. They’d have killed the rest of us.” Panic washed through me as a new realisation hit. “Shit. If he’s supplying them with names and addresses, some of them might already have signed.”
“No, they won’t have,” said Becks. “Shifters have more sense, generally, than to work with humans.”
“Not if they don’t have a choice,” I said. “I think we should head back to Harwood’s office. I know he won’t have a clue if they have the Moonbeam or not, but he might know where they’re operating from at the moment. He’s the only link we have.”
“I don’t like it,” said Becks. “Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t mind spilling a little more hunter blood, but we don’t know nearly enough about this situation to go barging in. What if they’re setting up another trap for us?”
“Yeah.” Will nodded. “I get it. They played us with the Stronghold. They knew exactly what we were planning.”
“But this isn’t the same,” I said. “The people making the register are human. They’re also supposed to be ordered to remove those dead fae monsters from the city, so surely they knew most of their employees are supernaturals. It seems worth checking the office again at least.”
“I agree,” said Becks.
“Guess I’m outvoted,” said Will. “There’s no telling what else those gargoyles might be plotting. I know the locals won’t be involved, but apparently the Fanged are spreading their wings.”
“Hmm.” I climbed onto his back as he shifted, while Becks hid inside my coat this time. I didn’t like travelling this way. We were too conspicuous. It was hard to hide an adult person and a cat behind the wings of a smallish gargoyle, even with my shadow spell on.
The clouds gave us enough cover, though, and we landed in a deserted street near to the office. I didn’t want to be seen here, not when people were apparently searching for us already. I hoped Harwood hadn’t made the connection. He was human, so hopefully he wouldn’t be up to date on developments in the supernatural world. We’d once lived worlds apart. I felt bad for the normal humans trying to adapt, but people who intentionally made it more difficult for supernaturals didn’t deserve my sympathy. The warring gargoyle factions didn’t help endear any of us to non-supernaturals.
The office was how we’d left it before. Signs in the windows advertising the mages’ plans to clear faeries from the streets. Dull brick walls, windows boarded up to prevent them being broken.
A growl sounded, and a huge and furred shape jumped out of the shadows.
8
Whoa. I leaped back as teeth snapped inches from where I’d been standing. Alarm froze me for a moment—how does it know where I am when I’m wearing the shadow spell? But of course, shifters had a better sense of smell than humans. It knew there were three of us, and that we weren’t human.
The huge beast had shaggy black fur, more like a fae creature than a regular shifter, and resembled a cross between a bear and a dog. It roared, displaying rows of sharp teeth, and swiped with one giant paw. Becks yowled and struck back, circling its legs in the way she usually did to bring a larger opponent crashing to its knees. Will turned into a gargoyle, but even with his wings spread, he was smaller than the oddly shaped furry beast.
I twisted the shadow spell on my wrist to switch it off—it already knew I was here, and I wanted to know if it was a shifter or not. Unfortunately, there was no easy way to subdue it without risking someone getting hurt.
“What are you?” I asked, letting my claws slide out. The beast roared in response, advancing forward, bloodlust gleaming in its eyes. I’d seen shifters in a frenzy before, but it wasn’t the full moon, so surely it ought to be able to snap out of it. If it was even a shifter at all.
“Are you a shifter?” I raised my claws in warning. “Or are you a faerie?”
The beast growled and swiped again. I caught its hand in my claw, but the blow sent me staggering back. Holy crap, it was strong. If we let the creature run, people might get killed.
