Death Comes Up Short, page 13
All three kids nodded.
“That was so cool.” Jimi sounded more excited than frightened.
“It was worse than riding Comet,” Nica said, unimpressed.
“Who’s Comet?” Emily asked.
“A witch’s broom,” Nica explained.
“Let’s crack on,” Abbie said. “Robert and River are counting on us, and Oliver might not buy us a lot of time to get this done. Circle, take us to the recital hall’s hidden room.”
The circle whizzed them down a tunnel that was tall enough that Abbie didn’t have to scrunch down as they sped along its twisty curvy path. Once the circle stopped, they were at a dead end. On the wall straight ahead, a metal ladder led upward. At the ceiling, three meters up, she spotted a closed trapdoor lighted by a lit sconce.
“That light being on means a watcher is in the cage room upstairs,” Emily whispered. “When someone turns on the lights upstairs, this one comes on, too.”
Abbie nodded. “Good to know. I’ll wait for the light to go out before heading up there.”
“I want to come, too,” Jimi said.
Abbie knelt and brought him around to make eye contact. She spoke clearly so he would understand her clearly. “Jimi, I need you to stay here and guard our way out of here once we have rescued River and Robert. We won’t be able to escape if someone is here on my return. Your job is to speak to this tunnel so it can warn you if there’s a threat approaching down that passageway. Will you do that?”
“Yes,” he said, sounding reluctant, but resigned.
Nica took his hand. “I’ll stay with him, Abbie.”
“Good girl,” Abbie said.
“I have to come with you,” Emily said, “or you won’t be able to get River to leave.”
“Why not?” Abbie asked.
Emily hung her head.
Abbie tilted Emily’s face up by her chin. At seeing the tremendous remorse reflected in her gaze, she took the child’s left hand and placed it over Emily’s heart. “Do you remember how you tell when someone speaks the truth?”
Emily nodded, tears budding in her eyes.
“Good, then listen to what I’m about to say and see if you can feel in your heart if I’m telling the truth. All right?”
Emily frowned, but agreed.
“Whatever you tell me,” Abbie said. “I won’t be upset. I will believe that you did the best you could.”
Emily’s tightly pressed lips trembled.
Nica came over and put her arm around the little girl’s shoulders. “Us, too.”
Jimi frowned at Emily and then at his sister. Finally, he nodded and put his arm around Emily’s waist. “It’s okay. We won’t hate you. I promise.”
“Are we telling the truth, Emily?” Abbie asked.
The child nodded, tears streaming down her face.
“Then tell us. Why won’t I be able to get River out?”
“Zander had me tell him to stay put in his cage,” Emily whispered, her voice choked. “He makes me do that with all the kids until he’s ready to send them to their new homes. I’m so sorry.”
Abbie hugged all three children. “That’s all right. All that matters is that you want to help River now.”
She finally understood how and why this horrid Zander had used Emily to imprison other children. No wonder he took her with him everywhere. Why he wanted her back. Her “compelling” talent made her his most valuable tool.
Nica stepped back, her eyes wide open with equal understanding. “That’s why Robert couldn’t convince River to leave the hidden room, isn’t it? Why he had to stay with River. He can’t leave his cage.”
Abbie nodded, her hope rising at this shocking news. “If so, with Emily’s help, it should be possible to get both Robert and River out.”
Jimi released his hold on Emily and patted her shoulder. “Thank you for helping us save River now.”
Her generous-hearted kids left Abbie supremely proud. She pulled out Ruth, her magical mirror. “I was going to do this for me, but if Emily is coming along, we can ensure she isn’t seen either.”
About to tap Ruth, Abbie paused, a shudder running through her as the peril she was about to take Emily into, to rescue another child, sank in.
Nica laid a hand on Abbie’s arm as if she sensed her trepidation. “You always say we mustn’t let fear control what we do. I’m scared, but I won’t let that stop me from saving River and Robert.”
“Me, either,” Jimi said.
“Or me,” Emily said with a firm nod. “Never again.”
Her words left Abbie choked up with joy. The frightened little girl cowering under a bush that Abbie and Seamus encountered last night had come a long way.
“Thank you,” she said. “All of you. Now let’s show fear who’s boss.”
Chapter Twelve
“If someone comes down this tunnel,” Abbie said to her kids, “before Emily and I return from up in the cage room, it would be better if no one sees you both. So, let’s get Ruth to make us all invisible. Ready?”
All three kids nodded.
Abbie tapped her mirror once to signal Ruth to make everyone invisible.
“I can still see you,” Emily said.
Abbie took out Ruth and showed Emily that they were all invisible except to each other.
“Wow,” Emily said, “it even made your circle invisible, Abbie.”
When she glanced in the mirror, only the kids’ smaller circle was visible.
Odd. Unless this was a reaction to Abbie’s circle now belonging entirely to her, while the kids’ circle remained connected to the market. That might be why it hadn’t vanished when they were in the fae compound, which was outside the market. Because it had been within Abbie’s circle.
Then another fascinating thought occurred. Did the fact Ruth had made Abbie’s circle invisible mean her circle had awoken like all her other artifacts? Was that why her instruction to Ruth to turn “everyone” invisible had included her circle, but not Jimi and Nica’s circle, which was still an inanimate object?
One way to find out.
“Jimi, ask my circle if it’s real. A living thing.”
He gave her a startled look and then focused on her circle. “Are you alive?” Jimi listened for a moment and then faced her. “He says yes, and his name is Eli.”
Abbie allowed that incredible news to sink in. In severing her circle’s connection to the market, had the angel gifted her with an artifact? And because she was the Grimm Guardian, had Eli now awoken?
An incredible sense of gratitude overwhelmed her. Was this how her ancestors felt whenever they received a magical artifact? Would she be able to take Eli back to Kent?
What a magnificent gift for a magic-less Grimm that was likely to face danger every day of her life!
Just then, the light switched off above them, bathing them in darkness.
“It’s time,” Abbie said, but she didn’t care to leave while the kids’ circle remained visible. “Ruth, turn the children’s circle invisible, too, please.”
Her mirror complied.
“All right then, Emily, let’s go free Robert and River,” she said with renewed confidence. She kissed Nica and Jimi and told them to stay safe.
If Jimi heard of anyone coming down the tunnel, they were to come to her. She couldn’t send them to Oliver, since their circle couldn’t pass beyond the market’s boundaries.
Once the two circles separated, Abbie had Eli raise Emily and her upward, toward the trapdoor.
At the top, Emily’s hand reached for the light switch. Abbie caught her hand to stop her from turning it on. She didn’t want to tip off anyone to their presence. Who knew if these villains had installed a CCTV camera or a magical scrying one to monitor the room above?
She slowly raised the trapdoor and listened. All was quiet in the upper cage room. Once the circle took them up to the floor above, she silently laid the trapdoor flat.
It was dark in here, with no windows to let in moonlight or sunlight. A dim sliver of light flashed from the far corner of the room, eerily flicking on and off.
“That light never turns off completely,” Emily whispered, and took Abbie’s hand. The circle took them further into the room, following Emily’s lead, toward a cage at the other end. This must hold River, where Robert now hid him from sight.
It was like moving blindfolded, but Abbie trusted Emily knew where to direct Eli.
“Here,” the child whispered, laying Abbie’s hand over the lock on the door.
Abbie had Hafgufa come out of her forefinger and insert into the lock. The cord shaped itself into a key and unlocked the door. When that distinctive click sounded, Abbie gently pulled the door open. It creaked a little.
Kneeling by the opening, she said, “It’s Abbie. Anyone I know in here?”
“Miss Grimshaw?” he asked in a shaky, surprised voice in her head. “You came for us! I told River you would find a way.”
Those were the sweetest words Abbie had ever heard. She would remember them for the rest of her life. Robert had trusted her to save not only himself but River.
“River?” Abbie called.
“I’m here,” the boy said, sounding suspicious. “But where are you? Is this another trick?”
Abbie tapped her jacket pocket twice to signal Ruth to end the hide-me spell. She mentally added to only end it over her and Emily.
“Oh,” River said, and then scrambled toward them but stopped at the doorway.
“Emily, tell him he can come out,” Abbie said.
“Hi, River,” Emily said, moving closer.
Abbie heard the magical vibration in her voice and pictured her small hand covering her throat.
“It’s safe for you to come out now,” the girl said.
The boy crawled out and straight into Abbie’s arms.
She held his shaking little body tight, rocking him and repeatedly telling him he was safe.
Finally, he leaned back and whispered a heartfelt, “Thank you!”
“You’re welcome,” Abbie said. “Your parents sent me. They were anxious about you and are eager to get you home.”
Robert crawled out next, and Emily helped him stand.
Abbie spotted the shadow of the little girl holding up the tall man. He gripped his cane with a shaky hand and rested the other on Emily’s slender shoulders.
He was probably fighting to not lean heavily on her. Ever the gentleman, her Robert.
“Time to go,” she said, getting to her feet.
“It is indeed,” a male voice said, and bright lights came on, blinding Abbie.
Someone slow clapped. “Congratulations, Miss Grimshaw. I’ve been trying to find that child all day, and you uncovered him in less than a few seconds. Your Grimm reputation is well earned.”
Abbie clutched River’s hand and shifted herself so she stood in front of River and Emily. Was this Zander? Must be. She alerted Hafgufa and sent the cord down the back of her jean-clad leg. The cord then slithered along the ground in a slender thread of gold that followed the cracks in the concrete floor. It headed toward the intruder standing outside Eli. Once it reached him, it rose to wrap, ever so gently, around his left ankle.
“And you’re traveling without your assigned circle,” the man mused. “That is very brave or extremely foolish. Either way, it works to my advantage. Release the boy,” he said. “And Emily, come out from behind the lady. Now!”
The last word came out like a whip striking its target.
Abbie squeezed Emily’s hand, holding her in place to prevent the girl from coming into the open. The child was shaking in Abbie’s hold, as was River.
Abbie, however, felt steady as a rock.
Robert limped closer. “I do not have the strength left to shield anyone,” he said, his words sliding into her mind.
A side glance and a few clarifying blinks confirmed he could barely keep himself visible. Zander hadn’t mentioned a ghost, which meant he couldn’t see Robert. Good.
“Check on Jimi and Nica,” she replied in mind-speak. “They’re in the tunnel. I’ve got this.”
She suggested that mostly to get him out of there safely and to keep Jimi from coming up to rescue River or her. That boy was both brave and incredibly impulsive.
Robert’s stubborn glance met hers. He must realize in his current state he couldn’t be of much help, yet he was prepared to spend his last moments keeping her safe. Her heart warmed at his protective instincts, but she couldn’t allow him to make such a sacrifice.
“I have Hafgufa and Arthur,” she reminded him and then added an extra enticement to quit this battlefield. “The children have no one but you.”
The fight left him. With a nod, he limped away before he vanished down the trapdoor. Knowing he was safe and that the children wouldn’t be alone made Abbie feel infinitely better. The fate of River cowering behind her was still uncertain. It was up to her to finish what Robert had begun in safeguarding this boy.
The man confronting Abbie held out his hand to Emily. He was tall, balding, with a lean face and narrow eyes.
“Come here, Emily,” he said in a firm tone. “You’ve been a bad girl.” He shook his head sorrowfully. “To my count, you’ve broken at least four rules. Not sure you’ll survive the punishment for those but, without rules, where would we be? In Armageddon, that’s where.”
His expression softened. “Tell you what. Since you are my favorite, if you make it alive after you pay your penalty, you can stay out of your cage for at least two hours each day for the next week. Now show yourself.”
Abbie sensed an annoying hum behind his words. They had a pull to them. He was using magic to entice Emily out and the girl was responding, for she had moved around to the side. Emily’s compliance frightened Abbie more than this fiend’s absolute confidence he had the upper hand.
She asked her cord for more information about him.
“His name is Alexander Carlisle,” Hafgufa said. “His ability is like Emily’s talent of compulsion, but less powerful.”
That made sense. It would explain how he’d so effectively tricked Emily into believing his lies and rules. She glanced at Zander, wondering why he hadn’t reacted to Hafgufa’s words.
“You didn’t broadcast your message?” Abbie asked, surprised. That would be a first.
“He means you harm,” the cord said in a haughty tone.
“Did you transmit to Emily?”
“No, not the children, or they might have given away my presence.”
“Good.” Abbie suppressed a triumphant smile, impressed by Hafgufa’s control at sharing her communications. “See if you can locate Yousef and let him know that we’ve located River and I have him in my custody.”
Her cord affirmed she’d sent the message, but said it felt as if she reached across a lake to make contact.
That intrigued Abbie. Since Hafgufa was a deposed water goddess, she would be intimately familiar with movement through bodies of water. She shelved that information for later study and focused on the matter at hand.
Time to end this uncomfortable conversation and get out of here. She aimed her next words at Zander.
“You seem to know me, sir,” Abbie said, noting with worry how Zander’s intent stare was focused on Emily. Time to shift that focus to herself. “I don’t know you. Who are you?”
His gaze swung up to meet hers. He appeared startled, as if he’d forgotten she was still here. “I’m Zander. Emily and River both belong to me. Release them and step back.”
“Good to meet you,” Abbie said in a chatty tone.
River gave a frightened gasp, and she tightened her hold to show him she had no intention of letting this horrid creature ever take him again.
“You are the one I came to find,” she continued. “As for breaking rules, if we circumvented any, it was entirely my fault and I apologize.” She pointed to the young girl who now stood just ahead of Abbie, still within invisible Eli, but only a few paces from Zander. “Emily is truly sorry if her absence concerned you. She asked me to bring her back here, which I agreed to do in exchange for her help in finding River.”
The child sent a swift, terrified backward glance.
“I’ve no intention of taking Emily from you,” Abbie continued. Then, keeping her gaze fixed on the child, she raised her hand to her heart. “All I came here for is River. Truly.”
Emily’s eyes widened in surprise and then with acute understanding. She mouthed the word fib before she turned to face her captor.
Quick learner.
Abbie dropped her hand and shifted her focus to Zander. “I hope you’ll forgive us for coming here so clandestinely, but I seem to have upset Tuuli, so I was avoiding running into her.”
He didn’t blink at hearing Tuuli’s name. A woman he’d nicknamed the she-devil, according to Emily. He’d used the mention of Tuuli to frighten Emily into behaving in the past.
Could she now use Tuuli to frighten him?
Abbie asked her cord, “What’s Zander’s relationship with the fae companion?”
“He was the first boy taken in this magical child-stealing scheme, thirty-four years and two months ago.”
That was a stunning bit of information. Just as someone who is abused sometimes becomes the abuser, this abductee had become a serial abductor. Was that what he was doing with Emily? Grooming her to become his successor?
As interesting as this piece of history might be, the revelation hadn’t answered her question about his relationship with Tuuli. Or had it?
According to Kiros, nothing happened in the market without Tuuli’s knowledge. Abbie went ice cold at all that implied. Had Hafgufa just said that the market’s security agent was behind this atrocious child-napping scheme?
“I wasn’t trying to steal Emily from you,” Abbie said, surprised at how calm she sounded compared to how her stomach churned with a sick feeling. Her mind was feverishly figuring out how she could stop Tuuli if she was behind this long-running crime spree.
She had to be stopped, but was it Abbie’s job or Tuuli’s siblings’ role? If Kiros were to be believed, they may not be aware of Tuuli’s child-napping activities. Her immediate concern was getting Emily and River away from this monster.
