Casstiel; Born of Lightning, page 18
“Fen?” Zales asked.
“What did the bastards do?” Saber asked quietly, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
“One of the slaves tried to run, they caught her, then dragged her back. They beat her. Badly,” Skye said, still watching Fen who was shaking with anger. “I couldn’t let you stop them, Fen. They would have killed you. There were too many of them.” Skye’s voice had grown quiet and there were tears in her eyes as she stared at Fen.
“At least I’d have taken a bunch of them with me,” Fen said, but his sigh said that he knew Skye was right. “But, thank you for stopping me.”
Even though Fen was now thirty-six and no longer a scrawny teenage boy, Saber went and slung an arm over his shoulders. “Just watching and knowing you can’t act, or at least not yet, is the hardest part of this job.”
Fen swallowed, then he straightened his spine and a look of resolve entered his eyes.
Cass looked at his daughter. “I don’t know how you did it, but you did good.”
“You did,” Zales agreed with a pat on Skye’s shoulder.
Skye shook her head. “I don’t know … it was awful having to watch what they were doing, listening to … to the cries.” She looked up at Cass. “I was angry, and I wanted to go help, too, but I didn’t lose it. Not like last time.”
“Seeing that would make any one of us angry, but you did good, and it was the right thing to stop Fen and call us.” Cass went to put an arm around Skye’s shoulder, but she had already moved away.
“I hear the creaking of the wagon. They aren’t far. Let’s go get into position,” Zales suggested, and they all took flight once again.
They landed a few minutes later, shifted, then Zales turned to Skye and pointed to the large pink-and-mauve mound not too far away. “See that cluster of land coral?” Skye nodded. “I want you over there, on the far side, out of sight. Keep an eye on the surroundings, especially the road and let us know if you see or hear anything at all. Got it?”
“Yes.” Without any hesitation, Skye shifted and flew off.
The rest of them shifted into half-forms, took up their positions and waited for the wagon and Ilyium soldiers to reach them.
“Let’s make this quick. We’re close to their destination, and I don’t want to chance anyone sending a warning to other Ilyium. I also don’t want any slave used against us,” Zales said from his hiding spot.
Mere moments later, Cass’s power surged as the fighting began. Hatred for the evil druid witch bastards consumed him and he used his deadly talons to cut and maim. He took eight men out without barely blinking and moved on. As a cry of agony sounded, he glanced around to see Fen with a pile of bodies around him. But that wasn’t what caught Cass’s attention.
Fen appeared to be taking his time with the three he was currently fighting. He cut and swiped, but didn’t deliver any killing blows. Fen played in a very deadly manner, making the men who he’d witnessed doing evil upon a female pay.
Cass turned away and quickly dispatched anyone in his path to Hades where they belonged, and all too soon, the fight was over.
“Well, that was a letdown,” Saber mumbled, looking around at the bloodshed.
“Got that right, I had expected more of a fight,” Assaul said.
“You good?” Cass asked Fen later as they pulled the bodies off the road and into the ditch where they wouldn’t be noticed if anyone came upon them. They’d set flame to them later.
Fen just nodded, but Cass understood that just because he’d killed those responsible, that anger, that intense hatred, didn’t just go away.
Then Assaul jumped up onto the front seat of the wagon, drawing some worried gasps from the slaves in back. Their ages ranged from about twelve to twenty-two, and though mostly female, there was one very handsome male in the group.
“We’re here to take you to safety and freedom,” Saber informed them. It didn’t help. They all looked terrified. Cass’s stomach churned. One female, who seemed to be in her midteens and dressed in a skimpy, torn dress, was curled in the arms of a female not much older than her, whimpering. Cass knew it had to be the one the soldiers had beaten.
“No one here will harm you,” Cass said.
“Go,” Zales directed Assaul. “Stay with them.”
“Will do.” Assaul snapped the reins and the wagon moved off the trail. “I will protect you,” Assaul told the slaves as he headed along the tree line.
“He seems like a good guy,” Cass remarked as they watched Assaul drive the wagon into a gap and out of sight.
“He’s proven himself many times,” Zales replied.
“They are all so young.” Though Cass was talking about the slaves, he was thinking of Ashara. She’d been just a child when she’d been captured by the Ilyium. Then he pushed the female who stirred him with need from his thoughts. He had to keep his head tonight. “Let’s go get these bastards.”
“Let’s.” Saber wore a deadly grin of anticipation, eyes promising retribution.
Zales and Night nodded, and while Fen remained silent, his eyes said it all.
CHAPTER 43
Party Crashers
* * *
As Tartaria’s suns began their leisurely descent, the group shifted back into their dragons and quickly joined Ziri, who was still surveilling the piece of property from behind a clump of tall brush up on a little incline. It was just high enough to give them a perfect view into the place.
“Perfect,” Saber said as they hunkered down beside the female.
“Did you have fun, boys?” she asked them.
“We barely got started before it was over,” Saber complained.
“What’s happening?” Zales asked, scanning the compound.
“They are very well guarded, so I’d say it’s a good guess that someone down there is a paranoid pussy.” She glanced up at them all, then grinned. “As they should be.”
“You’re right. They sure aren’t taking any chances,” Night said, studying the patrols.
“How many have you counted?” Zales asked.
Ziri snarled in contempt. “Forty guards appear to be stationed outside patrolling the property in pairs. There’s another twenty-five or so inside. Three servants carrying trays of food and drink within, and eight men wandering around with drinks in their hands, so it’s a pretty safe bet to say they aren’t soldiers. Also, their large bellies were a huge tip-off.”
“That would do it.” Saber smirked.
“The biggest one looks to be the host and the others his friends.” Then Ziri’s voice grew hard. “I also saw four females and one male who have to be slaves, judging by the way the men were fondling them, and their state of undress.”
Everyone grew silent as they absorbed Ziri’s report. While they waited for darkness—for that element of surprise—they discussed what they wanted to do to those inside.
“Time,” Zales finally said.
Ziri stood and stretched. “Give me two minutes and I’ll have the four on the front gate taken out, then let’s crash this party.”
Saber and Night went to secure the side gate, and true to her word, Ziri took out the four guards at the front gate in complete silence. Then she motioned Zales, Cass, and Fen inside. They attacked, and in moments, a warning cry shattered the silence. More guards swarmed outside in an attempt to hold them off. It didn’t work.
“I know you normally like to play with your food, Cass, but try to refrain.” Zales smirked as Cass taunted the three Ilyium bastards he was fighting. “I want to secure the servants and slaves as fast as possible.”
Cass glanced at him as he prepared to take on another six guards. “You take all the fun out of everything. You should try it sometime, who knows, you might enjoy the pain.” But Cass understood what was at stake. Plus, Skye was waiting, and who knew what kind of trouble she might get into.
Zales didn’t respond, though Cass did catch the look Ziri and Zales shared. What is that all about? he wondered as they entered the sprawling building, engaging more Ilyium guards. More than what Ziri had described poured out of other rooms.
“How many of these soul-sucking ass-wipes are there?” Saber asked.
“Too many,” Cass replied.
“Sorry, boys, didn’t see them,” Ziri said, though she didn’t look sorry at all as blood flew.
“They just keep coming, like they can’t wait to meet Satan’s minions.” Saber laughed, then growled. With a leap, he spun, decapitating three in a single swipe.
As a group of soldiers realized it was futile, they darted for escape.
“I got them,” Night called, and with a savage gleam in his eyes, went after them.
“Hey, ah, uncles? Dad?” It was Skye.
“What is it?” Cass asked, still fighting.
“There’s a group coming up the road from the other direction.”
Shit! Cass swore and his blood ran cold.
“How big a group?” Zales asked.
“I’m not sure. It’s hard to tell, but it looks like maybe twelve people? Two are smaller, though. So maybe ten soldiers?” Skye said. “I can probably take them.”
“I’ll take care of them,” Fen said.
“Fen is on his way, don’t engage,” Cass instructed, as Fen shot out the door into the night.
“Fine,” Skye said.
Then they began to search the place.
They found the servants in a closet in the kitchen. “Go, get outside,” Zales said, and they fled.
They continued to search and finally came to a sealed room.
“Like that can keep us out,” Saber snarled and kicked the heavy wooden door. It hit the wall behind it and splintered.
Inside, two guards stood ready to protect their host: the balding, pot-bellied man. With him stood seven equally pasty, slimy-looking men.
Cass sneered at the pathetic excuse calling themselves males as they cowered behind four naked slaves.
“Dad! Fen’s hurt!” Skye sounded out of breath, as if she were fighting.
CHAPTER 44
Shifting Spell
* * *
Cass swore loudly and glanced at Zales and Saber. “You two got this?”
“Yes, go,” Saber said as he and Zales dispatched the two guards to hell.
Cass ran outside, shifted and leaped into the air. He raced as fast as his wings would enable him toward his daughter. Dread curled inside him, like a deep, dark serpent. He was more than ready to unleash holy hell on anyone who hurt a single hair, or claw, on his little girl.
Yet as he drew near, the sight of Skye in her half-form—covered in crimson and her claws dripping, as she stood beside Fen—froze his blood.
Cass landed, rushed over, then pulled her into his arms, careful of her wings. “Skye, oh demons, what did you do? Are you all right?”
“I—” She hugged him back for a split second, then pulled way, confusion in her eyes. “I tried to help him, but my power …” She shook her head, as if confused. “I stayed where Zales told me, but they hurt Fen, I had to help.”
Cass swallowed the lump in his throat. It was clear the shock of what had happened had caught up to her. “Did it happen again?”
Skye shook her head. “No. No, I knew exactly what I was doing. I … I used my training.” She bit her lip.
“What is it?” he asked.
“I had to. They were hurting Fen,” she said again. She was trembling. “Are you angry I disobeyed you?”
“No, sweetheart. I’d have preferred you didn’t engage, but you did what you had to do to protect another, so no, I’m not angry.” Cass gave her a reassuring look, then turned to Fen. “You’re hurt?”
“I’ll be fine. If it wasn’t for Skye, though …” Fen closed his eyes and swayed a little.
Cass swept the bodies to make sure they were all dead, then inspected Fen. He was covered in blood, but Cass couldn’t see a wound. “Where are you hurt?”
“Not sure,” Fen replied.
“One of them hit him with some kind of shifting spell, it shoved him into human form,” Skye said, no longer trembling as her anger surged once again.
“Can you fly?” Cass asked Fen. He’d never heard of the Ilyium being able to do that before.
“Of course.” But when Fen tried to shift, nothing happened.
“Saber?” Cass called, and studied the young male and female who stood a little distance away, ready to flee. They were obviously siblings.
“What is it?” Saber answered immediately.
“Fen’s been zapped with a spell. Can you take him home?” Cass asked.
“Be right there,” Saber responded.
“Saber will take you home. I want you to go see Shennta as soon as you get there. Do you understand?” Cass asked Fen.
“Yes,” Fen agreed.
Cass guided Fen over to a rock to sit, then turned to Skye, who had shifted back into her human form.
Together they approached the pair. “I’m sorry if I scared you. I didn’t mean to.” She glanced at Cass before looking back at the two. “You don’t need to be afraid, we won’t hurt you.”
“Where are your parents?” Cass asked.
The boy who seemed to be a year or so younger than Aries, looked up at his sister.
The girl raised her chin at the question, though she couldn’t hide the pain in her eyes. “They’re dead.”
Cass ached for their plight. They were dragonkind. He could sense their dragons. “Do not worry. We’ll find you a place to live.”
“No offense, but that was what they told us.” The girl snarled at the dead. “And look at us.”
“We are not them. We’ll take you to where you’ll be free and have your own life,” Skye said vehemently before Cass could say a word.
The female studied them for a long moment. “Where? And who are you?”
“I’m Skye.”
Cass’s heart warmed as Skye smiled up at him.
“He’s my father; Casstiel. There are camps where others who’ve been hurt by the Ilyium assholes stay, until they find new clans or homes.”
“I like her,” the boy said to his sister.
She ignored him and held up her bound wrists. “And what if we just want to be released?”
“Oh, of course.” Skye drew the knife at her waist free. The girl tensed up but held still.
Skye sliced the bindings apart, then did the same for the boy while Cass went to meet Saber.
“C’mon buddy, I’ll get you home,” Saber said as he scooped Fen up into his talons.
“Make sure he sees Shennta, will you?” Cass asked.
With a nod, Saber flew away.
Cass went back over to where Skye was talking to the siblings.
“Of course you can go, you’re not prisoners.” Skye glanced at Cass, then looked back at the pair. “But, do you have anywhere safe to go? Where you won’t be caught again?”
The female glanced at Cass and he saw the answer in her eyes.
She looked back at Skye. “Will you be at this camp?”
“I don’t live there, but I can visit you, and”—Skye looked at Cass—“Can I go with them to Camp Sage and help them settle in?”
“It’s a long walk, but yes. If you want to, you can,” he replied.
Skye grinned and Cass felt a twinge in his gut.
The sister glanced at her brother, then drew in a deep breath and exhaled. “Okay, we’ll go, as long as you come with us.”
“Skye, why don’t you take them over to join Assaul and the others?” Cass suggested.
“All right.” The love in her eyes as she looked at him made tears prick the backs of his eyes. Angels, how long had it been since she looked at him that way? And he so didn’t deserve it.
Cass flew back to find Night waiting outside the gates with a small group.
Cass took in the slaves, along with three individuals who looked to be in pretty rough shape.
“Found them in the dungeon,” Night said, anger in his voice, along with a slight hesitation.
Cass’s disgust and anger grew at the lengths that the Ilyium were willing to go to. “There’s more?”
Night paled and nodded, which told Cass it was bad.
“The servants?” Cass asked.
“Gone.”
“You got this?” Cass noted that the slaves had found blankets or clothing to cover themselves.
“Yeah, go ahead, Zales is waiting for you,” Night said.
Impressed with the male, Cass strode through the gates and was met by Zales’s grim face. He and Ziri were collecting weapons and objects of magic.
“What did you find?” Cass asked.
“More bodies. Dead awhile.” Zales didn’t look at him.
Cass’s guts clenched in dread. “Where?”
Ziri was the one to answer. “In the dungeon. They were young.”
“Aries’s age,” Zales said, and turned away. “At least one was dragonkind.”
Cass growled, ready to rip and maim all over again, but there were no more of the enemy in sight.
“Fen and Skye all right?” Zales asked, and it took a moment for Cass to respond.
“Fen was hit with a spell that shot him into human. I think he will be fine, but I’ve instructed him to see Shennta. As for Skye—” Cass closed his eyes for a moment, knowing there was no stopping his daughter. She was determined to fight with them, and she was proving more than capable. “Skye is fine. She took the soldiers without a scratch to herself. Saved Fen’s life.”
Cass helped them carry all the weapons and miscellaneous goodies outside to where Night waited.
“Skye’s strong and skilled. Now she just needs experience,” Zales said.
Cass didn’t respond as they went back through the gates and surveyed the place. He didn’t want to think of his daughter fighting, or what could have happened earlier. “We going to crispify this fuck-den of horror or what?”
“I’m ready whenever you are,” Ziri replied, then shifted into her dragon.
Cass and Zales did the same and they quickly set the place on fire.
“I love this part!” Cass snarled, drawing bolts of lightning down as well.
