Deadly Alliances (Dark Shifter Academy #5)

Chapter 37 Arya

Today was the big day. My stomach had been in knots all night and all morning. But I’d had to put up a good front, smiling and playing with Alex, watching the clock the whole time. I had never been one for praying before, but my every thought since last night was a plea to the heavens to let this plan succeed. We couldn’t afford to fail.

I used the same method of escaping my guards as last time, letting them think I was eating lunch with Alex only to escape through the servants’ access. I only had to use my siren voice on one servant in the hidden stairwell as the woman was heading up to find out what Alex wanted for lunch just as I was coming down.

Once safely through the kitchen, I walked across the lobby like I belonged there, grateful that Hadrian hadn’t made an appearance. So far, so good.

As I made my way down the stairs to the Initiate quarters, Shea was on her way up. We shared a knowing, encouraging glance as we passed one another without saying a word. I had no idea what she’d done to secure herself entrance to the higher vampire towers, but I trusted her, and that realization alone gave me the greatest sense of peace I’d known in a long time. Knowing that I could trust anyone without question or hesitation was a beautiful gift.

I continued down the levels of human housing and into the bowels of the citadel, regulating my breathing to keep my heart from hammering against my ribs. I had to be invisible to the vampires lurking in the shadows, and the only way to do that was to keep my pulse as steady as possible.

The guards that stood at each section of the dungeons were the same, making my job easy. My siren abilities still worked their magic, allowing me to come and go unnoticed.

I kept my eyes averted as I strode past other prisoners. I couldn’t afford to add anyone else to our plan, and I knew I would break if I made eye contact with any of them. As it was, I still had doubts about bringing Piper with us. But Shea had insisted on it, so it was out of my hands.

Tobias and Char shifted in their weakened, huddled positions when they saw me, their eyes lighting with both hope and hesitation.

“Arya?” Tobias asked cautiously.

I went up to their cell, crouching in front of the bars before remembering that they were lead and rescinding my hands from touching them.

“We’re leaving now,” I whispered to them.

Tobias blinked, and Char’s mouth hung open. Char glanced around the room, her eyes lingering warily on the guard that stood against the wall, staring blankly forward as if he saw nothing. “Are you sure?”

I nodded. “No time to explain, but I have a plan. We’re going to get to the roof and then fly out.”

Tobias quirked a brow at me. “And how are we supposed to do that? There’s no way Char and I can fly in our current state.”

He shrugged his shoulders, wincing at the pain the motion caused in both of his broken arms. The movement revealed the places along his sides where his scales had been pried off, the human flesh there an angry red and choppy.

“That’s why I brought this.” I pulled a lighter out of the front pocket of my jeans.

Char balked at it. “A lighter? How’s that supposed to help?”

“I’m going to heal you,” I said, but the confusion on her face only intensified; clearly Tobias hadn’t told her I was also a harpy, but there was no time to get into that right now.

I stood and went up to the guard, summoning my melodic voice, and said, “Unlock the dragons’ cell and release their bonds. You will not see them leave or notice once they’re gone.”

The guard nodded, a vacant look in his eyes as he proceeded to open their cell door. I squeezed in as soon as the metal parted enough and knelt down before the wounded and disheveled pair. I flicked the lighter a few times before it finally ignited, the glow illuminating the dim space. Tobias and Char blinked away from the brightness that obviously stung their deprived eyes, but I ignored their discomfort and pushed forward.

My harpy instantly connected with the small flame, and I tugged on the light, pulling it from the lighter’s head and gathering it into my waiting palm. Setting down the lighter, I divided the light between both hands, then scooted closer to Tobias.

His eyes were alight with hope as he looked into my eyes, though his expression said he was afraid to hope. I gave him a reassuring nod, then put my hands oh-so gently on both of his arms. I willed the light in my hands to flow into him and work its healing magic on his broken bones. The glow absorbed into his skin and lit his arms from within, and the relief that smoothed the tight features on his face almost made me want to cry with joy.

He flexed both arms, a smile of gratitude forming on his handsome face as he tested their mobility. I flicked the lighter again, gathering the light from the flame to attend to the wounds on his sides.

“Do you think healing them will renew your stolen scales?” I asked as the light sunk into the gaps of his smart suit.

He didn’t respond, but the sorrow that dragged at his features was answer enough. The wound would heal, but those scales would never grow back. Hadrian had disfigured Tobias’s dragon for life. My throat tightened, hatred for my father bubbling in my veins, but I had to subdue it for my light manipulation to work.

Once Tobias was fully healed, I went to Char and did the same for her, tending to each wound.

“Thank you for doing this,” she said softly as I worked on the last one.

I looked up and met her gaze, finding a storm of vulnerability there and something else. Envy perhaps? Or was it sad acceptance?

I shoved down my sympathy for her and offered a smile. “You’re welcome.”

Then I stood and regarded both of them. “Let’s get out of this cell and make sure you use your powers again?”

The two followed me out into the wider space of the dungeon, and the absence of lead no longer surrounding us was palpable.

Tobias looked at Char with a smirk. “Shall we?”

Char nodded, and they both held out their hands. Their eyes glowed a luminous blue as they used their powers to summon blazes that burned bright.

Victory spread a smile across my face. “Perfect. Now put them out before anyone sees.”

Both fires extinguished, but a gleam remained in their eyes. A spark of jealousy flared in my chest, and I turned away. Even after everything I’d heard—and what Tobias had directly told me—I couldn’t help but wonder what that relationship held. They obviously had history. Their parents had planned their marriage, for fuck’s sake. But I couldn’t let those questions and doubts distract me now.

I took a deep breath. “I know Tobias can make himself invisible as a dragon, which I know isn’t common, but I’m hoping you can too, Char?”

Char shook her head, her eyes wide like the question was ludicrous. “No. Not possible.”

“Actually, now I can make myself invisible as a human, too. I don’t have to be shifted to access it,” Tobias interjected, the smirk on his face making my heart catch.

I nodded in appreciation of that information. “Okay, well that makes sneaking you around a little easier.” I turned to Char. “But we’ll have to take you to Shea’s room and clean you up. If you blend in, it’ll be easier to try to sneak you out. We’ll just have to stay away from vampires. But we’ll have to do that anyway, since I don’t think invisibility masks your scent.”

“Wait,” Tobias said, his face advertising deep concentration. “Maybe I can make Char invisible, too? I discovered by accident that I can disappear in human form. I’ve never tried making anyone else invisible before—shielding them, sure, but not making them disappear—but it’s worth a shot.”

“Okay, give it a try,” I encouraged, but not daring to hope on it. “If that doesn’t work, then we’ll go with a disguise for Char.”

Tobias walked over to Char and placed a hand on her shoulder, then closed his eyes. After a few moments, Tobias disappeared, and as if in slow motion, invisibility enveloped Char.

My mouth fell open as I stared at the emptiness. Not even a glimmer of their forms gave their location away. If I hadn’t just seen them disappear, I would think that space was completely vacant. “That’s amazing! Do you think you can keep that up? We just need to get to one of the elevators.”

“Yes, I think so.” Tobias’s disembodied voice floated from where I’d last seen him, and goosebumps prickled my arms. So weird.

I wrapped my arms around myself to rub the chill away. “What happens if you let go of each other?”

Char materialized, stepping away from where I had last seen her as if walking through a portal.

“And touch her again?” I said.

Part of Char’s hand disappeared as Tobias took it, and after a few tense moments, Char disappeared, too.

“I can touch her while invisible, but it doesn’t pass on unless I push the invisibility onto her,” Tobias’s voice replied.

I gave a nervous giggle. “That’s going to take some getting used to. Okay. Let’s go.”

Nodding to the guards, I left, assuming Tobias and Char were following. Not like I could see them. We moved quietly, but every now and then I could hear shuffling against the cold concrete. I cringed as I thought about their bare feet having to walk across the freezing floor, but there was nothing I could do about it right now, and the lack of shoes was the least of our worries.

At least their fire had been restored. Hopefully, that would keep them warm. They’d need it, especially once they got outside.

In my angst, the dungeon seemed to have tripled in length, so I was relieved when we finally reached the stairs leading out.

But the vampire with way too much hair gel helmeting his hair was coming down the stairs, blocking our path—heading to torment Tobias and Char more, no doubt. I instinctively stepped aside and pressed my back to the wall just in time for him to pass by the two guards I’d already compelled to let us through.

Just keep walking. Just keep walking.

He paused, turning to the guards with his brows creased. “Does anybody else smell that?”

One of the guards took a sniff and cocked his head. “What is that?”

Ah, hell. I was afraid of the vampires sniffing out the dragons.

Summoning my siren voice, I stepped out in front of Helmet Hair. “No one here has seen or sensed anyone or anything unusual. Your orders are to stay in this room until your shift ends.”

The three pairs of eyes glazed and unglazed as the command sank in. I let out a pent-up breath, hoping no one else came down to torture the dragon captives and ring the alarm bells when they found them missing. My steps were hastened as they carried me up the stairs, knowing how little time we actually had to get to the roof before we were fucked.

“You two still with me?” I whispered as we came into the Initiate common room.

“Yes,” came Tobias’s voice from the space next to me.

It was so strange having him right there but not being able to see him. He was so tall, it seemed like his voice was coming from the ceiling. It might have been comical if I weren’t so riddled with anxiety.

“Okay, there are three more levels of human quarters, then the lobby. From there, we’ll either need to go to the main elevator or head through the kitchen to take the servants’ access. I’d rather take the kitchen route, but we’ll play it by ear.”

“That’s your big plan?” came Char’s whispered voice, followed by an oof . “Not cool, Tobias.”

I bit back a smirk. “Well, we’ve got a lot of people we’re trying to rescue.”

“Wait. Who else is coming with us?” Tobias asked.

“My little brother, an Initiate who wants out, and the vampire who’s been helping protect the Dome.”

“So Caesar really was dealing with a vampire?” Was that anger lacing Tobias’s words?

I sighed. I’d forgotten this was all news to them. “Yeah. But he’s one of the good guys. Shea knows him, too.”

“I’m still not entirely sure I trust the witch, either,” he grumbled.

“Well, I do. She’s sacrificed a lot to try to get us all out.”

“And you have a little brother?” Tobias asked, concern in his voice.

“Yeah. Half-brother.” I looked down at the stone steps, not bothering to offer any more information. I didn’t know how Tobias would react to bringing Alex along, especially knowing he was Hadrian’s son, but it wasn’t his decision to make.

They started up the final stairs, this time a little faster. My pulse raced, and I started taking the steps two at a time. The urgency sizzling inside me was building, becoming impossible to ignore as my limbs grew shaky with it.

“Maybe not so fast,” Tobias whispered behind me. “Char and I can’t keep up while we’re linked like this, and I don’t want to drop my concentration and expose us.”

“Right.” I slowed back down, but doing so was almost painful.

Finally, we made it to the landing of the lobby. I held a hand up as I peered around the corner. There were more people there than normal, and I looked down at my watch. Shoot. Lunch break was over. That meant both the kitchen and the way to the elevator would be busy.

I slid back into the stairwell as bodies began to flood our way. “Tobias, do you think you can make me invisible, too? Quick!”

A large hand grabbed hold of mine, and I watched with a sense of impending doom as my arm began to slowly disappear, the invisibility creeping across my chest and down my legs just in time for Initiates to enter the stairwell. I squeezed my eyes shut as arms brushed against me, dreading that they’d feel us here, that they’d suspect something was wrong. But luckily the narrow space was so crowded that everyone was bumping into everyone anyway.

Finally, the trickle of people stopped, leaving us alone in the stairwell. I exhaled the breath I’d been holding.

“Okay, come on,” I whispered, tugging on Tobias’s hand.

As a unit, we emerged from the stairs and slithered across the lobby like a makeshift snake. The kitchen was abuzz with activity, the staff hurrying to clean up after lunch. I lead the way through the room, guiding them along the edges and weaving through humans carrying pots.

One of the staff knocked into me, and I froze, once again holding my breath. The hair-netted woman shook her head, blinking at me before moving on. I breathed out slowly through my nose as I towed our chain of three to the back of the kitchen, where we waited. As soon as all heads were turned away, I opened the secret door and we wriggled in.

We rushed through the corridor to the elevator, and once we confirmed it was empty, we stopped and dropped our chain. I sank my back against the wall as the doors slid closed and the metal box carried us upward.

“How much further?” Char asked, panting as if she was out of breath.

“Not much more now,” I replied in a whisper even though we were alone now. “We’ve just got to get past the guards standing outside Alex’s room and then head to the roof access. The Elite quarters are usually pretty empty, so it’s only the guards we’ll have to worry about.”

Char nodded, wrapping her arms around herself. Tobias gave her a pitiful look but kept his distance.

The silence that filled the air was thick and awkward, time seeming to pass with irritating slowness. I had so many questions burning on my tongue about how they knew each other, but we all needed to stay focused.

Mercifully, the elevator gave a ding, the upward momentum stopping then settling before the doors slid open. We headed up the final steps with me in the lead. If all had gone well, the room would be empty. I hoped Shea hadn’t had any problems with Alex.

But when I cracked the secret door open, I realized I’d made a critical error—I’d forgotten about Agnes.

Alex’s nanny had the door to the hall open, and all four of my guards were inside, some of them with freshly-healing wounds. The woman yelled at them, demanding to know what had happened to Alex. They all looked at each other, worry and confusion on their faces.

I held a hand up behind me, signaling that Tobias and Char should stay out of sight. Then I went into the room, not waiting for the guards to leave. I didn’t know how far Shea had gotten, and I didn’t want to risk them going after her.

One of the guards noticed me first, and Agnes swung around, her eyes widening. She marched up to me, hands on her hips. “What have you done with him? Do you have any idea what the Master will do when he discovers his son is missing?”

I set my chin. “Alex is a child, but you want to treat him like he’s an adult. You people have robbed him of his childhood, and I won’t allow it to continue.”

“That’s not your call to make, young lady,” Agnes said in a snooty, scolding tone. “I don’t care who you are, Alex is my charge, and I will make sure he measures up to the Master’s expectations.”

“I’m his sister,” I ground out as Agnes turned to the guards. I summoned my siren voice once more, putting everything I had into it. “Alex is no longer your responsibility. You all will leave and go straight to the elevator, not stopping until you are far from this room. Find something to do that doesn’t include me or Alex or Hadrian.”

My voice, so familiar yet so foreign, bathed Agnes and the guards with my will. They shuffled out the door, the glaze in their eyes still lingering.

I despised Agnes. Not quite as much as Hadrian, but enough. She’d been so instrumental in keeping Alex repressed. I wouldn’t let anyone do that to him ever again. But still, I hoped Hadrian wouldn’t kill her for losing him. No one deserved Hadrian’s wrath.

When they had all gone, I opened the door to the servant’s access. A woman lay at Tobias’s feet, unconscious.

“What the hell?” I gasped.

Tobias sighed. “She came up while you were talking. We had to subdue her.”

“Is she…?” I couldn’t finish the question. I’d seen enough death.

“No, just unconscious,” Char said.

“But we’d better hurry before she wakes up,” Tobias added.

I swallowed, but nodded. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

And as we headed toward the door to Alex’s room, I prayed with all my desperation that that had been our final obstacle.