Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Guess I should apologize for punching your balls?” She scrunched up her mouth and whispered, “I’m actually not sorry. You deserved it.”
Cade’s eyebrows rose, but he didn’t reply.
“I know, me turning up here like this is kind of weird. Why’re you sitting on the floor with your hands—” She trailed off.
His hands were secured high above his head to a hefty metal chain dangling from the ceiling.
Nothing on him moved except his eyes, which bounced between her and something behind her.
She sat up and swiveled to face a petite girl dressed in a worn dark dress that covered her from neck to wrists to mid-calves.
Every red flag warning inside her lit up. Out of instinct she scooted closer to Cade’s chest, perceiving him as the lesser of two evils.
The girl, barely into her teens, nibbled on a hangnail between shifty stares at Gemma.
She wore no makeup, not that she needed any.
Her skin was incredible, somewhere between tan and dark brown, with dark brown freckles across her nose and cheeks.
Her frizzy orange hair, although pulled back and barely contained, needed a good brushing. Bottom line? The girl was a hot mess.
That didn’t mean she wasn’t dangerous. Case in point: she was alone with an incapacitated Cade. That made this girl someone not to underestimate. Perhaps, the teen’s job was to guard the vampire, and she hadn’t been the one to incapacitate him.
The girl took a few uneven steps toward a worn wooden table that had various pots and bottles of herbs and liquids on its surface. Gemma zeroed in on the girl’s right leg, which seemed to be the source of her shuffling limp.
She pushed off Cade’s thighs, but before standing, she whispered to him, “You don’t deserve it, but I’m going to get you out of here.”
Cade’s eyes widened with warning.
“Did you put a frozen spell on him?” Nervous energy drummed through Gemma.
The fact that the girl hadn’t zapped her or attacked meant she wasn’t pure evil.
Right? Yet, her lack of surprise that she’d fallen through a mirror triggered a bigger red alert in Gemma’s head.
“Cade is extremely good at what he does, which means you must be better.”
“Yeah, she made me cast the spell on the vampire. I’m better at spells than her,” the girl said. “Now I have to sit here until she’s ready for him.”
“Who made you? Petra?”
The girl pressed her lips together.
Gemma moved toward her. Not the smartest choice, but the girl was hurting, an angle she could use. Now to figure out how to help her. “I’m not a big fan of hers. Are you?”
The girl pointed a gnarly twig at her and shuffled a few feet backward. “Stay back.”
“Is that a wand? A genuine magic wand? That is so freaking cool.” She held up her hands in a sign of surrender.
“Sorry. I’m staying still. All of this is new to me.
Magical things like wands and vampires and witches are only in stories where I’m from.
It’s hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact the wand might be real. ”
“Get back,” she screeched. “Of course it’s real.”
Hands still up, Gemma remained motionless. “I’m a non-magical human who’s jazzed to be back in your world. I guess falling through a mirror doesn’t help you believe me, but you’re way more powerful than me.”
“I’ll use this on you.”
“Are you going to turn me into an animal or cast a freeze spell like you did on Cade?”
The wand flicked ominously.
“I’m a nurse…a person who works with injuries and sick people. Let me examine your leg and see if I can help.”
The girl jerked backward, eyebrows raised and jaw slack. She snapped her mouth shut. “Why would you help me?”
“It’s what I do.”
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.” Gemma released an exasperated sigh. “Why is everyone in this world always telling me they’re fine when they’re not? Vampires, dwarves, now you. What are you? A witch or a mage?”
“Most label me a witch.”
“How about I see if I can help your leg. I don’t have any ulterior motive other than to help you at the moment.
Okay, that’s not entirely true. I won’t lie.
I really want to get out of Petra’s place.
Apparently, she’s trying to kill me right now.
Seems like that witch is always trying to kill everyone around her.
” She didn’t break eye contact with the girl.
“You keep the wand pointed at me. If you think I’m going to do something to hurt you, use it. ”
“You can’t do anything for me. Don’t touch me.” She shook the wand.
“How do you know I can’t help?”
“It’s impossible. The person who placed it has to remove it,” she snapped. “Why’re you here? What dimension did you come from?”
“Good questions. Go ahead and cast a freeze spell, but maybe keep it so I can talk. Then we can chitchat.” I sure hope the bracelet works.
The girl chanted a few words and waved the wand in her direction. She made a small sound of distress and blew on her fingers as if they burned.
“I’m waiting.” Gemma wiggled her fingers to check if she could still move. “Still not frozen.”
“My magic doesn’t work against Vorche magic.” She squinted at her and then glanced to Cade as if seeking confirmation that whatever suspicion she had might be correct. “What are you?”
“Human. Non-magical. Definitely not part dwarf. Maybe you only think it’s a real wand, but it doesn’t really work. It’s okay. I’ve bought bogus stuff online before too. You should ask for a refund.” A side-glance to Cade found amusement in his gaze.
“It works.” She examined the wand, muttered something, and flicked it in her direction again.
“I have medical training, but, full disclosure, I’m not a doctor. Let me take a peek at your leg. Do you have somewhere else you need to be right now? I don’t. Well, other than getting the hell out of here, but I suspect doing so requires going through that door, which is likely locked.”
“How do I know you won’t attack me?”
“I won’t. I swear on my soul. I legit want to help you.”
The girl sat on a stool and waved at her leg. She kept the wand raised and pointed at her.
Gemma lifted the girl’s well-worn skirt. Yet, she kept it modest so she didn’t flash more of the girl’s leg than was necessary. Around her lower thigh, right above her knee, a golden band less than a half inch wide dug into the skin of her leg. Bruising surrounded the band.
“What is this thing?” She palpated for a clip or way to unhook it. “It’s cutting into you. Gracious, that has to hurt.”
“It’s a cinch.”
“What’s it for?”
“Keeps people like me under control.”
“Looks painful. We have to figure out how to get this off.” She put her hands on it. Fontaine said she should know in her heart how to heal people. Maybe that extended to how to remove magical slave bands.
Waiting for answers here…waiting. She moved her fingers again. Any time now...
Instinct kicked in. She moved her fingers along the band until her fingers were on exact opposite sides of the circle.
The girl grabbed her hands. “What are you doing?”
Knowledge crashed into her head. Spooked, she jerked her hands away from the band. “I know how to get it off. But before I do, are you Mira?”
The girl leaned away from her. “No one’s called me Mira in a long time. How’d you know?”
“A woman named Serina sent me through the portal and mentioned you.”
“Serina sent you, did she?” Mira compressed her lips. The wrinkles on her forehead intensified.
Gemma nodded. “Before I remove this, promise you won’t kill Cade and me once you’re free. I’ll know if you lie.” Maybe.
“Why are you helping me? Are you sure you’re not a witch?”
“Pretty damned sure. I’ve had moments when witchy skills would’ve come in real handy, especially with those vampire brothers. They’re grumps, in case you didn’t notice. A few zaps here or there with a happy spell might’ve helped.”
Mira glanced over to Cade and back to Gemma. “I’ve been trying to escape for years. Petra won’t let me. I swear if you get this off, I will help you live as someone like you should live.”
“Let’s make a deal. We help you get out of this place and you’ll let Cade go free.” A new thought occurred to Gemma then. “I assume Skarde is around here somewhere? You’ll have to help us free him too.”
“I don’t trust him.” Mira waved Cade’s direction. “He’s got one of us imprisoned. Who’s to say—”
“I guarantee Cade won’t mess with you. If he does, I’ll punch him in the balls—again.”
“You did not do that. Did you?” Mira whispered with the hint of a smile on her lips. “He’s blushing. You punched a punisher in the balls? If I were you, I wouldn’t trust him after you did that. You should leave him here.”
Gemma glanced to Cade. “I was pissed at him when I did it. I think we’re good now though, aren’t we? Now, let’s get this thing off and get these vampires out of here.” She twisted the sides of the band against each other and said a few words that popped into her head: “Mouldy, salach, comharra.”
An electrical jolt burned her hands, but the cinch clicked open.
They both stared in silence where it’d fallen on the floor as if it would magically fly back onto Mira’s leg. It remained off.
“I’m impressed with myself.” Gemma wiggled her fingers and massaged her hands.
Mira jumped up and stretched her leg. “It’s off. Really off!”
“How long have you been here?”
“A few years.” She glanced up, but instead of the ecstatic look Gemma expected, the witch nibbled her lip and stared at the door.
“I’m sorry you were trapped here. Do you mind taking the spell off Cade so we can leave? I need him to help me find Skarde.”
Mira’s brows fell low. “Skarde. Forget about him. You can’t get to him. Take that one and get out of here. You helped me. Please, don’t make me…” She swallowed hard and whispered, “Go. Please. Don’t make me help you with Skarde. I don’t want to see you get hurt, especially after you helped me.”
She squeezed Mira’s hand. “Leaving Skarde isn’t an option.” She glanced at Cade seeking… Well, she hoped for partnership from Cade in this. “We’re not leaving without Skarde.”
“Petra has him…” Mira waved the wand in Cade’s direction.
Cade jiggled the metal restraints around his wrists.
“Oh, my. You probably can’t feel your wrists.” Gemma rushed to him. “Are they numb?”
“Here’s the key. I reversed the spell.” The witch tossed a ring with a solitary key their way. It landed at Cade’s feet.
“Before I undo these, you heard my promise, right?” Gemma asked and waited for Cade to agree. “We’re going to help Mira out of here. You’re not going to kill her or bite her. We’re also not leaving your brother.”
Cade cleared his throat and muttered, “I can talk again.” Louder, he replied, “I heard. Vampires don’t bite witches. If she fucks us as I fully expect she will, that’s on you. She’s as twisty as Petra. Don’t let the fact she looks twelve fool you.”
A tiptoe stretch was necessary to unlock him, but she paused.
“You’re going to help me get out of here?” Mira asked behind her. No smile.
“A deal’s a deal, kid.” Gemma glanced around. “Where do we find Skarde?”
Mira didn’t answer.
Cade said, “Petra is torturing him. She probably wants him to bite her. She heard the prophecy and dreams of being all powerful. Or she wants the crystal. Or both.”
“Why did she bring you here?” Gemma asked Cade.
“The crystal. I’m next on the agenda to interrogate if Skarde doesn’t cough it up.” His eyes dropped to her neck. “You really shouldn’t be here.”
She leaned in front of Cade to make eye contact. “I’m going to need you to forget whatever crap the Directorate ordered. Do you understand it’s important that you help me get Skarde?”
Cade’s jaw tightened. “Not that the stubborn bastard needs my help, but yes, I’ll get him for you.”
She stepped away, not yet ready to free him. “Are you like a pirate and I have to be careful to have the correct wording of our accord before I undo you? You’re not going to purposefully misinterpret me, whack me over the head, and drag me to the Directorate, are you?”
“Bloody hell, woman. Just get these off of me.” He shook the shackles. “If I were you, I’d be more worried about her.” He chinned toward the witch who was flexing and rotating her leg. “I’m not leaving Skarde here. If anyone’s going to kill him, it’ll be me for getting us into this mess.”
“Great. Let’s go save Skarde. Again.”