29. Chapter Twenty-Eight #2
"Aren't you?" The King's dark eyes glittered with ancient knowledge. "You all move precisely as the pattern requires.” His gaze settled on me, dark and knowing. "But perhaps I've misjudged you, Alice. Perhaps you're not merely another piece, but a player in your own right."
I felt the silver patterns beneath my skin pulse in response to his words, the ward consciousness stretching toward him with curious tendrils of light.
"What do you know about the Blood Mages?" I asked, ignoring the tension crackling between the men. "If they're as powerful as you say, how can anyone stand against them?"
The King of Spades circled the Observatory, shadows trailing in his wake like living cloaks.
"Blood Mages draw their power from life force—the more they drain, the stronger they become.
But their magic has a fundamental weakness.
" His fingers brushed the miniature landscape, shadows spreading across the tiny Blood Mages like a web.
"They can only channel what they've consumed.
Interrupt their connection to their power source, and they become vulnerable. "
Chi's eyes narrowed with sudden understanding. "The ritual circles. They always establish anchoring points to stabilize their drain."
"Precisely," the King confirmed, dark eyes gleaming with approval. "Seven Blood Mages require seven ritual circles, positioned at specific points across the landscape. Destroy those circles, and their power collapses."
Heart studied the Observatory with renewed focus, ruby eyes tracking the Blood Mages' movements. "They're maintaining formation as they advance—equidistant from each other, creating a perfect heptagon."
"The ritual geometry," Varik murmured, fingers tracing invisible patterns above the map. "If we could identify the anchor points..."
The King of Spades gestured with elegant fingers, and shadows coalesced above the Observatory, forming a complex geometric pattern that overlaid the miniature landscape. Seven points glowed with dark energy, connected by lines of shadow that pulsed in rhythm with the Blood Mages' movements.
"The anchor points," he said, his voice like silk over steel. "Destroy these, and the Blood Mages' power collapses. But timing is essential—all seven must fall simultaneously, or the remaining mages will simply redirect their energy flow."
Martha stepped forward, her scarred face set with determination. "So we need seven strike teams, coordinated to attack at precisely the same moment?" She shook her head. "Even with all our fighters, that's spreading ourselves dangerously thin against such powerful enemies."
"Not necessarily," Varik interjected, his wild eyes alight with calculation. "I have devices that could amplify a coordinated magical strike. Seven synchronized explosions, triggered by a single source." His grin turned distinctly unhinged. "I've been saving them for a special occasion."
Chi's tail curled thoughtfully as he studied the shadow pattern hovering above the Observatory. "The anchor points are heavily warded. Getting close enough to place devices would be suicide for normal fighters."
"But not for shadows," the King of Spades said quietly, his dark gaze settling on Chi. "Or for creatures who exist between realities."
I felt understanding dawn through our bond as Chi's expression shifted from wariness to grim determination. "You want me to place the devices."
"I want you to survive," the King corrected. "Which means utilizing abilities your enemies cannot predict or counter."
I watched Chi's face, feeling the calculations running through his mind via our bond. The idea was tactically sound—his ability to shift between realities made him the perfect candidate for such a mission.
"I could do it," Chi admitted, his tail lashing with controlled energy. "Phase between points, place the devices, and trigger them simultaneously."
Heart's ruby eyes narrowed. "And leave Alice unprotected? I don't think so."
"She won't be unprotected," the King of Spades said, shadows coiling around his shoulders like living things. "As I said, I will remain with her."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees as Heart stepped forward, his hand still on his sword hilt. "Absolutely not."
I felt the silver patterns beneath my skin flare in response to the rising tension. Through our bond, I sensed Chi's reluctance warring with tactical necessity.
“The Tweedles can stay with you as well.” Varik suggested glancing at the twins who’ve been silently, watching the exchanges.
Vee adjusted his silver monocle, data streaming across its surface as he calculated probabilities. "Protection protocols remain optimal with multiple guardians."
"Layered defenses create stronger harmonies," Dee added, hisopalescent robes shimmering with agreement. "The pattern requires preservation above all else."
I could feel the debate spiraling into territorial posturing, each man asserting their right to protect me while people died on the Observatory's map below. The silver patterns beneath my skin pulsed with growing agitation as I watched another village disappear beneath crimson flames.
"Enough," I said sharply, stepping forward until I stood at the center of their circle.
"While you're all arguing about who gets to babysit me, those Blood Mages are systematically destroying everything in their path.
" I gestured to the Observatory where tiny figures fled before the advancing army. "We're going with the King’s suggestion. Vee and Dee can stay here as well if that makes you all feel better, but I don’t think it is needed.”
Chi's tail went wild with frustration, though through our bond I felt his grudging acknowledgment of the logic. "Alice—"
"No," I cut him off, the silver patterns beneath my skin glowing brighter with my determination. "This isn't a debate. People are dying while we stand here arguing. The King's plan is tactically sound, and you know it."
Heart's jaw tightened, ruby eyes darkening with barely contained emotion. "I don't trust him with you."
"You don't have to trust him," I replied, meeting his gaze steadily. "You just have to trust me."
The King of Spades observed our exchange with that unnerving stillness that seemed to be his natural state.
"The Prince's concern is understandable," he conceded, shadows shifting around him like restless spirits.
"But time grows short. The Blood Mages will complete their ritual by nightfall.
If they succeed, the power they harvest will make stopping them infinitely more difficult. "
I watched as another village vanished from the Observatory map, tiny figures scattering like ants from a destroyed hill. The silver patterns beneath my skin pulsed with each heartbeat, the ward consciousness responding to my growing resolve.
"Then it's settled," I said, turning to Varik. "How quickly can you prepare your devices?"
Varik's wild eyes gleamed with manic energy as he adjusted his hat. "Twenty minutes. I've been tinkering with them since we arrived." He shot a glance at Chi. "They'll need precise placement—within three feet of each anchor point, and they must all detonate simultaneously."
Chi nodded, his form rippling slightly as he prepared himself for the mission.
Through our bond, I felt his reluctance warring with determination.
"I can manage it.”I'll phase to each point in sequence, place the devices, then trigger them from a safe distance," Chi continued, his form solidifying with resolve. "The timing will be precise."
Heart stepped closer to me, the Heart Stone warming against my chest as our proximity intensified our connection. "I should stay with you," he said, his voice low enough that only I could hear. "The bond with Chi is still new—you'll be vulnerable without him nearby."
"Which is precisely why I must be the one to go," Chi interjected, his hearing evidently sharper than Heart realized. "My ability to phase between realities makes me the only viable candidate for this mission."
"And the only one whose absence might destabilize Alice's condition," Heart countered, ruby eyes flashing.
I felt the silver patterns beneath my skin respond to their conflict, pulsing with irritation.
"I'm standing right here," I snapped."And I'm capable of making my own decisions about what I can handle.
" The silver patterns flared brighter as my frustration mounted.
"Chi, go. I'll be fine here with the King and the Tweedles if needed. "
Through our bond, I felt Chi's internal struggle—his protective instincts warring with the tactical necessity of the mission. His teal eyes searched mine, looking for any sign of uncertainty.
"The bond will hold across distance," the King of Spades said quietly, his dark gaze observing our connection with unsettling intensity. "Alice carries more of the First Queen's pattern than any of you realize. She's stronger than you're giving her credit for."
Chi's form rippled once before solidifying completely. "If anything happens to her while I'm gone—"
"You'll have the opportunity to express your displeasure personally," the King finished with that predatory smile.
Chi's tail lashed with a final flicker of resistance before he nodded sharply. "Fine. But I'll be monitoring our bond the entire time. If I sense any distress..." His eyes darkened to midnight blue, pupils narrowing to slits.
"I understand," the King of Spades replied, inclining his head in acknowledgment. "Your concern is noted and respected."
Heart stepped closer, the ruby of his eyes catching the crystalline light of the Sanctuary. "I'll lead the fighters to create diversions at each location. We can draw attention away from the anchor points while Chi places the devices."
"A sound strategy," the King agreed, shadows shifting around him like living smoke. "The Blood Mages will sense conventional forces but may overlook the Cheshire's unique signature if sufficiently distracted."
Varik clapped his hands together, wild eyes gleaming with manic enthusiasm.
"Excellent! Let me retrieve my toys." He spun on his heel, coat flapping as he strode toward one of the crystalline corridors. "Seven synchronized reality disruptors, each calibrated to collapse magical anchoring points. I've been dying to test them in actual combat conditions!"
"Reality disruptors?" Martha called after him, her scarred face creasing with concern. "That sounds... explosive."
"Oh, they are!" Varik's voice echoed back from the corridor, filled with gleeful anticipation. "They'll tear holes in the fabric of space-time itself! Quite spectacular, really."
I exchanged a look with Chi, feeling his amusement ripple through our bond despite the gravity of the situation. "Should I be worried about Varik's definition of 'spectacular'?"
"Always," Chi replied, his tail curling with dark humor. "But his devices work.” I glanced to where the King of Spades should but he was making his way to where Varik went. I watched his movements, wondering what could be going through his brain.
For now I would watch and wait, to see if he really was an ally or enemy.