Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“You know this makes us a coven, right?” Freya said, glancing between me and Erik. “Power of Three.”
Erik scowled and I agreed with the sentiment. He was the last person I would want to be in a coven with.
I crossed my arms. “Forming a coven is permitted in emergency situations. I consider this an emergency.”
Freya chewed on her lower lip, then nodded her agreement. “Very well.” She took a deep breath before exhaling. “Just be ready for anything. The Ember King is probably expecting us to return.”
“But he doesn’t really have fire-hounds, right?” Erik asked nervously. “I have a thing about dogs.”
I ignored him. “I’m hoping he thinks we died in the lava,” I said, adjusting the bag on my back.
“I’m just ready to be warm again,” Therese said.
“Gods, am I ready for that.”
Freya adjusted her grip on her swords and assessed Erik. He held on to a battle-axe awkwardly, knuckles white. She tilted her head. “Are you sure you’re ready? We could leave you here.”
“No!” Erik said, then cleared his throat and smoothed his hair back. “No. I’d much rather be with you than … here.” He grimaced. “I think.”
I rolled my eyes as Freya’s fingertips began to glow and then danced over the air, leaving behind symbols that were becoming familiar to me.
A portal appeared, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
Finally. We could ensure Auggie’s safety.
If we weren’t already too late. I tried not to dwell on that thought as I followed Freya into the portal.
The frigid air transformed to dry heat in an instant, our surroundings bathed in red.
We were back in the dining hall. The lava from outside painted a macabre scene. It was as if we’d never left, although this time, we found ourselves alone.
“I don’t like this,” Therese said, huddling in her pocket.
Freya walked up to the doorway at the head of the room and looked about. She was quick and silent on her feet. Erik followed after her, in her shadow.
My hand, holding a dagger, was already growing sweaty. With any luck, we would go undetected for a while and could locate our friends before the witch even knew we were here.
But that was asking a lot. Even the Fates had their limits.
“Where should we start looking?” Freya asked as I joined them.
Erik looked up at the ceiling of the next room, as if expecting to be attacked from above. “In my experience, dungeons are buried in the bowels of castles, hidden from view and well-protected.”
“That’s assuming you’re not a crazy, all-powerful wizard,” I pointed out, then frowned. “And how would you know? Seen many dungeons, have you?”
“You broke me out of one,” he reminded me.
We shadowed Freya as she led us through another room that opened out to a balcony overlooking the lava moat. “Well, that’s a dead end,” Erik murmured.
I leaned out over the balcony and squinted. There were bars on the windows below us to the left. As if prisoners could escape this damned place surrounded by lava. I considered. I supposed flying prisoners could. Perhaps Narcissa had.
“This way,” I said. The others fell into step behind me, until I stopped at a doorway that had steps leading down, an iron gate barring our path.
I eyed the padlock. I knew a potion that could make the lock fall apart easily, if only I had my cloak. Unfortunately, all I had was a clunky dagger. I wouldn’t be able to do much with that.
Erik held up his axe, as if to strike the lock with it.
“No, no, no,” Freya put a hand to his arm. “I may be tired from that portal, but I can still create a small rune. I mean, unless you want the whole castle to know that we’re here.”
Erik blinked, then lowered the axe.
Smiling, Freya put a hand up until her fingertips glowed. Then she traced a few squiggly lines over the lock before it opened with a soft click. Much simpler than the portal runes.
“That was a lovely display of magic,” Therese complimented her.
“Thank you,” Freya said. “It was one of the first runes I learned. My parents locked everything, as if that would keep me out.”
“Yes, we’re all very impressed,” I said, looking around, “but let’s get moving before you-know-who shows up.”
Freya took the lead again, barreling down the stairs.
I would have preferred a stealthier approach but followed in her footsteps without complaint.
At the bottom of a long staircase, we continued down a hallway lined with torches that sent unnerving shadows flickering over the walls.
At the end of the hall was a room with iron bars fitted along one wall.
A figure was rocking on the floor, praying as we approached, but as soon as he heard us, he jumped up and peered out from between the bars.
I felt myself tear up as I took in Auggie. He looked just as before, not a scratch or burn on him. I rushed over to him.
“Thank God,” Auggie breathed.
“You’re okay,” I said. I was feeling rather more emotional than I was used to. I reached through the bars and squeezed his hand. I smiled. “He didn’t hurt you?”
Auggie shook his head. His eyes were shining with tears. “I thought you were dead.”
“Lucky for you we can take the heat.” I paused as I noted cloth wrapped around his ankle.
Noticing my look, Auggie explained, “It’s better, but I wrapped it. To compress it so it won’t be so easy to reinjure.”
I smiled. “My clever little human.”
“Humans have been doing this for a long time.”
“Hmph.” Humans may have been more clever than I gave them credit for.
“Were you praying just now?” Erik asked.
Auggie blinked. “You brought a guest.”
“Unfortunately, we did,” I agreed. “This is Erik. If he tells you he imbues weapons with magic, he’s lying.”
Erik smiled at Auggie. “I wish we were meeting under different circumstances. And you are?”
“Auggie.”
“Auggie?” Erik echoed, tilting his head. “As in Augustus? Where are you from?”
“Just outside of London,” Auggie told him.
“Interesting. I love London. Where, exactly?”
I caught the movement of a shadow at the back of the cell and tensed before breaking out into a wide grin. “Narcissa!” I laughed. Narcissa stood in a large birdcage that hung from the ceiling, tail swishing behind her.
“I know,” Narcissa lamented. “It’s utterly humiliating being stuffed into this contraption like some common finch.” She sniffed. “I don’t think the Ember King is very smart. Probably thinks I’m a bat because of my wings.”
“A black cat?!” Erik crossed himself. “You keep a black cat as a pet?”
“So what if I do?” I retorted. “And she’s not a pet, she’s my familiar. We’re friends.”
Erik scoffed. “Black cats are schemers. They should be killed on sight. It’s simply asking for bad luck to have them around. The humans got that much right.”
“Oh, that’s so ignorant. Black cats are lucky. If anyone’s unlucky, it’s me, for being forced into your company.” I crossed my arms. “You just want another death on your hands so you can grow stronger. That’s why people don’t trust blood witches. You always have to watch your back around them.”
“Okay, okay, we’re all on the same side at the moment,” Freya said, holding up her arms in a placating gesture. “Let’s just release our friends so we can leave.”
Erik looked like he wanted to argue, but he turned away. Just to be clear, I added “I will push you into the lava if you lay a hand on her.”
Erik’s jaw twitched, but he nodded.
I spied a ring of keys beside the door and retrieved them, trying each in the lock to the cell until one opened it with a soft click. Then I suddenly found myself in Auggie’s embrace. He hugged me with surprising strength. “I never thought I’d see you again,” he said into my chest, voice muffled.
I relaxed into the hug and wrapped my arms around him as well. “I’m sorry it took so long. We made a little detour.” I pulled away and smiled at him. “I won’t let you out of my sight again, if I can help it.”
“I’m frankly more surprised that you’re alive,” Freya told him. “The Ember King seemed keen on eating you.”
“You’re welcome,” Narcissa said, licking a paw in her cage. “I told him about the bounty on Auggie’s head. He seemed very interested in keeping him alive after that.”
I frowned, walking over to her as I searched for a key that would fit the lock of the birdcage. I got it on the first try, and Narcissa leapt out and onto my shoulder, whereupon she stretched out her batwings. “You told him about the bounty?” I asked.
Narcissa seemed unconcerned. “It kept him alive, didn’t it? Otherwise he would probably be on the dining table right now, an apple in his mouth.”
I shuddered. “Thank you. I guess.” Freya had been right. The promise of a reward, likely in the form of negotiable power if someone was challenging Lucifer, had been too much for the Ember King to pass up. I shook my head. “I don’t suppose he knows who put the bounty on Auggie’s head?”
“Oh, he knew. He didn’t share who it was, but he’d heard about the bounty. They’re coming to the castle, I believe.”
I shared an uneasy look with Freya. “Then we should probably get out of here. Like now.”
“And leave so soon?” a garbled voice observed from the doorway. “But you’ve only just returned.”
My heart went cold, which was saying something, given the current temperature.
I turned to find the Ember King in all of his glory, staring at us like a living nightmare.
My mouth went dry as his figure brought to mind our previous confrontation.
He had seemed unstoppable then. He didn’t look any less unstoppable now.
His cloak was aflame behind him, sending more shadows across the room, and causing the black husk of his face to give the illusion of movement, like something was crawling around beneath his flesh, causing it to bubble like lava. The reds of his eyes blazed as he stared us down.
“I don’t suppose we can talk about this.” Freya smiled at him sweetly.