Chapter Twenty
“Of course.” She replies.
“Why is it so fucking hot when she kills something?” Kai asks me and I shrug. I honestly have no idea but he is right.
“How did you even know he was there?” Kysen asks. “He was right behind me and I didn’t hear a thing.”
“I sensed him I guess is the best way to describe it. I was worried my senses might be dulling but apparently not. At least living with the step bitch had some sort positive effect.”
“Thank you Sage.” Kysen says and hugs her.
She chuckles and holds her bloodied sword out to the side so she does stab him or cover him in blood.
“You would’ve done the same for me.” She says when he steps back before she changes the subject. “How are we going to get in? There are guards and lookouts everywhere.”
“I’m not sure. Let’s get the others and see if they found anything helpful first.” I suggest.
“Guys head back to where we first split up.” Kai sends through the bond.
“Alright see you ten.” Jax replies.
“They are going to be so bummed when they realise they missed seeing Sage go all badass.” Kai adds out loud and Sage rolls her eyes but can’t quite hide her pleased smile.
We make it back in no time at all making sure that we stick to the shadows as much as possible. We have a couple of close calls with the guards on the way but no where near as close as it was with Kysen which means nobody dies.
“How’d you guys get on?” I ask as we make it back to the meeting point and see the others already waiting for us.
“Not great. There are guards practically crawling all over the place some of them literally. It looked really freaky.” Jax shudders.
“We didn’t see any sort of sign we could easily get in. What about you guys?” Hunt asks.
“Sage killed a guy.” Kai says casually and the guys turn to look at Sage not really in shock since we all know exactly what she’s capable of it’s more in question.
“He was going to kill Kysen so I killed him first.” She says casually.
Kysen watches her curiously, he’s seen her kill before but it was in a high pressure situation and we were all under attack so we were defending ourselves in a kill or be killed situation.
That’s an entirely different kind of situation.
She had to stalk Kysen’s attacker and kill him without hesitation.
Her brutality is pretty damn impressive. Although I know it’s because of her supernatural side that makes her more brutal than humans I think her upbringing and the torment she experienced when she was kidnapped from her parents has helped to shape that brutality.
“Good job, Titch.” Maverick says proudly. “So I take it that means that they are just as tight with security on that side too?”
“Oh yeah, they killed someone trying to approach and it was done so efficiently we had no chance to help.” I tell them.
“They don’t seem to be using magic in anyway to help them secure the premises. Apart from their own supernatural skills, that means that they are incredibly confident in the skills of the guards.” Kysen says thoughtfully.
“Which might work in our favour if we can find a weak point in their defences.” I add.
“That’s the problem though. We can’t get close enough in order to find a weak point. Let alone locate the Centre’s and seeing how were going to get them out. We’ve literally stumbled at the first hurdle.” Hunt points out, picking his nails with one of his knives.
Loud cawing from Ghost as he hops around on the floor in front of Sage distracts us momentarily from the conversation that seems to be heading nowhere.
Ghost continues cawing loudly at Sage and headbutting her legs until she slowly crouches down in front of him.
The bird is so damn big that it puts him at eye level with her.
I watch curiously with the others as he looks at Knot who nods once and then gently rests his head against Sage’s, grey magic with flecks of purple like Sage’s swirls in the air, it wraps around Sage and Ghost. There’s no visible effect and after a minute or two Ghost pulls back and launches himself into the air, turning into almost glittery smoke and mist as he goes.
“I can’t see anything!” Sage suddenly cries out somehow managing to remain fairly quiet and not alert anyone that we’re here despite how terrifying it is.
She blinks rapidly as we all rush to her side and flinches when Jax lays a hand on her.
His eyes widen.
“It’s ok Little Star it’s just me don’t worry we won’t let anyone near you.” He says reassuringly and she curls in to him.
“This is going to make her feel really vulnerable it could trigger a panic attack, having one of her senses taken away from her.” Jax sends urgently down the Bond lines, and I realise he’s blocked her Bond line out so only we can hear her.
“Move slowly and if you’re going to touch her warn her first.” Maverick says just as seriously.
“This could be bad not only because we don’t want her to have a panic attack but also because we have no idea what the effect could be now that she’s supernatural.” Kai says worriedly.
“Ok just move slowly. Do what we said. Is this because of her past?” Kysen asks.
“Yes.” I reply shortly watching him closely.
“I get it.” He replies his eyes filling with shadows and pain. He gets it better than most would.
“Can you see yet Sweetheart?” Hunter asks gently. “I’m going to put my hand on your back.” He adds.
Sage
“No I can’t everything is still pitch black.” I reply taking a deep breath and trying to remain calm.
It would not be good if I lost my shit right now.
I blink my eyes rapidly hoping that it clears my eyesight as my heart beat pounds rapidly in my chest. The only reason that I am not entirely freaking out right now is that this is down to Ghost’s magic and I know that he would never deliberately harm me so there must be a reason for it.
I gather my courage and sit up pulling away from the safety of Jax’s arms. Cain taught me sensory deprivation and I know that I can deal with this without losing my shit and endangering anyone. It helps that the darkness in me has just been satisfied by the killing that guard.
“Sage?” Levi says worriedly.
“I’m ok, just don’t go too far away ok?” I say.
“Never Darling.” He replies taking my hand slowly and gently.
“I think my vision is starting to clear,” I say hopefully as my vision turns from black nothingness to grey before clearing completely.
This isn’t right, I’m not seeing the base of the surrounding trees and the guys like I should be, instead I can see the tops of the trees as I move above them almost like when I have a vision but I know that’s not the case this time.
I swear I can see colours that I have never seen before and my field of vision is a hell of a lot wider than it is normally.
The tip of a wing enters my new wide field of vision.
“Guys I think I’m seeing through Ghosts eyes.” I say excitedly, “This is incredible even if it is slightly disorientating.”
“See if you can show us through the Bond lines like you’ve done before?” Maverick suggests.
“Ok, give me a second.” I say, hoping that Ghost doesn’t show us anything too important whilst I try to figure this out. My descriptive skills are not the best.
I focus on my magic, naturally falling to the place where it resides deep inside me and then follow the Bond lines.
I ask my magic to help me send what I’m seeing through Ghosts eyes to my guys and Kysen.
It suddenly occurs to me that whilst we are all seeing through Ghosts eyes we’re going to be left vulnerable so I also ask my magic to protect us from harm and any prying eyes too.
“Did it work?” I ask.
“Wow this is amazing but I can’t see the surrounding area anymore.” Kysen replies sounding slightly worried.
“It’s ok I asked my magic to protect us.” I reply.
“Quick thinking.” Levi compliments me and my heart warms.
I miss them.
It seems like a weird thing to say but we haven’t spent any time together, too busy fighting for our lives or trying to find weirdly unique supernaturals and now we’re seeing through Ghosts eyes. I can’t wait until this is hopefully over and we get a moment to just be together.
Ghost seems to have been waiting until we were all linked together and has only been flying over the woods whilst I link everyone up.
Now that we can all see what he is he flies towards the walls of the Cursed City.
He does a loop around the edge showing us the guards and the towers at equal distances around it.
He flies as slow as he can and goes around more than once giving us all plenty of time to study it for weaknesses.
Whenever I think that he’s about to be spotted and either shot down or eaten he turns himself into mist and shadows easily blending in with his surroundings and they look straight through him.
“There.” Kai exclaims. “The part he just flew over there’s a slightly bigger gap between towers and the guards take longer to patrol that area.”
“Are you sure?” Levi asks him.
“Yes Boss, I caught it on the second circle he did but wanted to make sure.” Kai replies.
“Great work.” Levi praises, “We need to try and get Ghost to fly over that area a couple more times so that we can study it properly.”
“It’s by the back wall yeah?” Jax asks clarifying where the area is.
Ghost must be able to hear and understand us because he doubles back and starts flying over the back wall. Showing it too us from different angles and eventually perching on one of the tower roofs in his ghosted form, which allows us to see what’s going on more clearly.
“You’re right there is a small window in which we could get over if we’re quick enough.” Hunt says.
“Fortunately Supernaturals are all blessed with enhanced speed to some degree, although Hunt and Mav will be quicker. Jax would be too if we were in water.” Kysen explains.
“We really need to get the academy and actually just learn the basics.” I mutter.
“Ok so we have a way in. We’ll wait until it gets dark so that we’ve got even more cover.” Maverick says.