Chapter Twenty-Four #2
“Whoa.” Kai exclaims from somewhere near me and I glance up from the body that’s in pieces to realise that all of the other guards have been taken care of and everyone’s staring at me and the swords.
They are all starting to look worse for wear with several injuries although nothing too serious or debilitating.
“Er yeah.” I say eloquently.
“So the swords are super sharp then.” Jax says smirking.
“Something like that.” I agree. “Pretty damn cool.”
“Fuck are you ok?” Harry suddenly exclaims and the guys all pause in moving the bodies away from the large, ornately carved wooden door inlaid with different gemstones. Asher steps closer to it and starts to examine it.
“What’s wrong?” Levi asks me his voice firm.
“I got caught with the guys sword before I cut him in half, I’ll be fine though.” I reply.
“We can heal it through the bond or I can?” Maverick asks.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea, we need to keep our strength up. It could be way harder to get out of here than it has been to get in, we’ve been damn lucky.” I try to reason.
They all frown at me, I can see logic starting to win out though.
“I don’t like it but fine. I still need to wrap it, it’s pretty damn nasty.” Maverick says firmly, pulling the pack around from his back and digging in it.
Of course I then make the epic mistake of looking down at my injured arm and I nearly gag. You can see muscle. He literally skinned my fucking arm and it looks gross, fortunately my block is still in place and I can’t feel it.
“Is everyone else ok?” I ask.
“I think we’re all good.” Jax answers for everybody.
“Hold your arm up Sage.” Maverick orders and I do as I’m told as I watch Asher study the door, muttering under his breath as he does.
Maverick securely wraps a thick piece of gauze around my arm and it makes it feel less vulnerable and infinitely better. He looks up at me worry still clouding his eyes and I lower my head kissing him softly.
“Thank you, Mav.” I say quietly, the others gathering around Asher and trying to offer him helpful suggestions that I’m not entirely sure are all that helpful.
“You’re welcome, Titch. As soon as we are out of the danger zone you will let me heal you properly.” He says firmly and a thrill goes through me.
“Yes sir.” I smirk and he chuckles shaking his head even as his eyes heat.
“Damn it Sage I’m trying to be serious.” He chuckles, standing up and throwing his arm over my shoulder.
“Guys I’m really fucking sorry but I’m just not strong enough to open it.” Asher says sounding stressed as he drags his hands through his hair.
“Do you know how to unlock it though? Like if you had enough power could you unlock it?” Nate says thoughtfully.
“Yeah definitely.” He replies sounding curious.
“We could try and lend you power like the guys are doing for Erin?” He suggests.
“It’s worth a shot.” He shrugs.
“Repeat after me daughter,” Nyx’s voice floats through my mind and I hold my hand up to the guys.
“Guys wait, I think I can help without wasting anyone gifts and risking us being caught out.” I tell them.
“Are you sure?” Levi asks.
“Oh yeah the goddess is talking to me.” I say.
“Alright then, that’s good enough for me.” Kai says.
“I’m willing.” Asher says and I hold my hand out to him he looks at curiously but doesn’t hesitate to grab on to it, I smile widely.
“Centrum est scriptor auxilium est illi potestas praebueris et liberabo Bonded miscetur feminae suae, volens deam.” I say out loud repeating the words that whispering through my mind courtesy of the goddess.
Power thrums through my veins and I try to direct it towards Asher. My eyes warm and I instinctively know that they’ve started to glow as my hair lifts on breeze that’s come out of nowhere and seems to be glowing as well.
“Whoa that’s one hell of a power boost, Sage.” Asher says before he shakes his head and focuses on the door.
I can feel him start to gather the power around him and direct towards the stones on the door, which I’m guessing are what holds the spells that are stopping us from opening the door. I can only assume that the new instinct I have for what he is doing is thanks to us being linked together.
“So freaking hot.” Kai comments from behind us and I can feel him start to move closer.
I hear Ghost caw in warning and Kai’s yell of surprise.
“Why did you just peck me!?” he exclaims at him and I can’t help the small grin that adorns my face.
I hear a mild scuffle behind me and I wish I could turn to see what was going on but I’m pretty much locked in being a conduit for Asher as he works.
“Dude stop trying to get past him he’s not going to let you get to Sage.” Kyle chuckles.
“But why won’t he?” Kai whines.
I manage to look over my shoulder without breaking the contact with Asher just in time to see Ghost pick up a rock roll his eyes at Kai which makes my grin widen and then he throws the stone at me and Asher.
He is so focused on the door that he doesn’t even realise that anything has been going on.
Three out of seven of the stones are now dulled instead of glowing so I’m guessing that he’s on the right track.
The guys call out in surprise starting to admonish Ghost who completely ignores them, the stone gets a few centimetres away before it hits some sort of force field surrounding us that’s invisible to the naked eye. As soon as it hits it, it completely obliterates and turns the stone to dust.
“Ah so that’s why we can’t get near them. I got you.” Kai says after a couple of moments of silence and we all end up chuckling. “No touchy, touchy.”
Ghost rolls his eyes at him.
“Sassy bird.” Kai retorts.
I chuckle at their exchange, the others grinning.
It falls silent again as we all turn to watch Asher again. He’s managed to get two more of the stones to dull and I try to feed him with more power so that he can get the last two stones to unlock.
He smiles at me gratefully and it only takes him a couple more minutes to finally get the last two stones to unlock.
We all gather around the door, our weapons ready as Levi prepares to open it.
He counts down and on three pulls the door open.
I have no idea what I thought would be on the other side but it sure as hell wasn’t a set of stone steps twice the size of a normal set of stairs and full of around one hundred cautiously hopeful yet still terrified faces.
“We’ve been waiting for you child.” The woman at the very front says directly to me.
I study her in shock. She is the only supernatural that I have seen so far with grey hair that actually looks older than thirty. She must be ancient I’d be willing to bet that she is one of the original Centre’s to be taken.
“Sagely-Wren!” The distinctive voice of my mother rings out and I’m quickly embraced in her arms as my dads all push their way forward past the elderly Centre who moves to the side with ethereal grace.