Chapter 39
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Ellery
“Where did you find them?” Samael inquired.
“That’s not your concern,” I snapped. “All that matters is they’re here now.” I turned and looked pointedly at the sheriff. “And they’ll destroy anyone who seeks to harm Tempest and its residents.”
Samael gazed at Indon in disbelief and horror, but he wisely decided to keep his mouth shut. When we turned the corner, the cells came into view; bodies lay scattered throughout the tunnel. Some amsirah were searching pockets while others were fitting keys into locks.
“None of them are working,” someone muttered.
“I will take care of this,” Avex said. The gargoyle was slightly smaller in stature than Indon but still a powerful being.
His claws clicked against the rocky floor as he crossed to one of the cells.
His large fingers curled around the bars, and he yanked back, ripping the door from the wall.
He threw it into the middle of the tunnel, where it landed with a clatter that made me wince.
Two of the other gargoyles did the same.
They’d designed the doors to withstand an immortal’s strength, but the gargoyles tore them from the wall as easily as if they’d plucked a dandelion. “They might have come in handy in our dungeon,” Tucker said. “Do you think they could get those doors open?”
“I don’t know,” Ryker muttered, his expression one of distrust.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to deal with that. I released Ryker’s hand as I rushed forward. “Wait!”
They were only trying to help, but these children had been traumatized enough without having gargoyles ripping away their doors. They were probably convinced they were about to be eaten.
“Wait!” I cried. “You’ll scare them!”
I skidded to a halt in front of the closest cell and peered into the shadowed interior. It was almost impossible to see beyond the entrance.
Bringing lightning to my fingertips, I raised my hand and stepped into the cell. Scurrying sounds accompanied my entrance, and a dirty foot jerked back into the shadows.
Little whimpers tore at my heart; I almost rushed toward the children and threw my arms around them, but I might terrify them more if I did. When I took another step inside, my light illuminated the cell even more.
About twenty kids huddled together at the back of the small space. Their clothes were little more than rags hanging off their slender frames as grime coated their small, sweet faces.
Those faces should be round, smiling, and kissed by the sun.
Instead, even under the dirt covering them, they were pale, gaunt, and trembling as they clung to each other.
The larger kids were at the front, trying to offer some protection for the younger, weaker ones, but they wouldn’t have deterred the guards or the duke.
The cell reeked of excrement. I couldn’t look in the overflowing bucket a foot away from the cell door, but I’d love to dunk the duke’s head in it.
“Oh,” I breathed.
I loathed the duke for everything he’d done to Ryker, and I hadn’t believed it possible to despise him anymore, but I’d been wrong. I suppressed the fury rising inside me; these children were scared enough. I couldn’t frighten them more.
“It’s okay,” I whispered. “We’re going to get you out of here. Please don’t be scared of us.”
The children remained huddled in the back, either unwilling to believe me or incapable of understanding my words through their shock. Their eyes bulged a little as they glanced from me to the door beyond.
Turning, I spotted the gargoyle who ripped off the door. “I know you’re not used to seeing gargoyles, but they’re our friends. You don’t have to be afraid. They’re going to help us get you out of here and back to your parents.”
When I mentioned their parents, some perked up, but most remained cowering with their lower lips quivering. The constriction in my chest made breathing difficult; no one should ever have to endure this, let alone a child.
“They’re going to move away from the door now,” I told the children. “And no one will hurt you. If anyone tries, I’ll fry their asses.”
I allowed my lightning to flare brighter. Some of them gawked at the light while others murmured to each other.
“You know who I am, right?” I asked.
“You’re Ellery,” one of the older girls said; her voice sounded as if they hadn’t given her anything to drink in days. “The female lightning bearer.”
“Yes, and I’m the Hooded Robber. If the duke had his way, I’d be in a cell too, but I’m here to free you.” I looked at the gargoyle again. “We all are. I know they look scary, but they’re actually very kind and the protectors of Tempest. They’re going to get you out of here.”
And I would do everything in my power to uphold that promise.
“I set them free to help save us.” I held my other hand out to them, the one without the lightning. “Please, come with me.”