Indebted: The Premonition Series (34 page)

I’m fighting for air now. The pain from being magically stabbed is nothing compared with the fear I have for Reed, Russell, and Zee.
What are they doing here? They have to get out of here before the Werree or the Gancanagh converge on us.

“RED!” Russell yells, panting a little as he bursts from the stairwell to my room.

I can’t see him, my head is turned away from the stairs, but just hearing his voice is taking some of the pain that I feel away, replacing it with worry.

“How is she?” Russell asks Reed as he kneels down in front of my eyes so that I can see him.

His beautiful, brown eyes are concerned, well, what I can see of them because his hair is long and getting in his eyes. I want to brush it back for him and tell him that he should get a haircut.

Reed comes to kneel next to Russell, so that I can see both of them. Staring into their lovely faces, I want so much to throw my arms around them and tell them both how much I miss them…that I love them, but I can’t.

“We should’ve let that creepy Gancanagh bite her. Then we could’ve killed him and taken her outta here,” Russell says to Reed.

Reed speaks rapidly to Russell, saying, “I thought about that, but she’s wounded. I didn’t want to take the chance that he’d drain her quickly because she already lost a lot of blood. He is one of her personal guard. That means he’s elite, an excellent fighter. We need to get a lesser Gancanagh: one that has recently been turned. If we take him and then starve him for a few days, he’ll bite anything we tell him to, even his forbidden queen. Then, it will be easy to pull him off of her and destroy him before he can really hurt her, but we need to do it with assurances that we’ll be able to get her blood to drink and then protect her as we escape.”

“I get it, ya can’t touch them and ya think I couldn’t take that stinky bastard myself,” Russell says with a grim look, translating.

Neither Russell nor Reed is wearing any protective armor against the touch of the Gancanagh. It’s like they were caught off guard and not able to put it on.

“Zee, are they coming?” Reed asks Zephyr who is somewhere below us.

“Not yet,” Zephyr replies, sounding calm. “I’ll let you know when they get in the West Tower corridor.”

“Do you think you can do it now, Russell?” Reed asks. “You have to be fast. I doubt we have much time. Brennus knows she’s bleeding and he knows he has to get to her before one of his men does.”

“Yeah, I’m ready,” Russell says, sitting down in front of me and closing his eyes.

I watch in silence as Russell’s face loses some of the concern and begins to look calm. All at once, a golden, glowing image of Russell steps out of his body, turning towards me. As Russell’s image enters my body, I hear his voice say aloud and in my head, “Ah Red, shoot…Reed, she needs some pain killers and can ya please loosen the bandage on her shoulder, yer cuttin’ off her circulation.” It is like he is speaking in stereo.

Reed immediately loosens the binding on my shoulder, saying, “I’m sorry, love. Is this better?”

I think,
Yes, thank you.

“She said, ‘Yes, thank you,’” Russell says to Reed.

You can hear me, Russell!
I shout in my head, elation hitting me in waves.

“Yeah, I can hear ya,” Russell says aloud, grimacing. “I can feel what yer feelin’, too.”

Okay
, I think as my brain begins to tumble over itself, trying to figure out where to begin to explain to him all that has been happening. Images of things that have happened flash rapidly in my mind…Molly and Finn, Brennus and the gathering of fellas in the hall, the Gancanagh archive room with the singing weapons, my meeting with Casimir and his attempt to bargain for me, receiving Russell’s clone while wrapped in Brennus’ arms, the strategy meeting with Brennus and the fellas, lying with Reed in my bed this morning, Brennus at breakfast, and then the Werree attack. Image after image pulses in my mind and it’s taking a toll on Russell. His face looks pale and shocked.

“Yer killin’ me, Red, slow down…” Russell mutters in pain.

“What is it?” Reed asks Russell urgently.

Russell shakes his heads. “Ya don’t want to know half of it, Reed,” Russell says with a frown. “Do ya know Casimir?” Russell asks him.

A growl escapes Reed. “Did he come here? Does he know you’re here?” Reed asks me, putting his hand on my brow and sweeping my hair away. His green eyes look haunted and I know I have to explain what has been going on.

I tell Russell:
He came here to bargain for me, but Brennus told him I’m not for sale, at any price. Casimir warned Brennus that he should turn me over to him. I think he probably sent the Werree. They were coming here to give Brennus intel, but they attacked us instead. Brennus thinks that Casimir will go to any length to either get control of me or kill me so that I’m no longer a threat to the Fallen. But, we haven’t figured out why they are so threatened by me,
I think and then listen as Russell translates what I’m thinking word-for-word to Reed.

Reed’s eyebrows draw together in thought. “We saw the Werree arrive this morning while we were preparing to have Russell send you his clone. Zee, Russell, and I watched them shed their flesh suits outside. They only do that when they’re planning to attack. They cannot remain outside of their suits for long, they need them to survive, but they’re more agile outside of them,” Reed explains.

How did you kill them without magic?
I wonder.

“She wants to know how we killed the ones in her tower,” Russell says.

“Sunlight kills them. That’s why they came before the sun came up, they cannot be without their flesh suits in the sun,” Reed explains. He pulls a mirror from the pocket of his jeans and angles it towards my face, flashing light on it. “We didn’t have time to put our armor on after we saw them. We just had to take our chances.”

That was stupid. Don’t ever take your chances again
, I think.

“She just called ya stupid,” Russell says, grinning.

“Company’s coming,” Zee utters from below. “They just entered the West Tower.”

“Okay, Zee,” Reed says over his shoulder. “You have to take Russell and leave now. I’ll follow you in a minute.”

“I love you, Red,” Russell says out loud and it echoes in my head.

I love you, too, Russell
, I reply desperately in my mind.
Please tell Reed that I love him, too…and Zee and Buns and Brownie
. And then, my mind says things to Russell that I would never say out loud because I know that it’s not right to say them…desperate, pleading things. I beg him to stay with me, to make Reed stay with me, not to go and leave me here alone with them again. I tell him how afraid I am of Brennus winning and Casimir coming for me. And then, the worst thing happens: my soul speaks to him, pleading with him to stay with me—to love me—to never let go of me.

In an instant, the connection to Russell ends as he opens his eyes. The pain that I see in them is brutal. It is beyond anything I have ever seen in them as we stare at each other across the small space.

Zephyr lands on the platform and comes to kneel by my side. After kissing my cheek tenderly, he pulls back to look in my eyes, saying, “I have missed you, Evie. I will be back for you–I swear it to you. Just a little longer. Be brave. Buns said to tell you that she loves you and that she will see you soon. Brownie, too.”

Straightening up, Zephyr turns to get Russell so that he can fly him out of here. Russell steps back from Zee, pulling his arm back forcefully from him when Zee tries to pick him up.

“Naw, I’m stayin’ here,” Russell says with his brows drawing together, pushing against Zephyr when he reaches out for him again. Russell’s wings arch out as he scowls at Zephyr.

“Do not be stupid, Russell, you cannot stay here,” Zephyr replies in a calm manner, like he is talking to a child.

“She needs me! I can’t just leave her here alone! I’m stayin’,” he says in desperation. He wrenches his arm back again from Zephyr and scowls at him. “Y’all don’t understand! She’s scared. They’re gonna hurt her, break her!” he argues, backing up so that Zee won’t be able to just grab him and go.

Zephyr frowns. “We have no choice, Russell,” he says. “They will kill us if we stay. I cannot allow myself to be taken by the Gancanagh. If they could turn me, I would be a lethal monster. I have a duty to make sure that does not happen and I have a duty to see that they do not make you a monster as well. So, we must go. I do not want to have to make you leave,” he says in a low tone.

“I’M NOT LEAVIN’ HER HERE ALONE,” Russell shouts, stabbing his finger towards me in agitation.

Tears escape my lashes to drip down my cheeks. I didn’t mean to do that to Russell. I don’t know how to sensor what I’m thinking so that he can’t hear it. Begging him to stay like that is nothing short of torture to him. He has to leave here, before Brennus arrives. If he stays, there is no question that Brennus will kill him this time and maybe Zephyr and Reed, too, if he can get to them.

A loud bang startles me as something pushes against the doors downstairs. Time is up for them. They have to leave now.

“Sorry, Russell,” Zephyr mutters, right before he punches him hard in the face. He catches Russell in his arms as Russell falls forward, unconscious. Zee turns to Reed and says in a menacing tone, “Be right behind me. Do not make me come back here for you.”

Reed nods to Zee. Zephyr launches into the air, cradling Russell in his arms and flying towards the skylights in the rooftop ceiling. Glass smashes and falls as Zephyr and Russell break through the roof and make it outside.

Kneeling down, Reed looks into my eyes again as he whispers to me, “I will be watching you. We have a plan to break the contract,” he says as another loud
crash
sounds from the doors downstairs. “I will smuggle some animal blood in for you. You have to locate places to put it that you can get to quickly, in case you are bitten before we can execute our plan. I will not let him have you. You are mine. We are one. I love you, Evie,” he breathes against my lips, and then he brushes his mouth tenderly over mine.

As he pulls back from me he gazes into my eyes. I try hard to scan every detail of his face, so that I can remember it later when he is gone. “I miss the outline of your body pressed to mine and the feel of your breath on my neck when you sleep. I miss the sound of your voice. I need you. I have to go soon, but I will be back for you. I promise you. Then, I will show you that there is still beauty in the world—not a future full of despair… I promise you, I will,” he says, cupping my cheek as my heart contracts in my chest.

“Before I go, I’m going to have a conversation with your warden. Do not worry about me. I will never allow him to touch me,” he says, trying to reassure me.

NO!
I scream at him in my mind.
That’s completely insane!
I think, but I’m powerless to do anything but lie here like a paperweight.

BOOM!
The doors to my tower explode open, stealing my breath from me.

“GENEVIEVE!” Brennus calls from the entrance to my archive, sounding panicked.

“She is still healing. It’s better if you and your brother remain down there,” Reed replies calmly, standing at the balcony railing of my room.

Brennus’ tone is unshaken, the gracious host, as he says, “Look, Finn, ’tis da
aingeal
. I do na remember inviting ye here, but now dat ye are, why don’t ye come down here so dat we can be properly introduced.”

“As much as I would love to, Brennus, I will have to decline for now. When Evie’s contract is not in play, I am hoping that we can get better acquainted. I will crash your party then.”

“No need to crash, I will send ye an invitation,” Brennus replies. He sounds closer, like he has moved forward into the room and is standing below the balcony on the first floor.

“I have already received a few of your invitations. They are not very exciting,” Reed replies.

“I noticed ye killed da messengers,” Brennus replies and I begin to understand that Brennus has been sending fellas to kill Reed. “I was hoping ye would want ta come ta more of me parties. I was afraid ye would refuse ta after da one I hosted for ye in China,” Brennus says with a smile in his tone.

“I had to come to the surprise party that the Werree just threw for you. Was it funded by Casimir?” Reed asks without emotion.

“We are working on dat question right now,” Brennus replies, and he sounds closer. “Da Werree dat stabbed me wants ta tell me everyting, he jus doesna know it yet. Da fellas are working ta remind him right now. I instructed dem na ta touch him wi’ dere skin, so dat he can enjoy da pain a little before I find out all I want ta know from him.”

“It would seem that we have a common enemy, Brennus,” Reed murmurs.

“’Tis true,” Brennus agrees. He sounds really close now.

My heart is pounding against the walls of my chest.
What is Reed thinking, letting Brennus get this close to him!

“If it’s Casimir, then you need us. You just tell us where and when,” Reed says.

Brennus rises up by the railing in front of Reed, levitating in the air. He is still attired in his dark suit without a hair out of place. Brennus ignores Reed while he floats casually before us. Then, his eyes meet mine. Unable to even sit up on the bed, I am helpless to protect Reed from Brennus’ magic or the malevolence in his eyes.

“Whah makes ye tink I need yer help,
aingeal
?” Brennus asks. The energy in the room is shifting, being drawn towards Brennus in crackling waves.

“The stab wounds in
my
angel,” Reed replies with his back to me now, standing between Brennus and me.

I can’t gauge what Reed’s planning to do next. He appears relaxed and focused as he watches Brennus drifting idly in front of us. I, on the other hand, can feel my lungs constricting in panic.

“She is na yers. Ye were na strong enough ta hold on ta her,” Brennus replies with friendly malice.

“Free her from the contract and let’s see who she comes to,” Reed replies. “The queen you think you own is mine—will always be mine.”

Brennus smiles. “If she is yers, den ye should take her wi’ ye,” he says in a soft tone. “Oh…dat’s right—ye canna because she gave herself to me. Give me a few more months wi’ her and I may free her. Den we will see if ye are correct,” Brennus says, not looking upset in the least.