Authors: Cyndi Friberg
How many of you are down here
? Charlotte asked.
How long will it take for Joon to rejuvenate?
There are only six of us left but he promised
—
You’re a fool to believe anything he says
, E’Duri interrupted Acarra.
Can you help us escape?
Charlotte was hoping
they
could help
her
!
Charlotte’s spirits plummeted but she carefully shielded her fear from the other women.
You said
detention level. Does that mean there are guards and
barriers?
Plenty of both
, E’Duri informed her.
We can get out of
the cells and frequently do when the guards aren’t paying
attention, but there are both physical and Mystic
safeguards to keep us in the fortress.
How long will he be unconscious
? Charlotte asked.
E’Duri named a measure of time that was approximately two hours.
Can you come to my cell?
Unlike you, I’m not able to walk through walls
.
A few minutes later, the wooden door groaned as a dark-haired woman pushed it inward. “Only Cin can walk through walls, but Torul can manipulate locks.” Charlotte recognized E’Duri’s voice and smiled at her visitor. The last woman to enter was being supported by two of her friends. Each woman was young and each was in a various stage of pregnancy.
The woman hardly able to walk was closest to delivery. “Did Joon—”
A sharp gasp interrupted Charlotte’s question.
“Look at her,” Acarra said in a soft, urgent voice. She was a slight, blonde woman, her pregnancy just beginning to show.
E’Duri commanded the firestone to brighten and her expression filled with shock and confusion. “I didn’t think she was real.”
“I knew she was,” Acarra stressed. “I told you she was. I know the difference between dreams and visions.”
“What are you talking about?” Charlotte asked.
“I’ve seen your face. I’ve… Oh, E’Duri, do you think I led him to her?”
Charlotte rubbed her forehead vigorously. “I don’t understand any of this and we don’t have time for details. Why is Joon keeping you down here?” E’Duri gazed at her suspiciously. “It isn’t about carnal pleasure, I assure you. Somewhere along the way he discovered the most concentrated source of energy is found in a gestating woman.”
The casual explanation drove Charlotte back a step.
She tasted bile in the back of her throat and swallowed convulsively. Heat infused her body until a violent shiver evicted the heat.
Dez dar Joon impregnated these women for an energy source! And E’Duri said they were the only ones left. How many had died? How many women?
How many unborn children?
Her hand trembling, Charlotte motioned toward the girl more unconscious than not. “Is she ill?”
“No. She was weakened by the energy transfer.” E’Duri had apparently lost patience with Charlotte’s curiosity. She moved closer, her brown gaze intense.
“Your face appeared in Acarra’s vision and Dez went wild. He knew something, sensed something that Acarra didn’t understand.”
Acarra fidgeted. “I’m sorry. I didn’t—”
“You can’t control your visions and you’ve already paid the price for having them,” E’Duri said. She turned back to Charlotte. “When he joins his body to ours, he sees what we see and knows what we know.
He took Acarra over and over so he could explore the images in her vision.”
“We don’t have time for this,” Acarra insisted.
“Who are you?” E’Duri demanded. “Why has he brought you here?”
“I’m a catalyst,” Charlotte said, and E’Duri rudely pushed into her mind. Allowing the invasion, Charlotte revealed herself to the other woman. “Why would I lie?”
“It’s impossible,” E’Duri said softly. “Catalysts are extinct. The gift was lost during the Great Massacre.” Charlotte felt other minds scanning her and knew it was the fastest way to dispel their doubts. “I can’t explain it but I
am
a catalyst.”
“Whatever. Can we get the hell out of here?” E’Duri muttered.
Acarra smiled at Charlotte, hope clear in her soft gray eyes. “Yes, I think we finally
can
,” Acarra said.
* * * * *
Tal Aune opened the door to his private chamber with an impatient wave of his hand, expecting Mage Gerr.
“Thank you for…” His sentence trailed away as Lor stepped through the doorway. “I told you to stay in your room.”
Lor lowered his head. Tal had to strain to hear his tentative words.
“They say I did this. They say I killed the mistress.
They say…”
Lor dissolved into tears. Tal gathered his festering resentment and pushed away the need to comfort the boy. Lor was the personification of the Reformation Sect, second in line to head the House of Joon.
But he was also a frightened child.
“You did nothing wrong, Lor. I told you that.”
“But I did.”
Lor raised his head and Tal clenched his teeth.
Luminous turquoise eyes stared up at him, filled with pain and regret. Tal felt a fist compress his heart and he opened his arms to the boy.
Grasping Tal around the waist, the boy buried his face against Tal’s abdomen. Every sob, every shudder, passed from Lor into Tal.
Memories flashed to life. A similar face. Identical eyes.
It was so long ago but Tal still longed for what they’d lost. Their friendship—their innocence. He sank to his knees and eased the boy back, looking at him face-to-face. “You did nothing wrong.” Conviction strengthened the phrase this time, and Lor swiped his hands across his eyes. “Mistress Charlotte is not dead. Head Master Vee linked with her before Dez took her through the vortex.”
“But he will hurt her. He will… Why does he hate her so? Why would he do this?”
Tal smiled, touched by Lor’s compassion. “Even now the Mystics surround the fortress. We will get Mistress Charlotte back.”
Lor’s chin quivered and his lips pursed as he fought a new wave of tears. “Will you kill Uncle Dez?”
Moisture deserted his throat and Tal found it hard to breathe. How could he look Lor in the eyes and admit what he had planned for Dez dar Joon?
“Your uncle has done very bad things and bad things must be punished.”
The boy seemed to consider this for a moment then said, “He is nice to me—but he scares me too.” Tal rose. “I have to go. You
must
remain in your room this time.”
“I will. I promise.”
* * * * *
Charlotte lagged behind a little more with each step. They clearly expected a hero and she’d forgotten to pack her cape. How could she possibly save these women when her hands trembled so badly she had to hide them behind her back and she felt as if she were going to throw up?
As they raced through the corridors of Fortress Joon, Charlotte scanned the captives for latent abilities. She’d been told the rest of the palace was opulent and comfortable, but the detention level felt like a medieval nightmare.
Her foot slid on something slimy. She didn’t pause to investigate the substance. Each captive had psychic abilities. Still she was unsure if they would be enough. E’Duri sensed the guards and Acarra telepathically
transmitted
Charlotte’s
orders,
minimizing the risk of discovery.
“Stop!” Torul cried in a soft, urgent voice as the small group rounded a corner.
Charlotte skittered to a halt and E’Duri bumped into her back. “What is it?”
Torul pressed a hand to her chest, gulping in air.
“There’s a Mystic trap. Don’t move.”
Soft, golden light emanated from Torul, spreading down the corridor and revealing a dense shadow Charlotte hadn’t seen before.
“Can you disarm it or whatever?” she asked.
Torul studied the trap from several angles and then shook her head. “It’s intricate—and vicious. Anyone who touches it is held there until Joon releases them. I can only guess at the exact nature of the containment, but knowing Joon, it’s unbreakable and painful.” Charlotte looked at each woman in turn. They all shook their heads, understanding her silent question.
No one knew how to bypass the trap.
“There has to be a way,” she muttered. “How much farther do we have to go?”
“Not far,” E’Duri said. “Just beyond that archway is a door leading outside.”
Doubtlessly that’s why Joon chose this spot for his most daunting safeguard.
Okay, think
! She turned back to the women and scanned each one again, searching for latent abilities, anything that would help. Telepathy was useless. Knowing the trap was there had kept them from falling into it, but they needed to get
beyond
it.
She focused on Cin. The youngest woman looked frail and wan. Charlotte felt mad flutters in her stomach. There was something hidden within her.
Stepping closer, Charlotte said, “You’re the one who can pass through walls?”
Cin nodded.
“There is something hidden inside you.”
Cin laughed nervously and patted her protruding belly. “It’s not hiding very well.”
“I’m going to dig a little deeper. If I hurt you, let me know.” Charlotte framed Cin’s face with her hands and probed the shapeless insinuation.
“Hurry, the guards are not far off,” E’Duri warned.
It was so simple
! Charlotte laughed.
“I’m glad you find this amusing. Apparently you haven’t spent as much time with—”
Ignoring E’Duri’s outburst, Charlotte cut in. “Cin, you’re a portal. Not only can you pass through matter, but matter can pass through you.”
“Fascinating. How does that help us?” E’Duri sniped.
Charlotte knew fear was making E’Duri difficult so again she ignored her. The solution might be simple but it was anything but easy.
“Okay, who’s the strongest shielder?” Charlotte asked.
“I am.” Acarra raised her hand.
Focusing again on the Mystic trap, Charlotte found its only weakness. A six-inch gap between the shadow and the wall. “Acarra, can you see the trap?” Torul sent out a second pulse of light.
“I can now. What do you want me to do?”
“Form the strongest shield you’ve ever made in your life between the shadow and the wall.”
“Then what?” E’Duri piped in again.
Suppressing an urge to smack her, Charlotte outlined her plan. “Acarra will create a barrier with her shield while Cin allows us to pass through the wall and emerge on the other side of the trap.”
“I’ve never done that before,” Cin cried. “I don’t know how!”
“I’ll help you,” Charlotte assured, amazed at how confident she sounded when inside she was shaking.
“Acarra, start on the shield. I need to expand Cin’s abilities.”
Hurry! They had to hurry. The guards were getting closer. Charlotte could feel E’Duri’s terror increasing.
She returned to Cin’s mind, finding the aberration more easily now. The locked door had worked with Lor so she used the image again. Easing the door open, she heard Cin’s gasp and felt the violent tremor that shook the younger woman.
“Oh! I can feel it. I understand,” Cin whispered.
“I’ll help you stabilize the portal but we’ve got to move now,” Charlotte urged.
They inched closer to the trap, Torul assuring that they could all see it. Acarra’s shield solidified.
Charlotte took Cin’s hand and squeezed it. “You can do this.
We
can do this.”
Tears brightened Cin’s eyes but somehow she managed to contain them. She stepped into position, her shoulder flush with Acarra’s shield.
“Okay,” Charlotte said softly. “Open the portal.” Cin’s eyes all but took over her face. Her chin trembled and her mouth compressed but gradually she became transparent.
“By the ghosts of the night moon, I don’t believe it,” E’Duri murmured.
They didn’t have time for awe. Charlotte catalyzed the portal until a good portion of the wall was transparent as well. “Acarra first,” she said. “Make sure you maintain the shield!”
Acarra rushed through the portal, holding her arms tightly against her sides. Cin gasped and Charlotte poured more energy into the portal. One by one, the captives passed through, emerging safely on the other side.
“Follow me out,” Charlotte told Cin, knowing the girl was unable to speak in her present state.
Charlotte paused to fortify the portal with a final surge of energy then stepped through the gateway herself.
A long, tense moment followed as they waited for Cin to release the portal and free herself from the wall.
“Go on,” Charlotte ordered. “I’ll make sure she’s safe.”
Reluctantly, the others turned down the final passage. Once beyond the fortress, Acarra would be able to cloak their presence until they could contact the Mystics.
With a startled gasp, Cin finally separated herself from the wall. “That was—different,” she panted out.
“You were amazing. Now we have to go.”
Awareness ripped through Charlotte, driving the breath from her lungs in one painful whoosh. “Run,” she gasped. “Run!”
Cin hesitated but Charlotte gave her a little shove.
They rounded the final corner, Cin several steps ahead. Cin rushed through the door, stubbornly holding it open. Charlotte heard the roar of a transport conduit building directly behind her.
“Go!” she shouted. Anguish tore a cry from her throat.
She watched horror unfurl in Cin’s eyes and knew the vortex had opened. She dove for the door but a hurtful fist tangled in her hair.
* * * * *
Tal felt Charlotte’s anguish ripple across the metaphysical plane. Like a beacon drawing the Mystics, her emotions guided them to her exact location. With a concentrated burst of energy, the Mystics ruptured the shields surrounding Fortress Joon.
Tal rushed across the side yard toward the massive fortress. A woman, heavy with child, struggled to keep an iron-banded door open. Tal could sense Charlotte’s presence on the other side of the door. He ran.
Shouts and the low rumble of a transport conduit emitted from inside the building. Lightning flashed.
The woman screamed. Noticing him, she stepped aside, hurrying him through the doorway.
Joon held Charlotte around the waist, one hand tangled in her hair. Kicking his legs and clawing at his arms, five women worked frantically to free her from Joon’s grasp. The fiend tried to subdue them with his hair, whipping at them with sharp cracks and wrapping it around offending limbs, but he couldn’t deflect their blows without releasing Charlotte.