Chapter 14

The smell was overwhelming. My stomach heaved, and not for the first time these past few hours, as we tried to make our way through the almost knee-high waste as quietly as possible. Escaping the city through the sewer tunnels was not high on my to do list tonight, yet here we were. The sewer had been our last resort. We tried to go through the alleyways and side streets. We played a nerve-wracking game of hide and go seek for hours, but what alleys that weren’t guarded by a Preserver truck had drones zigzagging lasers through it. Zoe had finally given up and led us down here. Apparently, it was the only viable option in getting us out of the city. And even though I knew she was probably right, I didn’t like her very much at the moment. Then again, I didn’t like anything too much at the moment. I was pissed. We had left in a hurry, trying to escape before the Preservers invaded the building and found us. We had enough time to grab our weapons and skedaddle. My lucky coat had been left behind in the mad dash and I was gutted. That thing had been with me for years. It was my security line. I felt naked without it. Madds had better take care of it.

Things I didn’t want to know about squished and crunched under our feet as we waded through the pile of refuse. Every step released a new wave of stench into the air that no amount of covering our faces could mask. I gagged behind the mask every couple of feet and from the sounds over my shoulder, I wasn’t the only one. Jill’s heaving and quiet cries only added to my own misery.

“Almost there,” A disembodied voice carried from up ahead where a tiny light bobbed in the all-consuming darkness. Zoe didn’t sound the least bit like this was bothering her. She was made from some tough stuff.

I had to fight with my desire to use magic. Anything would do right now. Maybe I could part the toxic water so we weren’t sloshing through muck and having it slide down inside our boots. Or maybe I could make our masks smell like cherries and lemons and hide the nastiness we were breathing in. I mean it was a battle not to give in. The threat of the Preservers finding us and selling us to some rich asshat was the only thing stopping me. That and Zoe’s threat to rip me a new one if I even so much as breathed an ounce of magic before we got out of the city.

The lamp she carried danced eerily on the tunnel walls, making me see movements and shapes that weren’t really there. Well, I hoped they weren’t real, but I had the sinking sensation that there were things slithering around in here that were definitely not part of my imagination. And if worrying about rats and snakes wasn’t messing with my head enough, I kept having flashbacks to those stories from my childhood like how pets flushed into the sewers had mutated into giant creatures. That’s all we needed, to meet up with a six-foot lizard man or a flesh-eating goldfish. And if we were about to run into a mutant turtle, he’d best be wearing a ninja mask and go by the name of Raphael.

A tiny scream sounded behind me, followed by a sob. Jill had been gasping and struggling ever since we entered the sewers. She was trying her best, but it was a losing battle for her.

“You okay back there?” I whispered over my shoulder.

“No. No I’m not. I think I just tripped over a freakin’ alligator or something. I need to get out of here. I feel like I can’t breathe.”

Her voice was starting to rise to a hysterical pitch. Not good.

“Just hang in there, kid,” I threw over my shoulder. “There’s no alligator.” At least I hoped not. “Look, see that tiny light up ahead. That means we’re almost there. You got this.”

“No,” she murmured. “No, I don’t got this.”

She didn’t sound good at all. Like she was hyperventilating behind her mask. Gee-zus. Where was a paper bag when you needed one?

“Zoe, hold up,” I called after the bobbing light as I turned to Jill. Zoe must not have heard since the light kept moving ahead.

“I think I’m about to pass out,” Jill whispered as I spun around, trying to find her in the gloom.

“No. Don’t you dare.” My whisper was frantic. She couldn’t pass out and slip under this muck, for as much as we needed her, I wasn’t sure if I could convince myself to dive in and save her.

“I got you.”

Starke’s calm voice floated on the odious stink. I approached them as he swept her up into his arms like she was just some little girl and not a full-grown adult. I refused to look at the crap falling and dangling from her boots. I didn’t want to know what it was. Instead I concentrated on her pale face in the dark, trying to take her mind off her fear. We couldn’t have her hysterical.

“Damn, girl. If I had known that he was gonna sweep you off your feet and carry you, I would have whined to Starke an hour ago,” I teased, trying to get her mind off of her panic.

“I’m..sorry,” she gasped. “I have…claustrophobia. I tried to handle this; I really did.”

“Hey, it’s okay. Time to put the big galoot to use anyway. I’m tired of watching him just standing around looking pretty.”

She emitted a tiny giggle at my comment. Good. At least it meant she wasn’t about to scream her fool head off.

“I’m sorry… Starke,” she gasped.

“Do not apologize, fire elemental. I believe there is a human saying, if the girls don’t find you handy, they at least should find you handsome, yes?”

“Um, it’s the other way around…you know what? Doesn’t matter. Let’s just get out of this shithole already. No pun intended.”

The light bobbed closer. Zoe had finally noticed something was up.

“What’s wrong?” She asked.

“We had to stop,” I answered.

“I can see that,” she snapped. “I’m not stupid.”

“Then why’d you ask?”

She shot a glare at me and swung the lamp higher, nearly smacking me in the head.

“Be careful,” I hissed.

“What’s wrong with her?”

“Jill is having a panic attack,” Starke answered. “I will carry her until she feels able to stand on her own. Let’s keep moving.”

She stared at the girl in Starke’s arms.

“Hmph. You’re really going to have to toughen up if you want to get off this world in one piece.”

I squinted at her through the lamplight.

“You know, that’s not how you treat someone having a panic attack.And I thought I was insensitive.” I waved my finger in Zoe’s face. “And just to let you know, this girl is plenty tough. She’s already battled blood-sucking aliens and took out the Matilda principle with a tree branch. Girl’s got mad skills.”

“Enough squabbling. We have to work together against our common enemy, not between each other. But first we need to get out of this sewer and get to our pickup zone.”

Zoe nodded once in agreement with Starke after shooting me some serious stink eye. I didn’t care. She could hate me all she wanted. But show a little compassion for Pete’s sake.

She huffed into the dark and began walking ahead of us again. I fell in line beside Starke still carrying Jill.

“She’s a nasty Nancy,” I muttered. “I don’t like her.”

Jill’s tiny snort escaped between her panicked breathing.

“Don’t…make me laugh…Jette. But…thank you.”

“Matter’s not if you like each other.” Starke didn’t even sound out of breath, even walking through sludge and carrying Jill. Guy had stamina, I give him that. And some seriously soft lips.

Stop it, Jette.

“She is an elemental. Same as you and Jill. I expect you all to show each other respect.”

I tried to get the stupid kiss out of my head, but just being near him reminded me. Even in this crappy sewer and him scolding me. I cleared my throat.

“Yeah well, tell her that. She’s the one being a dick.”

“She can hear you,” came wafting back from the shadows ahead.

Oh.

“Good.” I hissed back. “I meant for you to hear me. That way I don’t have to repeat myself.”

“Jette,” Starke warned.

I glanced sideways, a little ashamed of my juvenile behavior.

“Yeah, okay. I’m done. Sorry. Don’t mean to be so rude and cranky but walking in crap up to my knees is not the way I wanted to spend my evening.”

“Nor I. But suck it up since we could do without all the whining as well.”

“I’m not whining,” I whined.

“Fine, you’re just putting up a very valiant defiance. But, be that as it may, we cannot change it. What is the human saying? What will be, will be?”

I narrowed my eyes, even though I knew he couldn’t see me. “How did you say you picked up these human sayings? From a book?”

“From two books, actually. You humans have quite an expansive collection of idioms.”

“So you’re telling me you are now a walking encyclopedia of human phrases?”

“Yes. I believe I am.”

He sounded quite pleased with himself.

I sighed into the darkness. It was going to be a long road trip.

###

Fresh air had never smelled so good.

Well, to be fair, I wasn’t sure how fresh it was or if I could actually call it that. Coming out of the sewer had landed us outside the city in what looked like the middle of a landfill. The river we found ourselves walking in was a dark, slow moving sludge in the predawn light, slopping against the banks piled high with garbage and debris. But the cool wind blowing on my face and the delicate pink staining the clouds made me feel like we had landed in a field of tulips.

Jill had already climbed up one of the banks and was standing, mask pulled down and eyes closed, letting the morning air whip over her.

“You good?” I asked as I clambered over the garbage to join her.

She opened her eyes and grinned awkwardly.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little embarrassed. Sorry about all that.”

“No worries. You can’t help a phobia. Between you and me, I have Genuphobia, which is, in case you didn’t know, an intense fear of knees. I never wear shorts. And if we had met a whole tunnel full of prep-school boys in short pants down there? I would have been a basket case, no joke. So your little breakdown was nothing, trust me.”

Jill’s laughter eased some of the strain etched in her face.

“You are so weird,” she chuckled. “Is that even a thing?”

I shot her a look of mock indignation. “You think I would lie about such a thing? You wound me, truly.”

Her laughter tapered off.

“Seriously though, thank you. You and Starke both.” She glanced over at the tall Fae standing in deep discussion with Zoe, the lamp held over the glass-like com in her hand.

“He really is such a good guy.”

“Yeah, I think he really is,” I agreed as I stared at his broad back.

“Is that all you think?”

I squinted back at Jill in puzzlement.

“What does that mean?”

“Is that all you think of him as? I didn’t want to say anything, but when Zoe and I found you guys on the roof, you two looked real close and intimate. Maybe even kissing? I mean, I wouldn’t blame you if you were. He’s smokin’ hot. That body. And those eyes? I wouldn’t kick him out of bed for eating crackers, I’m just sayin’.”

“Wha…? Okay, this is getting weird, little pervert. Stop it.” I cut her off, feeling more than a little uneasy over where this conversation was going. I had no idea they had seen the kiss. We did not need that complication.

“What? I think you two make a real cute couple. And you have to admit, he has this pull about him, but I really think his attractiveness stems from him being a truly nice guy. Don’t you think he’s sexy as hell?”

I shot her some shade. “I think we have a few more important things to think about than whether I find Starke attractive or not.”

“She does.”

The deep confirmation drifted over my shoulder and I whirled in as much embarrassment as irritation.

“Anyone ever tell you listening to other people’s conversation is rude.”

A crooked grin his only response to my accusation. The grin irritated me enough to continue.

“And I don’t, by the way. I find arrogance the most unattractive feature ever, and you, my friend, bathe in the stuff.”

“Deny it all you like, little rabbit, but as I said I can read you like a book. No need to feel embarrassed by it. Most humans react to me that way. It’s a Fae thing.”

Jill snorted in laughter even as he ignored my indignant stammering, cutting off anything I was about to say.

“Time to move. Zoe says the forest is just over the rise. Looks clear for now. No guards near showing on the com.”

I stared after him, speechless as he and Jill started climbing over the bank.

It’s a Fae thing? For real? When had he come up with that little gem?

The man totally confused me. He really did. One minute he was sweet as candy, the next he was so arrogant I couldn’t stand him. Which one was the real Starke? Was it the one who had intoxicated me with a kiss, or the one who saw me merely as an elemental?

“You going to stand here like a lump all day or you going to move?” Zoe muttered at me as she passed by.

I stretched my back and rolled my aching shoulder. And then on the opposite end of the scale we had nasty Nancy, the little ray of sunshine she was. I guess I was following this bunch of misfits whether I wanted to or not.

As soon as we crested the bank, the woods came into view and I knew right away why they were called the Night Woods. The trees were all totally black. The bark, the branches. Even the leaves. A bank of ebony rising from an ivory sea of mist. It was so odd yet so beautiful at the same time.

Starke cleared the bank first, searching the horizon. Nothing moved in the low laying fog over the marsh. Nothing we could see anyway.

“All clear,” he whispered back over his shoulder as he motioned us to go. One by one we scooted past him, across the soggy marsh and into the cover of the trees, him bringing up the rear. Once we were all encased in the canopy of black, Zoe whispered, “Stay close. Keep me in your sights at all times. These trees can be a sea of confusion, and if you get lost in here it may take us days to find each other.”

Right. Stick to her ass like glue. Got it.

After the sogginess of the marsh, the ground in here was crisp under our feet. Leaves crackled and twigs snapped even as we tried our best to walk quietly. Every sound seemed to echo in the eerie stillness, and I winced every time. The branches above our heads entwined together, forming a tightly woven canopy that barely let any light through. The farther we walked, the darker and quieter it became. After about what was maybe a couple of hours, it had become so dark again it felt almost like being back in the sewer.

“Should we light the lamp,” I whispered, afraid to raise my voice at all and disturb anything that may be lurking in here.

“No,” Zoe answered. “If there are Preservers on our tails, we don’t want to give them a heads up. Just stick with me.”

“Fine,” I huffed, glancing back over my shoulder. “But…”

“Quiet.” Starke’s whisper chilled me, and I bit my tongue as I brought up solid in his back. He stood stock still. We all did, listening for anything out of place.

The snap was unmistakable, its attempt at stealth only amplified by the absence of other sounds. We were not in here alone.

My head swiveled, searching for the source of the snap. Movement through the trees caught my eye. Not sure what it was. A flash of light maybe? But we all saw it and we moved as one, splitting up and finding the nearest hiding spot. We didn’t need to be seen now, not when we were so close to getting out.

I dove behind a thick tree flanked by a large bush covered in tiny red berries. Planting my back against the tree and pulling my sai, I tried to slow my frantic breathing down enough to dull the sound of my blood thumping in my head. I needed to be able to hear if anyone was approaching.

A few moments of silence followed by another distinct snap and movement at the corner of my left eye. Whatever was following us was right on top of me. Every aspect of my rational thinking shut down; my body reacting before my mind could process it. My sai swept up, my magic humming along the blades. So much for Zoe’s warning about not using magic. If that was a Preserver about to attack me, I wasn’t going down without a fight. My breath hitched in my chest and I readied my attack, my stance impressive.

I’m sure the baby deer that came sniffing around the bush was duly impressed.

My shoulders sagged in relief as I tried to keep my laughter from bubbling hysterically out. The deer paused as I moved, then deciding it didn’t want to risk going any nearer to the sniggering, silver-haired weirdo watching it, it bounded off.

“Guys,” I whispered loudly as I watched the deer disappear into the trees. “It’s okay. It’s just a deer—”

I spun and came face to face with a massive black shadow. The scream that fell from my lips was as uncontrollable as the magic that leapt from my blades. The Preserver about to attack me with the cattle prod, flew backwards through the air as my magic hit him dead center in the chest. A thick trunk stopped his flight as he brought up solid and slid down the tree into a crumpled heap.

Aw crap. Did not mean to do that. Too late now.

“What did you do?” Zoe yelled at me in alarm as they emerged out of hiding, Jill waving me over.

“I’m sorry,” I hissed back, as I ran at them. “I panicked. There was a deer…then this guy…then…I don’t know what happened.”

Yelling echoed through the trees, cutting off the reprimand I damn well knew Zoe was about to deliver.

“Preservers,” Jill commented. Like we didn’t already know that.

“Yeah, and nimrod’s magic is gonna lead them right to us.” Zoe scowled my way.

“What do we do?” Jill’s voice tinged with more than a little hysteria.

“We stand and fight,” I suggested. “I’ve already spilled magic, it won’t matter now. They know we’re here.”

“No, our magic will be weak here and we can’t take the chance of any of us being taken down or all will be for naught.” Starke’s eyes jumped to Zoe. “You said the ward ends at the other side of the forest, yes?”

“That’s the rumor. But no one’s ever proven where the warded barrier ends.”

“So if we get past the trees, we can jump?” I asked, glancing over my shoulder.

“Maybe,” she responded. “Or maybe we’ll open a half-assed, weak portal that will shut back down mid jump and cut us in half.”

“We’re out of time,” Starke growled as the yelling drew closer. “Stick together and run. Soon as we hit the other side of the trees, try opening the portal. Go!”

Zoe ran. We followed.

My eyes were glued to Zoe’s back as she led us through the maze of trees at breakneck speed. The forest passed by in a blur as I focused on what was underneath my feet, trying not to trip over exposed roots or slip on wet moss. The Preservers were on our asses. They whooped and hollered as they pursued us, enjoying the chase way more than we were.

A million thoughts were rushing through my brain. What if Zoe was right? What if we didn’t make it far enough past the ward and my portal ended up being a dud? What if it did shut down before we got through. What if. What if. What if. Damn her for putting these doubts in my head.

“Argh,” Jill hissed behind me as I heard her stumble.

I glanced back over my shoulder, expecting to see her on her face, but thankfully she was still on her feet. I don’t think I could have handled her being a scream queen wannabe, twisting her ankle running away from the knife wielding villain.

“I’m okay,” she threw at me. “Keep moving.”

Like I was planning on stopping.

I don’t know how long we ran. Time lost all meaning; sucked up by our fear. But finally, the most beautiful glimmer of light flickered through the trees, dappling the forest floor with a mosaic of sunshine. We were almost there.

We stumbled from the trees, instantly blinded by the scorching sun. Even blind, I kept running. There was no way I was stopping for anything.

“Jette, focus on opening the portal as soon as we hit the gulley at the bottom of the hill. That should give us enough distance from the ward,” Starke yelled at my back. “Zoe, Jill, you two do your best to hold the Preservers back. Remember you can’t attack their bodies, not while they’re protected by the suits, but draw from your elements and prevent them from reaching us while I protect Jette.”

“But I can’t control my magic,” Jill screamed back. “What if I burn it all down?”

“Then you burn the damn forest down,” Starke roared. “Just do it.”

I blinked away the tears in my eyes and tried to center on the ravine. Already in my head I was picturing Larry and my destination, praying this next world was somewhere safe.

To my relief the tiny spark of energy fluttering in my gut came to life at my urging, tearing through my blood and screaming to be released. I focused it on the hallway of doors, bringing them rushing at my conscious mind like I was sprinting at the ravine. Slipping and stumbling, I hit the bottom of the bank, almost toppling forward from the pull of gravity.

Screams sounded over my shoulder. I had no idea who or what was causing them. I had my own job to do. I just prayed and hoped it wasn’t any of my crew emitting those awful sounds.

The blue portal answered my frantic call. As soon as it sparked to life, I began cranking my sai, urging it open.

Come on, come on, come on.

Soon as it widened enough, only then did I dare look over my shoulder. Zoe and Jill had done their part. Jill’s uncontrolled walls of flame were being blown like spiraling tornadoes by Zoe’s air currents with no rhyme or reason. They really weren’t controlling any of it, but it was frenzied enough to keep the Preservers at bay. Starke stood at my back, legs spread wide and bullets deflecting off his sword as he twirled and coiled with the grace of a dancer, preventing the hunters from cutting me down. My very own Obi Wan. I probably would have laughed at the comparison if I wasn’t so terrified I was gonna die.

“Guys, come on!” I screamed. Jill and Zoe ran like the hounds of hell were on their heels. As soon as they ran, the fire whirlwinds sputtered out, giving the Preservers free reign.

“Jump,” I yelled. Zoe dived headfirst into the ring of magic, Jill right behind her.

“Go,” I gritted at Starke as I struggled to maintain the door.

“We go together,” he growled back, his sword a blur against the onslaught of light bullets. “On three. One, two, three.”

His arms encased me in an ironclad grip as he pulled me off my feet, and we leaped as one through the crackling blue flame.