Chapter 25

I looked down at the eight-hour old tattoo on my forearm. They’d figured out what was in the ink and it hadn’t been complicated, or thankfully, toxic in any way. It could be worse, I thought. At least it was simple, not an ugly design, even though it symbolized everything wrong with this situation. I held my arm in the air and looked at it again, it was always the same, no matter which way you looked at it.

I felt when Michael walked into the armory. It was odd I always knew without looking. When I wasn’t getting ready to break spells and wards, I’d have to think about that. I glanced at him. Of course, he looked hot dressed in his warrior gear. That’s just what I didn’t need, hormones interfering when I needed to focus on my instructions.

Paisley came over and stood with me. “I wish we could come with you.”

“Me too.” I motioned to her arm, “but with your bond, or whatever, it’s too risky.”

She grimaced, “yeah, and feeling what that witch’s curse did once was enough for me.” She appraised me with a look. “Are you going to be okay climbing to get up there?”

I pointed to the rope in the corner. “Michael had them bring knotted rope, so I don’t have to work too hard to get up there.”

“Better you then me.”

I grinned. “Heights don’t bother me.” I glanced at Crissy. “Lightning on the other hand…”

“Did she figure out what it meant?” She gnawed on her lip looking worried.

I shook my head. “No, and if she’s worried, then I’m scared.”

She glanced at my arm. “Can they remove it after?”

“I hope so.” I looked at it again. “I feel dirty just having it on me.”

Michael headed in our direction. Paisley gave me a hesitant look, full of concern. “I’ll be over with the girls if you need us.”

I nodded, but was watching Michael walk toward me. His posture meant he was iceman right now, which I was okay with. Icy cold meant he was focused and had my back.

He stopped in front of me, with a thorough once-over. “Your ribs are healed enough for this?”

I nodded. “Yeah, adrenalin will kick in and I’ll be solid.”

His gaze moved to the tattoo. I pulled my sleeve down. “Looking forward to getting it removed as soon as possible.” I bit my lip, “Romulus said the fact it’s healing won’t change its purpose.”

“Romulus better hope his theories are all correct.” He held out a wrist device. “It’s made of the same polymer as the blood key, so it shouldn’t interfere or be detected.” He continued to stand there with it, so I held out my arm.

I watched him do it up. “So, just push the button and I’m outta there?”

“Yes.” Michael turned to look at the others coming in. There were a lot of people going with us. “We’ve added Clairee and Romulus to the group call, temporarily, so they can talk you through it.”

“That-that actually makes me feel better. I’ve been wondering what I’d do if some of their instructions didn’t pan out.”

He inhaled deeply. “They’d better pan out.”

Troy came over. “You and I will be on the west side, if you want to go over now.”

Michael nodded, glancing at me. “It’s the best location to get up on that roof.”

Troy gave me a serious look. “Last chance to change your mind.”

I shrugged, then lifted my left arm. “And waste this lovely ink, nah, I’m good to go.”

“If it gets rough, get out of there.” He ordered, then an abrupt nod before he headed to stand near Michael.

“No worries there, I know when I’m beat.”

Rafael came over and held out a backpack. “Your herb powder.”

I took it and swung the pack over my shoulder.

“We’ll be right behind you, sister.” He gave me a small smile.

I nodded; the nerves were starting to buzz inside me. “Let’s get over there.”

Michael motioned to Woods and two other guards. Woods picked up the big pile of rope and came over. The three put their hand on Michael’s shoulder as he pulled me closer and held me against his chest.

My stomach bottomed out. I took a few breaths, blowing them out before I opened my eyes. I was looking down a road that led down the side of a mountain. Turning, I stared at the stone wall of the palace. Lifting my chin, I looked up to see how far I was going to have to climb. It looked pretty far from my vantage point.

Michael dropped a bag I hadn’t even noticed him holding. Kneeling down, he opened it and reached in. He held out some glasses, that looked almost like goggles, minus the rubber strap.

Pushing my hood back, I tightened the elastic holding my hair in a ponytail, then rested the glasses on top of my head.

He pulled out his phone. “Connect to the call.”

I nodded and took the earpiece out of my pocket, putting it in I unzipped the pocket with my phone and tapped the screen over the icon. I put the phone back in my pocket and closed the zipper. I wasn’t dropping it this time.

“We’re here.” It was Daxx. “Jeeze guys, front doors big enough?”

“It’s a palace not a supermarket.” Chase said.

“My group are below the back balcony. I’ll port us up as soon as the ward is down.” Quinton said.

“I just talk?” Clairee asked.

“We can hear you.” Bethany said.

“Okay. We’re at the cave entrance. Leone will bring us up as soon as possible.” She explained.

It was comforting to hear them.

Michael stood up and stepped behind me, he put some sort of cloth around my neck and did it up.

I pulled it up, it covered my nose and mouth. I turned to look at him. “Do I look like a ninja?”

The side of his mouth moved like he wanted to smirk, but wasn’t allowed to. He pulled up my hood and tucked the ends of the scarf into the front of my jacket. He glanced behind me.

I turned to see Woods had put the rope on the roof. He was holding what looked like a crossbow. I went over, pulled the scarf off my face. “It will hold?”

He nodded.

“Okay. I’m going to start the climb.” I reached for the rope again then looked over my shoulder to where Michael stood. His expression relayed how worried he was. I walked back to him and stretched up as I pulled his head down. I kissed his mouth softly, then walked away before I could change my mind. If this didn’t go as planned, I wanted to go out on a good note.

“You’ve got this, sis.” Paisley said.

“Did she go?” Crissy sounded frantic.

“Not yet, Criss. She’s just starting the climb.” Daxx informed her.

“Okay. Good. Autumn are the souls of your shoes rubber?” Crissy asked, talking very fast.

I looked down at my feet and lifted one up. “Yeah. I’m wearing my runners for traction and flexibility.”

“Okay. Okay. I couldn’t figure out the lightning, so I researched lightning. You’re not wearing any metal, right?”

I held my arms out and looked down my body. “No.” I frowned. “Wait, wearing or have?”

“None.” She said quickly. “None at all.”

“I have my kama with the blade inside…”

“Take it off.” She made a blowing sound. “No metal. It’s a conductor.”

Michael came over as I slipped one of the backpack’s straps off, he pulled it out of the case on my back.

“Okay, Michael has it now.”

“Okay. I’m sorry I couldn’t see more.” She whispered.

I put the backpack on and adjusted my gloves. “Don’t sweat it. I have, hundreds of years of knowledge in my ear on this group call, I’ll get it done.”

Michael put his hand on my chin and tipped my face up. He kissed my mouth softly, lingering for a moment before releasing me and stepping back. His expression told me to be careful.

I gave him a brief nod. “Going up now.” I grabbed the highest knot I could reach. I don’t know why, but I tugged on the rope, like you always see anyone do before they climb one.

The silence in my ear was unnerving. I realized they probably didn’t want to break my concentration with chatter, but I needed it. “So, I’m going to need directions once I get out of that room. Hope someone has floor plans.” Tightening my grasp, I hopped up then caught the next knot between my feet. Straightening slowly, I kept one hand on the old knot and reached for the next.

“We’ll guide you once you’re out of that room.” Victor said.

I went up two more knots, then glanced down to see Troy was standing with Michael now. They couldn’t come any closer to the building or I knew Michael would be climbing right behind me. “This is a great ab workout.”

I continued to climb, too nervous and hyped at the same time—completely ignoring the muscles pulling against my ribs. “Clairee?” I went up another knot, pausing to catch my breath. “Would it be better if,” I adjusted my footing, “I tossed this herb around while,” I paused to get my feet better situated. “halfway down the ladder?” I went up a few more.

“That would cover more area. Good idea Autumn.” She answered.

I nodded to the wall a few inches from my face. “Just thinking it through.” I didn’t look down again, I knew I was up quite a bit further. I could feel a breeze now. I looked up; I was nowhere near the top. “How tall is this thing?” I mumbled.

“The side you’re climbing is the shortest distance because of the incline and build-up of the mountain.” Crissy answered.

I did four jumps in a row, not pausing. I smiled, that she answered. I was okay with her not giving me the exact height, it would have psyched me out. I paused again to catch my breath. “Did some reading, huh?”

“I like reading.” She said quietly. “It gets me out of my head.”

My arms were starting to complain. “I get that.” I told her. I looked up again. “I’m getting closer to the top.” My footing slipped, I gripped the rope tight and adjusted them. “Five, maybe six knots to go.” I grabbed the next one. “Does the trap door just pull open?”

“There’s a small sliding bolt on one side, you’ll feel it easily, just push it over and the door will be unlocked.” Quinton said calmly.

“Okay.” I reached for the next knot and noticed the air was warmer. “Temperature is changing the closer I get.” Clairee had asked me to be alert to all sensations and or things that seemed off.

“Hot or cold?” Romulus asked.

“Warmer.” I hopped up to the next one.

“Warmer is better than cold.” He informed me.

I looked up at the last knot. “Okay. Last knot.” I straightened my legs and reached for it. “The ladder. How do I put it down?” I pulled and held tight while I brought my feet up. I could see the surface of the roof now.

“Small lever to the left of the hatch.” Victor said. “Push it and the ladder will descend.”

“Okay.” I pulled myself over the top and crawled a few feet from the edge. “I’m up. The air is pretty warm up here.” I looked up at the sky, it wasn’t a bright day at all.

“Be careful.” Bethany said in a hushed tone.

“I plan on it.” I told her. I pulled the scarf up, just in case and made sure it was in place. One less thing to remember when I was balancing on the ladder.

I stood up and looked for the door. “I see the door.” I paused and looked at the roof surface in all directions. “I don’t see anything unusual, or anything that would prevent you guys from getting up here.” I took one step, then another, testing my footing. The surface beneath my shoe seemed fine. I took a few more steps. “So far so—” Sparks and arcs of light shot up in the air. “Holy!”

“What is it?” Troy asked.

“They’ve done something to the roof.” I lifted my foot and looked at my shoe. There was no mark.

“Describe it and what you see, Autumn.” Clairee said calmly.

“Okay.” I blew out a breath, reaching for some courage. “Let me try again.” I stepped forward again. The sparks arced up and hit my shoe. I felt it all the way up my shin. “It’s like lightning coming off the surface. If I didn’t have these shoes on or was carrying metal, I’m pretty sure I’d be getting quite the jolt.”

“Can you walk on it?” Romulus asked.

“As soon as my shoe is close, they come shooting up.”

“Try a few fast steps.” Clairee suggested.

I nodded. “Okay.” I backed up and shook my arms, preparing to run for the hatch. I got three steps and the arcs were strong enough to knock me back a few feet. I caught my balance. “It’s getting stronger and knocking me back.”

“Test carefully to see where the boundary is.” Romulus told me.

I turned my body to the right, then tapped the roof with my toe. Nothing happened. I moved it inward and did it again. My shoe was zapped. I did this over and over all around the edge of the—whatever the hell it was, until I was back to where I started. “It’s all around the door.”

“Does it respond to your hand? Use your left hand.” Clairee told me.

I remembered the tattoo, hoping it proved its usefulness. “Let me check.” Squatting down, I pulled up my sleeve and held my hand out where the sparks had gotten my foot. They jumped up and zapped my hand. I sucked in a breath. “Nope. Likes my hand even less then my shoes.” I paused; I could hear some kind of humming noise. “Hang on.” I pulled out the earpiece, wondering if it was from that, and could clearly hear something whirring in the air. I put it back in. “There’s some kind of faint humming sound.”

Someone swore.

“They’ve placed a seeker spell on the roof.” Clairee sounded exasperated.

“I’m going to pluck their eyelashes out when we find out who—”

“Romulus, focus.” Michael barked.

“What do I do?” I stood up again, looking all around me like something was going to jump out of thin air and grab me.

“It could be the space between.” Romulus murmured like he was talking to himself.

“The what where?” I frowned.

“Try sliding your feet, Autumn, don’t lift them at all.” Romulus said quickly.

I nodded. “Okay.” Turning back toward the hatch, I slid one foot across the roof. Nothing happened. I moved the other one the same way. “It’s working so far. Going to be slow, but no more electricity.”

“When you go to go down the ladder, you’re going to have to move quickly. Lifting both feet at once.” Clairee said.

“Yes.” Romulus added. “It will most likely be the strongest near the door.”

“Awesome.” I murmured. “Lightning, poison herbs, blood wards—they’re just trying it all, aren’t they?” It was slower then I’d preferred, but I was getting closer.

“It means they’re desperate.” Arius said.

“And running out of options.” Chase’s voice was the most serious I’d ever heard it.

“At the door.” I said as I squatted down slowly, making sure my feet stayed flat against the roof. I ran my hand across the edge, trying to ignore the sparks hitting them. I felt a small lip. “Slide left or right?”

“Right” Quinton answered.

I did it quickly, then pulled the door up. Taking my hands away from the roof, I checked my balance and leaned over and saw the lever. I pushed it. A ladder came out of nowhere, extending one section at a time until it reached the floor. “Ladder is down.”

I looked at the ladder and where I could place my hands without getting zapped, trying to figure how I was going to do this all at once without landing on the floor—on my face.

“Remember—”

“Let her concentrate.” Michael cut off whatever Romulus was going to say.

I put the glasses on and made sure my mouth and nose were covered. I wasn’t normally the type to hesitate, but I did pause for a few breaths. Putting my hands on either side of the hole, I clenched my teeth when I felt the jolts going through them. My plan was to hit the first, or second, rung. “Going down.”

Tensing, I popped up and dropped my feet down the hole. Arcs of light flashed all around me. My feet hit the rung. I pulled my hands clear quickly, ducking down and grabbing the bar one second too late. My slowest hand was hit with a painful snap.

I blew out a breath. “That was fun. It just tried to fry my fingers.”

“Are you all right?” Michael didn’t sound pleased.

I looked at one hand. “The gloves took the brunt of it. I’m good.” I glanced back up. The light was flashing without pause now. “I think I made it mad though. Light show up there.”

“We can see it.” Troy told me.

I climbed down a few rungs and gauged the distance to the floor. I wanted to hit as much as I could with the herb. Hooking my arm through the bar, I pulled the backpack off one arm and tucked it between my body and the ladder. “Spreading the herb now.” I opened the pack and reaching in…I was touching plastic? I pulled it out to see a small scoop Clairee must have put in. Filling it, I flicked my arm out and watched dust flow toward the floor. I did it again, then circled my way around the ladder, repeating the process until I was back where I started. “May not have reached the whole room.” I said more to myself then the others.

“We’ll vacuum later.” Alona replied.

I could hear crackling, I looked down to see a thick mist rising from the floor. I glanced up, trying to decide if I want to deal with the sparks above or the mist below. “It’s like an eerie horror show up here. Sparks and mist.” The quiet was getting to me. “You guys have your mics muted?”

“We thought it best, so not to distract you.” Victor informed me.

“Trust me, it’s a good thing.” Daxx said. “They’re rambling away driving me crazy.”

“Appreciate the concern, but the quiet it is killing me. I’m way out of my comfort zone doing all of this. I usually just beat it up and move on.”

Daxx snorted.

“How’s the reaction?” Clairee asked.

I looked down. “It seems to be clearing. I’m going down.” I went down a few rungs, then realized the floor looked charred now. “Might need a mop with that vacuum, Alona.” I stepped on the floor, half expecting something to happen. “Tell me how this key works.”

“You will need to use your left hand with the tattoo visible.” Clairee said.

I pulled up my sleeve.

“I’ve marked one end of the key, use that first.” Romulus told me.

I took the key out of my pocket. “Just,” I turned it over, “how do I use it? It doesn’t look like a key.”

“You just have to touch the door or the handle.”

I waited for more instruction, but he didn’t say any more. I looked at the door. “And then what?” I didn’t believe it was that simple. The roof was practically electrified, so this blood ward thing couldn’t be that simple.

“After all they’ve done to deter anyone making it in that room and surviving, there may be something more for show, but I highly doubt it will amount to much.” Romulus continued, “they’re forgetting who taught them everything they know—not what I know. Imbeciles.”

“Let’s hope you’re right.” I cut him off, not wanting to stand here while he ranted. I walked over to the door and stopped. Holding up my hand, I made sure the marked end of the plastic key was pointing out. I widened my stance, in case I had to move fast. “Here we go.” I whispered.

I touched the door handle and held it there for a moment. Nothing happened. “Nothing happened.”

“Can you open the door?” Clairee asked, “use your left hand.” She added quickly.

I put the key in my other hand and reached for the doorknob. Touching it with one finger, testing to see if I would get electrified, I glared at it when nothing happened. It was cool to the touch. I grasped it and turned. It moved. Pushing the door open and inch, I peeked out. “It opened.” I whispered. “Where do I go from here?”

“Turn left and go to the door at the far end of the hall.” Michael said. “Remove the ward on the balcony so Quinton and Raf can get up there with you.”

I nodded. “Okay. Let me see if anyone is out here.” I pushed the glasses back to the top of my head and pulled the mask down. I tucked my right hand in my pocket with the key, but kept my left one and the tattoo visible, just in case anyone was there.

Pushing the door slowly, I checked all areas I could see. It was empty. I opened it more and stepped out to look the other way. “I can’t see anyone.” I said under my breath so I was quiet. “Coming to you, Quinton.”

“We’re ready.” He answered in a serious tone.