Chapter 28

“I’m tired of riding.” Kara turned and looked at Paisley.

Paisley nodded. “I’d be happy if the view would change.”

I looked at the orange dust kicking up around the horse’s hooves. “Did they figure out how to cut off his drawing power from the land?”

Chase rode up beside me, Alona was sitting sideways in his lap. “They did just a few hours ago.” He grinned. “It took eight mages, five witches and three powerful residents of FaTerra.”

Daxx made her horse stop and turn before she looked back at us. “So, each time he does his mage stuff, he’ll weaken now?”

Chase nodded. “That is what I’ve been told.”

“Will he know it’s happening?” Bethany and Leone came up beside us.

“Not right away.” Chase said, “not until he does something big and tries to recharge.”

“I’m looking forward to this all being green and alive again.” Michael turned in the saddle and looked back to us. Autumn continued to sit across his lap, looking straight ahead.

Rafael turned and rode back toward the rest of us. “GPS on my phone says we’re almost to the area we suspect.” He looked at me. “Want to ride up front, Reagan?” He turned to Kara briefly, “we don’t need anyone, or horses accidently go through portals.”

Kara stopped her horse. “I’m good with following.”

“How big is the area we need to check?” Crissy bounced in the saddle as she rode but looked thrilled to be doing so.

“It’s pretty big, sis.” Rafael motioned to me, “we’re hoping Reagan can see the haze from a distance.”

I glanced at the dust being stirred up again. “Then we’re going to have to go slow. Riding as a pack is causing a lot of dust.”

“Alright everyone, back off and let Quinton, Rafael and Reagan go ahead of us.” Troy smirked as Daxx was awkwardly steering her horse in a circle. He went over and grabbed the bridle and guided her horse to face in the right direction.

Kara pulled an arrow off her back and put it in the hand with her bow as she nodded to Rafael.

“I’m getting it.” Daxx said with a serious look of concentration.

“You’re doing great.” Troy smiled at her.

“My ass isn’t.” she mumbled and began to follow Chase’s horse.

We walked the horses slowly, trying not to kick up any dust.

“It’s in this area that Gudrun hit a portal.” Rafael said quietly.

Quinton nodded, “Det wasn't far from here either.”

I looked around, “I know it wasn't always like this, but why would someone be out in the middle of nowhere?”

Rafael shrugged, “could have been going this way on their way to somewhere else.”

“Before this was wasteland it was green and a good place for quiet...”

“I understand that part. Sitting in the quiet of nature.” I saw a single stone on the ground and steered the horse around it. There was no haze, but I wasn't taking a chance. Less than a minute later there was another stone. I stopped the horse and turned to look at the last rock.

“What is it?” Quinton was beside me.

I looked ahead of us and saw another rock. “Rocks.” I finally said.

Rafael was beside me now too. “That's not uncommon out here.” He looked at me, “I guess Arwan can't suck the life out of a rock, so that's all that's left.”

I nodded and started moving again. “It's just odd they're in line with each other.” I pointed to the next rock.

“She's right.” Quinton went past me to the next rock. He looked back, “there's another up ahead.”

Rafael gave me a blank look then jerked the reins so his horse would go to the left of us. “There's a row of them over here.”

“I feel like he’d use rocks again, after the one that sent us to the basement.” I focused harder, looking for haze around the stones.

“What is it?” Daxx called out.

I lifted my hand, one finger up, telling them one moment. I went in the opposite direction from Rafael. When my horse was in line with Rafael’s and Quinton’s horses. I saw more rocks, much closer together. “I bet they form a circle.” I said loud enough for Quinton to hear.

He nodded and nudged his horse to ride past Rafael. He rode in a large circle until he was back to me. “It's a circle.”

I turned to see the others galloping toward us. “A few rocks,” I shrugged, “okay, but a circle of rocks after a trail of them?” I shook my head, “they have to be markers.” I got down off the horse.

The dust was stirring with the motion of the other horses, so I walked past a few of the rocks marking the circle.

“Don't touch them.” Quinton warned.

“I don't plan on it.” I told him. I paused and looked at the center. It seemed blurry. “There's something...” The dust stirred as Quinton came toward me. I looked over my shoulder. “Everyone needs to stop moving.” I told him.

Frowning, he held up his hand and made a fist. Everyone stopped all movement.

I stared at the center, then glanced around to some of the rocks. Those closest to me had a faint white haze hovering over them. “These rocks are protected by some sort of witch magic.” I said loud enough for all to hear. “I can't see the rocks on the other side of the circle, it's blurry in the middle.”

“Blurry?” Daxx moved with slow careful steps, taking care not to stir up any dust at all. She stopped beside me. “I don't see the rocks on the other side at all, and the center is just empty to me.”

Bethany came over and waved her hand over the rock. Straightening, she nodded, “it's a witches spell.” She glanced at Leone, “maybe a warning alarm.” She turned to Troy, “we need Clairee and maybe some other witches.”

I continued to stare at the middle of the circle. “I think it’s so no one can see inside it.” I nodded, “I'm willing to bet if I could it would be filled with green haze.”

“Get some mages too.” Daxx said.

“I'll get the witches.” Rafael came over and looked at the rock, then turned to look at the next ones. With an abrupt nod, he vanished.

“I'll go get the mages.” Leone came over and looked at the rocks too before he disappeared.

“Why did they do that?” I asked Quinton.

“Committing it to memory so they can get back here.” He gave me brief look, “we need a landmark or something specific.”

“That's how you guys do that? A picture in your memory?”

“Pretty much.” He nodded.

“That's—fabulous.” I smiled.

“Be careful what you wish for.” Autumn nodded and crossed her arms over her chest. “accidentally porting isn't all that fun.”

“This circle is big.” Paisley said softly.

“I don’t like that Reagan or Daxx can’t see anything in the middle of it.” Alona turned to look at it.

A few of the men drew their weapons and glanced at each other.

I stared at the middle, trying to focus past what the magic on the stones was doing. There had to be a way in. How else did people end up accidentally porting? Was that a green hue in the blurriness? I squinted and looked at it with complete focus.

I was suddenly standing looking at the whole group I’d come with. They were panicking and looking all around them. I turned slowly. I was in the center of the circle now. I winced and quickly pulled out my phone and connected to the group. “I think I just ported.”

“Reagan. Where are you?” Quinton didn't sound pleased.

I looked around again. “I'm in the center of the circle and there’s a lot of green haze in here.”

“What?” Daxx was loud. I watched her step closer to the surrounding rocks.

“Don't move.” Bethany said slowly, “you didn't port anywhere once you were inside, and Romulus said he closed the portal on the other end but that may not be where this goes.”

I nodded. “Okay. Not moving.” I turned and thought I saw someone walking toward me in the green haze. I squatted down, “Beth, cloak everyone. Now.” I looked down and saw my amulet hanging from my neck. I quickly tucked it in. “I'm not alone in here and I can see you.”

“Got it.” Bethany whispered and motioned to the witch Clairee.

I watched and exhaled when I couldn’t see them. “Don't move.” I told them.

A tall man with black hair came up to me. “Are you all right, miss?” He couldn’t' have been much older than twenty-five, but he spoke with a stiffness that told me he was older than he looked.

“Don’t let them see your tattoo or amulet.” Paisley said.

“I—yes, just a little disoriented.” I stood up slowly, making sure to not move my feet. As I did, I pulled my sleeve to make certain my arm wasn't visible above my glove.

“Tell them your porter malfunctioned.” Quinton whispered.

I pulled up my other sleeve to reveal my porter. “I think this is broken.”

He moved closer. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. I tried to look around him without making it obvious.

“Perhaps there was an error in programming it.”

I looked around. “In—for the middle of nowhere?”

His cool hand touched my arm, “that's quite an expensive porter.”

Panic hit me. I turned so he wasn't touching me, “its—it's my mate’s—I wanted to know what it was like—to-to port.”

“I see. Your mate much have an important position to have a model such as that.”

I nodded slowly, not sure what to say.

“Historian.” Paisley's voice hissed through the earpiece.

“He's a historian.” I said quickly.

"Ah," he smiled, or it was something similar to a smile, “a fairly important position.” He nodded, “recording history for the future to see.”

I nodded again.

“Get out of there.” Quinton said in a tense voice.

“Do you think I should try it again?" I glanced at him and saw the darkness surrounding him this time.

“I think you should get it back home, before it's discovered missing.” Another forced smile, “wouldn't want your mate distracted from his important job.”

“Yes.” I gave him an awkward grin, “I think you’re right.” I looked around us again, making sure no one on the outside was visible. “Enjoy your stroll—out here.”

“Oh, I shall.” He inclined his head to me.

I pushed the first button my fingers touched.

I was in the courtyard. With my hand shaking, I got my phone and dialled back into the group. “I'm safe at the courtyard.”

“Any idea who he was?” Daxx asked.

“No.” I sat down on the stone bench before my legs gave out. “He just appeared in the middle of the protected circle—and he's not a good person. Can you stay cloaked and get away from there?”

“We're on our way now.” Kara reported. “Raf ported all the other witches and mages out, we have Clairee riding with us keeping us cloaked.”

Quinton appeared in the courtyard.

“Except Quinton.” Leone said.

“I see that.” I smiled at him.

“We'll port as soon as we're far enough away and Clairee and Emil will bring the horses back.” Rafael stated.

“Wait.” That was Michael. “Tell Quinton to get to Ellis. Someone just entered the tunnel at the asylum.”

I nodded and stood up, “someone just entered the tunnel from the asylum.”

Quinton held out his hand.

“I'll talk to you in a few minutes.” I informed everyone and took his had so we could port.

~

“That's who was in the circle with you?” Michael turned and looked at me.

I nodded. “Yes.”

“Is that Arwan?” Daxx asked, “he doesn't look ancient.”

Troy crossed his arms over his chest and glanced to Chase. “Is there anyone that would know what he looked like in his youth?”

Chase looked skeptical, “I don't think anyone is that old.”

“I contacted our historians.” Victor stated, “they are looking for any sketches of him, or artwork of any sort.”

Bethany leaned closer and looked at the screen. “If it is him, that explains why the wasteland is so big now.” She straightened up, “he's using it to look younger and for magic.”

“That’s been cut off though.” Kara said quietly.

Bethany nodded, “he's not going to be happy when he figures that out.” She glanced at Leone, “or when he sees his box of toys was removed from his hideout.”

Leone nodded, “things are going to get messy now.”

Daxx frowned, “messy how?”

Bethany looked slowly from the image on the screen, “all powerful ancient mage throwing a temper tantrum kind of messy.”

Daxx’s shoulders slumped, “great, just what we need more magic crap.”

I stood up and the whole room spun, my vision went blurry. The only time I’d ever felt like that before was after using too much energy to heal someone. “Quinton.” I said softly.

He turned to look at me.

“I don’t feel well.” I whispered.

“Thought you never got sick.” Autumn said.

I focused in on her, and blew out a breath, “I don’t.” I said, then braced myself by putting my hand on the desk.

“Did he touch you?” Bethany was right in front of my face now.

I closed my eyes, “he touched my arm to look at the porter.”

“Get Romulus and Clairee here now.” Quinton growled.