Chapter 21

It was an actual tower. Like a medieval guard tower. I don’t know what I’d expected, but this hadn’t been it.

Looking down at the roof, I tried to see how far down it was. Fifteen, twenty feet, it was hard to tell in the dark.

Crissy was hunched over her notebook drawing something, while I stared out into the dark night. There wasn’t much light in the direction I was looking. I could have gone to the other side and seen more with the lights that way, but the calm of the darkness was what I needed right now. The moon was just big enough to cast shadows along the land, but not bright enough that you could see anything in detail.

“You can talk. I’m very good at doing more than one thing.” Crissy said quietly.

I turned and looked down at her. “My head is kind of spinning right now. Too much to process.”

She giggled. “I know what that’s like.” She held up her hand. “Want my ball to bounce? It helps focus.”

I looked at the red ball in her hand. “No, I’m good, but thanks.”

“Okay.” She continued doing what she was doing.

I looked back into the night. How did I ever begin sorting the clutter in my head? There was so much, I didn’t even think a workout would help, and that was a first for me.

Thoughts of Michael invaded my mind again. That was a dead end, I kept reminding myself. Even if he wanted me, the sparks between us were almost real enough to burn—but he wasn’t going to let his body cheat on the ghost in his memory.

I studied a spot along the trees, thinking I’d seen something. When I couldn’t see anything out of place, I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

“I have to know what the lightning means.” Crissy said softly. “I know it’s that roof.”

I glanced at her, she wasn’t looking at me, so I wasn’t sure if she was talking to me or herself.

“You’ll be on that roof, so I need to know.” She continued softly.

Looking back toward the trees, I tried again to make out the shapes I’d seen. “I’m all for any inside info possible.”

“Something hidden or unknown.” She stood up beside me, “that’s all I know, but don’t know what the lightning has to do with it.”

I squinted, trying to see in the dark. “Maybe it’s just a stormy night.” I could have sworn the shapes moved. “Can we turn off your lamp for a minute?”

“Sure.” She moved away. “And it’s not a storm. I checked the forecast for the next week or so.”

I blinked a few times, letting my eyes adjust to the darkness. “That’s not encouraging. Maybe ask the magic folk if it’s significant?” Something was moving in the dark, it wasn’t my imagination. “Don’t suppose you have binoculars or something?”

“I do.” I heard her moving around behind me. “Victor got them so I can see far. What do you need to see?”

Taking them, I held them up and looked. “Probably just an animal, but my guts are nagging at me.” I adjusted the focus.

“Guts can do that?” She was beside me again.

“A feeling, not your guts.” I started to lower the glasses, then something flashed in the same spot I’d been looking. I froze, paused on the shapes, waiting. If whatever it was moved a few feet, the moonlight would make it easier to see.

“Oh, I get those feeling. A lot. They tell me to hide.”

“Hiding is an option.” I said quietly. The shape moved and I glared through the glass when I realized it was a man. “Guards patrol by those trees at night?”

“I don’t think so. It’s not near the border.” I felt her move away. “Maybe it’s someone taking a break?”

I moved my head slowly, trying to watch where the moonlight met the shadow. There was more than one figure moving down there. “If you follow the treeline toward us, what is there?” I asked quietly, hoping my guts were just confused from the information overload the last few hours.

“One of the outer tunnel entrances to the royal chambers.”

My heart sped up. “What’s near it?”

“The cells.” She whispered with a note of confusion in her voice.

I watched as five men moved out of the shadow and hurried toward the next dark spot. “Shit. I think they’re planning to try and break Eunice out.” Four more men followed them. “Crissy, close all the other shutters except this one. Quietly.” Another two, “Just leave me enough space to see.”

“Okay.”

I heard them being closed, but didn’t want to look away, I needed a head count. “Fifteen so far.” I told her, still watching. “Open the door and tell Woods and Bronx to get a hold of the guards.”

“Okay.”

I heard her whispering, but stayed focused on the people hoping to break in. I didn’t see any more, but that didn’t mean there weren’t more somewhere.

“Autumn, put your earpiece in. We have to tell everyone. Here’s your phone.”

I looked away long enough to take it. Trying to keep them in sight, I fumbled to get the earpiece in.

“What’s going on?” Chase sounded half asleep.

“Autumn and I are in my tower,” Crissy whispered.

“There’s at least fifteen heavily armed men slinking their way toward the…” I didn’t know the direction.

“West tunnel entrance.” Crissy said quickly.

“I can’t see if there are more in other directions.” I looked back to the treeline.

“Bronx has called the guardhouse.” Crissy added.

“Shit. Keep an eye on them.” Rafael said hurriedly. “Most of the patrols are out right now.”

“They probably know that.” I checked how close they were getting. “They’re taking their time.”

“On my way to the armory.” Arius said.

“Where do you want us?” Daxx asked.

“Head to the entrances, take your guards. Check for tampering.” Troy said sounding like he was jogging.

“Get your weapons first.” Victor stated.

They weren’t going to make it. I watched as the men moved forward more often, not cautious, clearly knowing most of the guards were sleeping or away. Lowering the binoculars, I looked down at the roof. Too far to jump.

“Porting to armory.” Michael said.

“Right behind you.” Quinton said in a clipped voice.

I pulled the earpiece out and tapped Crissy on the shoulder. “Do you have rope up here?”

She shook her head. “I have my box; I don’t need rope.”

I didn’t know what that meant but nodded. Putting the piece back in my ear, I tucked the phone into the pocket of my hoodie. “I’m going down to see what they’re up to.”

She took off her belt and held it out to me. I took it and put it around my waist. Then she handed me a box and pulled out a strap and hook.

“Autumn, you should wait.” Leone said.

I watched her attach the strap to the pillar beside the window we’d left open. She came over and took the box out of my hand and clipped it to the belt. Pushing a button on it, a cable came out, she went over and attached it to the strap.

I nodded and pulled myself up onto the ledge. “If I can stall them, I will.” I swung my leg over the edge. This couldn’t be that different then climbing a rock wall, only I was going down.

“Alone?” Paisley asked.

Crissy held out fingerless gloves. I took them and put them on. Later I’d have to tell her how awesome she was for being so prepared. “Maybe seeing me will make them pause long enough for you guys to get there.” Grasping the ledge, I lowered my body down far enough until the cable was tight.

“I think she should wait.” Rafael said.

I grabbed the cable and leaned back, trying to get a feel for how this box worked.

“Wait for what?” Michael had reconnected to the call.

“Autumn is going down to see what they’re up to.” Alona said with concern.

“Down what?” His tone was abrupt.

“The outside of my tower. I gave her my rappelling box, Michael. She’s doing good.” Crissy looked down at me and nodded.

I looked behind me and figured I still had ten feet to go. Hopefully I had enough cable.

“Cristy, when she’s down, go with Bronx.”

“Okay, Victor.” Crissy agreed hurriedly.

“Autumn. Go back up.” Michael’s tone let me know he wasn’t asking.

I wasn’t in the mood for orders. “I’ll be—” My foot slipped on the stone blocks, I spun around like a ball on a string. My shoulder connected with the wall of the tower. I clenched my jaw so I wouldn’t yelp on the group call. Kicking out with my left foot, it hit the wall and stopped the turning. I heard the clatter of my phone hitting the roof below me, then sliding down it. “Dropped my phone.” I said quickly as I tried to right my position again.

“As long as it didn’t break, you should…”

Paisley’s voice cut out, confirming my phone didn’t survive the fall.

Pulling the earpiece out, I put it in my pocket and jumped the last few feet to the roof. As soon as I undid the belt, it started moving up to the tower. Crissy was wasting no time.

Squatting down, I checked the slope of the roof. It had been a while since I traveled along the top of a building to stay out of sight. I was much bigger, but definitely more coordinated then the last time I’d done this.

Staying low, I began to make my way along. I had to find a quiet way down. I also wasn’t sure of the distance I would have to drop. What I didn’t need was a sprained or broken leg.

Before I ran out of roof, I moved closer to the edge to look for a way down. There was no light, which was the reason I was up here in the first place, all entry points should be lit. You would think with men as tactically aware as the brothers, they’d know this. Someone was going to hear about this later. Now though, I had to get down.

I couldn’t see anything to use to get down. At least, they’d managed to prevent people from getting up onto the roof.

I looked at the gloves on my hands, hopefully they’d help me grip tight enough to swing down and drop to the ground. Landing in a crouch, should absorb most of the impact—I hope.

Turning, so my feet went first, I crawled backwards toward the edge. I was taking too long; the entire guardhouse would be here shortly and I’d be dangling from the roof. I pushed myself over the edge, then balanced with just my shoulders, arms and head still on the roof. Inhaling a breath for courage, I swung my legs out and let the momentum pull me off.

I dropped down into a crouch, stinging radiating through my ankles into my shins. The force of impact sent me off balance and I fell on my butt. Darkness was good, I paused to think, no one could saw that failed move. I looked up, then again with the distance there could be worse than a dusty bum.

Getting up, I hurried in to the end of the wall. The armed men were almost there. I stopped and looked at the door, wondering briefly why someone wasn’t posted on the outside. Another thing to bring up to the brothers.

Hearing the sound of boots behind me, I turned and gave the closest one a half smile for a half a second. “Do you know what time it is? I dropped my phone.”

“No.” He answered abruptly.

I glanced to the man beside him. The expression on his face was void of any emotion. “Really? Not one of you have a phone or watch?” They were big. Size of the brothers, big. Why was everyone so big lately? I glanced to see a few devices on wrists and made sure my cuff hid mine. I shrugged, “I’ll just wait for the guard to come back.” I looked at the door, but wasn’t about to turn my back to these ogre-sized jerks.

“You should move on.” The one at the front said.

I shook my head. “I’d rather wait. It’s really dark out tonight.” I wasn’t a good actress, so playing the helpless female wasn’t going to work for me. I motioned to the door. “You guys waiting for the guard too?” Later, I’d have to ask why the brothers couldn’t port here. I pictured them running through the tunnels. The two men at the front of the group exchanged a brief look. The kind of look that had me widen my stance and drop my arms to my sides, ready.

I was about to get an unscheduled workout.

Ogre number two lunged for me, his big paws swiping in my direction. I jumped back and landed a scissor kick to his face. He stumbled back, swearing. I would have liked to see how much damage I’d done, but that move spurred the rest of them into action.

The next few moments became a fast-paced burpee exercise routine. I squatted, ducked, sprang up to avoid hands and arms from grabbing me. Unfortunately, doing this moved me away from the door into the darkness.

As I hopped over the next attacker’s attempt, my hope for this fight remaining weaponless was squashed. I heard the blade clear its case and leapt back to give myself more space to see the one wielding it.

The loud clang of metal on metal let me know the Calvary had arrived, changing this whole scene from one of stalling to taking them down. The one that had just tried to slice me with his knife paused long enough to glance over at the new commotion. Using his distraction to my advantage, I kicked his hand holding the blade. It hit the dirt. His head snapped back to me, his eyes promising retribution.

I backed up, rolling my shoulders. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” I told him quietly.

He grinned, a possessed, or fanatic’s type of grin. Reaching behind him, he pulled out a device. I had no idea what that was. Then it must have pushed a button because sparks arced from it. He planned to zap me like a bug.

Why a giant of a man had to carry a women’s defense device, I had no idea. I couldn’t assume he was a complete idiot and use the same move I’d used to knock the blade from his hand. But, I could take advantage of the fact that he was probably using his dominant hand to hold that taser, which meant any actions I took, he’d have to block with his off hand. Unless of course he was equally strong in both, and then I was in trouble.

I backed up, then lunged and went down to sweep his feet out from under him. He stumbled back but had fast recovery. Before he was completely balanced, I went for a kick to his chest, I just had to keep him off balance long enough to find an opening to get rid of his little toy. I’d never felt the jolt from a taser and was good with not adding that experience to my list.

My efforts only pushed him a few steps back, meaning he knew how to fight with proper balance. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see images moving in the dark, could hear the grunts and hisses as the others fought. I just had to stall this jerk long enough for one of the guys with their port boxes to get here.

“Get the girl.” Someone called out.

I didn’t have time to stop and take a head count of how many women were out here, so I’d just have to assume I was the girl. He dove toward me, his empty fist raised. I crouched and blocked the attempt with both forearms. He outweighed me by a lot, the brunt of his hit radiated up to my shoulders. Not pausing to whine about it, I kicked out at the side of his knee, hoping to break it, or at the very least, make him back off. None of those happened, by the time I was on my feet out of arm’s reach, he was coming for me again.

Bouncing to get enough spring into the move, I went for a fast roundhouse, hoping there was momentum enough behind it to do some damage. My foot connected with his face and I was rewarded with the grunt of pain. I landed and prepared for a second move while he was shaking his head. Kicks to the head were the worst, your whole brain buzzed. With no warning someone slammed into my side. The breath left my body as it became one of those split-second slow-motion moments. I hit the ground. Hard.

Fighting through the pain of broken ribs, I pushed up on one hand to looked to see who had hit me. It was ogre number one and he currently had his hands full with a very angry Troy. The jerk with the taser had Michael all up in his face, and I half hoped he’d get to feel the jolt from his own toy.

“Daxx. Get her out of here.” Troy barked.

A blurry Daxx appeared in front of me as I fought to not throw up. She didn’t pull me to my feet, just dropped down beside me and grabbed my shoulders.