Threat of Magic (Dragon's Gift: The Amazon Book 4) Page 15

  “Really?” Bree shook her hand to ignite her lightstone ring and frowned as she walked closer to the boulder. “That thing has to weigh tens of thousands of pounds.”

  Cade strode up to the rock and pressed his hands to it, concentration drawing his brow lower. His dark hair gleamed in the light of our rings.

  “What’s he looking for?” I asked Bree.

  “Probably magic.” She pressed her hand to the rock and concentrated, then frowned. “Yep, there’s a spell on this rock.”

  “I think it will sound an alert if the rock is moved,” Cade said.

  “Crap.” I frowned. “How the heck do we remove the spell? We’d have to know what the original incantation was.”

  “I can break it,” Cade said. “Minor spell-breaking is one of my gifts.”

  My brows rose, and I nodded appreciatively, vaguely remembering something along those lines. “Heck yeah. Let’s do it.”

  I stepped to the side so I could watch him. He pressed his hands to the massive rock, and his magic swelled. It smelled like a storm at sea and sounded like clashing swords. His eyes blazed black, the green drowned out by darkness. His magic changed, filling my head with visions of battle and blood.

  Magic snapped on the air, the spell that protected the door breaking.

  He stepped back, grinning. “Done.”

  “How do you do that, exactly?” I asked.

  “God of war. Which means god of death, in a sense. Not like the true gods of death, but I have enough power to kill some spells.”

  “Cool. Now we just need to move this big-ass rock.” I looked at Maximus. “Want to give it a try?”

  He saluted, then moved to the side of the rock and braced his hands against it.

  “One moment.” Lachlan stepped forward. “We don’t know what’s on the other side, so I’ll dampen sound. That thing might be loud when it rolls.”

  Lachlan’s magic filled the air, smelling of leather and pine and sounding like distant thunder. Silence descended, and he nodded.

  Maximus leaned into the rock and began to push, his muscles bulging and the veins popping. I joined my friends near him, my gaze intent on the moving rock, and reached for a stunner in my potion bag. It took a moment, but the rock began to move, grinding across the floor as Maximus shoved it aside.

  He heaved the boulder two feet over, revealing a darkened corridor, then stood back and wiped his brow.

  Nothing jumped out at us, but I didn’t release the potion bomb.

  Maximus entered the dark tunnel slowly, then turned back and whispered, “Stairs.”

  I followed him, with Bree behind me. The rest lined up behind her, and we crept up the dustiest set of stairs I’d ever seen. The room we entered was empty, though dark magic filled the large space. Misery and death permeated the walls.

  I shuddered. Dungeon.

  It hadn’t been used in a while, I didn’t think, but it was still horrible.

  “There are more stairs over there.” Maximus pointed to the far wall.

  We followed him to the stairs and began to climb. They were massive stairs, at least three feet tall, and it was a hard climb. At the top, there was a huge door. The handle was at Maximus’s shoulder height.

  Titan-sized, like the stairs.

  Why did they start right here, instead of deeper within the island? Perhaps the Titans didn’t realize there was an underground lake with access to their fortress?

  Maximus gripped the huge door handle and tried to open it, but it held firm. He turned back. “Locked.”

  “I’ve got it,” Bree whispered from behind me.

  I pressed myself against the wall so she could slip by and trade places with Maximus. She pulled a little pouch from her pocket. Lock-picking tools. When we’d been young and on our own, her skills with a lock had given us many places to sleep. Though all three of us could pick locks, she was the best by far.

  It only took a few minutes before she stood. “My tools were almost too small, but done.”

  Her voice was so low I barely heard it, and I squeezed her arm in acknowledgement. She pushed open the door slowly and peeked out. Clearly satisfied, she exited. Maximus followed, then me. My heart thundered as I stepped into a quiet hallway.

  It was absolutely enormous.

  I pressed my back against the wall and looked up at the towering ceiling. It had to be a hundred feet high. The hall itself was equally wide, with an enormous carpet covering the length. Huge chandeliers hung from the ceiling overhead, but they were dark.

  “I feel like I’ve shrunk,” I whispered.

  “This whole place must have been built for the Titans’ size,” Maximus murmured.

  I nodded as I looked down the hall in each direction. I had no idea which way to go, so I looked at my friends. They read the question in my eyes, and each of them shrugged.

  “Left, then,” I whispered.

  We headed down the hall, creeping silently along. At the end, we reached an enormous door. Maximus pushed it open just slightly, and I peeked out, feeling like a mouse.

  It led outdoors, where the day was unnaturally dark. Shouldn’t it be bright out? The sun had been shining when we’d left Crete, and it wasn’t night yet. I looked up, spotting a dark gray dome of magic.

  The protective charm that Jude had mentioned. Of course. No one would be getting in or out without the Titans’ permission. The fortress’s inner courtyard was enormous, with huge walls surrounding it. There were buildings situated within the space, all looking like they were of ancient Greek construction.

  I ducked back in. “It’s empty. Totally.”

  “Can you hear anything?” Maximus asked.

  I poked my head back out and listened, using Artemis’s gift. After a moment, I caught the sound of chanting. I searched the courtyard, spotting a huge temple to our left. The sound was coming from there. I ducked back in.

  “The only sign of life is coming from a temple. Let’s head there.”

  Everyone nodded, and we slipped out of the door, sticking to the shadows as we hurried toward the temple. We had no idea how we were going to get the Titans to consume the weakening potion before we cast the binding spell, but we’d have to figure it out when we got there. It was just impossible to anticipate what would happen in situations like this.

  Fortunately, the temple door was open. When I reached it, I peered around the side, catching sight of hundreds of black-cloaked figures. They stood in front of twelve massive statues, and I’d bet big bucks they were statues of the Titans.

  The worshippers chanted something, just like the ones at Hecate’s lair. But this time, I could understand them. It was in ancient Greek, so my translation probably wasn’t perfect, but they were saying something about the Titans being great and mighty.

  I frowned and pulled back, looking at Maximus. “Can you conjure us long black cloaks? With hoods.”

  He nodded and his magic swelled on the air, just slightly. If I hadn’t been looking for the signature, I wouldn’t have noticed it. As he conjured the cloaks, everyone sneaked a peek into the temple. Finished, he handed the cloaks around, and we slipped them on.

  I gestured for everyone to gather in a huddle. The six of us bent inward, and I whispered, “I think we should catch one of them and interrogate him. Maybe we can get a clue about the Titans and make this a little easier.”

  There was a round of nodding.

  Maximus laid a hand on Lachlan’s shoulder. “We’re fast. We’ll grab one and drag them out.”

  I nodded. Both of them had magically enhanced speed.

  “I can shield you,” Bree said. “Use a bit of illusion to hide you.”

  “Once you’ve got him, we’ll meet you in there.” I pointed to a nook in the temple wall. It was tucked behind a series of statues and would provide enough cover.

  Maximus and Lachlan nodded, then flipped up their hoods and melted into the temple. Bree stood at the entrance, using her magic to hide them. The gift of illusion had come from Loki, and damned if
it wasn’t handy in situations like this.

  “Come on.” I grabbed Ana’s hand, and we slipped into the little alcove in the wall. Cade joined us.

  I waited, muscles tense, until Bree joined us. A few seconds later, Maximus and Lachlan appeared, a cloaked figure held between them. Maximus had his big hand clamped over the man’s mouth.

  I blinked at the guy, surprised. He looked young. And human. And normal.

  What was a guy like that doing here, worshipping the Titans? Looks were deceiving, but still, I’d expected a bunch of miserable demons.

  Fates, it must be their black magic. They were influencing more and more people as they grew stronger and their reach increased.

  The man glared at me as I reached for my potions belt and withdrew a powerful truth serum. I pulled it out and looked at Lachlan. “You may want to dampen sound.”

  He nodded, then said, “You’re good. We can hear, but anyone outside of our small circle won’t notice a thing.”

  “Perfect.” I looked at the guy. “You’re going to drink this. It’s just truth serum, so it won’t hurt you.”

  He shook his head violently, trying to throw Maximus and Lachlan off of him. It didn’t work.

  “Fine.” I stepped forward and pinched his nose.

  His eyes bulged. Maximus released his mouth, and when he opened it to breathe, I poured the potion in. Maximus put his hand back over his mouth.

  Finally, the guy’s throat moved as he swallowed. Maximus removed his hand.

  “Open your mouth,” I said.

  The guy glared at me. I pinched his nose harder. It was a little thing, but it worked. The man opened his mouth, and I looked in. No potion. Fantastic.

  Also kinda gross.

  The things we do to save the world.

  “Okay, we have some questions,” I said.

  He just stared at me, his face set in belligerent lines.

  “Where are the Titans now?” I asked.

  He pressed his lips together. I just waited, tapping my foot. Slowly, his face turned blue. My potion was a tricky one—you couldn’t breathe until you told the truth.

  For a second, I thought he might be willing to suffocate to death. And he might have been. Fortunately for us, the human body had such an instinct to survive that I didn’t have to worry about that. He’d be forced to talk.

  “They’re in their quarters,” he finally blurted.

  “Where’s that?” Maximus asked.

  “Across the square from here.” He pointed to the other side.

  “What are they doing?” I asked.

  “I don’t know.” He said that bit immediately, since it was easy.

  “Fine. Where are the Stryx?”

  “Maybe with them. Maybe in their quarters.”

  “Where are those?” I asked.

  “Next to the Titans’. A few rooms down to the left.”

  I nodded, deciding immediately to go for the Titans first. As much as I had a vendetta against the Stryx, the Titans were the obvious threat.

  “How are the Titans getting so much magic? Why is it expanding like it is?” I asked.

  He pursed his lips again, but once more, he turned blue and finally spat out, “They’re absorbing all the good magic in the world and turning it dark. It’s not new magic. It’s just transformed magic.”

  I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. Taking all the good magic?

  That would leave us helpless.

  It wasn’t just that more dark magic was appearing and converting people to evil. It was that they were taking the good magic. Oh fates.

  “How?” Maximus demanded.

  We waited another few moments for him to finally spit it out.

  “They don’t have to do anything.” The man shrugged. “Their hearts are made of pure darkness, and they’re so powerful that they absorb it naturally. Once absorbed, it’s converted.”

  So if we could deploy the weakening potion, they’d probably stop absorbing the magic.

  “Why do they want all this magic? What are they doing with it?” I demanded.

  “They’re gaining followers, of course.” He pointed to himself. “They want worshippers, and we want to worship.”

  He said the last bit with such feverish glee that it made me uncomfortable. In all truth, he probably didn’t want to worship. He’d been tainted by their dark magic.

  “It makes sense,” Maximus said. “They were usurped by the Greek gods and thrown into Tartarus. They’d want to resume their rightful place.”

  “And probably destroy the Greek gods as well, if they could.” Bad news for them. Saving all of humanity would come first, but if I managed that, the gods would be saved by default.

  I sure hoped they’d known what they were doing when they’d chosen me for this job.

  “And what about the Stryx?” Maximus asked. “What do they get out of this?”

  “Power.” The man shrugged. “Idiots. The Titans probably won’t share with them.”

  He was probably right.

  From inside the temple, I heard the voices fade away. I looked at my friends. “I think the service is over.”

  “Are we done with questions?” Bree asked. “Seems like we got a lot.”

  I nodded and looked at Maximus.

  “Done.” He conjured two lines of rope, and bound the man, then gagged him. We left him hidden in the alcove and hurried toward the quarters where we would hopefully find the Titans.

  Please let them be there. And please don’t let us die.

  Chapter Sixteen

  In a silent, single-file line, we crept through the shadows at the edge of the courtyard, heading for the Titans’ quarters. We still wore the cloaks, so we could blend in with the worshippers. I wasn’t positive which building they were in, but the powerful sense of black magic definitely indicated we were going in the right direction.

  When we neared the building that contained the grossest magic, I found another alcove to hide in. We piled in and formed a small circle.

  “I think we’re close enough to try the invisibility charms.” We wouldn’t have long with them, so I hadn’t wanted to waste them. I looked at Ana. “Do you think they will work?”

  “Give me a sec.” She closed her eyes, calling on her Druid sense. She had a bit of premonition that normally worked best when asked a direct question. Her eyes popped open. “It’s unlikely. They’re so powerful they’ll see through it.”

  “Damn.” Disappointment twisted within me. “What about illusion?”

  Bree could make us invisible with her illusion, but it was more difficult to operate that way. With the potions, we could all see each other as long as we’d drunk the same one. The illusion worked on everyone, however, meaning we couldn’t see each other while we worked. That would be bad news for the final part of our mission, when we deployed the binding spell and needed to work in tandem, but it would be useful for the first part.

  Ana frowned and closed her eyes. When she opened them, she shook her head. “Same story.”

  “Okay, so we have to be extra sneaky.” I looked at everyone in turn, finding each face set in a determined expression. “Ready?”

  Five nods.

  I turned and slipped out of the alcove, my friends at my back. The huge building that emitted the darkest magic had an enormous door that was tightly shut.

  I frowned. Opening that would be a terrible idea. They’d probably notice.

  If only there was an open window. But we’d have to sneak around the entire building to find it.

  As if they’d heard my thoughts, the Menacing Menagerie appeared in front of me.

  You called? Romeo raised his brows.

  I grinned and nodded. “Is there an open window anywhere?”

  You’re in luck. Follow me.

  He turned and scampered away, Eloise and Poppy at his side. I gestured for my friends, and we followed after them, skirting around the building.

  Romeo stopped beneath a window and pointed up, a toothy grin on his fac
e. In there. Real big Titans.

  I rubbed his head and mouthed, “Thanks.”

  Lachlan was probably already buffering our sound with his magic, but I didn’t want to take any chances. I looked up at the window, which was located about twenty feet over my head. The stones that made up the building were rough enough that I could get a few handholds, so I started climbing.

  Maximus climbed along beside me, with my sisters and the guys behind. When I reached the sill, I peeked inside.

  My stomach dropped.

  Holy fates, the Titans were big. Even bigger than when I’d seen them at the gates to Tartarus. Not only was their magic growing, but they were growing.

  They had to be at least forty feet tall now. Holy fates, they could crush me in their palms.

  I swallowed hard.

  Don’t get caught.

  Number one rule.

  They were also more human-looking, now. Before, they’d looked like enormous rock-people. As if their time in Tartarus had twisted them. But as their power grew, they appeared to be regaining their old forms. There were two men and one woman. One of the men wore a massive golden crown. Maybe he was Cronus, the king of the Titans. The other man had two massive horns protruding from his head. I couldn’t remember which Titan had horns, but I’d bet a bit of research would identify him. The woman had golden hair and blazing yellow eyes, but was otherwise unidentifiable.

  For now.

  The three of them sat in enormous chairs near a fire, each puffing away at a pipe. Titans of leisure, maybe, though I doubted it. Were they just sitting around and waiting for their magic to grow enough that they could take over the world?

  Possibly. It seemed like that was all they had to do, anyway.

  The windowsill was wide enough that we could all sit on it, and part of it was covered by heavy drapes that would hide us from the Titans’ sight.

  I scrambled up behind one of the curtains and squished up against the wall, making room for everyone else. My heart thundered as I waited for them to climb up, and once again, I prayed Lachlan was blocking our sound. My heartbeat was so loud I wouldn’t be surprised if the Titans could hear me.

  Once we were all crowded onto the sill, with the Menacing Menagerie all crammed onto my lap, Lachlan gave the thumbs-up.