Synergy (See #3)(64)

The hallway we were in was vast. The ceiling was over a hundred feet high, and paintings of angels and demons at war decorated the space above us. Madison was completely captivated by the art. There were countless doors, couches between them, and tables. This was the most elegant place I’d ever been in, a palace that was trapped in time.

Draven reached for my hand and squeezed it once, then kissed my temple. Before we reached the next doorway, he let go of my hand and reached for Aden. The two of them stopped, and I looked over my shoulder to see him nod for me to go on.

My heart started to race; I knew we were only feet away from where Drake’s body was. I looked forward to see that Madison was still captivated by the art around us. It took her a second to notice that she couldn’t feel Draven or Aden anymore. I nodded for her to walk ahead, that we were taking control of this out of control situation.

Ashten stopped five doors down from where Draven and Aden had left us, then opened the door to the right. Winston and Grayson stepped in first, then the rest of us. This was a massive, elegant bedroom. A bed with a canopy centered the wall to the left, and a large sitting area with a fireplace was to the right. It was like a small apartment.

“Where are the Taurus twins?” Ashten asked as we let our bags fall to the ground.

“Helping,” I said, letting go of Monroe and nodding for her to go sit on the couch.

Ashen quickly stepped back into the hallway and looked in both directions, then looked back at me before glancing at all of us. “Listen, I don’t know what you can see or already know, but you need to be careful. Don’t wander off. We have this wing secure, but anything could happen if you step out of the safety perimeter we’ve established.”

“You mean like Dear Old Dad stopping by for a visit?” Winston said as he collapsed into one of the couches.

“No,” Ashten said firmly. “I mean anything.” He looked at Austin. “Keep them here. I’ll send food and find someone who can help us understand this,” he said as he glanced at Monroe.

“Good luck with that,” Winston said. Grayson gave him an murderous glance, then looked at Ashten. “Thank you,” he said. Ashten nodded, then he left the room.

“This sucks. Where’s the TV?” Winston asked.

He wanted me to kill him. Didn’t he. “Listen to me, you evil bastard,” I said, throwing my bag down. “I don’t know if you’re rebelling or if this is some kind of middle child syndrome, but you’re going to straighten up right now. Your sister is in danger. Do you even care?”

His eyes instantly turned black. I didn’t care if he was trying to see me; I was sure he knew more than I did. A second later, a laptop appeared in his lap. He wasn’t trying to get information, to try and understand what was going on; he’d seen his way home, picked up his laptop, and brought it back just to entertain him while we saved the world.

Grayson looked at me. “Ignore him.”

“Trying.”

“Go find him,” Grayson said.

“August?” I whispered, making sure that was what I supposed to do. Grayson and Draven communicated so quickly sometimes that it was hard for me to grasp it.

“We need to stay here,” Austin ordered. “They aren’t joking; this is the most dangerous dimension we could be in.”

“Yet we’re here,” Madison said sarcastically.

Austin ignored her and looked at me for understanding.

“Listen,” I said, “I know what I’m doing. If I can’t find who I’m looking for, I might need you to take them to Chara. Can you do that?”

I could see how nervous he was; it was easy to notice because he’d never been that way around me. He stepped closer to me, urging me away from the others. “Taking you there, the four of you, was never a fear of mine because I love all of you. You’re family, and no myth would reject you from my world because I felt that way. I don’t know them. I have sympathy for them, but I can’t tell you that I love them enough to protect them if that myth has any truth to it.”

“He doesn’t,” Madison said, coming to our side. “I can feel what you’re saying.” She looked at me. “His emotion is just not strong enough. He’ll protect them, but love isn’t there.”

“Then I need to find someone who understands them and can keep them safe.” I reached for Austin’s arm. “Stay right here with them. I’ll be right back.”

“We’ll be right back,” Madison corrected.

“Madison, you of all people need to exercise caution.”

“Then I’ll exercise caution at your side.”

“Fine.” I looked across the room at Monroe and said, “I’ll be right back.” She didn’t say anything to stop me, so that gave me the courage to leave.

I turned to leave before Austin could stop me. When I left the room, I turned the opposite way from where we’d come. I knew Draven and Aden were the other way, and he wouldn't have told me to look for August if he were in the same room with Landen and Drake’s bodies. Madison lingered close to me in the wide hallway. “I really hope you have a plan, Charlie. This place is massive.”

“I don’t, but I saw this palace in Willow’s memories. They spend most of their time on this hall. I think there’s a study ahead; I saw August there a lot through her.”