Trial By Fire (Going Down in Flames #3)(92)

“No.” Rhianna screamed and scrambled to the floor, reaching for Zane.

Jaxon blasted frozen flames, creating a protective barrier between Rhianna and the enemy. Valmont charged, sliding over the table with his sword extended. Bryn lunged forward, turning her elemental sword on as she went. Her fire and ice blade penetrated the man’s chest just as Valmont’s blade slashed into his carotid artery, sending a shower of blood spurting across the room painting the wall where the secret door had now closed.

“Rhianna,” Jaxon yelled.

Bryn performed the releasing motion to turn off her sword. Valmont tugged but his blade must have been stuck in the man’s spine. He put his boot on the man’s stomach, shoving him off of his sword and sending him crashing back into a bookshelf.

“Rhianna?” Bryn placed her hand on the ice barrier melting it with her flames. She sank to the floor where Rhianna cradled Zane’s head on her lap.

Jaxon had his arms around his girlfriend’s shoulders as he felt for a pulse on Zane’s neck. “I’m sorry. He’s gone.”

“Why did Zane do that?” Rhianna sobbed. “I released him.”

“Maybe,” Valmont said, “Zane didn’t believe the man would actually let us all go.”

There was a loud pounding in Bryn’s head.

“Do you hear that?” Valmont asked.

Okay, maybe the noise isn’t in my head. It was coming from the entrance to the room. It sounded like someone was pounding the wall with a battering ram. All she could see was a dead knight. Tears welled up in her eyes.

“We need to open the door,” Jaxon said, “without whoever is outside accidentally killing us.”

“A phone would be handy right now,” Bryn said.

Valmont walked back to the dead man’s body and searched his pockets, retrieving a cell phone.

“Give me that,” Jaxon said.

Valmont tossed the phone to Bryn who handed it to Jaxon. He dialed and spoke to his father. The battering on the door stopped.

“It’s safe to open now.” Jaxon looked at Bryn. “Do you mind?”

“I’ve got it.” Valmont went to the door and pushed it open. Ferrin, Bryn’s grandfather, and a half a dozen other people poured into the room.

“The traitor is over there.” Valmont pointed to the back corner.

Everyone started asking questions.

“We need a moment of silence,” Jaxon shouted loud enough to be heard above the din.

Amazingly, everyone quieted down. Ferrin and her grandfather approached. Ferrin squatted down and touched Jaxon’s shoulder. “Who was he?”

“His name was Zane,” Jaxon said, “and he came here to protect Rhianna’s life.”

“He was my knight.” Rhianna sounded sad and lost.

Ferrin appeared confused, but he didn’t make a rude comment like Bryn expected him to.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Bryn’s grandfather said, “but, we need to know what occurred here, and we need to know if anyone is still in danger.”

Bryn’s head snapped up. “The dance. The man who escaped said they would attack the dance if their people didn’t see them leaving when they were supposed to.”

Ferrin grabbed his phone and started giving orders.

“Bryn, who escaped where?” her grandfather asked.

“A Blue-Black hybrid made Rhianna’s knight open a secret door only Blue knights can access. He went through there.” She pointed at the wall splattered with blood. “And the door shut behind him.”

“Can you open it?” her grandfather asked.

“We can try.” Valmont placed his sword on the wall. Bryn sliced her finger on the blade not feeling a thing. A faint outline of a door glimmered and then disappeared.

“At least we know where it is.” Her grandfather frowned. “Maybe we can find a volunteer to open it for us.”

“I’ll do it,” Rhianna said.

Jaxon opened his mouth to speak and Rhianna cut him off. “I don’t want his death to be in vain.”

“Whoever left by that door is probably long gone,” her grandfather said. “Tonight we’ll concentrate on keeping the other students safe. Tomorrow or the day after, Rhianna, we may ask for your help.”

“Can we go back to the dance to check on our friends?” Bryn asked.

“Ferrin will have deployed our guards. I’d like you to come with me and give a more detailed description of the events.” Her grandfather glanced down at Zane and then back up at Valmont. “Can you help us make the necessary arrangements?”

Valmont nodded.

…

Bryn followed her grandfather up to his office on the top floor of the library. Valmont sat beside her, quietly holding her hand. She could feel rage coming off of his body. Any answers he gave were brief. What was he feeling? Guilt? Anger? Fear?

She filled her grandfather in on the tragic events of the evening.

“We need to find someone to open that door,” Valmont said. “That man could still be in there.”

“The vaults were here long before the library, which currently sits on top of them. There is a series of tunnels connecting them to each other and to access points on and probably off campus. I’m sure he’s made his way back to his friends by now.”