Jonas (Darkness #7)(28)

The air in the field started to shimmer. Like solar flares mixed with heat waves, Cato and my spell was working at the fabric of the spell Nathanial had set. It shimmered and wobbled. Then started to sputter.

I drained off another couple people and started focusing on the larger pools of magic-workers. “Do you have anybody you’re not using?” I asked in a pant. “I don’t know how long they can hold out.”

“Have no fear. We are nearly there.”

As if hearing Cato, the draw of energy from the spell started to slow. The pull became less. He’d somehow timed it to take heavily in the beginning, and then taper off. I needed to ask him how when this was all over.

Bursts of light with no sound blazed in ten different spots. Balloons of white and black swirled through the sky. The draw of energy cut off completely.

Cato straightened up. “Here we go. Nathanial will feel it right—“

Chapter Eight

“Blast through the wall!”

Jonas braced just inside the door. From the movements, murmurs and scuffles, he guessed probably six people were attempting to find them. One being Nathanial, who Emmy claimed was some expert magic-worker or other. She guessed he would’ve brought his guards, who were excellent with swords.

Jonas was excellent at killing. He was eager to make their acquaintance.

“Come away from the door,” Emmy hissed. “We’re leaving out the back.”

“The exit is guarded. What’s the point?” Jonas whispered back. The timbre of his voice, though, carried.

The shuffling beyond the walls silenced. Then, “Emmy, my darling. You have greatly vexed me. It would be wise if you left your barbarian and returned to me. I’ll go easy on you, my dear.”

Jonas shifted impatiently. He wanted to rip that smug voice out of that male’s throat.

“You disappoint me, Emilia.” A spark of light seeped through the door before a small blast echoed through the tunnels. The dull sounds of stone falling rumbled across the floor. Dust shifted down from the ceiling and settled like ash across Jonas’ shoulders. A few pebbles followed, along with a deep, low groan of rock shifting.

“You’ll bring this whole place down on top of us!” Emmy yelled.

Jonas could see her in the dim glow of light shifting under the door. She frantically waved Jonas back toward a square patch of deeper black. If they went through that door, they would then just trap themselves between the guards at the exit, and the mage tracking her with magic. There would be more to take on, and the result would probably be the same.

He motioned her through. Time had run out. “You go. I’ll see what damage I can do.”

He could just see the plane of Emmy’s face shift toward him, following the sound of his voice. She couldn’t see any better than before, even with the swaying and bouncing light from under the door. But he could. He could see her straighten up in resignation. Straighten her shoulders and lift her head. He saw her step forward and untie the whips from around her waist.

He could see her get ready for battle. She wouldn’t leave him. She’d fight her greatest fear, right beside him.

What a f*cking great female. Also, a stupid one. “Run!” he seethed. “It isn’t worth your life.”

“There is nowhere to run. Not from me.” That smug voice floated in the darkness. A foot interrupted the light beneath the door.

Jonas let magic pulse through him. His arms swirled in orange. His hands formed claws in front of him. Someone was about to get a facelift.

A hand hit the door. It swung open with the customary squeal. Jonas jumped forward as the earth rumbled. Then shook. A loud explosion thundered through the walls and rolled through the air. Jonas grabbed a male’s face and took a cheek with him as he was flung against a wall. The low tremor was interrupted with screaming.

The ceiling above them groaned. Small rocks rained down in warning. Dust sifted through the air. Somewhere, stone crumbled and littered across the floor. The earth rumbled again. The ceiling groaned louder in absolute misery. Jonas was flung to the other side of the room.

Sasha had arrived.

“We’re being attacked!” Nathanial screamed. He wasn’t so smug now. “Forget the girl. Get to your battle positions.”

“This whole place is going to come down.” Emmy dashed toward the open door on nimble feet as the world stilled for a moment.

“No!” Jonas reached for her and missed. He stood to chase only to stop dead as she ducked and snatched up a sword much too big for her body. She held it out to him.

“C’mon, hurry!” After he grabbed the sword, she dashed past him to the small open door at the back of the room. “They’ll leave that exit to get their battle gear. We need to get through before this place comes down on our heads!”

With a quick glance at the now-swordless male holding his bloody cheek and writhing on the ground, Jonas took after an extremely resourceful female. They ran at full speed through twists and turns she seemed to know by heart.

“He just abandoned you when he was right on top of you?” Jonas asked as he struggled to keep up. She had shorter legs, was a female, and had inherited mostly human strength, but damned if she wasn’t faster than he was.

“His magic is invested in the defense of this place. If someone starts messing with the spells, it’s going to mess with his magic. If they hit him just right—and hopefully they did—it’s going to drain his power. Or whatever. He has to link so he doesn’t go down with the ship. With all the explosions, if your mage even half knows what she’s doing, he won’t have a lot of time.”