When Darkness Ends (Guardians of Eternity #12)(92)

At the same time he was hit with a spell freezing him in place.

“Shit,” he rasped, watching in helpless horror as the eerily beautiful demon moved into view. “Phyla.”

“You will come with me,” the powerful Oracle commanded, her copper hair floating around the pure oval of her face and her green eyes speckled with silver that glowed in the moonlight.

“Phyla.” Cyn struggled against the invisible bands that held him immobile. “Can you hear me?”

The female drifted past him, her movements oddly sinuous as she leaned down to grab Fallon by the throat. Then, lifting the unconscious Chatri off the ground, she waved a hand toward Cyn, releasing him from her spell.

“This way.”

With a blur of movement, Cyn was standing directly in front of the demon, his sword beneath her chin.

“Wait.”

With an unnerving strength, the demon continued to hold Fallon by the throat, the fingers tightening as if she were prepared to crush the unconscious woman’s throat.

“You will obey or I will kill the female,” she said in a low hiss.

For a crazed second Cyn felt a red mist begin to cloud his mind.

The sight of his female being threatened was enough to tip him into his berserker rage.

It was only the realization that Phyla could destroy Fallon with one blast of her magical fire that forced back the tidal wave of fury so he could think clearly.

Stepping back, he slowly lowered his sword.

It was obvious the demon was under the control of the druid. Which meant he couldn’t physically prevent her from harming Fallon.

He’d have to use his own skills to try and break through the compulsion.

“Fine,” he growled. “I’m coming.”

“This way.”

She headed toward the nearby farmhouse, seemingly indifferent to the massive vampire at her side. Cyn, however, angled himself so he was walking two steps ahead of her and capable of looking her directly in the eye.

“Where are we going?” he demanded, adding a subtle layer of compulsion to his tone.

The damned druid wasn’t the only one who could sway the minds of others.

And luckily, Cyn’s talent was stronger than most vampires.

Her pace never slowed, but something flickered in the silver-flecked eyes.

“To join your brothers.”

Hell. His gut twisted with dread. Styx and Viper must have been caught. He could only hope that Dante hadn’t yet been detected.

“What have you done with them?”

“They are preparing to die.”

“Phyla.” Cyn planted himself directly in front of the demon, his voice low with command. “Stop.”

Her steps stumbled, then came to a halt. Her face twisted with obvious pain, her body trembling as she was attacked by two contradicting compulsions.

“We must go,” she rasped.

He reached out to touch her face, increasing his pressure on her tortured mind.

“The druid has cast a spell on you,” he said. “You must fight it.”

Her trembling increased. “I—”

“Concentrate on me,” he urged, his hand stroking her cheek. “Release the Chatri.”

Her breath came in short, painful gasps. “It’s impossible. The death spell I placed on her will trip if I release her.”

Cyn swallowed his curse. He was going to need help.

“What happened to the vampires?”

“They’re being held in the prisons beneath the caves.”

Cyn frowned. Styx had told him about the large holding pens that the previous Anasso had used to confine his drug-addicted humans. He assumed that must be what she was referring to.

“What about the druid?”

She paused, no doubt using the connection the druid forced on her to track him.

“He’s in the altar chamber.”

“What about the Oracles?”

“They’re gathering in the Council Room. I must join them.”

“Can you lead me to the druid?”

“Yes. But—”

She made a gagged sound, as if something or someone was cutting off her words.

“What is it?”

The muscles of her neck bulged as she struggled to spit out the words.

“The amulet.”

He frowned. “What amulet?”

She didn’t answer. Instead, she gave a violent shudder, pain flaring in her eyes before they abruptly went dull and lifeless.

“We must go,” she said, her monotone voice revealing she was once again under full command of the druid.

Cyn continued to stand in her path, desperate to break the spell.

“Phyla.”

Fire flickered over the demon’s skin. “Move or I’ll kill her.”

“Damn.”

Cyn leaped to the side, his gaze locked on Fallon to make sure the flames didn’t touch her vulnerable skin. Locked in the demon’s spell, he didn’t know if she could survive being burned or not.

Dampening the fire, Phyla started forward again, leading Cyn into the mouth of a cavern hidden behind the farmhouse.

Cyn grimaced as they moved across the smooth floor and into the tunnel that led sharply downward.

He didn’t need to be able to sense magic to realize that there was something big happening. He could feel it in the heavy press of air that seemed to cling to his skin and the tiny quakes beneath his feet. There was even a smell of electricity in the air. As if lightning was about to strike.