CHAPTER Twenty Five
As I left Alex and the wooden hut behind, I noticed that there was a light on in one of the third floor rooms, where Julia – and the Brethren – were housed. A shadow moved across the window from behind the drawn curtains but I couldn’t make out who it was. It didn’t matter though. I knew this area like the back of my hand and could easily skip in and out of the shadows, staying out of sight, until I could get away into the woods.
Despite my bluster in front of Alex, I was feeling a bit scared. Okay, more than a bit scared, in fact I was bloody terrified. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was the right move to make, however. I skirted behind a tree and then ducked to the fringes of the keep’s front garden, hopping over the low-lying fence. I was about to edge into the cover of the woods when I noticed a dark shape moving towards me. It looked vaguely lupine so I figured it was probably one of the Brethren out patrolling. Luckily, the wind was down so my scent wouldn’t carry far. I still froze, however, and waited, holding my breath and hoping the figure would turn into the garden rather than continue on towards me.
I counted my heartbeats. One one thousand, two one thousand, three one…excellent. The wolf turned back once it reached the gate and began to head down the way from which it had just come. I breathed a silent sigh of relief and entered the little forest. I paused just before the path, turning back to take one final glance back at the keep. My eyes travelled the length of its dark shape, over the familiar breeze blocks and slightly crooked outline. I prayed desperately that Julia would pull through. It didn’t bear thinking about what might happen if she didn’t. Hot anger flickered again inside me at what she, and the rest of my adopted family, were being forced to go through on my behalf. If I could stop Iabartu, it wouldn’t make amends for the danger I’d put them in or for the consequences my presence had caused them, but it would prevent any further problems. They could return to their quiet little lives, unbothered by the arrogantly superior Brethren or nasties that threatened their very existence. I tried not to wonder if any of them would really be sorry that I was gone. Tom would, probably. Betsy perhaps. I hoped that they realised what a good thing they had going here in our little corner of the world and didn’t take the decision to move to London with the Brethren. It was out of my hands now though.
I drank in the whole scene with my eyes and then turned back to the trees. It was time to go.
As soon as I reached the path, I picked up the pace and began jogging. I had about twenty five minutes before Alex opened the portal. I could have tried taking a shortcut and leaving the path, but I was still wary after my spell in the faerie ring earlier on and knew that the path would be quick enough. Part of me regretted throwing the majority of my coffee onto the kitchen wall. Some caffeine would have given me a much needed boost right now. Instead, I focused on the path and the satisfaction I would feel when I drove my silver dirk into Iabartu’s black heart.
Before too long I reached the beach. I slowed, knowing that there would still be some Brethren guards out keeping a watchful eye on the portal. Fortunately I’d come prepared for just such an eventuality. I walked slowly over the top of the dunes, arms outstretched just in case any trigger happy shifters decided to attack first and then ask questions later.
As before, there were two guards, standing watchful over the frozen gateway. Both heads whipped immediately in my direction but relaxed slightly when they realised that I wasn’t a threat. They still looked stiff and uncomfortable though, and, for just a brief moment, I felt slightly sorry for them. It couldn’t be easy being made to stand here all night, in rural Cornwall, and know that their lives and the lives of their friends were being risked for a bunch of not very powerful, yokel pack shifters. My sympathy didn’t last long, fortunately.
The one closest to me, the werefox, kept his gaze trained warily on my approach. I figured that they didn’t entirely trust me after Corrigan’s implication that I had deliberately abandoned them to be attacked. The other had switched her focus back onto the portal itself.
“Hiya!” I forced my voice to be bright and cheery.
Neither of them replied but I continued up towards them. “I couldn’t sleep so I thought I’d come out for a walk and see if either of you needed a break.”
“We are fine,” the fox grunted, as expected.
“Well, how about a drink, then? You must need something by now to keep your energy levels up.” I pulled a couple of cans of Coke from my backpack – from a separate compartment to the silver weapons, of course – and offered them out to the both of them, keeping the smile fixed on my face.
The werefox looked like he might tell me to piss off for a second, but clearly his thirst won over and he grudgingly accepted both of them, handing one to his colleague. I checked my watch. Still five minutes to go before Alex would release the portal. I figured it’d give me a chance to brush up on my small talk skills at least.
“So, I’m really sorry about your friends.” And I actually was.
Both of them grimaced. “They were all strong brothers,” the other Brethren said, still not looking away from the portal but at least swigging the Coke and relaxing ever so slightly. I maneuvered myself slightly so that I was angled towards the gateway. As soon my watch hit 2.15am, I’d make a run for it.
“Let the Way light their paths through the long night,” I quoted, and each of the Brethren inclined their heads slightly.
Ummm…what now? I cast around, trying to think of an appropriate topic. The werefox rescued me, however. “So, I hear our Lord Alpha has offered you a place,” he said, in a tone of voice that suggested that he thought it was patently a ridiculous idea.
“Uh, yes, he has. The Brethren’s not really for me, I think though,” I replied.
“It’s a great honour,” he said stiffly, somehow offended that even though he believed I wasn’t worthy of such an honour I should be on my knees thanking them for it.
I kept my tone light. “Well, I prefer a quiet life.”
“And yet you’re such a skilled fighter,” said a third deep voice, smoothly.
I turned, heart thudding. I knew that voice. The two Brethren guards immediately bowed, deeply. So they’d take their eyes off their jobs to genuflect at least.
“My Lord.” Shit shit shit. “What brings you out tonight?”
His green eyes held mine appraisingly. “You were spotted leaving the keep. I was concerned,” he paused slightly before continuing, “for your safety.”
“Well, I appreciate your concern, my Lord. However, my skills at fighting, which you so gratifyingly highlight, mean that I am more than capable of looking after myself.”
“You wouldn’t be thinking of doing anything stupid, now would you, Miss Mackenzie?”
I noticed that he didn’t call me kitten when others were around. I filed that tidbit away and smiled at him, returning his gaze without fear. He couldn’t intimidate me, not when I was about to enter an otherworld demesne to kill a god. Besides which, I was part dragon. That beat a were-panther any day. “I have absolutely no idea what you could mean, My Lord.”
He stepped closer. I stepped back. I didn’t want him to be within grabbing reach when the portal opened.
“From what little I have managed to glean of your nature, Miss Mackenzie, you have about as much sense of self-preservation as a kitten would.” His eyes gleamed in the darkness at slipping in the kitten reference. Bastard. “I wouldn’t put it past you to try to run into the portal stupidly thinking that you could save the world single-handedly.”
I took another small shuffle backwards, hoping he wouldn’t notice. “But as you know, my Lord, the portal is closed. Even if I wished to make such a foolish move, I would be unable to do so.”
He didn’t say anything in return, just folded his arms and gazed at me implacably.
“I couldn’t sleep, alright? I thought I’d just come out for a walk and maybe bring your servants, sorry – guards , something to drink to keep their spirits up.”
The werefox appeared vaguely alarmed. “I apologise, my Lord. We didn’t think there would be any harm in accepting her offer of a drink.”
I felt vaguely sickened at the Brethren member’s bowing and scraping. So apparently did Corrigan because he bared his teeth slightly and snapped, “You are permitted to f*cking drink if you need to.”
Both of the sentinels cowered slightly. I wondered at the sort of regime Corrigan was running, that his own shifters were immured in fearful obeisance. Before I could comment on it, and really piss Corrigan off though, my watch beeped. Almost immediately, the portal shimmered purple and began to hum. I twisted round in one swift motion and ran. I felt rather than saw Corrigan lunge at me, grabbing a hank of hair, but I managed to pull free, leaving what felt like half my scalp behind in his large hands. Sand kicked up as I sprinted at the portal, just a few metres away. I had to make it before he stopped me. I heard him roar in uncontained rage but the distance was too short for him to pull me back in time. The magic of the portal rippled painfully against my skin, tightening around my entire body as I battled through.
And then I landed in an ungraceful heap in broad daylight on the other side. I was through.