Chapter 670: Sorcerers At Arms
We didn't return to the study, but retreated back toward the front of the house and through another doorway, into a wide foyer. I saw an open pair of doors on the far side, more light reaching us, and realized we'd only been in one wing of the big house. I pulled my hand free of Piers's as we entered what looked like a dining room. But there was no food on the table, much to my stomach's displeasure. Instead, a large map of the countryside spread over its surface, the palace in the center.
It was even bigger than I thought, if I was reading the scale of the map correctly. Had to be larger than a couple of football fields. Who lived in such opulence?
As much as I loved Charlotte and everything, part of me had to agree with the revolution, which brought down the Romanovs, if this was their idea of a country house.
A short, narrow-shouldered sorcerer, his red hair and freckles making him seem younger than he probably was squinted at Piers through his round glasses, a glare of light reflecting from the smooth twin surfaces.
"Sydlynn Hayle," Piers said, gesturing to his friend. "Allow me to introduce you to my team. This is Ellis Lowsley." Ginger nodded, hands spread out on the table before him. "Flora Husher." The pretty brunette's dark bob reminded me of an old friend and, in a rush of emotion, I missed Beth and wondered how she was.
"And this is Liard Meath." Crooked teeth grinned at me, his dark skin and brown eyes betraying his Indian heritage. Which made me think of Shenka,
Seriously, Syd? Find some freaking focus already.
"Last but not least, Perty Lins." Blonde, pert, pretty. I smiled a little and nodded to each of them, certain I'd forget their names in about two seconds even as I wondered why they all seemed so young. Where were the older Steam Union members?
Piers leaned over the table as Oleksander chewed the rim of his mustache, scowling at the map.
"Els," Piers said to the red-haired sorcerer. "Lay it out for us, if you would."
Ellis nodded, straightened up. "Our previous plan had to be altered, thanks to our new information." He gestured at me. Isabelle huddled next to him, misery on her face as she stared at the map herself. "Our main target remains the same, but we need to be more careful if the Czar is able to call on backup."
"Where are they holding Charlotte?" I peered at the map in frustration.
"We're not sure." Ellis might not have been, but Isabelle twitched with guilt and refused to meet my eyes. "But we'll find her once our main target is taken out."
Hang on. "Wait a second," I said, crossing my arms over my chest as I glared at Ellis. "Charlotte is the main target."
Piers hesitated before leaning close to me. "Actually," he said. "That's not exactly accurate."
What the hell?
"Our goal has always been to remove the Czar," Oleksander said, looking back and forth between Piers and me, confusion mingling with worry on his face. "Yes, my granddaughter is a priority, of course. But she would be the first to tell you the only way to free her would be to kill her oppressor."
Oh hell no.
Killing was not on the menu.
I didn't say a word, just spun on my heel and marched out. I felt someone following me, was grasped and turned around before I could make it half way across the foyer. I spun on Piers with a snarl on my lips as he pulled me to a halt.
"Please," he said, voice low and urgent, "allow me to explain-"
I jerked my arm free of his grip and hissed up into his handsome face. "Explain?" My whisper was so loud I knew the others heard me in the dining room, but I could barely contain my fury even as Oleksander came to stand in the doorway, watching, listening with a scowl on his face. "What's to explain, Piers?" I shook with anger, wanting to wring his damned neck. What was he thinking? "You kidnapped my ass, promising it was because you wanted to help me rescue Charlotte."
"I do," he said. "We will. It's just-"
"Just." I jabbed him in the chest with one stiff finger. "Just nothing, smartass. You do realize you're asking me, a foreign power, to interfere with another magical race." Was he off his rocker? "You want me," I poked him again, a little Sidhe power behind it, saw him wince, "to break all kinds of international magic laws so you," this jab had to hurt, the thud of impact making my own finger ache, "can take down a sect your people should have dealt with in the first place."
The air beside us shuddered as Isabelle appeared. She grasped my arm, pulled me away from Piers. "She can't get involved this way," the vampire said. "You know that. I told you already she would turn you down if she knew the truth."
Piers's jaw jumped as anger snapped in his gray eyes. But, to his credit, he took hold of his temper and blew out a whistling breath between tight lips before speaking.
"We'll fail without you." He backed off a step, shoulders tense while the guttural sound of Oleksander's startled grunt echoed softly to me. I guess Piers hadn't been forthcoming with any of us on this little adventure he'd concocted. "It's that simple."
"I'm sorry." I turned away from him, glanced back at the towering werewolf leader. "I'm only here for Charlotte."
"I'd heard you were the one to do the impossible." Oh no, he did not. "The one who took on the rules and won. Who did what was right," he almost spit the word, "not what was law."
I spun back, shaking with rage, hating he poked at my weakest points like any of this was my fault. "Don't you think I want to grind Yure under my heel until he's a smear for what he's done to Charlotte?" Piers's face remained flat, stony as I went on. "I'm not a total moron. I know the guy is a dirtbag who deserves what he gets. And were he in my territory, he'd be toast. End of story." I backed off again, frustrated, irritable. "But we're not on my turf, are we? And unless you want a war between territories, you're on your own."
Piers swayed, face crumpling as he reached for me. I let him take my hands, felt his need, the power of his conviction, his own determination. He reminded me a lot of me, actually. Standing against wrongs that needed righting no matter the odds against him. It broke my heart to have to turn him down.
"We'll hide you," he said, his desperation coming through. "With our power. And as long as you don't use witch magic, there's no harm, no foul." So he knew about that, huh? Isabelle flinched, guilty. Was there anything she hadn't told him?
I thought about it. I really, honestly did. But, in the end, my mind went to my mother, to our own battles, the fight yet to come with the Brotherhood and Ameline, and I knew I had no choice either.
His warm hands fell from mine as I pulled away for the last time. "I'm sorry, Piers," I said. "I really am. But this isn't my fight." I turned to Isabelle. "I'm going after Charlotte," I said. "And I need your help to find her."
The young vampire ducked her head, but nodded.
I left him there, heard his footsteps as he turned and walked away himself, kept a firm grip on Isabelle as we left the foyer and reentered the hall near the red door.
"Okay," I said, trying to push down the horrible guilt in the core of my stomach at the thought of not being able to help the werewolves. Wasn't Piers right? I was the one who said screw the rules and did what I wanted anyway. When did I become the person who had to say no when there was work to be done? Not fair, nope. I'd saved the world and my family more times than I cared to count, kicked more bad guy butt than anyone in this house. And yet...
What had I told Vasyl? I didn't do 'no'.
Guess I was wrong.
I gave myself a little shake as I fixed the young vampire with my sternest Mom glare.
"I know you know where she is, Isabelle." Time to beat myself up later. At least with Charlotte to focus on, I could forget for a bit the hurt and desperate look on Piers's handsome face. "I need you to tell me."
Isabelle trembled. "I don't know if I can trust what Maksym told me any longer." She shuddered before taking my hand. "But I can get you past the guards into the black zone."
"Black zone?" I reached for the veil, felt it answer my call, but didn't open it yet. I had an idea I wanted to try, but I needed a target first before I could test it.
"The place where no magic can see," Isabelle said.
Must be shielded with sorcery. Probably like the Coterie Industries building in Miami and the now burned down Brotherhood mansion. I could handle any dead area cut off from regular magicks, as long as I knew where it was. Too risky sniffing around on my own, but with guidance, I could pinpoint the location and attempt a focused peek at Charlotte's situation.
At least, that was the hope.
Isabelle showed me, her vampire magic linking with mine. Piggybacking on her power felt weird, but wasn't the strangest thing I'd ever done so I just held on and kept my senses open. It wasn't long before her power flowed onto the Czar's property and to the palace. I shuddered as we rounded the far side and hit a cold, black zone.
My turn. I filtered my sorcery through Isabelle's vampire magic, hoping to disguise it, and had a peek. Shivered as the darkness parted and I had my first look at the cellblock. The feeling of emptiness confirmed my guess about the shielding. Isabelle chased back to our location, a straight line to where I could find Charlotte before releasing me.
I hugged her on impulse, felt her strong, thin arms embrace me in turn.
"Thank you," I said, leaning away. "I need one more favor."
She nodded quickly.
"Go home," I said. "Tell Sunny what's happening. And stay there."
Isabelle's eyes welled with tears. "I can't leave Maksym."
Whatever. "Let the Steam Union do their jobs," I said. "Just go home, Isabelle."
She let out a soft sob before shuddering into shadow and vanishing.
I did my best to protect her. What she did was up to her.
Time to finally rescue Charlotte and get the hell out of here before something else happened.
***
