Descending Darkness(115)

“Ever since then, I’ve wanted my revenge. They killed the only family I ever knew. Dravin’s men killed them. I didn’t know it was him until I started doing my research. I know about Dravin. I know about Adam. I know about Dr. Arden.” I gasp as she mentions his name. She looks over at me questioningly, but continues. “I was even about to find the location of his compound. The area around it is covered in booby traps and magic spells to alert them of someone’s presence.”

“We know that all too well,” Logan says. Incendia looks a little surprised.

I lean forward and point to Larkin and Kyril. “They used to work for Dravin.”

“You were Gadramicks?” They both nod. “But now you’re not?”

“Nope,” Larkin says.

“Why?”

“Her,” Larkin and Kyril both point to me. Larkin explains his story. He tells Incendia about how I thwarted his attack on Claire but wouldn’t let anyone hurt him because I had read his thoughts and saw his memories. He didn’t like what he was doing. Later on, I ended up saving him from Dravin. Kyril basically explains the same thing. He didn’t want to be a Gadramick but couldn’t find a way out until Dravin found out about him helping us.

“Oh,” she says while looking at me.

“So what were you doing there tonight?” I ask.

“I wanted to draw Dravin out of his compound. I heard that magic can’t be used in there except by himself.”

“You’re correct,” I tell her. For the most part, I think you just can’t use magic in certain sections of his compound.

“So, I wanted to draw him to me. He apparently extended his perimeters because he knew we were there long before he was supposed to. A bunch of Gadramicks stormed out of the woods and attacked us while we were still trying to sneak up on them. We were surprised and unprepared at the beginning. I’d already taken out two men when you came, Ryanne. There were too many of them for us to fight off. I thought that was the end for us, you know? I’ll be fine if I die fighting. I don’t want to go down any other way during this time.” Everyone looks at me again. I’ve said that same thing so many times now.

“That’s basically it. I was there for revenge, and I didn’t get it. There were too many of them and too few of us. Dravin’s recruiting people; their numbers are rising steadily by the day. If you want any chance of bringing them down you’re going to need more fighters.”

“That’s what we are trying to do. Yesterday, Ryanne was able to convince the Howicks to help. We were on our way to a second house when we hit a little road bump,” Tom says.

Colton’s arms tighten around me. I lean back against his chest and look up at him. He’s clenching his jaw. I lean up and kiss the underside of it, trying to relieve some of the tension in his features. He sighs and looks down at me. I watch as some of the anger dissipates.

“Road bump?” Incendia asks.

“James’s sedan was t-boned by a truck full of Gadramicks,” Bragden says. “I tried to shield Ryanne from the flying glass and metal since the car was hit on my side, but somehow her seatbelt came undone, and she hit her head on the roof of the car as it flipped over. One of Dravin’s men was a traveler like Larkin, and he transported into the car and took Ryanne back to Dravin’s compound.”

“And you got free?” Incendia asks.

“I’ve been kidnapped by Dravin three times now and gone into the compound through dreams more than that. I’ve managed to escape every time, usually with help though.” Man, I’m getting tired of telling this story all the time.

“Okay, well if you’ll let me, I can help. I want to stop Dravin just as much as you all,” Incendia says. “Actually, it doesn’t matter to me if you want help. I’m helping.” Bragden laughs. Incendia turns and glares at him, which makes him laugh harder.

“You may have a lot of magic, mister, but you’re untrained, so I’m still stronger than you,” she threatens. “I’m not afraid to prove it either.”

Bragden stands up and walks toward her. Incendia gets up from the bed and places her hands on her hips. She’s not as tall as Emma or Natalie. I’d put her at about 5’7,” which puts her on the short range for a mage female. She doesn’t step back as Bragden walks toward her. Being 6’6,” Bragden stands above most people.

“Then why don’t you prove it,” he says in a deep husky voice. Shoot, even I think that voice sounds totally hot on him. I see Emma and Natalie briefly smile. This is getting interesting.