Laire flicked her fingers with clear impatience. “As heartwarming as this all is, gargoyles who are going to be flying need to gather together. Teleporting this many beings is not easy, and I’d like to get you somewhere close to the entrance and not Siberia.”
Malek let go and stood at the head of the group of gargoyles. With a wave, the mage made the gargoyles disappear.
The mage swayed after they disappeared, and Fallon went over in front of her. “Laire?”
The Asian woman waved her off. “Long day. We all have to push past, right?”
Fallon smiled, and for the first time Terak could see friendship in the expression. “Right.”
“Thirty seconds,” called one of the wizards working on the barrier.
Laire clapped her hands and motioned toward the entrance. “If you’re stupid or suicidal, please step up to become the first wave.”
Fallon gave her a slit-eyed glare as she hefted her sword free. “That wasn’t directed at me, was it?”
“If the heavy-ass sword fits.”
“Ten seconds.”
Terak walked to the barrier behind only Fallon. Fallon gave a quick glance towards him. “Well, Gargoyle, let’s do this.”
The barrier opened.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
‡
The door opened to Larissa’s cell, and Garof walked into the room, followed by two human men. Their eyes were lowered so no clue if they were red or not, but based on their demeanor they didn’t seem much above garden-variety whipping boys.
Taneasha was crying in the corner. She stood, only to moments later fall on her knees before the vampire. “Master, please,” she begged.
The vampire crouched down in front of Taneasha, taking her chin in his hand. “Hush, girl. Think of the glorious part you will play in the ascension of the necromancers to their true position in a reborn Magic Realm. Your death will have so much more meaning than a child like you deserves.” He motioned to his followers. “Grab the child. I will transport the null.”
The men each grabbed one of Taneasha’s arms and dragged her out of the cell.
Garof turned to Larissa. “I have no need to drag you, do I?”
“No.” Larissa stood. “I would prefer you didn’t. I am capable of walking myself.”
“Good. I prefer when things are kept dignified, do you agree?”
They walked for several minutes until they came to a room where two stone altars stood next to each other, about ten feet apart with a fire pit between them. Floating above the fire was an ornate dagger and a large red stone, both items she had grabbed from the vault.
Taneasha was already chained to the altar on the left. Garof grabbed her upper arm, but Larissa pulled away. “I said I wouldn’t make a scene. Don’t touch me.” She walked to the other altar.
Manacles. The stupid bastards were going to chain her down. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep the relief that pulsed through her from showing on her face. The cuffs were older but in good condition. They also glowed red, which meant they were enchanted.
Which meant the vampires probably placed most of their trust in the magic of the chains and not the physical strength of the chains themselves. That seemed to be the theme of the day.
And there were no manacles for the feet, which meant she had a chance of making at least step one of her plan succeeding.
Too bad she hadn’t formulated step two yet.
Larissa lay on the altar and put her arms up. Garof shackled her. “I am impressed, human. It is rare to see such a display of obedience.”
“Hate to break it to you, but compliments from you don’t really do it for me, so I wouldn’t bother.”
The vampire inclined his head. “As you wish.” He stood between the two altars and motioned for the two followers to kneel at the foot. “Start the casting.”
Not even a minute after the two men began to chant, a shrill scream filled the room. The two acolytes stopped chanting, only to have Garof say, “Do not stop, no matter what!”
Another human in a robe ran up to the vampire. “Master, we are being attacked.”
Garof stepped away, though not before Larissa saw his lips form a snarl. As he walked from the room, she heard him say, “They must be delayed until the spell can be completed.” Garof and the robed human left.
The only bad guys left in the room were the two chanting.
No time like the present. The cuffs were tight but nothing compared to what her brothers put her through. She freed her hands with barely a scrape.
The rhythmic chanting was rising in volume, and the cave walls started to not so much shake as undulate. Both the dagger and the jewel were glowing, the dagger red and the stone blue.
The commotion outside the cavern was growing louder as well, echoes of multitudes of footsteps intermixed with the clanging of metal on metal and screams – which abruptly stopped.