Flamebound A Lone Star Witch No(33)

“Xan, wait,” Declan cautions. “You don’t know what might be waiting for you down there. Let me go first.”

What he says makes sense. I’m not one to hide behind a big strong guy, but these are extenuating circumstances. Goddess only knows what we’re walking into—especially considering the only thing I know for sure is that somewhere down there, somebody is dead. And not from natural causes.

I open my mouth to tell him to go ahead, but what comes out is, “No, I need to go first.”

There’s a long, narrow staircase leading down into the hole, and I head down it without another word. Behind me, Declan and Lily curse. But Declan, who has seen me in the throes of these compulsions before, knows there will be no arguing with me, no turning me from this course until I find what must be found.

“Aren’t you even going to ask what this place is?” he demands as he follows so closely behind me that I can feel his breath on the nape of my neck.

“Headquarters for the Arcadian Council of Witches, Wizards and Warlocks,” I answer.

There’s a stunned silence. “How do you know?”

“How do you know? More importantly, how did you get this place open? I’m not sure even my mom or dad could have done it.”

“They’ve done it before. This is where most ACW meetings take place, after all. Although, in those cases, getting in is a little different.”

“You mean because they’re invited instead of breaking in?”

“Pretty much.”

“Speaking of which,” Lily says from where she’s pulling up the rear. “Our entrance isn’t exactly what I’d call subtle. What’s going to be waiting for us when we get to the bottom of this staircase to hell?”

“It wasn’t subtle for us,” Declan answers, “because I invoked a couple of very powerful spells. But down here, they probably didn’t even notice.”

“How is that possible?” I turn to look at him. The light is dim down here, but there’s enough for me to see his eyes—and the grim smile he’s wearing.

“Because the ACW is nothing if not arrogant. They believe firmly in their own supremacy, so they can’t imagine that anyone could breach their security without them knowing.”

“Even you?”

“Even you, Xandra. You’re the reason we’re here, after all.”

I don’t really agree with that, considering he’s far more powerful than I will ever be. Still, the compulsion is riding me hard, making me walk faster, so I move on to other questions. It feels like I have a million of them, after all, and I’d like to get the most important ones answered before we get to the bottom of the steps. If we ever get to the bottom. We’ve already done about a hundred steps and there’s no end in sight.

“What about this staircase? They don’t know when it’s been activated?”

“This isn’t their staircase. It’s mine.”

“You mean, you built this?”

He inclines his head. “In a manner of speaking.”

“Huh.” I walk even faster. Without the compulsion, I never would have stepped foot down here—I don’t know how Declan and Lily are doing it—but knowing that Declan created this never-ending staircase somehow makes me feel better. It’s still a little terrifying, but I know—despite his darkness—that he’d never do anything to put me in jeopardy.

“How do they get down to the pits of hell?” Lily demands. “Their broomsticks?”

Declan laughs. But the sad thing is, I’m not sure she’s joking.

“Do you want to go back up?” I ask. “You don’t have to come down with us if it freaks you out.” She’s done more than enough for me tonight. I wouldn’t blame her if she decides that enough is enough.

But Lily just snorts. “Yeah, because what I really want to do right now is brave the Little Garden of Horrors all on my own. No thanks. You’re stuck with me for the duration of this.”

We continue on in silence. I started counting the steps a couple of minutes ago and we’re on step one hundred forty-three, not including however many we did before I began ticking them off in my head. But if I were to guess, I’d say we’re closing in on two-hundred and fifty steps. Maybe Lily’s right and this really is the stairway to hell. Goddess knows, I expect molten lava to start spewing around us at any moment.

“Not to be a party pooper,” I say into the pensive silence, “but how the hell are we going to get back out of here? I mean, does either one of you know how to create a magic elevator?”

“How hard could it be?” Declan asks. “A little steel, a few cables—” He winks at me when he sees me staring back at him over my shoulder. “Just kidding.”