Midnight's Captive(77)

By the time he reached the great hall, the spot in his chest where the knife coated with drough blood had entered him ached so that he couldn’t stop rubbing it.

He paused when he saw the chaos around him. Druids were running in all different directions while the few Warriors still at the castle were looking at a map of Edinburgh.

Charon knew they were looking at every possible way of getting to the infected area of the city without Jason knowing. He walked past them until he found Ronnie standing alone as she stuffed a backpack full of supplies.

“Ronnie,” he called as he walked up.

She lifted her head of wheat-colored hair. “Any news about Laura’s loyalty?”

“No’ yet. I have to leave for a wee bit.”

“Leave?” she asked, her forehead furrowed.

He nodded. “It’s to help us.”

“I know. I’m just surprised you’d go alone.”

Charon glanced around him and shrugged. “Everyone is busy, and it’s better if I go alone on this anyway. I’ll be back.”

“And Laura?” Ronnie asked before he could walk away.

“Leave her.”

Ronnie zipped the backpack and flattened her lips. “You know she might try to run away.”

“She might.”

“I see,” Ronnie said after a moment. “Godspeed, Charon.”

He forced a smile. “Stay safe, Druid.”

Charon walked to the kitchen where the keys to the vehicles were kept. Since his was still in Ferness, he had no choice but to take one of those at the castle.

He grabbed the keys to the quickest car they had, a Porsche 911 GT2 RS, and hurried out the door. Charon grinned as he spotted the fastest production Porsche ever made in the bailey.

Once he slid into the seats of the red sports car and started the car, he eyed the open gates at the gatehouse. He put the car in first, gripped the red and black steering wheel, and gunned it. The engine gave a loud, feral roar before the car raced out of the bailey.



Laura hid in the shadows of the second-floor balcony and watched Charon talking to a woman in the great hall. The woman wasn’t happy with whatever Charon said, and then a moment later he walked out of the castle.

For several minutes, Laura simply stood and watched the activity of the hall. There was something major going on by the way everyone hurried about. Was it Jason?

Charon had said he needed to save his friends. With the Warriors being immortal and having powers, and the Druids using magic, she wasn’t sure why they would need help. Then she recalled Jason.

He was as evil as they came. Just thinking of his voice and the way he smiled sent a shiver of dread running through her. He had used his magic so effortlessly on her.

She felt as violated as she had when Ben tried to kidnap her. Jason had to be stopped. There was no denying that. Ignoring him wouldn’t make him go away.

Laura glanced back at the hallway that would take her to the room Charon had put her in. She couldn’t simply wait for Charon to return. Not when she knew she could help in this fight by getting her magic back.

She waited until the hall was all but clear before she quickly sneaked down the stairs. Laura hurried to the doorway she’d seen Charon get the keys from.

The few people in the hall didn’t even notice her as she ducked through the door and found herself in a kitchen. She spotted the hooks where several sets of keys were kept.

Laura paused as she went to grab a set. She’d never stolen anything in her life, but it wasn’t as if she had a choice. She could get her magic back and help Charon. Maybe then he would see she was on his side.

She grabbed the first set of keys nearest the door. Just as she was about to retrace her footsteps, she heard someone approaching. Laura glanced and saw a door leading outside.

With just seconds to spare, she rushed out the door, closing it quietly behind her. She found herself in a small garden area outside. To her left was the sea, and to her right was the bailey.

Laura ran into the bailey, punching the unlock button on the key fob to find out which vehicle she was stealing. Elation filled her when she slid into the black Range Rover and started the engine.

She drove off, looking in the rearview mirror to see if anyone saw her. When no one came running outside to stop her once she was through the gate, she gunned the vehicle.

Time was of the essence.





CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT



Jason stood in the corridor of the hospital and watched with glee as more and more people were brought in with the disease he had created.

Not even the sight of a little boy covered in the oozing blisters gave him pause. If the MacLeods wanted to play, he was up for it.

They would be the ones losing sleep at night over the countless deaths they could have saved had they simply given in to his demands.