Taken (Book Six) (Fated Saga Fantasy Series) (15 page)

“Later.
For now, you must focus on finding the stone. And about your sister... you must know that if you fail in your quest, and she refuses to join our family, she will have to be killed.” His father turned and departed the room leaving his son alone.

“Killed...”

He looked around at the stained glass mural, which showed him sitting on a throne, and then thought about his sister, the Magicante and his father.

Power. Control. Freedom... would it really be freedom he had? Once
he and his father had become kings? As much evil as he had seen already in his life, was his father’s plans worth all the suffering that was sure to come with them? Did he really want to rule the world? Did he have a choice? Could he possibly turn his back on his father? Could he kill the sister he was beginning to like having around, if she didn’t join their family.

“And
who would you join?” meowed Elisha. “Your sister and her pathetic band of do-gooders? You disobey and you might as well kiss your life goodbye.”

She had a point.
His sister and her friends had no true power. Yes, Meghan was strong, probably stronger than she yet realized, but definitely not on the winning side.

Was being
on the winning side all that mattered? What did he stand for? How would he rule as a king? Would everything be only as his father wanted? Would destroying all magic except for their own really solve the world’s problems?

The book strummed through his thoughts
, catching them before they could overwhelm him. He was grateful for this. Meghan had been right about that, her friends had not turned him away, they had helped him.

“Not that they really had a choice, I was about to seriously lose it.”

“You must give yourself more credit,” urged the Magicante. “You did not ask for this power, but you have it now.”

“Yeah. I do.
I do,” Colby repeated. “I do have it, so why not use it?” He turned in a circle, eager to see just what he really could do. “If my father wants the Immortality Stone, I’ll find it for him,” he decided.

Elisha meowed in elation of her Mast
er’s decision.

“Magicante, help me track it!
” Colby said presumptuously.

“Very good,
young Master,” replied the Magicante. “Very good indeed.”

Chapter 7

“We are out of
food and water,” said Billie Sadorus. Everyone already knew this as they had eaten the last of it that morning, for breakfast, but it needed to be said aloud. They had scrimped everything, making it last days beyond its original intent, but it had at last, run out.

“
If we use magic to get more, we’ll be caught for sure,” said Noah Flummer.

The group had successfully used magic to bring themselves food right after their daring escape
, before their magic could be traced, but had not dared since, seeing as using it now would leave a trail of traceable magic, leading their captors directly to them.

“Never
mind that it seems near impossible to collect any magic to use, anyway,” said Maura.

“It’s got to be Juliska,” said Billie. “She must be using the same weapo
n the Striper’s used against your group, Maura, when they drained your magic and left you...” she stopped. Maura patted her shoulder.

“It was not a pleasant experience,” she said. “I don’t know what this weapon is, I don’t know how they got it, made it or
found it, but it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I have no doubt she’s somehow using it now. We don’t have long before we won’t be able to make any magic at all.”

Noah
stood at the cave’s entrance gazing through to the tops of the trees. No sun. No sky. Just a dark cloud made even darker by ominous winged shadows flying overhead.

“We run for it and they’ll catch us in no time,” he warned.

“Staying here is not an option either,” said Billie. “I guess we knew it was only a matter of time,” she added hopelessly. Maura grasped her hand. Although a strong grip, it didn’t give much comfort.

“What is that?” asked Noah’s wife. “Did you hear that?”

They went silent, listening intently for any sounds.

A crunch. A rustle. Another crunch. Footsteps, very close by.

Billie and Noah motioned for everyone to back into the cave, out of sight. They remained towards the front, scouring every inch of space they could see, for what approached. They heard footsteps but could not see anything moving. The crunching of the dead leaves grew louder.

Billie gasped.

Noah stepped in front protectively.

A figure was materializing in front of them. At
first, it was just a shadow, blending in with the trees and darkness of the forest, but now, it took shape. The shape of a woman.

“
Striper,” said Billie, aghast. 

“Please,” said the woman, “do not be afraid. I haven’t come to hurt you.”

“Where are the rest?” demanded Noah, looking around for any sign of others. They were nearly impossible to see without knowing they were there.

“I am alone,” the woman insisted.
“Listen, it is quiet. No one else is here.” She raised her arms as if to surrender. “Please, I have come to help you. There are others, and they are not far behind me. We must hurry!”

“Why should we believe you?” asked Billie. “
Why would you want to help us? Why are you even here?”

The
Striper woman looked around anxiously before answering.

“We were brought here by the order of Jurekai Fazendiin to assist Juliska Blackwell in rounding
up all of her prisoners.”

They had feared something like this would happen, that Juliska had more up her sleeves than they
knew. But Stripers, and the help of the Grosvenor, this was unfathomable.

“So I ask again,” started Noah, “why would we trust that you want to help us?”

“I realize my people’s reputation precedes me, but please, we are not all treasure grubbing fiends. I do not have the desire to see your people wiped out!” she spoke in a loud whisper. “It’s all out of control. Gone too far!”

Billie and Noah looked at each other and then back into the cave at the anxious faces waiting for them to decide their fate.

“How do we know this isn’t a trap?” asked Billie.

“Look! I don’t know what to tell you
to make you believe me, other than you have to trust me. It’s the only way you’re going to get off this island alive. Juliska and KarNavan are rounding up everyone else on the island as we speak, and I have no idea what their intentions are!” She shook her head looking torn.

“
Juliska is like a wild woman who’s just gotten free from a long prison sentence. You need to seek out help! I can get you out of here, but you must come now! The window is closing fast!”

“Who are you?” asked Noah.

“My name is Ardon. In the manner of complete honesty, I am KarNavan’s second in command.”

Noah and Billie inhaled, again doubting this woman.

“Please,” she begged. “I can get you off the island. It’s your only chance.”

Noah and Billie exchanged glances.

Billie turned to Maura and the others.

“We stay, we die,” she told them, feeling confident in her choice o
f words. “We run, we have a chance.”

Th
e others showed their agreement, although weakly.

She turned back to Ardon. “Okay.”

Ardon sighed, relieved. “Come. Follow. We have little time!”

The group rallied in a line, Billie near the front, Noah bringing up the rear, again assisting Kalila Jackal, as she was still having trouble with her ankle.
It was healing, but she had barely eaten in the many days they had been in hiding. The loss of her sister was taking its toll.

Maria stayed close, encouraging the elder
ly woman. She had spent the most of her time trying to comfort her and was responsible for the little bit of food Kalila had eaten.

“Where are you taking us?” asked Billie. “Another hideout?”

“No. They’ll just find you. I’m getting you off the island, today.”

“How? With all the protections...”

“The same way my people came here. I’m KarNavan’s second, I know how to break the security and get you out.” She kept a quick pace; staying in a form they could see and follow, rather than blending into the background.

The group followed uncertainly, hoping that each step was not bringing them closer to doom.
Before long, they came to the shoreline. It appeared empty, but going out into the open didn’t seem like a good idea, especially when the Scratchers could appear in the sky overhead at any time.

“There’s a boat anchored just
a few feet into the water,” explained Ardon. “It’s one of ours. It’s stocked with provisions to get you through another week, at least.”

“I don’t see a boat,” said Billie suspiciously.

“It’s hidden. I can show you how to get on. Once you get away, is there someone you can go to? Someone who can bring help?” Ardon asked them.

Noah and Billie looked at each other again. Something just didn’t feel right, but perhaps they were overly paranoid.

“I don’t know,” said Billie. “But if we can get away, we will find help, somewhere.”

Ardon
nodded and motioned for them to follow to the very edge of the tree line.

“I don’t need to tell you that this will be the dangerous part,” she said, glancing upward. All
gazes followed, for the moment seeing no signs of wings in the inky sky.

Noah let go of Kalila for a moment, needing to rest his arms before the dash to the boat.
Maria assisted her to a nearby fallen log, where she plunked down.

“You’re such a kind girl,” she told Maria. “Don’t ever lose that, child. It’s a quality not enough people hold dear anymore.”

“You are being too kind yourself,” Maria replied, with a smile.

“Be a dear, would you, and help an old lady,” she said to Maria with a playful wink.

“Anything. What do you need?”

“A stiff drink,” she replied naughtily.

“I don’t think I have any of that,” chuckled Maria in reply.

“I do,” whispered Kalila. “I just can’t reach it.” She pointed to her boot.

Maria just shook her head in amusement, grateful for the moment of release. It took her mind off what they were about to do. She reached down into Kalila’s boot and took out a wooden flask, opened it and handed it to the elderly woman.

“
Liquid courage!” she said smacking her lips, her eyes gleaming for the first time in days. “Need a swig?”

Maria could not hold back a laugh.

“No. You enjoy. I’ll be right back,” she said, joining the others.

They were trying to decide whether to just run for it, or wait for dark, which was still hours away.

“It’s already quite dark,” Noah’s wife was saying. “I don’t think we can chance waiting. “ Her husband agreed. So did Billie. And so did Ardon.

“I don’t think we can count on having any magic,” warned Noah. “This is going to be a run for our lives situation.”

“Do we have any other choice?” said Maura. “It’s like Billie said, we’re dead if we just stay. We have to try.”

“Let’s not wait, then,” said Billie, gathering her courage.

“Right,” said Ardon, taking another glance upward. “Everyone get ready.”

Noah and Maria turned to grab Kalila.

“Wh-where did she go?” asked Maria. “She was right there.”

Everyone turned and turned, looking, but saw no sign of the woman.

“I just took my eyes off her for a minute,” whimpered Maria. “I should have stayed with her. She’s been so sad.”

Billie patted her on the back.

Ardon stiffened, a tightness etching her face.

“What?” asked Noah.

“They’re coming. I can feel the presence of my people. They’re coming.”

“What about Kalila?” asked Maria. “We can’t leave her!”

“Honey, I don’t think we have a choice,” said Billie. It hurt to say each word, but they knew she was right. They left now, or they didn’t leave.

“I’ll lead the way,” said Ardon.
She stepped out onto the beach. Walking through the sand was slow, their feet sinking in with each step. They were about half way across the beach when they heard it; the snapping of wings, overhead. They froze, looking up. Had it seen them? Its shadow was far over them, amongst the clouds.

Ard
on motioned for them to move forward. They didn’t make it two steps when a piercing screech rang out directly over them, sending them all diving into the sand.

If by some chance they had not yet been discovered, they definitely were now! The
Scratcher screeched and howled, sounding its alarm, its shadow sinking lower and lower.