Darkness Arisen (33 page)

Kane and Ian shimmered and then faded—

At the last second, she lunged forward and brushed her fingers across the back of Ian's shirt, a touch so light he could never feel it. A touch that was enough to make Kane's magic include her and spin her away with them to the ramparts where the battle awaited.

The moment they landed, Alice saw Cardiff spin toward them. Not wanting to be seen by Warwick or noticed by Ian, she immediately scurried through the nearest doorway, darting down the steps just as he turned and faced Ian and Kane.

She couldn't see Warwick from where she was, but she had a clear view of Ian's profile. His face morphed into shock at the sight of the man who had destroyed his entire family. Six hundred years of his emotional burdens rolled through her. She hesitated, torn between going back there and supporting him, and trying to find Catherine.

But why go back to Ian? He'd keep her from Catherine, and he was so obsessed with the wizard that he hadn't even noticed her slipping past him. A warrior who would hear a butterfly sneeze from a thousand miles away hadn't noticed her holding onto his shirt and then running past him into the stairway.

She had her answer. Ian wasn't for her.

It was time to leave him behind and go find Catherine.

So she did.

* * *

Ian materialized on the widow's walk just as Deathbringer whirled toward him. For a split second, he was frozen in awe at the sight of the man who had haunted his family for generations. A dark hood enveloped the wizard's face, casting it into shadows. But Ian could see the sunken hollows of his cheeks, the thin black line of his lips, and a nose misshapen from too many battles.

He was not a man who had survived immortality well. Was that because of the loss of his soul mate? Ian's mind flashed to Alice, and he suddenly understood what had driven Cardiff for so many centuries. If he lost Alice, he knew it would destroy him. At the thought of Alice dying, grief surged over Ian, so violent and so powerful that he went down on his knees, gasping as stark desolation raced over him. He was suddenly overwhelmed with fear for Alice's well-being, and he turned his head, searching the woods for the sight of her standing safely by the rocks he'd left her near.

She wasn't there.

True fear attacked him.
Alice? Where are you?

There was no answer for a split second, and terror tore through him.
Alice!

I'm here, Ian. It's okay. Don't worry about me.
She sent soft waves of reassurance, instinctively understanding his fear for her safety.

But it wasn't enough. He needed to see her. The sense of doom was too strong.
Where are you?

Again, a hesitation, then an answer that made his heart freeze.
I'm looking for Catherine. I'm in the tower.

What?
She was in Warwick's castle? Ian spun around and saw a stone doorway behind him. He inhaled and caught the faint scent of flowers that he associated with Alice.
Alice! That's too dangerous!
He sprinted for the door, driven by the instinct to go after her, to protect her, to—

"Another Fitzgerald. Still alive. Amazing."

Ian spun around as the voice of the curse boomed through his mind, only this time, he wasn't imagining it. It was the real voice of the warrior in front of him. It was his voice that had haunted Ian all those years. "It's been you in my head?"

Deathbringer pranced restlessly, and Cardiff steadied his mount. "I thought you were all dead by now." His eyes gleamed with delight as he surveyed Ian's body. "You look thin, warrior. You've been suffering, haven't you?" He leaned forward. "How does it feel? Too much to handle?"

Ian's muscles tensed with the need to strike out and cut down the man who'd been responsible for his father's death, but he forced himself to remain still. Killing Warwick would not end the curse. The wizard had to undo the spell before he died.

"You bastard." Kane's voice was low, seething with disgust as he stood beside Ian, his weapons clenched in his fists. "You tried to make me kill my
sheva.
"

"Tried?" Cardiff raised his brows. "It's not over yet, warrior. None of it's over." He raised his wand, his fingers grasping it loosely. "The circle must be broken. The new Order must be born, and the old Order expunged."

Adrenaline thudded through Ian as he lined up beside Kane, rapidly assessing their chances.
Ry. We got the bad guy. Get up to the ramparts.
Ian had no idea if Ryland was in any shape to hear him, but he had a bad feeling they were going to need backup. Warwick Cardiff had been a legendary warrior, and now he also had demon magic.

Beside him, Kane was absolutely still. The calm, focused energy of a warrior in battle was rolling off him. "Turn yourself in," Kane commanded. "The Order is not yours to destroy. It is a legion of honor."

Fury hissed in Warwick's eyes. "Shut up." A streak of purple light shot out of his palm. Kane blocked it with his weapon, but another one hit a split second later, nailing Kane in the chest. The warrior crumpled to the ground instantly, a spiral of black smoke rising out of his chest.

"Kane!" Ian hurled his mace, but Deathbringer danced to the left, dodging the blow with ease.

Warwick laughed and unleashed another flash of light at Ian. Ian swore and blocked it with his mace. The beam bounced off his blade and slammed into the wall. Stones exploded from the castle, cascading all over the rooftop. The nearby gargoyles seemed to flinch, as if they were alive and had felt the impact.

"Hey," Warwick snarled. "That's my home you're destroying. I'm saving it for my woman."

The wizard's insanity was evident, and Ian swore as he blocked another blast from Warwick. He called back his errant mace and threw it again. And again, the horse spun his master out of the path of the weapon while Warwick blasted him. Ian ducked, and a stray spark hit his shoulder. The agony was incredible, and he stumbled as pain cascaded through him.

Deathbringer danced around him as Ian fought to remain standing. Warwick's bitter laughter echoed through the night. "Don't worry. I won't let you die yet. You need to lose your woman first." Then Warwick shot another slash of light at Ian, knocking him to the ground.

Ian swore, his fingers digging into the roof as he fought against the pain, but his body was frozen, his muscles rigid. He could do nothing but shout in protest as Warwick spun his mount away and the stallion clattered down the stairs, in pursuit of Alice.

"Shit!" Ian tried to get up, but his body was immobilized in some sort of lockdown spell. "Kane! Wake up!"

There was a low groan from across the roof, but Ian couldn't turn his head to see if it was Kane.
Kane?
Since they weren't blood-bonded, they couldn't talk mind-to-mind across long distances, but short distances were no problem.
You with me?

I'm here. Can't move, though. You?

No. My muscles are frozen.
Sweat began to bead on Ian's brow as the clatter of Deathbringer's hooves grew fainter. The wizard was closing in on Alice. He had to get to her. Had to get up.
Can you teleport?

Not sure.
There was a pause, then an affirmative.
Yes.

Relief rushed through Ian.
Go back to Dante's mansion. Get help.
He didn't hesitate to ask for backup from the team now. Cardiff was after his woman, and he would call upon any assistance he could.
I'll stay here and deal with the wizard.

What the hell are you going to do? Lie there and yell at him? Come back with me. Maybe Lily can figure out how to break the spell.

Lily Davenport was their research expert, and the
sheva
of one of their teammates, Gideon Roarke. She'd once been their nemesis, but after falling in love with Gideon, the world-famous researcher had become their greatest asset by providing information that none of the rest of them had.
I'm not leaving Alice. Just go!

I'll be back as soon as I can.
There was a ripple of energy in the air, and then Ian sensed that he was alone on the roof.

Below him, he could hear the fading echoes of the horse's hooves as the duo thundered after Alice. Ian fought the invisible restraints that rendered him motionless, but he couldn't break them. Frantic now, he reached out to her, brushing against her mind.
Alice. Watch out. He's coming after you.

There was a ripple of fear from Alice.
He's already here.

Chapter Seventeen

Alice raced around a bend in the hallway, her bare feet sliding on the cobblestones as the thundering sound of Deathbringer's hooves echoed through the corridor. She knew Catherine would be in the lowest portion of the building, the closest to the center of the earth that she could be. There had to be a basement, a dungeon in this castle—

A streak of green light crashed into the stones beside her head, and they exploded out of the wall.

Alice!
Ian's frantic voice filled her mind.
Get out of there!

Trying!
Ahead of her, Alice saw a narrow hole in the ancient stone walls. A dumbwaiter slot? She raced over to it as Deathbringer and Warwick rounded the corner. The rider was carrying a wand, a wand that looked just like the one that had killed her. "No!" She reached the opening and dove through it, not even taking the time to look where it led.

When she started to plummet into the darkness, she knew she was in trouble.
Ian! I'm falling!

She felt Ian's burst of tension, and then his calm, warrior focus filled her.
Let me into your body. Open yourself to me.

What?
Her head cracked against a wall, and she yelped, pressing her hand against the injury.

Just do it!
Suddenly he was filling her with his entire being, like a great summer storm. She felt the strength of his body seem to take over hers, and her body felt like she had just acquired a new surge of life.
Call my weapon
, he commanded
. Now!

Alice immediately pictured the mace in her mind and called it to her. There was a loud crack and a flash of black light, and then it was in her hand, startling her. There was no way she would ever get used to that.
What now?
But the question hadn't even formed in her mind when Ian showed her that moment when she'd been falling into the crevasse in the ocean, and he'd used the mace to stop the fall.She immediately slammed the end of the mace into the wall, but it bounced off, sparks flying.
I can't get it to stick!

Do it again!
This time, she felt the sheer force of his will flooding her, and it felt like his hands were on hers as she slammed it into the stone again. This time, the blade caught, and she yelped as it jerked her to a stop. Somehow, she didn't lose her grip on it, and she knew it wasn't her own strength that had held her there. It was Ian's. Her chest heaving, she dangled from the handle, her fingers trembling from the effort.
How did you do that?

I'm just a great boyfriend. Remember that next time you run off on me.

Heat washed over her.
Isn't 'boyfriend' kind of a weak term for a guy whose brands are all over my arms?

You seem commitment-averse. I was trying not to scare you.
His voice was calm, but she felt his tension.
You okay?

For the moment.
Alice peered below, trying to determine how far above the ground she was. She could see a faint light about thirty feet below her. The ground, or an illusion? She glanced up and saw only darkness, indicating that she'd fallen a long distance before Ian had helped her break the fall. Cardiff wasn't peering down at her, and she sighed with relief, realizing that she'd lost him for the moment. It was his castle, though, and she had no doubt he would find her again soon.

Come back to the roof where I can protect you,
Ian ordered.

For a split second, yearning burned through Alice. The idea of rushing back up to the roof and falling into Ian's arms sounded like the best idea she'd ever had. But then she thought of Catherine, and she knew she had a promise to keep.
I can't. I need to find Catherine.

Alice! No! Cardiff is after you! We'll find Catherine together after we deal with him.

Tears burned in Alice's eyes at the idea of leaving him.
You don't understand, Ian. I've failed at everything important my whole life. I have to get this one right.

You didn't fail. You saved my life.

Alice's throat tightened. Yes, she'd helped him find peace so he could save his own life, but in return, he'd renewed his focus on his duty and his family's honor.
Catherine loves me, Ian. How can I walk away from that?
She waited, giving him a chance to speak up, to give her a reason to trust that he would help her kill Catherine in the end, despite his oath and his promise never to do such a thing.

You'll do her no good if you get caught by the wizard. Get back here, Alice! Now!

She closed her eyes, regret filling her. She'd given him an opening to tell her that he loved her, and instead, he'd given her a command.
I'm sorry, Ian.
Then she let go of the mace and let herself fall.

* * *

Alice!
Ian bellowed her name, but she cut him off like a blast of cold death. His body went rigid as the loss tore at him and fear for her well-being sliced through him. He fought it off, struggling to fend off the debilitating grief, but he couldn't get the image of Cardiff out of his mind. Cardiff closing down on her. Grabbing her. Hurting her. Killing her, all to punish Ian. "No!" His voice was a tormented scream, and he tried to channel all the anguish, thrusting it into his body to try to regain the use of his muscles.

But it didn't work. He just lay there, like a useless piece of driftwood, cast upon the shore by a storm that had no use for him. Nothing to be done. He couldn't help her. Couldn't save her. His failure beat at him, stripping away what little sense of self he had left. Gasping for air, he forced his mind off Alice, picturing the graveyard where Augustus and his father were buried. He imagined the headstones in his mind, reading the words inscribed on the marble of his father's memorial.