Half Black Soul (22 page)

There weren't too many patrons, but the few that were present were all men in their forties with grizzly beards and greasy heads. They all turned to stare at us, and one of them opened his mouth in a creepy smile that revealed several missing teeth. Kayden's arm swung over my shoulder, and he must have given the man a death look, because he quickly resumed his empty stare into his beer mug.

There were a few cracked booths along the walls, a few round wooden tables with chairs in the middle, and the bar with its high stools and shelves of dusty liquor bottles housed behind it on the right. A forty-something bartender stood on the other side of the counter, wearing clothes that probably belonged to her sixteen year old daughter. Kayden and I approached the bar and pulled out stools to sit on. The bartender turned her heavily made up face toward me and studied me for a moment, darting her gaze to Kayden, and obviously liking what she saw there.

After what I guess what was supposed to be a sexy smile at Kayden, she pulled her eyes away and settled them back on me. Her voice sounded like she'd been chain smoking cigarettes for the past forty years, and her tone wasn't any nicer. I'll need to see your I.D., she told me. Her gaze moved back to Kayden. And, you can have whatever you want.

The way she said this made it obvious what she meant, and I had to suppress a laugh when I saw Kayden raise an eyebrow and try unsuccessfully to hide his disgust. We need to speak to the owner, he told her, as though he hadn't heard a word she'd said.

She jerked her ratty head toward me. I need to see the girl's I.D., she repeated.

Kayden's eyes narrowed. I could tell he had no patience for this. Please, he said. Go get your boss. We'd like to speak to him.

The bartender reached under the bar, and I didn't have a doubt in my mind what she was reaching for. As usual, I acted on my instincts. Reaching over the bar, fast as I always am, I grabbed her wrist in a tight grip with my right hand. She tried to jerk free, and when she couldn t, she swung her free hand toward my head. I caught that wrist in midair and twisted her arm to an almost painful point. I realized then that everyone had gone silent again.

Don't do that, I said in a low voice, my eyes darting down to the concealed gun that she'd been reaching for.

When I looked back at her face, she wasn't meeting my eyes. Her own eyes had gone wide in wonder, and I followed her gaze down to my right wrist, which was slightly exposed. My jacket sleeve had pulled up when I grabbed her arms. The silver of my tattoo poked out from underneath it.

Who are you? she asked, and by the way she said this, I knew this woman was no stranger to the world that I'd so recently fallen into.

I released my hold on her, trying to warn her with my eyes that she better not try for the gun again. I spoke in a whisper. Don't you mean what am I?

Chester! the bartender called out, making me jump a little.

A redheaded, pimple-faced young man wearing torn jeans and a Metallica t-shirt emerged from the back of the establishment, a mop clutched in his hand. What? he asked.

Watch the bar for me, she told him. She came around to our side of the bar, wiping her hands on her dirty apron. Come on, she said, and disappeared through the same door that Chester had emerged from.

I looked over at Kayden, who shrugged. Leading the way, I pushed open the door that the bartender had disappeared through, and stepped into a small hallway. Directly ahead, there was an emergency exit door, and to the right, a set of staircases leading up. Kayden and I stood there for a moment until the bartender called from the top of the stairs, You coming?

At the top of the stairs there was only one door to choose from. We followed the old bartender inside. We walked into a small living room of a small apartment. The first thing I noticed had to be the smell. Even though I'm a smoker, the stale odor of cigarettes was overwhelming. Mixed with the stench of what I can only describe as dirty living conditions , it was almost unbearable. Candy wrappers and soda cans littered the coffee table in front of a couch that held overflowing ashtrays on the armrests. The beige carpet was stained and stiff under my shoes, and a glance at the small kitchen to the left of the room told me that the conditions were more than likely uniform throughout the apartment.

You can have a seat, said the bartender. I'll go get Manny.

When she disappeared down a short hallway between the kitchen and living room, I turned to Kayden and raised my eyebrows. He just shrugged. I looked once more at the couch, and cringed a little when I sat down on it. It's not that I'm prissy, it was just that I didn't think anyone who bathed daily would want to sit on this couch. Even Kayden hesitated before sitting down beside me.

We heard some arguing coming from what I assumed had to be the bedroom, and I tensed a little. Olivia had warned me that Manny wasn't that nice of a guy, and I hoped that I could just get the information I needed out of him and leave, the sooner the better. I wasn't comfortable in this apartment, and the obvious disagreement taking place in the next room didn't make it any better.

A moment later, a door slammed, and a man emerged from the down the hall. He wore only a dirty wife beater and a worn pair of jean shorts. His gut hung over his cracked leather belt, and curly hair littered his chest. He had a full head of dirt brown hair, and a lit cigarette hanging from his hand. He brought it up to his mouth and took a deep pull. Somehow, the action managed to disgust me.

You really a Warrior? he asked me, in a voice that was surprisingly normal.

I nodded.

Prove it, he said.

I struggled not to roll my eyes, and pushed the sleeve of my jacket up so that a good portion of my silver tattoo was showing. Huh, was all he said.

Told you, said the bartender.

Manny crossed to the armchair that was adjacent to the couch and plopped down. The bartender perched on the arm of it, and a look came across his face that gave me the impression that this annoyed him. Manny shot a look a Kayden, and then turned back to me. What do you want? he asked.

I stared into his muddy brown eyes. To know how to find Dangeon, I said.

Manny laughed, grabbing his full belly with both hands and leaning forward in his seat. On the armrest, the bartender's face had drawn together, as though she was concerned. Manny straightened up, and a serious look took hold of his features. You need to leave, he said.

My jaw clenched. I will. As soon as you tell me how to get to Dangeon.

Manny made a move as if to get up, and my body grew tense once more, but the bartender put her hand on his shoulder and looked at me. Why, she asked.

There was really no point in lying. Because my Mother is being held there without reason, I said.

The bartender looked down at Manny once more, who still looked like he wanted us to leave, then back at me. Who sent you here? she asked.

I thought for a second. When I decided that I probably shouldn't give Olivia's name, I said. A friend of my Mother s. She told me that you might be able to help me. I looked at Manny. And that you would more than likely not be happy about it.

Manny's eyes narrowed. The bartender patted his shoulder and blew out a heavy breath. If you want our help, you're going to need to be a little more trusting. You gotta give to get, you know?

I swallowed. My name's Alexa and this is Kayden. About three weeks ago, a pack of Lamias came to my house and took my mother. My sister and I were lucky to get away with our lives. I can assure you that I have no hidden agenda, and if it's your privacy you're concerned about, you don't have to worry about me telling anyone anything. All I want is to find my mother.

What do you plan to do after that? Manny asked, his tone still unhappy, but fortunately, curious.

I glanced at Kayden, who shook his head, knowing somehow what I was going to say. But, for some reason, I felt that these people may be more inclined to give me my information if I told them the truth. I plan to kill King William.

The bartender's hand flew up to her mouth, but beside her, Manny was smiling. You're a girl with some big dreams, aren't you?

I felt like jumping up and smacking him. I'm a Warrior with some determined goals, I corrected.

Manny nodded. This is Mel, my wife, he said, gesturing to the bartender. She's a Searcher. I'll tell you where Dangeon is, as long as you let her Search you first. That way we know we can trust you.

I hesitated. It's not that I was lying or had something to hide, it was just that I wasn't too keen on the idea of a stranger seeing into me like that. But, really, what choice did I have?

We could tie them up and torture it out of them.

I held out my hands to Mel. Fine, I said, my jaws compressing.

Mel stood up and took my hands into her own, and I couldn't help but notice how calloused and wrinkled hers were. I looked up at her face, and watched as she closed her eyes and drew her brows together in concentration. When her mouth fell open slightly, I saw that her teeth were stained a brownish color. Maybe I would try to quit smoking & probably not. I more than likely wouldn't live long enough to have to worry about those things.

The skin on my hands began to feel cold where Mel was touching me, and I knew the feeling to be the beginning of the Search. I couldn't help but compare it to the jolt of ice that would shoot up my arm were it Nelly who were Searching me. Mel's ability struck me as so much weaker than my sister s, even though I didn't really have much experience with the whole thing. But, where Nelly would dive in and pull something out with what seemed like light speed and tremendous force, Mel seemed to be struggling to break in, the cold, tingling feeling crawling up my arms.

She took several minutes to complete the Search, holding my hands and wrinkling her forehead with strain. When she finally released my hands and resumed her perched position on the arm of Manny's chair, her face was nearly dripping with sweat and her breathing was labored.

You okay? Manny asked his wife.

Mel drew several deep breaths before answering. Fine, she said. Never seen anything like it. She's a Warrior alright. The Ignis burns strong inside her. She took another deep breath. And, she's telling the truth. About all of it.

Manny sighed. Shit. Alright, look, I'll tell you how to find the place, but I'll also tell you that there is no way you're going to be able to get in and save your Mother.

I'll worry about that part, I said.

Manny smirked. No, you don't get it. I guarantee that you've never seen anything like the horror that lives in that place. You go running in there, and you won't make it out alive.

Oh, I got it. Like I said, let me worry about that.

Manny shook his head. Fine. First, you'll need a boat. Dangeon is situated on an island not too far off the coast of North Carolina. There is magic that surrounds it, making it undetectable by humans, but I'll give you the coordinates, and you'll need to wait for nightfall before you try to go in. There are four guard towers, one on each corner of the prison. These towers are manned twenty-four-seven. But, there is a docking area that houses a guard station with two or more guards at any given time. Your best bet will be to anchor your boat to the side of this dock, and walk along the edge of the island until you reach the dock. The island is made of slippery rocks, so even getting this far will be a challenge. I'll see if I can't remember some of the layout and draw you up a crude map. But, once you get inside, there will be several doors you'll have to pass through, each one with its own guard, before you'll be able to reach any of the prisoners. There's also the surveillance room. This is where you'll need to go first. Take out the guards in that room, and you might stand a chance at making it.

Well, this is going to be fun.

This is insane.

What else is new?

You still with me? Manny asked.

I nodded. How do you know all this?

Manny reached up and took his wife's hand. I used to run the prison, he said.

Used to? The King just let you go? It was the first time Kayden had spoken since we arrived.

Manny raised his eyebrows at Kayden. No. William doesn't believe in letting people go . I had to literally fake my own death, and I'm still not even sure if he bought it. My biggest fear is that someday he'll find me, and if he does, I have no doubt of what he'll do. I & I just couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't stand the & the cruelty of it all. So far as I know, I'm the only person that has ever walked out of that place alive, and in actuality, I didn't walk out-,

Manny stopped suddenly and drew his breath in sharply. Kayden and I looked at each other. What? I asked.

A full smile took over Manny's lips, and somehow, I could see that at one point he may have been an attractive man. I know how you're going to get inside, he said.

I raised my eyebrows. How?

Do you know how to swim?

Nelly

Don't see me Don't see me Don't see me

My heart raced in my chest hard enough to make my ribs feel like they were vibrating. Or maybe I was just trembling that badly. I wished suddenly that Marty had more things hanging in the closet. I mean, seriously, who the heck only owns one coat? If the closet were fuller, I might stand a chance at not being seen by covering myself up with something, but in sync with my luck for the last few days, the closet was as clear as the thuds of the footsteps that were closing in on the closet door.