Read Online Infinite Magic (Dragon's Gift: The Huntress Book 5) by Linsey Hall - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Linsey Hall
Ads: Link
oblique, you know.”
“Yeah, I know. It’s the best I’ve got, though.”
“All I can say is that I get a dark feeling about it. Whatever he is seeking is dangerous. I believe he wants to use you and your two friends Phoenix and Delphine to get it. That is all I could see.”
I knew that already, though I nodded gratefully.
“But I could see his home in Transylvania. I believe it is his primary residence now. And I think it’s something you’d like to see as well.”
“How can we see it?”
Aethelred got up and shuffled toward a large mirror tucked into a corner. The ornate gold frame was covered in a thick layer of dust, but the glass was clean. I followed him to the mirror, Aidan at my back.
Aethelred reached out a gnarled hand and touched the glass. When he closed his eyes, a smoky image appeared in the mirror. The gray haze coalesced to form shapes. Soon, a massive fortress was visible, perched on craggy black mountains. A dim moon peeked out from behind hazy clouds.
“Whoa,” I breathed.
It was the scariest, most intensely fortified place I’d ever seen. My skin prickled as I looked at it, as if the castle’s protection charms were so strong they reached through the glass. Slowly, the image zoomed in, as if Aethelred were concentrating on specific parts. Figures began to appear, demons standing on the ramparts, armed with swords and bows.
“Holy shit, there’s a lot of them,” Aidan said.
“Exactly.” Aethelred removed his hand and stepped back. “I couldn’t count the number of guards, there were so many. There are also prisoners in the dungeon, though there are protections on the fortress that prohibited me from seeing inside.”
“That’s a problem,” I said.
“That whole place is a problem,” Aethelred said. “I could feel the evil in it. Normally, my visions only allow me sight. But this was stronger. Worse. You need to stop that man. Whatever he wants, it is very, very bad.”
We said goodbye to Aethelred, but didn’t speak to each other until we reached the car. Once I’d climbed in and shut the door, I turned to Aidan.
He spoke first. “The only way to stop Victor is to bring the fight to him. If we wait until he attacks, he’ll have the upper hand.”
“We could try going to the League of FireSouls for help. Rescuing FireSouls is what they do.” I’d met the League just last week. They were a secret organization dedicated to protecting our kind. My parents had been part of their number. “But there really aren’t enough of them. Only nine.”
Aidan nodded sharply. “That’s not enough. We need the Alpha Council. They have far greater numbers than the League.”
“You’re right. And this is the Alpha Council’s fight. Victor is after them . They’re the ones who killed his innocent parents and turned him into a monster.” I winced. That sounded a lot like victim blaming. “That’s not to say they deserve to have him after their blood, but they should help with this. They’ve handled FireSouls poorly in the past, and this is the result.”
“They can help us break through the guards,” Aidan said. “Let them fight Victor, who is after their blood, while we go rescue the FireSouls in his dungeon. We can get them out of there while the Alpha Council is busy with Victor.”
“It’s a good plan.”
Aidan wearily scrubbed a hand over his face. “But it’s risky. I don’t want you near the Alpha Council unless you have to be.”
“So we’ll go warn them about what Dermot is up to and request their help.”
“There’s no we ,” Aidan said. “I’m still going alone to request their help.”
I bristled, wanting to be involved with every step. But he was right. I could blow this for us if they figured out what I was.
“Okay.” I nodded. “But you’ll wear a comms charm so that I can hear what’s going on. And I’ll be nearby in case you need help.”
“Fine. Good solution. This will work.”
“I hope so.”
CHAPTER
“Yeah, I know. It’s the best I’ve got, though.”
“All I can say is that I get a dark feeling about it. Whatever he is seeking is dangerous. I believe he wants to use you and your two friends Phoenix and Delphine to get it. That is all I could see.”
I knew that already, though I nodded gratefully.
“But I could see his home in Transylvania. I believe it is his primary residence now. And I think it’s something you’d like to see as well.”
“How can we see it?”
Aethelred got up and shuffled toward a large mirror tucked into a corner. The ornate gold frame was covered in a thick layer of dust, but the glass was clean. I followed him to the mirror, Aidan at my back.
Aethelred reached out a gnarled hand and touched the glass. When he closed his eyes, a smoky image appeared in the mirror. The gray haze coalesced to form shapes. Soon, a massive fortress was visible, perched on craggy black mountains. A dim moon peeked out from behind hazy clouds.
“Whoa,” I breathed.
It was the scariest, most intensely fortified place I’d ever seen. My skin prickled as I looked at it, as if the castle’s protection charms were so strong they reached through the glass. Slowly, the image zoomed in, as if Aethelred were concentrating on specific parts. Figures began to appear, demons standing on the ramparts, armed with swords and bows.
“Holy shit, there’s a lot of them,” Aidan said.
“Exactly.” Aethelred removed his hand and stepped back. “I couldn’t count the number of guards, there were so many. There are also prisoners in the dungeon, though there are protections on the fortress that prohibited me from seeing inside.”
“That’s a problem,” I said.
“That whole place is a problem,” Aethelred said. “I could feel the evil in it. Normally, my visions only allow me sight. But this was stronger. Worse. You need to stop that man. Whatever he wants, it is very, very bad.”
We said goodbye to Aethelred, but didn’t speak to each other until we reached the car. Once I’d climbed in and shut the door, I turned to Aidan.
He spoke first. “The only way to stop Victor is to bring the fight to him. If we wait until he attacks, he’ll have the upper hand.”
“We could try going to the League of FireSouls for help. Rescuing FireSouls is what they do.” I’d met the League just last week. They were a secret organization dedicated to protecting our kind. My parents had been part of their number. “But there really aren’t enough of them. Only nine.”
Aidan nodded sharply. “That’s not enough. We need the Alpha Council. They have far greater numbers than the League.”
“You’re right. And this is the Alpha Council’s fight. Victor is after them . They’re the ones who killed his innocent parents and turned him into a monster.” I winced. That sounded a lot like victim blaming. “That’s not to say they deserve to have him after their blood, but they should help with this. They’ve handled FireSouls poorly in the past, and this is the result.”
“They can help us break through the guards,” Aidan said. “Let them fight Victor, who is after their blood, while we go rescue the FireSouls in his dungeon. We can get them out of there while the Alpha Council is busy with Victor.”
“It’s a good plan.”
Aidan wearily scrubbed a hand over his face. “But it’s risky. I don’t want you near the Alpha Council unless you have to be.”
“So we’ll go warn them about what Dermot is up to and request their help.”
“There’s no we ,” Aidan said. “I’m still going alone to request their help.”
I bristled, wanting to be involved with every step. But he was right. I could blow this for us if they figured out what I was.
“Okay.” I nodded. “But you’ll wear a comms charm so that I can hear what’s going on. And I’ll be nearby in case you need help.”
“Fine. Good solution. This will work.”
“I hope so.”
CHAPTER
Similar Books
