Taken

Variam nodded and from outside I heard the thunderclap of force magic. I leant out and threw the condenser through the doorway and out into the clearing, ahead and to the left. It shattered and mist sprang up. “Now!” I called to Variam.

Orange light wreathed Variam’s hands, and with a roar a wall of fire flared into life, lighting up the dark hedgemaze in leaping flame. It cut halfway through the mist and ignited the dead wood of the maze to the left and right, blocking off vision. Luna was out the door first with the rest of us right behind her.

Heat pulsed from the wall of flame ahead. The comforting grey cloud of the mist hung to my left, inviting me to enter, but I’d told the others to go right and that was where I ran. Normally when I create these mist clouds I run into them, using my magic to pick out a path where others would be blind. But I’d done it a few too many times lately and I knew that was exactly what Onyx would be expecting. Onyx couldn’t see through the wall of fire but he could see the mist cloud, and I heard the hiss as a spray of force blades cut through it. A moment later we’d put the building between us and Onyx, and as we ran back into the hedgemaze I felt the familiar warp-and-twist of Vitus’s teleport spell. I couldn’t see where Vitus landed and I didn’t stop to check. We were back in the maze and safe . . . at least for now.

We hurried through the maze, my divination magic picking us out a path. From behind I could sense the flash of attack spells as the battle continued. “Who’s winning?” Variam called from behind me.

“Don’t care!”

“They’re all still there,” Anne called. “Vitus, Crystal, Lyle, and Onyx.”

The door at the far end took us back into the mansion. The sounds of battle had faded into an eerie silence and once more Fountain Reach seemed to be watching and waiting. I led us towards the exit, abandoning stealth in favour of getting us out as fast as possible.

As I approached the door by which Crystal had entered, I felt a presence ahead of me. “Alex,” Anne whispered. “It’s—”

“Crystal,” I said. “I know. You guys stay back.”

“Screw that—” Variam began.

“You’ll stay the hell back,” I said sharply. “Crystal is not stupid. If she’s there she’s got something planned. You and Luna stay ready. Vitus is still around and we know he’s after Anne.”

Luna nodded. Variam looked frustrated but didn’t argue. I walked around the corner.

The corridor was narrow and led to the same small door. Without the key in my pocket I knew that door would open onto nothing but a blank wall, but with that key it would take us out of here. Crystal was standing halfway down the corridor, blocking my path. The weird half-light of this place blended with the yellow shades of her hair and clothes, turning her into a pale figure in the shadows. She watched me silently. I could tell she was holding herself ready, but I didn’t know for what.

I hesitated an instant, then started walking towards her. “Not bringing your friends?” Crystal asked softly.

I didn’t answer. I’d closed half the distance to Crystal, my knife ready in its sheath. Crystal watched me take two more steps, then shrugged slightly. “As you like.”

From behind me I felt a surge of magic as Vitus Aubuchon teleported into the middle of Anne, Variam, and Luna. And at the same instant Crystal drove into my mind with all her power, trying to seize control.

She was horribly strong. I’d been ready for her, but even so I was almost overwhelmed in those first few seconds. It felt like an enormous weight bearing down on my thoughts, crushing me. I staggered back but the pressure didn’t let up; if anything it grew stronger. Desperately I tried to force Crystal away, stopping her from getting any further in.

Dimly I could sense that a furious battle was going on next to me. Vitus’s horrible form was blocking the hallway: He’d trapped Anne in a prison of twisted space and was attacking Variam, trying to crush him. Variam was dodging from side to side, a snarl on his face, while Luna’s whip curled around Vitus, the silver mist soaking in. But I couldn’t spare any attention; if I took my concentration off Crystal for even a second I knew she’d have me. I could feel tendrils snaking into my thoughts, trying to seize control, and I pushed back with all of my might.

“Coming here was a very poor choice on your part,” Crystal said calmly. She didn’t even sound out of breath.

I didn’t answer. I focused on trying to hold Crystal back, drive her out of my mind. It was unbelievably difficult, like trying to push a car uphill, and in a sudden flash of understanding I knew that this was how all those missing apprentices had been brought here. “Just so you know,” Crystal said, “I’m going to make you kill Luna and Variam with your own hands.” She tilted her head. “How does it feel to know that you’ve failed completely?”