Taken

I felt a flare of white-hot anger and threw myself at Crystal’s mental pressure, hammering at it. And it shifted. It was only a tiny, tiny shift, but I’d managed to push Crystal back just a fraction and all of a sudden I knew she wasn’t invulnerable. “I don’t know,” I managed to say. “You tell me.”

I took a step forward. It felt like wading through deep water but the first one was the hardest. I took a second step and then a third, and with each one I shoved Crystal a little further back. I saw a flash of surprise in Crystal’s eyes, followed by concentration. The mental pressure redoubled and my progress halted.

Crystal and I stared at each other across the corridor. Neither of us moved but we fought as surely as if we wrestled on the floor. “Vitus is going to kill them,” Crystal said. “I hope you know that.”

I could still hear the sounds of battle behind me but I didn’t let myself think of whether Crystal was right. “You think you’re the first mage to try to possess me?” I said. I took all my anger and all my fear for Luna and Anne and Variam and threw it at Crystal, forcing her back. I took a step forward. “You think you’ll be the one to break my will? I’ve beaten a mind mage who was stronger than you’ll ever be.” Another push; another step. “I’ve had enchantresses bewitch me and elemental mages burn me. I’ve stood against one of the most powerful battle-mages in this country and watched him die. I’ve faced Light mages and Dark, constructs and assassins, elementals and dragons, and I’m still here.” Another step. “You think you’ll be the one to take me down? You think you’re going to succeed when they couldn’t?” Another step. “Not you. Not today!”

And I felt Crystal’s domination spell shatter, the force of her will scattering away and leaving my mind clear. Crystal staggered back and I moved forward, my hand going to the hilt of my knife. “Lyle!” Crystal shouted. “Help!”

Lyle burst in from a side door and I swore. “No!” I shouted, stopping him just before he could launch an attack. “We’re on the same side, damn it!”

“Put your weapon down, Alex!” Lyle shouted. He was standing near Crystal protectively, ready to strike.

“Lyle, I don’t know what Crystal has been telling you but I promise you it’s wrong. She’s the one who’s been bringing those apprentices here. It’s her house, for God’s sake! You seriously think she’s just an innocent victim here?”

Lyle shifted uneasily and I knew that whatever story Crystal had spun, it hadn’t convinced him completely. “Look, we’re just trying to get out of here,” Lyle said. Now that I got a better look at him I could see that he looked dishevelled and rattled but he didn’t seem to be hurt. “You’ve got the key, right? Just give it to us. Please?” His tone was pleading.

Crystal was standing motionless but I knew she was speaking with Lyle, even if I couldn’t hear her. I bit my lip in frustration. Crystal was right there . . . but if I made a move to attack, Lyle would too, and I couldn’t fight them both. I couldn’t hear the sounds of battle from behind anymore and that filled me with dread. I needed to get back there fast. “You want the key?” I said. “Take it.” I pulled Crystal’s key out of my pocket and threw it to Lyle.

Lyle caught it and stopped. He seemed to be at a loss. Crystal looked taken aback too; whatever she’d been expecting me to do, it hadn’t been that. “What are you waiting for?” I asked Lyle. “Open it and go find the Keepers. Unless you want to stay here?”

The words broke Lyle’s paralysis and he hurried past Crystal to the door, inserting the key. I felt a flash of magic as it turned in the lock and then the door opened, spilling a wash of brilliant light into the corridor. “Crystal!” Lyle called from the doorway.

“Come on, Crystal,” I said. “Let’s go see what the Keepers say.”

Crystal looked at me, then darted for the door.

I sprang after her but Crystal had thought and acted in an instant and I hadn’t had any warning. Crystal made it through the door and swung it closed behind her. I had just a fleeting image of Crystal’s lips curling in a slight smile, then the door slammed shut, leaving me in darkness.

A second later my hand closed on the handle and I yanked the door open to see a blank wall. I felt for the keyhole and swore. Crystal had taken the key with her. I stood there, staring at the wall, then turned back to where I’d seen Luna and the others and ran.

*  *  *

By the time I got there it was all over. Variam was propped up against the wall, blood on his clothes; his right arm had been horribly mangled and was hanging limp by his side. Anne was kneeling next to him, her face lit up by a soft green glow and filled with concentration as she worked her hands around Variam’s injured shoulder. Luna was leaning against the other wall; her face was white and she was shaking. But Vitus Aubuchon’s body was on the floor, blackened and decaying into nothingness.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Where’s Crystal?” Variam said.