Page 30 of Blood Skye (Skye Druids #6)

Chapter Thirty

Hands grabbed Carlyle , yanking him from the comfort of his dreams. He fought against the insistent fingers. He wanted to return to the dream—to Song . When the hold didn’t loosen, Carlyle threw out his fist. It connected with someone. The grunt pleased him. He then tried to lay back down, but more hands joined in.

“ For fek’s sake. Wake up, Carlyle ,” growled an irritated voice near his ear.

One he recognized.

It took great effort for Carlyle to lift his lids, but once he did, the sleep holding him evaporated. He looked into Finn’s dark brown eyes. His friend stood in front of him while Henry and Nikolai held Carlyle up, one on each side. He blinked in confusion. The men eased him back to sit on the edge of the opened boot as he attempted to sort out the events in his jumbled head. He looked past Finn to see Esther and Melisse .

But no Song .

Then he remembered her words right before the darkness. A pit formed in his stomach and swelled, gripping his chest in panic. “ Where is she?”

“ Who , Devon ? I don’t know,” Finn said hesitantly.

“ Not Devon . Song …” Carlyle corrected.

“ What ?” Finn asked.

“ Not what. Who . Devon is the name London gave her. Song is her real name. Never mind. We don’t have time for this.”

Carlyle yanked his arms from the two men and surged to his feet. When he started to leave, Finn blocked him. “ Get out of my way,” Carlyle growled.

“ I can’t do that. We know about the elders wanting to use you. Devon —or Song — was right keeping you from going with her.”

A deep-rooted anger coursed within Carlyle . It blistered as it scorched its way through his body as he advanced on Finn . “ So , it’s okay for her to die. Is that it? Is that what you’re saying?”

“ That isn’t what I said,” Finn argued calmly, though his eyes flashed dangerously.

Carlyle got nose-to-nose with him. “ You know nothing about her.”

“ That’s right,” Henry said. “ We don’t. Tell us.”

Carlyle didn’t take his eyes off Finn . “ I’m going after her. And I’m only going to tell you once to move. Or I’ll go through you.”

“ Let him pass,” Nikolai urged Finn .

The Irishman shook his head of dark hair. “ No .”

Melisse gently shoved Finn aside. Her whitish eyes locked on Carlyle as she stood before him. “ If you’re going after her, we’re coming with you.”

“ It’s too dangerous.”

“ And that’s why you shouldna go alone,” Nikolai stated.

Carlyle curled his hands into fists. “ I don’t have time for this! She’s in danger.”

“ So are you.” Esther blew out a breath. “ I see by your transformation that you took precautions. Henry and I are trained MI5 agents. We can be invisible when we need to be.”

Carlyle realized then that they wouldn’t let him go alone. “ Fine .” He cut his gaze to Finn . “ London knows you. They’re expecting you. That means you aren’t going anywhere near that building.”

“ I will if you’re in trouble,” his friend stated, crossing his arms over his chest.

Carlyle looked at Nikolai and Melisse . “ I don’t think the two of you should go either.”

“ We’ll remain at the perimeter,” Nikolai replied.

Melisse nodded. “ Call my name if you get into trouble.”

Carlyle had no idea how long he had been unconscious. He didn’t know where Song was. He had memorized the map she’d made and prayed it was enough. But he wouldn’t walk away. He couldn’t leave her behind to face the dangers within London’s headquarters alone. She had been alone for too long.

“ Let’s go,” Henry said and strode past.

Carlyle adjusted his clothing, only then realizing that Nikolai and Melisse had used their dragon magic to alter Henry’s and Esther’s looks and clothes to match his. Henry now had the swarthy complexion of a Spaniard , complete with black hair and dark eyes. Esther’s hair was now strawberry blond waves, and her eyes were bright blue. She even had freckles. Their ruse just might work.

Before he could move, Finn blocked his path once more. Carlyle quirked a brow.

Finn snorted and held up a lighter. “ You’re going to need this.”

“ Thanks ,” Carlyle said, tucking it into his pocket.

“ Catch us up,” Esther said as the three headed toward the London Druids ’ headquarters.

Carlyle quickly filled them in on everything, then pulled out the drawings of the building he had folded in his pocket. Esther looked at them for thirty seconds before passing the papers to Henry , who did the same. When they finished, Carlyle returned the sketches to his pocket.

“ I agree with Song ,” Esther said. “ I think they’re keeping her sister with them. And there’s a good chance she’s been brainwashed. She may fight to remain with them.”

Carlyle nodded as they reached the corner. “ I know.”

Henry suddenly touched Esther’s arm. She drew up short and pulled Carlyle against the side of the building. A tense few moments passed as Henry kept a lookout. Laughter drifted toward Carlyle as a party boat cruised down the Thames . Finally , Henry motioned for them to move.

“ If it was me, I’d head below. My guess is that’s what Song did,” Henry whispered.

Carlyle’s gaze was locked on the imposing stone building. They were approaching the side entrance where the staff was hustling about.

Just as they reached the side, a woman came out of the shadows, a cigarette in hand. “ Hold up. Where are you three going?” she demanded.

“ We just got called in,” Esther answered. “ Apparently , a few walked out tonight.”

The woman rolled her eyes. “ Bloody fucking idiots. I warned them, but no one ever listens to me.” She gave them a withering glare. “ What are you doing out here? Get inside and get to work.”

Esther entered first. Carlyle followed, and Henry brought up the rear. The kitchen was crammed with people carrying trays filled with food and drinks out as more staff rushed in with empty trays ready to refill.

So much was happening that no one paid the three of them any mind. When a staff member blocked Esther , Carlyle moved around her and brought up the map Song had drawn in his mind. He wove through the kitchen, looking for the door to the hallway. Carlyle turned slightly so as not to knock over a bottle of champagne. As he did, he glanced over his shoulder to make sure Henry and Esther were still with him and glimpsed the party as one of the kitchen doors swung open. Was Song’s sister out there? His father?

“ There ,” Henry whispered.

Carlyle saw the door at the same time Henry did. The knob turned easily in his hand. Once it was open, they went through. Henry closed it behind them, significantly reducing the noise from the kitchen. A corridor stretched before them.

“ There will be guards,” Carlyle whispered.

Esther and Henry nodded in understanding. Esther moved around him and took the lead. As they walked, Carlyle wondered if Song had traveled this path. He was furious with her for leaving him behind. He should be with her, watching her back. Now , she was somewhere in the building, potentially facing the elders alone. She had wanted to keep him from danger, but there was a lot he wanted to say to her about that once he found her.

If he found her.

Carlyle inwardly scowled. He hadn’t seen the last of her. Fate was cruel, and she often had her own agenda, but he simply refused to accept that he had spoken his last words to Song . She needed to know…. His chest tightened as if someone were gripping it tightly. He would find her. They would escape with his dad and her sister. Carlyle repeated the mantra over and over until he believed it.

When they came to the first door, Esther tried it. The handle turned easily, but just as she was about to open it, Henry placed his hand on it to keep it shut. She lifted her gaze, a question in her eyes.

Henry pointed up. Carlyle followed his finger and saw the symbol carved into the wood of the doorjamb. A ward that would alert whoever had placed it that someone had entered. Esther slowly turned the knob to its resting position and released it.

They continued their slow walk down the corridor, each waiting for an attack that never came. When they reached the next door, they found another ward. Until they reached the third door on the right. That one was cracked open as if someone had intentionally left it that way. Carlyle noticed the many wards carved into the doorjamb, but none seemed to be active since the door wasn’t closed. The trio exchanged looks.

“ It might be the way down,” Carlyle whispered.

Henry eyed the door. “ Or it could be a trap. We don’t know if they caught Song .”

“ And we won’t if we don’t check it out,” Esther said.

Carlyle carefully opened the door and looked into the dimly lit area to find stairs leading down. Henry was the first inside. Carlyle waited until Esther walked past before gently pulling the door but not shutting it. Then he followed the siblings down the switchback stairs, going deeper into the underground.

Into Hell .

With every step, Carlyle wondered what they would find. Had Song been caught? Was she trapped with his father? Were the elders waiting for him? Amid all the worry, there was also doubt. Had she double-crossed him? Had she played him? This could all be one big setup. And he’d brought friends along.

Could Song have lowered his defenses by telling him about her past, knocked him out, and then notified his friends—knowing he would come after her? It was possible, but he didn’t think so. Regardless , he would be prepared. Just in case.

They had descended three flights when they suddenly came to another door. All three searched for wards around it, both on the door and in the stone walls.

Carlyle shook his head. “ I can’t find anything.”

“ They wouldn’t leave the door without wards. Not after what we saw above,” Esther whispered.

Henry squatted to shine the light from his mobile on the handle and take a closer look. Carlyle waited restlessly. His eyes moved over the ancient stone walls again. It wasn’t unusual for buildings to be erected on top of older ones. His gaze snapped back to a section of the wall. Something about it looked familiar, but he didn’t understand how. He’d never been here before. Yet he couldn’t shake the feeling.

He walked closer to the wall. Carlyle squinted but still couldn’t see much in the murky lighting. He remembered his mobile and the light. Dust particles danced in the glow as he held the phone up and let the beam illuminate the stone, but he was focused on the barely discernible fissure in the mortar. He followed it to the ground, then back up and around to the other side.

Carlyle issued a soft whistle to get Esther’s and Henry’s attention and motioned them over. When they reached him, he showed them the cracks. “ I think it’s an entrance to something.”

“ I think you’re right,” Henry said.

Esther ran her finger along the fractured mortar. “ But how do we get in?”

The room was small. Besides the stairs, there was only the door and the four walls—no adornments or furniture.

“ It has to be here somewhere,” Henry murmured.

Carlyle turned in a leisurely circle, letting his eyes scan everything. How had he known about the door in the stone? When his gaze landed on the stair railing, he froze. He stared at the spindles, his heart thudding in his chest. He walked to them, wrapped his hand around the fifth spindle from the bottom, and twisted counterclockwise.

Instantly , there was a soft hiss as the stone door opened outward and spat out dust. Carlyle spun around and found the siblings ogling the door before sliding their gazes to him.

“ How did you do that?” Esther whispered.

Carlyle shrugged and released the spindle. “ I don’t know. I’ve never been here.”

“ Clearly , you have,” Henry replied.

Esther pulled the heavy stone door toward her. When it was wide enough for them to get through, she shoved her hair out of her face and peered inside. She waved for them to follow, but Carlyle couldn’t get his feet to move.

Henry caught his eye. “ What’s wrong?”

“ Everything .”

Every nerve ending in Carlyle’s body demanded that he turn around and leave immediately. His subconscious didn’t want him to learn what was through that door. But his dad might be there. And Song . He had to go. No matter what awaited.

Henry’s brows drew together. “ Are you coming?”

Carlyle lifted one foot and stepped forward. Blood rushed in his ears, and a cold sweat coated him. He took another step and then another until he reached the door. He briefly met Henry’s gaze before following Esther . Carlyle straightened to find himself inside another room with sconces on each wall, bracketing a door.

“ Three choices. Have a guess for this one?” Esther asked him.

Carlyle’s stomach tightened painfully because he did, indeed, know. He pointed to the door on the left. The moment Henry touched the knob, they were attacked.

“ Where are they?” Henry demanded.

Carlyle dove out of the way and came up on his feet to block the magic aimed at him and Esther . “ There isn’t anyone.” He released a blast at the sconce on the left, and the attack halted. He lowered his arms to his sides, stopping himself from raking his hands through the wig just in time. “ Bloody hell. It all makes sense now.”

“ Care to share with us?” Esther asked.

Carlyle dusted himself off as he said, “ Mason’s dad trained us at a remote hunting lodge. Shane told us the course was to prepare us for anything. We fought things like what just attacked. Shane said it was a simulator for real people. We had no reason to believe differently.”

“ He was training you to get through the doors,” Henry said. “ The guards aren’t Druids . They’re simulations.”

Esther’s lips twisted sarcastically. “ Oh , fun.”

“ Was it Shane who told you how to get down here?” Henry asked.

Carlyle shook his head. “ No . It was just the training.”

“ Perhaps he gave you the information without you knowing,” Henry suggested.

Carlyle wasn’t buying that. “ But why?”

“ Sounds like he was preparing you and Mason in case something happened.” Esther jerked her chin to the door. “ Is it safe now?”

Henry flashed her a grin. “ Guess we’ll find out.”

Carlyle opened the door, but nothing attacked. The siblings filed in behind him as he walked through it and entered a hallway. It reminded him of another section of the course Mason had enjoyed. Carlyle had despised it because of the confinement. He dropped to one knee and raised magic to block just as the strike came. He jumped up and twisted first one way and then the other, as Esther and Henry flattened against the door since there wasn’t room for them to join in.

Then , his mind went blank. He couldn’t remember what to do next. He stepped forward, and the blast cut across the outside of his upper right arm. The second hit came at him from the side.