Page 6 of The Tree of Spirits (Paragons #2)

THE COMPOUND

I adjusted my grip on the magic coin in my hand as Conner and I walked toward the fence, Wolf trotting along in front of us.

“I thought you were going to teach me how to make myself invisible,” I said.

“You are invisible,” he pointed out.

“Only because of this .” I tightened my grip on the coin. My palm was sweaty, and it was making the slippery-smooth disc slide around. “You were supposed to teach me a spell.”

“Learning spells takes time, and you’re in a rush to save your friend, right? I’ll teach you the spell later.”

“You promise?”

“Of course. I’m dying to see the look on Kato’s face when you master a spell he’s spent two years working on without any progress at all.” His eyes twinkled like a pair of mischievous stars in the sky.

But his words had me worried. “If Kato can’t figure out how to make himself invisible, what makes you think that I can?”

“Because you’re cooler than he is. And you have an even cooler teacher. Now, come on, Red. Your wolf’s way ahead of us.” Hooking his arm in mine, he set a much brisker pace.

We closed the distance to the husky, our steps light and silent.

Well, at least Conner’s were. I was sure I was way too loud.

Even though he’d assured me that the creepy commandos couldn’t see us or hear us, every crinkle of leaves, every crunch of dry mud, every scrape of shifting rocks made me cringe.

I kept close to Wolf as she trotted up to the fence, planted her rear end on the hard ground, and let out a long, ear-splitting howl. Two of the compound’s guards peered out at her from behind two layers of fences.

“What’s it doing all alone out here?” one of them asked the other.

They didn’t spare a glance for me or Conner. That meant our invisibility spells were holding.

“Who cares?” replied the other guard. “We could use another dog. They make the Scavengers’ work go faster.”

There was a series of clicks, then two rows of fence panels pivoted, forming an open corridor between us and the compound. The Cursed Ones were trapped on the other side of the fences.

I pressed my lips together, holding in a sigh of relief. Everything was going to plan. So far. We still had to make it past the Cursed Ones.

As we moved along the open corridor toward the compound, I eyed them warily.

The Curse that had infected these people had stripped them of their humanity, but it had given them a few things in return: incredible strength, supernatural senses, and an insatiable, irresistible urge to bite every human they met—and attack everyone else.

Conner said their senses—their hunger—pierced even the strongest invisibility spell. That meant they knew we were here.

But instead of banging their bodies against the fence, frothing at the mouth as they rattled and kicked and clawed at it, they were keeping their distance.

Which meant that whatever it was about me that scared them was switched on at the moment.

Thank goodness. I only hoped I could keep that power on until we rescued Marlow and got clear of this awful place.

Wolf had reached the end of the corridor. She sat down in front of the still-closed gate, the final obstacle before the compound. The two guards watched her casually scratch behind her ear with her hind leg.

Wolf was an amazing actress. She was totally selling the part. I’d have to find her a big, juicy bone when we got back to town. If we got back.

I shook that thought from my head. Now was not the time to doubt myself. This plan would work.

“Wow, that is one massive dog,” one of the guards commented.

Wolf barked.

“Big and strong,” said the other, his lips curling into a wide, greedy smile.

“We can construct a wagon for the dog to pull the Scavengers’ treasure.

We’ll have everything we need in no time.

” He popped the lock and opened the gate just wide enough for him and his comrade to squeeze through before he closed it behind them. “Come on, big boy.”

Wolf’s ears flattened and she growled. Maybe she took issue with being called a boy.

“Don’t be shy.”

Wolf backed up.

“Stay.” The guard lunged forward and tried to grab her.

Wolf nimbly evaded him, dashing around his legs. He tripped and collided with the other guard. Then Wolf let out something that sounded an awful lot like a snort.

The guards scrambled to their feet, their faces flushed with embarrassment, their eyes simmering with anger.

“Stay here, you stupid animal.”

Wolf let out a series of barks, then spun around and took off running back the way she’d come. She rushed past me and Conner, sprinting down the corridor and into the woods.

One of the guards moved to follow her, but the other caught him around the arm. “Leave the dog. It will come back when it’s weak from hunger, and we’ll nab it then.”

“Yeah, there’s not much to eat out there.”

The guards both laughed, then opened the gate again. Conner and I slipped in after them.

“There are so many people in this compound,” I commented as the guards snapped the fences back into place, closing off the corridor.

“I wonder why the Cursed Ones aren’t trying to get in.

” I glanced at the Cursed Ones, who looked as disinterested in the armored commandos as they were in me.

“Do you think the Brotherhood has figured out how to control them?”

“No,” he said immediately.

“How do you know?” I nibbled on my lip.

“Because if they could control them, they wouldn’t need that fence.” His gaze cut past me, to the fence beyond. “I don’t think they’re controlling them. I think they’ve just found a way to scare them away.”

“Do you know of anything that can repel the Cursed Ones?”

“I’m looking right at her.” He shot me a smirk.

I sighed. “I meant, do you know of anything else that repels the Cursed Ones?”

I followed him past guards and houses and a big, fat power generator. We headed for a small shed on the other side of the compound. That’s where Conner said they were keeping Marlow.

“The Cursed Ones aren’t overly fond of fire,” Conner said. “But I don’t see any of that around here. Plus it would be a pretty bad idea to cut off our retreat by setting the field ablaze.”

We passed boxes filled with supplies. One of them was full of some very-familiar utility belts. I’d seen them before, at Lydia’s stand in the Black Market. It seemed she would sell to anyone.

“Other than fire and you, I don’t know of anything the Cursed Ones don’t like.” Conner dropped the smirk. “Sorry, I guess that didn’t come out right. It’s not like the Cursed Ones don’t like you.”

“No, it’s more like they hate me. But I don’t care. If it keeps them from trying to maul me, they can hate me all they want.”

“You’re pretty pragmatic for a girl who wears lip gloss and perfume.”

“Actually, it’s shampoo, not perfume.”

He leaned in and gave my ponytail a sniff. “It smells like roses.”

“It’s my mom’s new shampoo. I always test out her products. The lip gloss is one of her creations too.” I smacked my lips together, distributing it. “It smells like strawberries.”

“I like strawberries.”

“When we’re done here, I’ll get you a tube of that lip gloss.”

“Or you could just kiss me.” He fluttered his eyelashes.

I gawked at him. My jaw dropped.

He snickered. “Kidding, Red. Just kidding.”

I managed to snap my mouth shut again.

“You should see the look on your face,” he said.

Honestly, I really didn’t want to.

Conner’s lips twitched with amusement. “You are a very interesting person.”

I drew in a deep breath. “So everyone keeps telling me.”

We entered the tiny shed. Inside, Marlow was lying on his lumpy cot. Across from him, a single guard sat in a creaky rocking chair. Marlow jumped up when the guard spontaneously fell out of his chair and hit the floor.

“Who’s there?” Marlow looked around, his eyes manic, frightened. “A ghost?”

“No ghosts,” I replied, turning the knob on my magic coin to make myself visible.

“Savannah? Savannah Winters?” His eyes went wide. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to rescue you, of course.”

“But how did you do…” He waved his hand at the guard on the floor. “…that?”

“Magic,” Conner said, popping into sight beside me.

Marlow jumped, hitting his head on the low ceiling.

“Don’t be scared. That’s just Conner,” I told him. “He’s here to help.”

Marlow blinked at Conner.

“He put that guard to sleep,” I said.

Marlow’s gaze dropped to the man on the floor. “So he’s not…dead?”

“No.” Conner chuckled. “I just used a tiny little sleep spell.”

“Spell?” Marlow’s brows made a run for his hairline.

He looked like he was totally freaking out, so I offered him a lifeline. “Conner is a Knight.”

“Oh.” Marlow’s shoulders relaxed and a faint, hopeful smile touched his lips; the Knights were heroes, and everyone knew it. “A Knight.”

“We need to move quickly, before someone comes to check on that guard.” My gaze slid from the guard on the floor, to the red stains on Marlow’s t-shirt. “Can you walk?”

He winced, clutching his side. “Not really.”

I felt like all hope had been sucked out of the room. I wasn’t strong enough to carry a big guy like Marlow.

“I’ll try to patch him up.” Conner peeled up Marlow’s shirt, revealing a deep laceration. It was still oozing blood.

I quickly averted my gaze, but not quickly enough. Acid rose in my throat. I choked it down. Now was definitely not the time for a mental breakdown. I’d have to save it for later, when I was safe and alone in my little cottage.

“It’s ok, Red. You can look now.” The usual snark was missing from Conner’s voice, replaced by something soft but serious: concern.

When I looked, Marlow was standing up straighter. His shirt was back down, hiding his wounds, but slender magical markings glowed through the thin fabric.

“I stopped the bleeding and removed the kill switch in him. It’s a quick fix, but it will have to be enough for now,” Conner said as the glowing symbols faded from Marlow’s t-shirt. “To actually heal him, I’ll need a lot more time. And someplace safe to work.”