Page 15

CHAPTER 15

FIONA

T he vile magic tore through the tunnels like a hunter as we followed Aislinn's screams. Each pulse of corrupted power made the wound in my side burn hotter. It was like someone had shoved a hot poker into my flesh and kept twisting it deeper. I was beyond wanting to throw up and pass out. All I knew was pain. It had evolved beyond mere physical sensation. Now it made me feel like I was being hollowed out from the inside.

"You okay?" Violet asked as she steadied me after a particularly vicious surge. Her witch fire cast dancing shadows on the limestone walls. "You're looking a bit peaky."

"I'm brilliant," I managed through gritted teeth. "Nothing like having evil magic try to eat you from the inside out to really make you appreciate life's little moments. Though I have to say, the corruption's got style. Purple's a bold choice for evil magic. Very avant-garde. And I do love it when someone underestimates me. I have no doubt he expected me to cave by now and get captured by his people."

"Only you would critique the aesthetic choices of dark magic while it's trying to kill you," Violet muttered, but her worried frown eased slightly. "This arsehole is just another in a long line of those who assumed we were weak because we're middle-aged women. It's one of the perks of being our age."

Gadross moved closer, his eyes narrowing as he studied the corruption seeping from my wound. "The magical signature is unlike anything in the Department's records. It's actively evolving."

Bas's hand tightened on my waist. Through our mate bond, I could feel his fury at seeing me in pain. It warred with the need to stay focused on our mission. He didn't even have to put effort into pushing back against the corruption trying to seep through my wound. His Fae magic worked at it automatically. Unfortunately, it was like trying to hold back the Thames with a paper towel.

"The corruption's spreading faster," he observed grimly. "It's responding to something in this complex. I will not lose you to this."

"No one is losing anyone. This guy might have stalked us, but he has no idea who we are or what we are capable of. He's relying on all the evil brewing down here," I replied. "I swear this place makes the London Underground feel welcoming. At least there, you just have to worry about drunk tourists and that weird smell no one can identify."

The tunnels opened into what had once been a natural cavern. Now, it was something else entirely. It was no surprise to find runes carved into the limestone walls. Each symbol looked like it had been etched with acid. Although, knowing the guy behind this, it was done with pain rather than proper tools. The sound of water dripping somewhere in the darkness was distracting. Each drop hit the stone with an echoing finality, making my skin crawl.

I opened my magical powers and looked around. There were patterns that had my stomach trying to crawl up my throat.

"Holy mother of magic," I breathed as I traced the flows with growing horror. "The magic they used to connect every victim over the years to this tunnel system is complex and wasn't done by one person. How they managed to seamlessly continue the work despite the change in power signatures is beyond comprehension."

"It's like aging wine," Violet added. "The ritual was started centuries ago. The current leader didn't start anything new. He's using the metaphorical barrel loaded all those years ago. Yeah, they're using souls instead of grapes, but the process still applies. The new person is continuing work already set into motion."

"The magical architecture spans generations," Gadross said, his scholarly nature emerging despite the horror. "Each leader adding their own signature while maintaining the original framework."

"That's disgusting," Thanos commented, his eyes darkened like storm clouds. "Even the Underworld has standards."

I nodded, fighting back nausea as I followed the corrupted energy paths. "That makes this a giant magical distillery from hell."

"The pack must have been providing test subjects for years," Argies growled. His dragon fire made the air shimmer with heat. "That's why so many supernaturals have gone missing in this region."

"This is interesting," Bas said grimly. He gestured to a chamber branching off from the main cavern. "I never would have expected something like this down here."

The room he indicated was small but packed with texts that practically radiated ancient power. Scrolls and grimoires lined shelves that were carved directly into the stone. Many of them writhed as if the knowledge they contained was trying to escape. You could feel the centuries of accumulated magical energy.

"A hidden library," Thanos observed as he examined the titles. His expression darkened. "These texts are about the First Ones."

"These volumes," Gadross breathed, his eyes wide as he scanned the ancient tomes. "Some of these were thought lost centuries ago. The Department's archives have only fragments of this knowledge."

"That's the hundredth time we've heard reference to them. I'm not certain I understand who they are," I admitted. The corruption surged, making me grab Bas's arm to stay upright.

"Not who," Violet corrected as she carefully opened one of the less aggressive-looking tomes. The pages crackled with age and residual power. "What. According to this, they existed before magic was ordered into different disciplines. Before the barriers between realms were established."

I moved closer. I had to ignore how the corruption tried to drag at my steps. The text she'd found was written in a language I didn't understand. I thought I understood what they meant. "They want to unmake the barriers," I said unnecessarily. We all knew what the end goal was. "Why would they want to return all magic to its raw, chaotic state?"

"Ignorance? Because he was raised to continue his family's work? The price would be the complete destruction of our current magical system," Bas added. His aristocratic features were tight with rage. "Everything we know about how magic works would be undone. The very foundations of power would collapse."

"And let me guess," I said as I skimmed another passage, "that would be bad for basically everyone except these First Ones and their cultist fan club?"

"Catastrophically bad," Thanos confirmed. He'd found another text and was reading rapidly. "The winter solstice is less than twenty-four hours away. The alignment will weaken the barriers enough for them to push through."

"Using the vessel network as an anchor," I finished. "He's going to step up his attempt to grab us. Our hybrid nature and bond naturally allow us to bridge different types of magic. We're the perfect conduit."

Gadross moved between the shelves, his trained eye cataloging the collection. "These texts detail rituals that were banned for good reason. The power requirements alone would destroy most practitioners."

Bas's grip on me tightened protectively. "Yes, your combined powers would complete the circuit."

A howl cut through the air, but it wasn't like any wolf I'd ever heard. The sound was like static that was trying to form words. Beings began pooling at the chamber entrance. My wound burned with fresh agony. "We've got company," I announced unnecessarily as the first of the transformed pack members flowed into view. "And they're definitely not here for a book club meeting."

These weren't like the ones we'd fought before. They were more rot than wolf now. Their forms were putrid and decaying even as they moved. Purple energy leaked from their eyes and dripped from mouths full of too many teeth. The sight made me wish I'd skipped breakfast. And lunch. And possibly every meal for the last week.

"The corruption's completely overtaken them," Violet breathed as she called her witch fire. Blue flames cast strange shadows across the twisted creatures. "The pack hierarchy has been destroyed by dark magic, which is why a mage is their alpha."

"Exactly. The alpha bond's been perverted," Bas continued as he slashed his weapon in a menacing manner. " The leader has replaced it with something else. Something infinitely more dangerous."

One of the creatures laughed. The sound was like breaking glass and screaming wind. "The old ways are stronger than pack law," it said in a voice that echoed weirdly. "The First Ones have shown us true power. Soon, you'll understand, too."

"I'll pass, thanks," I replied. "I'm not really in the market for evil makeovers. Though I have to admire your commitment to the aesthetic."

They attacked as one and moved with impossible fluidity. Violet's witch fire passed right through them. Thanos's weapon cleaved through some and moved harmlessly through other rotten bodies. Gadross moved defensively, analyzing their patterns even as he dodged their attacks. But as another wave of corrupted power surged through my wound, I had an idea. A really stupid, potentially lethal idea.

"Violet," I called as I gathered power despite the pain. "Help me channel it!"

She nodded without questioning me and merged her magic with mine. We created a conduit that let me direct the corruption flowing through my wound. Instead of fighting it, I let it build before releasing it on our attackers. The effect was devastating. The twisted magic turned against them. It ripped through rotten flesh like holy water through demons. The creatures screamed as they were torn apart by the very corruption that had transformed them.

"That's my girl," Bas said with fierce pride as the last of the wolves collapsed into a gooey puddle. The victory was short-lived as my legs buckled. The backlash from channeling corrupted power sent fresh agony racing through my veins.

"Bloody hell," I gasped as the room spun. Bas lunged for me. "I vote we don't do that again unless absolutely necessary. Or at least not until I've had some spiked coffee."

Thanos caught me first. "I've got her." He gestured to the exit. "We need to move. That much power will have attracted attention."

As if in response to his words, a familiar magical signature pulsed through the complex. It was weak but distinct. There was tainted magic around the edges, but I felt Aislinn's energy. She was warning us.

"She's still fighting," Argies growled as he moved out of the room. His dragon fire burned away the stench of rot. "She's close, and something's wrong. He's close to corrupting her magic completely."

He was right. The signal was coming from what felt like the epicenter of the plague. With each step closer, my wound festered and burned. The corruption flowing through the network was building toward the final ritual. "Hold on, Ais," I said softly as we followed her signature deeper into the complex. "We're coming. And then we're going to show these First One wannabes exactly why you don't mess with the Backside of Forty."

A laugh echoed through the tunnels. It wasn't Aislinn's this time. It had to be Marcus. The sound carried layers of darker voices beneath it, like multiple beings speaking through one throat. "Come then," he called from somewhere ahead. "Come and witness the remaking of the world. Your friend is almost ready to serve her purpose. Soon, you'll join her in ushering in the return of true magic."

"Anyone else really tired of this guy's dramatic monologuing?" I asked as we moved forward. "I mean, at least Voldemort got creative with his evil speeches. This is just getting repetitive."

"Fair point," Violet chuckled softly. "Though I'd rate him above Maleficent. At least he's not ranting about not getting invited to a baby shower. It's like he read a book that told him he had to master maniacal laughter."

"Chapter two was about giving grandiose speeches about remaking the world," I said as we approached another chamber. The corruption was so thick here it was almost visible. Purple lightning was crawling across the stone. "Someone should tell him the classics are classic for a reason. They're outdated and overused."

"At least he's consistent," Thanos added dryly. "Evil wardrobe, evil lair, evil monologue. Points for commitment."

"The Department's seen its share of megalomaniacs," Gadross muttered, "but this one's particularly committed to the role."

Our laughter died as we reached the massive doors ahead. They were carved with the same runes we'd seen a million times. Power poured from beneath them in waves that made my wound feel like it was being filled with molten lead. But we'd become immune to them to a certain extent. At least my friends had.

Aislinn was behind those doors, and she needed us. There was no question that we'd deal with whatever horrors awaited, just like we always did. This time, I had a feeling we'd need more than one bottle of Winter's Embrace to recover.

"Right then," I said, gathering what power I could despite the corruption trying to eat me alive. "Everyone remember the plan?"

"What plan?" Violet asked with a raised eyebrow. "We never actually made one."

"Go in, save Aislinn, stop the ritual, try not to die horribly or get corrupted by ancient evil," I listed off. "You know, the usual."

"That's not a plan," Bas said, though I felt his amusement through our bond. "That's a wish list. "

"Same difference for us," I replied with forced cheer. "Ready to crash this apocalyptic party?"

"No," Violet replied with a grim smile. "But when has that ever stopped us?"

The others nodded, and we moved forward as one. The doors loomed before us like the gates of hell itself, which, given what we'd seen so far, might not be far off. It was time to crash an apocalyptic ritual and save our friend. Just another day in the life of Britain's most chaotic supernatural problem solvers.