I shook my head and broke free further from her grasp. “No.” I took a step back, glancing around wondering where her goons had disappeared to. Joshua are you okay? I’d told him to leave but had he listened to me? “There are others who know the truth.”
Isaura laughed. “A legend you’ll become, Olivia. That is merely all. Now come with me before you cause any more harm to those you love.”
“Not so fast!” I heard Henry’s voice and spun around.
Joshua stood alongside of him as did Adelaide. Elsa, Aidan and Cate were coming along the other side, behind Isaura.
“Let her go!” Adelaide shouted.
Isaura laughed towards her men. “Take them out!” She didn’t budge as the fighting began.
With six goons surrounding us, Joshua pulled a blade, throwing it at one and landing a blow with his fist at another’s face, barreling him backwards. Elsa stepped in, helping Joshua as the man stumbled forward to retaliate only to get kicked in the groin and then the stomach before falling to the ground in a heap.
Adelaide wasted no time as she slid between the first man’s legs unexpectedly. I didn’t notice the piece of shrapnel she’d found, but she shoved it into his leg watching him fall to the ground screaming in agony. Cate grabbed a slab of wood, slamming it across his face, making sure he didn’t get up again. The second man took after Adelaide, but tripped onto the rubble, face first into a brick. Had Adelaide done that intentionally? Henry defended himself well. He used his fists and legs, kicking and punching, blocking each blow as both men came at him at once. He wasted no time and though he’d nearly been dead less than an hour ago, now he was up and moving as if he’d barely been hurt. He reached down, finding a pile of ash and tossing it into one man’s face as Aidan buried a knife into the other man’s stomach. Together they rolled down off the rubble towards the street ten feet down.
Isaura’s eyes narrowed. “You can’t have Olivia.” She lifted the long blade of her sword towards my throat. “I’ll kill her before I hand her over to any of you.”
“You won’t,” Joshua retorted. “Not if you want to live.”
Isaura nicked my throat with the blade. The slightest bit of blood scathed the metal and my eyes focused on the material watching it glimmer in the light, realizing what it could become. I reached my hands for the blade, ignoring the searing hot pain as it slit my hands. I turned it back and around at Isaura the moment the tip touched her head she disappeared into thin air.
Henry’s eyes widened in shock. “Where’d she go?”
“We don’t have much time.” I dropped the sword to the ground seeing her reflection as she was momentarily stuck in the sword. It wouldn’t take her long to learn to break free. Her goons were still alive and would come after us. “We have to leave, now!” I demanded, gesturing for them to follow.
Joshua stopped me mid-stride, grabbing my wrists as he flipped over my palms. They’d been caked in blood a moment ago but now all that remained were scars. My hands had healed without me even thinking about. He watched in curiosity as he dropped my palms and Henry and Adelaide glanced between each other.
“What’s been going on?” I couldn’t blame Henry for not understanding. I was still trying to understand it!
“I’ll explain it to you later. We need to get back to Spade.” I glanced at Joshua. “Can we make a portal to travel to Spade?”
He eyed the blade sitting just feet from where we were. “Are you sure we won’t run into Isaura?” I didn’t know how the portals worked, as we made them on our own with the Mindonsiphan. If Isaura was in a space of nothingness and we traveled to Spade, would we reach her on our way to Spade?
“No.” I answered as honestly as I could.
“I have a better idea.” Joshua gestured for us to follow as we walked among the rubble and destruction towards the farthest edge of Shadow. “The hanger,” he announced as it remained untouched. Isaura hadn’t known what was inside or it would have been destroyed.
Joshua manned a drone with Adelaide sitting behind him. I climbed in with Elsa for a tight fit as he piloted all five planes, Henry, Cate and Aidan having their own.
Landing the drones just outside of Spade, we walked around the stone walled perimeter. Henry led us to the front as the gate was lowered and we were escorted inside.
“What is this place?” Adelaide whispered in awe.
I couldn’t blame her reaction. I felt the same way the first time I had laid eyes on the castle.
“My home,” Henry answered. “I’ll take you to my chambers where you can rest,” he offered as we walked up a ramp leading to the second floor. There were no keys or locks on the door. Henry turned the handle, opening the door for us to step into the room. My eyes moved over the large space and stone flooring. The entire castle was made of the material that held up the walls outside. It was impressive. I’d never seen anything quite like it before. “I’ll be right back.” He slipped out of the room, leaving us alone.
I sat down on the antique couch, Adelaide and Cate at my side as Joshua walked around, taking in the surroundings, getting a feel for where we were. Elsa leaned against the wall, staring up at the ornate ceiling. Aidan gazed out the window; I had no idea what he was hoping to see. Adelaide sighed, resting her head on my lap as she stretched out to lie down. “Are we safe here?”
“For now,” I said.
Joshua stared at me. “Who was Isaura?”
“Isaura was one of the representatives of Torv. She was there while they were working to form the new government and once you were taken, she was on the committee refusing to assign anyone to help find you,” I explained.
“No wonder,” he muttered beneath his breath. “What about Henry?”
My attention turned towards the door, waiting for him to return. “I told you, he helped me find you. Rane, Gavin and I had gotten lost on our way. We ended up here instead. He led us to Haven.”
“And you trust him?” Aidan asked.
“You thought it was a good idea to trade favors with a man who kills people for a living?” Joshua retorted.
Henry swung the door open and cocked an eye as he entered the room, hearing the exchange. “If this is about your friend, I am sorry for what happened.”
“Sorry!” Joshua stomped over towards Henry. “Sorry doesn’t bring her back.” He was face to face with him, staring Henry down.
“Joshua, please come sit.” Though there wasn’t much room left, it was a better option than the two boys fighting. I didn’t know what would result if Joshua threw a punch at Henry.
I ran a hand through Adelaide’s hair. “What happened with Rane and Gavin?”
“They’re in Spade,” Henry admitted. “It’s what I was finding out when I stepped out for a few minutes.” He eyed Joshua. “They came here on foot. They’re staying in their own chambers.”
I found it hard to understand why they hadn’t returned to their home, to Torv. “I’d like to see them.” I admitted giving Henry a warm smile. There was no reason to alarm him.
“Of course. I’ve already let them know you were here. They’ll be meeting us for dinner shortly.”
“I’m hungry,” Adelaide announced with a heavy sigh.
Elsa cleared her throat. “If you don’t mind showing me to my room, I’d like to lie down for awhile?”
“Of course,” Henry offered, “come with me.”
CHAPTER 9
Henry provided us all with sleeping arrangements and luxurious clothing. I was surprised by such lavishness. I hadn’t seen anything like it since Haven and even then, this was far superior. The room was large, twice the size of the bedroom Joshua and I had shared back home in Shadow. The curtains were drawn and of dark purple crushed velvet. My fingers moved over the material as I stared out the window. There wasn’t much to see. White gray stone walls surrounded the city. Looking down from the tower I could see guards walking the courtyard, but nothing out of the ordinary.