“Wait,” the nymph said, once again laying a hand on the dragon’s shoulder to calm him. “You said your sister was in Saldrea’s dungeon? Then this works perfectly. We can all go in and free her and our shifter friend, then you can weaken Izzy’s collar, and she’ll defeat Saldrea.”
I gave them a sour smile.
“If only it were that easy. Your shifter is no real threat to Saldrea, so she has him in her personal dungeon, at her residence. I, however, pose a much more dangerous hazard to the false princess. Hence, my sister isn’t in her normal dungeon, but a fortified bunker well off campus.” The nymph’s shoulders slumped, her hopes falling. She was about to say something when I spoke over her.
“I know where she is and can give you the location, but you’ll have to find some way in to free her. I do not doubt it will be dangerous, probably far more so than freeing your shifter friend. But I will not move a muscle to help you until my sister is safe. That is my condition and I will not move on it. Take it or leave it.”
As much as I wanted to get my sister out of that place as soon as possible, I didn’tneedto free my sister right away. Yet these folks needed help this instant. I could make the terms as amenable as I wanted. They had to accept them.
“Fine,” the nymph hissed. “Tell us where and we’ll free her tonight. But you’d better be available to do everything we’ve asked as soon as we free your sister.” Her voice grew cold and vicious. “Betray us and trust me when I say there will be no place in any of the three realms, or the humanrealm, where you can hide from us. You may be strong, but against all of us together, you’d have no chance. If my granddaughter dies because of you… If you betray us…” A nasty smile spread on the nymph’s pretty face. “Then your life will be measured in hours, not days.”
So, I’d been right, this was Izzy’s grandmother. And I believed her threats. If all of Izzy’s followers — or her family in this case — were as devoted as these two, then I’d be in trouble. Not that I was truly worried, but still, I took her threat seriously.
“Someone’s coming!” the incubus said, rushing back toward us. “We’ve got maybe a half a minute.”
“Deal,” I said to the three of them, and I quickly explained where the fortified prison was and what little I knew of it. Lastly, I let them know how to contact me, putting their information in my phone with a special ring tone. All they’d have to do was send me a picture and I’d know they’d freed my sister. Once I’d verified it, I’d help them with their plans.
“Now go, you don’t have much time before your friend dies,” I said, and saw how much the three of them knew it.
They hurried away.
Soon after, Golana, with two dragons as her escort, found me in the stables.
“Saldrea wants to see you,” the dwarf said with little emotion.
“I still have some time off, can it wait?” I said, paying more attention to Skycleaver.
“No. Come.”
I bristled at the command, but just like I had Izzy’s friends over a barrel, the same was true of Saldrea and myself. I went with the dwarf, wondering what was so important it couldn’t wait.
When we didn’t head for Saldrea’s residence, I asked, “Where are we going?”
Golana gave a grim smile.
“The administration building… to torture a certain half-breed.”
BAYN
“You can’t do this!You promised you wouldn’t hurt her!” the ineffectual little angel protested from the cell next to Izzy’s.
Everyone was here, Saldrea had brought her whole gang, plus a few guards, and me. One of the guards locked the angel in his cell as Saldrea responded to him,
“Inever made any promises. Hana promised one of you could come along to ensure the half-breed wouldn’t be mistreated, but she never actually promised we’d not hurt her. And you’re here, so… go ahead,tryto ensure Izzy isn’t mistreated, I dare you.”
“You filthy, lying, bi—” He only got that far, raising his hands to attack with his light powers, before Hana took hold of his mind. The angel fell back with a wide-eyed gaze, trapped in some vision.
Hana chuckled. “I really love torturing seraphim. Their spirits are so strong, but their minds are so weak.”
I almost felt bad for the man, but he should have known Saldrea would betray him. She never kept her word.
But then… why did I expect her to keep her word?
Because she had so far. My sister was “safe,” and unharmed most of the time. Saldrea hadn’t killed her… yet. But I realized then, she would. Saldrea would kill my sister and laugh at me while she did it, call me weak and helpless. It was in her nature. Once I was no longer needed, she’d dig her dirty little fingers into my largest wound and squeeze my pain.
Which only reaffirmed that I’d done the right thing by agreeing to help those others. They’d free my sister and I’d do what I could to help them.
After my talk with them, I had considered taking my sister and fleeing once she was free, not helping them. But a man was nothing without his word, his character. It might get me killed, but I didn’t much care for my life anymore. If Wensuria was free, I’d gladly face down Saldrea and die knowing my sister would live.
