'Night World : Black Dawn Chapter 18\r'

'Maggie stared at her wildly.\r\nâ€Å"You…what?”\r\nâ€Å"I should bem subroutine told you earlier,” Aradia tell. â€Å" merelyI didnt realize he was your br other(a) until my mind became clearer. Youre a lot alike, solo I couldnt recollect properly to arrange it together.” She added,quickly and with terrible gentleness, â€Å" precisely, Maggie, I dont inadequacy to get your hopes up. I dont say at that places much(prenominal) chance hes in all right.”\r\nMaggie went soothe. â€Å"Tell me.”\r\nâ€Å"He actually saved me to begin with you ever did. I was overture to this valley, moreover I wasnt alone-t here(predicate)were several other slime eelses with me. We didntk at present where the de start up was exactly-wed barely man aged to get sketchy information from our spiesin hunting watch Redferns household.”\r\nMaggie controlled her breathing and nodded.\r\nâ€Å"It was Samhain evening-H alloteen. We werewandering a round in the general area of the pass, testing to find a invocational bend that would reveal it. All wedid was set off an avalanche.”\r\nMaggie halt breathing entirely. â€Å"An avalanche?”\r\nâ€Å"It didnt hurt your brother. He was on the road,the appear we should take aim been, if wed comp allowely kip big bucksn.But it did kill the others in my party.”\r\nâ€Å"Oh,”Maggie whispered. â€Å"Oh, Im sorry…”\r\nâ€Å"I wasnt seriously hurt, retributive I was comp allowely dazed. I could feel that the others were dead, butI wasnt sure where I was eithermore. And that waswhen I comprehend your brother shouting. He and Sylvia had determined the avalanche, of course, and they cameto opine if anyone was caught in it.”\r\nâ€Å"Miles would always chip off to suspensor raft,” Maggie say, still tight fitting to in a whisper. â€Å" unconstipated if they only needed batteries or socks or things.”\r\nâ€Å"I ap priset tell you how grateful I was to hear him.He saved my life, Im sure-I would nurse wandered around dazed until I froze. And I was so happy torecognize that the girl with him was a witch … â€Å"She grimaced.\r\nâ€Å"Huh,” Jeanne said, but non unsympathetically.”I bet that didnt last.”\r\nâ€Å"She k straight me, too, without delay,” Aradiasaid. â€Å"She knew what she had. A hostage to bargainwith all the other witches. And to demoralize credit withHunter Redfern. And of course, she knew that she could stop me from light uponing Delos.”\r\nâ€Å"All she cares or so is power,” Maggie said quietly. â€Å"I heard hertalking-itsall about her, and how the witches have given her a bad deal becauseshes non a H strengthenan or mostthing.”\r\nAradia smiled genuinely faintly. â€Å"Im not a Harman byname, either. But all true witches are daughters of Hellewise Hearth-Woman-if they would well(p) realize it.” She shook her head slightly. â€Å"Sylvia was so hallucinating about finding me that she couldnt resist explaining it all to your brother. And he … wasnt happy.”\r\nâ€Å"No,” Maggie said, burning with such fierce pride that for a bite the cold cell imagemed warm to her.\r\nâ€Å"Shed only told him before that she was taking him to nearly secret place where legends were stillalive. But now she told him the truth about theDark Kingdom, and how she precious him to be apart of it. She told him that it could be theirstheir own secret haven-after Delos left with Hunter Redfern. He could become a vampire orshapeshifter, whichever he liked better. They wouldboth be part of the Night World, and they couldrule here without any interference.”\r\nMaggie lifted her workforce helplessly, waving themin agitation because she couldnt find words. How stupid could Sylvia be? Didnt she cope Miles atall?\r\nâ€Å"Miles wouldnt care about any of that,” she lastly got out in a choked voice.\r\nâ€Å"He didnt. He told her so. And I knew right outthat he was in trouble with her.” Aradia sighed.”But on that point was nothing I could do. Sylvia played it real cool until they got me down the mountain.She affect all she cared about was get meto a reestablish and telling the rangers about my friends. But once we were in her apartment, everything changed.”\r\nâ€Å"I remember her apartment,” Maggie said slowly.”The people on that point were weird.”\r\nâ€Å"They were Night People,” Aradia said. â€Å"And Sylvias friends. As presently as we were inside(a) she toldthem what to do. I was assay to explain to Miles,to substantiate if we both could get away, but there weretoo many of them. He put himself in amidst meand them, Maggie. He said theyd have to kill himbefore getting to me.”\r\nMaggies chest matte not so much tight now asswollen, like a drum barrel honorable of water. She couldfeel her ticker thudding slowly inside, and the wayit echoed all with her.\r\nShe steadied her voice and said, â€Å"Did they killhim?”\r\nâ€Å"No. Not therefore. And peradventure not ever-but thatsthe part that I dont get by. All I hump is that theyknocked him out, and then the two break ones bear out tradersarrived. capital of Switzerland and Gavin. Sylvia had sent for them.”\r\nAnd they must have come lively from kidnappingP.J., Maggie thought. What wonderful guys.\r\nâ€Å"They knocked me out. And then Sylvia limitme with spells and practiced with her truth potions on me. She didnt get much information, becauseI didnt have much information. on that point was no armyof witches coming to invade the Dark Kingdomright now, I wish there were. And she already knew that I was coming to see Delos.”\r\nAradia sighed again and finished quickly. â€Å"Thetruth potion poisoned me, so that for age afterwards I was delirious. I couldnt really understandwhat was red i nk on around me -I serious faded in andout. I knew that I was being kept ina warehouse until the weather cleared enough to take me to thevalley. And I knew that Miles had already been disposed of-Sylvia mentioned that before she left mein the warehouse. But I didnt fill out what she haddone with him-and I still dont.”\r\nMaggie swallowed. Her heart was still thumping in that slow, heavy way. â€Å"What I dont understandis why she had to set up a unharmed scenario to explainwhere he went. She let or so rangers find her onthe mountain, and she said that he fell down acrevasse. But if he was dead, why not righteous let himdisappear?”\r\nâ€Å"I gauge I cognize the answer to that, at least,” Aradia said. â€Å"When Miles was fighting them off he saidthat his roommates knew hed gone ascent withher. He said that if he didnt come book binding, theydremember that.”\r\nYes. It do sense. Everything make sense-except that Maggie still didnt know what had b ecomeof him.\r\nthither was a long silence.\r\n`”Well, he was brave,” Jeanne said finally, andwith unexpected seriousness. â€Å"If he did die, he wentout the right way. We just ought to hope we cando the selfsame(prenominal).”\r\nMaggie glanced at her, trying to read the angularfeatures in the darkness. there was no trace ofmockery or sarcasm that she could see.\r\nWell, Cadys changed into Aradia, Maiden of allthe witches, and Ive changed into the Deliverernot that Ive been much good at it, she thought. But I animadvert maybe youve changed the most afterall, Jeanne\r\nâ€Å"You know, I dont even know your last name,”\r\nshe said to Jeanne, so abruptly and so much offthe subject that Jeanne reared back a little.\r\nâ€Å"Uh-McCartney. It was-it is?CMcCartney.” Sheadded, â€Å"I was fourteen when they got me. I was at the mall vie Fist of Death at the arcade. And Iwent to go to the bathroom, and it was down this long empty corridor, and the next thing I knew Iwas waking up in a slave traders cart. And now you know everything,” she said.\r\nMaggie put out a hand in the dimness, â€Å"Hi,Jeanne McCartney.” She felt the cold bewitch of slen der, callused fingers, and she shook Jeannes hand.And then she just held on to it, and to Aradias tardily warm fingers on the other side. The three of themsit together in the dark cell, slave, human, andwitch Maiden-except that were really all just girls,Maggie thought.\r\nâ€Å"You didnt tell me one thing,” Maggie said curtly. â€Å"Whatd they callyou when you started working here? What was your job?”\r\nJeanne snorted. â€Å"Second Assistant Stable Sweeper.And. now you know everything. â€Å"\r\nMaggie didnt think she could possibly sleep in aplace like this, but after the three of them had sat quietly for a long time she open herself dozing. And when the rattle of the dungeon door startledher, she realized that shed been asleep.\r\nShe had no idea what ti me it was-the flare wasburning low. She could feel Aradia and Jeannecome bring up beside her.\r\nâ€Å"Dinner?” Jeanne muttered.\r\nâ€Å"I just hope its not PJ.-” Maggie began, and\r\nthen broke off as firm, opinionated steps sounded on the stone floor of the corridor.\r\nShe accept the stride and she stood up tomeet Delos.\r\nHe stood outside the cell, the death torchlightflickering on his dark hair, catching occasionalsparks off his aureate eye. He was alone.\r\nAnd he didnt waste time getting to the point.\r\nâ€Å"I came to see if youve decided to be reasonable,” he said.\r\nâ€Å"Ive been reasonable from the beginning,” Maggie said quietly and completely seriously. She was trenchant his face and the slight link she felt between their minds at this distance, hoping to findsome change in him. But although she felt turmoilthat was almost anguish, she also felt the steel ofhis resolve.\r\nI wont let you be killed. Nothing else matters.\r\nMaggie f elt her shoulders sag.\r\nShe cancelled slightly. Aradia and Jeanne were stillsitting on the bench, Aradia motionless, Jeannecoiled and wary. But she could tell that they bothfelt this was her fight.\r\nAnd theyre right. If I cant do it, nobody can…But how?\r\nâ€Å"Theyre people,” she said, gesturing toward theother girls, but watching Deloss face. â€Å"I dont knowhow to get you to see that. They matter, too.”\r\nHe scantily glanced back at them. â€Å"In the time ofdarkness that is coming,” he said, as carefully as ifreciting a lesson, â€Å"only the Night People exit survive. The ancient forces of magic are rising. Theyvebeen asleep for ten thousand years, but theyrewaking up again.”\r\nA low voice, not belligerent, but not afraid either,came from the back of the cell. â€Å" most of us believethat humans can learn to live with magic.”\r\nâ€Å"Some of you are idiots and fools and are goingto die,” Delos said, without even look ing.\r\nHe stared at Maggie. She stared back at him.They were willing each other ashard as possible to understand.\r\n And I think hes got a stronger will, Maggiethought, as she broke the locked gaze and looked away, thumping the bounder of a clenched fist against her forehead.\r\nNo. Thats not right. Im Steely Neely and I nevergive up.\r\nIf I tell him that some things are worth dyingfor…\r\nBut I dont think hes afraid to die. Hes justafraid for me. And he just wont listen if I say that Id rather die than see some things happen. Butthats the truth. There are some things that you just cant allow to happen, whatever the cost. There are some things that have just got to be stopped.\r\nShe froze, and the cell seemed to disappeararound her.\r\nShe was seeing, in her minds eye, an equallydark and awkward little cart. And her ownvoice was saying, Jeanne. Its got to stop.\r\nFeeling very light-headed, she sour toward thebench. â€Å"Jeanne? serve over here.”\r\nJeanne stra ightened and walked up doubtfully.She looked into Maggies face.\r\nMaggie looked at her and then at Delos.\r\nâ€Å"Now you show him,” she said in a voice thatwas like her own voice, but former(a) and much grimmer,\r\nâ€Å"what his Night People do to slaves who try to escape. Like you showed me.”\r\nJeannes expression was inscrutable. She went onstaring at Maggie for a moment, then she raisedher eyebrows and turned around.\r\nShe was wearing the same slave tunic she hadbeen wearing for the last four days. She lifted it upin the same way and showed Delos her back.\r\nHe took one look and reeled back as if shed hit him.\r\nMaggie was braced, but even so the backlash ofhis shock and horror nearly swamped her. Shegrabbed on to the iron interdict of the cell and waitedit out, teeth gritted man her vision went fromblack to red to something like a conventionality gray.\r\nâ€Å"Who did this?”Delos managed finally, in a voice like ground glass. He was dead white, except forhis eyes, which looked black in contrast. â€Å"Who?”\r\nJeanne dropped her tunic. â€Å"I thought you didnt care about vermin.” And she walked away without answering him, leaving him speechless.\r\nMaggie watched her sit down, then turned back.\r\nâ€Å"Some things have got to be stopped,” she saidto Delos. â€Å"Do you see what I mean? Some thingsyou just cant let go on.”\r\nAnd then she waited.\r\nI knew he didnt know that flesh of thing washappening, she thought, feeling vaguely effulgent in avery commonplace, sad, and distant way. But its good to see it proved.\r\nThe silence stretched endlessly.\r\nDelos was still staring at Jeanne. He had run ahand through his hair at some point; it was disheveled and falling over his forehead. The scrape of hisface seemed to be stretched, very tight and his eyeswere burning gold.\r\nHe looked as if hed completely lost his bearings,and he didnt know what to trust anymore. And then he looked at Maggie .\r\nShe was still standing there, waiting and watching. Their eyes met and she realized suddenly thatshed never seen him so vulnerable-or so open.\r\nBut if there was one thing Prince Delos had, it was resolution. later another moment of helplessness, she saw him straighten his shoulders and draw himself up.\r\nAnd, as usual, he got directly to the point.”Youre right,” he said simply. â€Å"And I was wrong.\r\nThere are some things that have got to be stopped.”Maggie leanedagainst the bars and smiled.”Ill get the key,” he said, and then went on,briskly planning. â€Å"I want the three of you out ofthe castle, at least, before I confront Hunter.””You cant do it alone,” Maggie began.Sheshould have known hed immediately start arranging everybodys life again. â€Å"Especially not with yourpower blocked-â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"Theres no reason for you to be in any moredanger than you have to be,” he said. â€Å"Ill send youoff with so me of my people who can be trusted-â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"Im afraid that wont be possible,” a voice saidfrom the corridor.\r\nIt gave Maggie a horrible jolt. They were all tired,and all caught up in the moment, and none of themhad seen the figure until it was almost throneDelos.\r\nHunter Redfern was standing there smiling. Sylvia was behind him. And behind them,crowdedtogether, were armed guards.\r\nâ€Å"Weve had to dispose of the few idiots who insisted on stay loyal to you,” Hunter said amiably. His eyes were glazed like the purest gold.”The castle is now under our control. But do go onwith your plans, its very sweet to hear you trying to save each other.”\r\nâ€Å"And its no use trying to pretend,” Sylvia addedspitefully. â€Å"We heard everything. We knew you couldnt be trusted, so we let you come down here on purpose, to see what youd say.”\r\nFor someone whod known Delos a while, shedidnt understand him very well, Maggie thought.Maggie cou ld have told her that pretending was thelast thing that would occur to Delos. instead he did what Maggie knew he would; he launched himself at Hunter Redferns throat.\r\nDelos was young and strong and very angry but it was no contest. After Sylvia had squeaked and withdrawn, the guards all came to help Hunter. After that it was over quickly.\r\nâ€Å"Put him in with his friends,” Hunter said, clash off his sleeves. â€Å"Its a real pity to see my onlysurviving heir come to this,” he added, once Deloshad been kicked and propel into the cell. For amoment there was that note of genuine feeling in his voice that Maggie had heard before. Then the golden eyes went cold and more bitter than ever. â€Å"I think tomorrow morning well have a very special hunt,” he said. â€Å"And then there will be onlythree Wild Powers to worry about.”\r\nThis time, when the guards left, they took all theflares with them.\r\nâ€Å"Im sorry,” Maggie whispered, trying to i nspectDeloss bruises by touch alone. â€Å"Delos, Im sorry…I didnt know … â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"It doesnt matter,” he said, holding her hands.”It would have happened eventually anyway.”\r\nâ€Å"For a vampire, you didnt put up much of afight,” Jeannes voice came from the back of the cell.\r\nMaggie frowned, but Delos turned toward herand spoke without defensiveness. â€Å"That witch bound more than just the blue fire when she putthis spell on my arm,” he said. â€Å"She took all myvampire powers. Im essentially a human until she removes it.”\r\nâ€Å"Aradia?” Maggie said. â€Å"Can you do anything? Imean, I know only Sylvia is supposed to be able totake the spell off, but …”\r\nAradia knelt beside them, graceful in the darkness. She touched Deloss arm gently, then sighed.\r\nâ€Å"Im sorry,” she said. â€Å" evening if I were at full power, theres nothing I could do.”\r\nMaggie let out her breath.\r\nà ¢â‚¬Å"Thats the only thing I regret,” Delos said. â€Å"ThatI cant save you.”\r\nâ€Å"You have to stop thinking about that,” Maggiewhispered.\r\nShe was filled with a rummy resignation. Itwasnt that she was giving up. But she was very tired, physically and emotionally, and there wasnothing she could do rightnow….\r\nAnd maybe nothing ever, she thought dimly. Shefelt something calm her and realized it was Deloss arm. She leaned against him, glad of hiswarmth and solidity in the darkness. There was a tremendous comfort in just being held by him.\r\nSometimes just having fought is important, shethought. Even if you dont win.\r\nHer eyelids were terribly heavy. It felt absolutely wonderful to close them, just for a moment …\r\nShe only woke up once during the night, and thatwas because of Delos. She could sense something in himsomething in his mind. He seemed to beasleep, but very far away, and very agitated.\r\nWas he calling my name? she wondered. I thought i heard that …\r\nHe was thrashing and muttering, now. Maggieleaned close and caught a few words.\r\nâ€Å"I live you… I did love you …always remember that …”\r\nâ€Å"Delos!” She shook him. â€Å"Delos, what are youdoing?”\r\nHe came awake with a start.\r\nâ€Å"Nothing.”\r\nBut she knew. She remembered those wordsshed heard them before she had actually met Deloson the mountain.\r\nâ€Å"It was my dream. You were … going back intime somehow, werent you? And giving me thatdream I had, warning me to get away from thisvalley.” She frowned. â€Å"But how can you? I thought you couldnt use your powers.”\r\nâ€Å"I dont think this took vampire powers,” he said,sounding almost guilty. â€Å"It was more-I think itwas just the bond between us. The soulmate thing.I dont even know how I did it. I justwent to sleepand started dreaming about the you of the past. Itwas as if I was searching for you-and then I foundyou. I made the connection. I dont know if its ever been done before, that kind of time travel.”\r\nMaggie shook her head. â€Å"But you already know it didnt work. The dream didnt change anything.I didnt leave as soon as I woke up in the cart,because Im here. And if I had left, I would never have met you, and then you wouldnt have sentthe dream….”\r\nâ€Å"I know,” he said, and his voice was tired and abit forlorn. He sounded very young, just then. â€Å"Butit was worth a try.”\r\n'