Sampson shrugged. “Liv’s the one who figured out the Sheers couldn’t cross the threshold into the Tunnel.”
Necro looked at Liv with an expression of gratitude.
Liv waved off Sampson’s compliment. “It was nothing, really. Just the principles of physics and a lucky guess. Sampson’s the real hero here.” Liv gave Sampson one of those looks that seemed to have a secret message hidden inside it.
“I think I can walk, Sam,” Necro said, pulling her arm from around his neck as if she’d suddenly realized it was there.
“Yeah, I mean, sure.” Sampson lowered her to the ground carefully, keeping one hand behind her back for support. Necro swayed, and he pulled her close. “If you don’t feel okay, I can carry you. It’s not like you’re heavy or anything,” he added.
“Good to know.” She smiled. “But I think I need to walk it off.”
Sampson stayed glued to Necro’s side, but it was a short walk. Within minutes, they reached the end of the Tunnel.
“So what’s the plan?” Link asked. “Are we just gonna bust in and save Rid?”
Floyd elbowed him. “That sounds like the opposite of a plan.”
“One of you geniuses should assess the situation, so we know exactly how many men Silas has out there,” Angelique said. “I’m sure he added guards after my escape.”
Floyd nodded, her stringy blond hair falling over her shoulder. “I’m the Illusionist; I’ll go.”
Link put his arm out in front of her. “Hold on. I’m the Incubus. I can Rip out there and see what’s happenin’.”
“That’s a brilliant idea.” The sarcasm in Liv’s tone made it clear she thought Link’s idea was anything but brilliant. “While you’re at it, why don’t you take John with you? I’m sure Silas’ men would be thrilled to get their hands on the Incubuses responsible for killing Abraham.”
Link scratched his head. “You think they have our pictures or somethin’?”
Liv sighed. “You definitely should not be the one to go.”
Floyd pushed her way in front of Link. “I don’t know why we’re still talking about this. I said I’d go.”
“Why is it any safer for you?” Link asked. “Can you make yourself invisible or somethin’ all of a sudden?”
Floyd rolled her eyes. “Now that you’re a Supernatural, you really need to brush up on Caster powers. I’m sure there’s a Wikipedia page.”
“You shouldn’t believe everything you read online,” Link said, feeling clever. “Isn’t that right, Liv?”
Angelique stared at them in disbelief. “Is this an actual conversation or are you two staging it for my benefit?”
“I’m all done talking.” Floyd took off her jacket and handed it to Link. “And to answer your question, I don’t have the power of invisibility. But I can make myself look like all kinds of things, temporarily.”
Link knew it was true. Ridley’s brother, Larkin, was an Illusionist, and Link had seen his powers in action.
Even if he was a tool when he was alive.
Sampson closed his eyes. “I’m not picking up on anything.” When he opened them again, he seemed satisfied that no one was waiting to grab Floyd on the other side, and he stepped away from the door. “It seems clear, but I wouldn’t go far. If this really does lead into the labs or anywhere near them, Silas will have his thugs around somewhere.”
“I’ve got this.” Angelique pushed past him and rested her hand on the door, whispering the words to open it. The seal broke on the Caster door, and it opened just enough for Floyd to squeeze her skinny body through without opening it any wider.
Sampson closed it behind her just enough to fool a casual observer, but Link kept his hand wedged in the top of the doorjamb just in case.
It felt like an hour passed before Floyd finally returned, even though Liv had been keeping track of the time and it had only been seven minutes.
With his supersonic hearing that trumped even an Incubus’, Sampson was the one who heard Floyd on the other side of the door. When the Darkborn opened it, Link grabbed Floyd’s arm and pulled her inside.
“Ow!” she said. “Take it easy.”
“You were gone long enough,” Link said, scowling.
“What’s wrong?” Floyd shrugged. “Did you miss me?”
Liv cleared her throat loudly. “Did you actually see anything?”
“Yeah. I saw plenty.” Floyd crossed her arms, suddenly all business. “There are a bunch of trees and a big building on the other side. I’m guessing it’s the labs, because this place is crawling with Incubuses and Darkborns.”
“How many?” Sampson asked.
“I’m not sure,” Floyd said. “I saw at least three Incubuses and another two or three Darkborns. Oh, and one of the Darkborns looked like she was the one in charge.”
“Wait. She?” Sampson raked his hands through his hair. “Did she have blond hair?”
Floyd gave him a strange look. “Yeah, platinum. It was practically white. How’d you know?”
“We’re screwed,” he said. “That’s Chloe Boucher. She’s the most dangerous Darkborn in the Underground. She’s an assassin.”
Link raised an eyebrow. “But you can take her, right?”
“Chloe Boucher has been around longer than I have, which makes her stronger. No one even knows where she came from. She just showed up on the scene with a buck knife and a name for killing.”