I’m not finished yet. I want Silas Ravenwood to know that no one controls me.
Her eyes darted back to Silas. You want to open my cell, Silas. More than you’ve ever wanted anything in your pathetic life.
Silas marched toward Ridley’s cell, as if he were a little puppet on a string.
My puppet. My string.
When he reached the door, he held out his hand to one of the guards. “Keys.”
The Darkborn dropped them in his palm.
Silas looked back at Ridley.
Do it, she thought. Do it now.
The Incubus raised a shaky arm. “Are you sure?”
“Oh, I am.” Ridley smiled. “It’s about time for the princess to rescue herself from the dungeon. And maybe burn down the castle while she’s at it. You know how these things go. It’s nothing personal.”
Ridley looked at Nox. “The prince is welcome to come.” Then she looked back at Silas. “The dragon, not so much.” She nodded, and Silas moved the key, slowly, as if he was fighting for control of his own body.
“This is a mistake,” he said as the key slid into the lock.
“I like to think of it as more of an upgrade,” Ridley said as she pushed the door open and stepped across the threshold.
“Ridley 3.0.”
CHAPTER 23: LINK
Queen of the Reich
Angelique smiled when Sampson mentioned the meaning of Chloe Boucher’s last name, but Link had a completely different reaction.
The Butcher? That can’t be good. Like slasher-movie-Stephen-King not good.
“So what’s the game plan?” Link asked. “You know, besides you gotta kill ’em all?”
No one laughed, not even Link.
“Any thoughts, ladies?” Angelique asked, addressing Necro and Floyd, the other Dark Casters.
“I might be able to deal with the Incubuses,” Floyd said. “But the Darkborns are out of my league.”
“They must have a weakness,” Liv reasoned, turning to Sam. “We just have to figure out what it is.”
He held up his hands. “Don’t look at me. If we have one, I don’t know what it is.”
“Humility?” Necro asked innocently.
“How many Darkborns did you say there were out there?” Angelique asked Floyd.
“I’m not sure. At least two, plus Chloe the Butcher.”
Angelique pushed up her sleeves and moved toward the Outer Door. “I love a challenge. Not to mention a butcher.”
Link stepped in front of her. “Hold up a minute.”
Angelique stared at him with an expression that said Move it or lose it.
He took the hint and stepped aside. “Sorry. I just missed the part about what the rest of us are supposed to do.”
Angelique pointed her finger at the door, and without a word, it flew open. “Try to stay out of the way.” She stalked out of the protection of the Tunnel and into a sea of grass and trees behind the plantation’s main house. “I wouldn’t want to kill you accidentally.”
Link scrambled after her with his friends as the Cataclyst shook out her red curls and cracked her knuckles like a thug getting ready to fight. The bloodlust propelling her reminded him of the only other Cataclyst he’d ever met, and Sarafine had been a complete psycho.
Sampson fell into step next to Link. “She’s crazy,” he said, keeping his voice low. “And she’s going to get herself killed before she makes it into the building.”
“I’m not so sure,” John said.
“You’ll have to pass notes later, children,” Angelique said. “We have company.”
Two Incubuses emerged from the trees. Neither one was paying attention, until they spotted Angelique marching toward them. The Incubuses’ black eyes narrowed as they zeroed in on what they probably considered their next victim.
This is either gonna be really good or really bad, dependin’ on which side you’re on, Link thought.
Angelique raised her hand, but Floyd jogged up beside her and pushed her out of the way. “Don’t be a ball hog. I’ll take care of these two.”
Angelique backed off, intrigued.
The trees around the Incubuses began to change, the massive oaks transforming into towering mirrors. Within seconds, they formed a maze, like the House of Mirrors at the Gatlin County Fair. The Incubuses waved their arms in front of them to avoid crashing into one of the huge trunks.
“Nicely played.” Angelique glanced at Floyd. “It’s about time. I was beginning to think you didn’t have a Dark bone in that skinny body of yours.”
Floyd frowned, focusing on her illusion. “Never underestimate a girl with a guitar.”
Sampson studied the mirrors as everyone walked right by the Incubuses trying to find their way out of the mirrored maze.
“Hopefully, getting past all of Silas’ men will be that easy,” Necro said, still looking exhausted after what happened to her at the Sultan’s Palace.
“Don’t count your fried chickens before I’ve slaughtered them,” Angelique called out. “I’m sure there will be plenty to go around. Just remember, Silas is mine.” The Cataclyst sounded vicious when she said his name, as if she was growing Darker with every step.
Up ahead, Link caught his first glimpse of what had to be the labs. The rectangular gray cement building reminded him of an elementary school building—minus the windows—and it looked out of place on the grounds of the Louisiana plantation. But he didn’t have time to give it too much thought because three guys were coming straight at them, and judging by their size alone, he was pretty sure they were Darkborns.