The Binding Stone (The Djinn Series) (32 page)

I
struggle to turn my head and manage to flop around just enough to see a large
hole opening in the wall. A few seconds later, out tumble Gabe and Jered. Or is
it Achan? My head is swimming. Perhaps this whole thing is some dream induced
by the lead poisoning.

“It’s
just us,” Gabe yells.

“Jered?”
Sophie asks.

“Yes.
It’s me.”

My
heart turns over, and I manage a groan. If it’s a dream, at least it’s a good
one.

Jered
runs to me, and his face swims hazily in and out of view. I can’t tell by
looking at him who is inside, and that makes me feel even worse.

“You
have to leave her there,” Taj says in warning.

Jered
sits beside me and lifts my head into his lap, stroking my hair back from my
face. A gesture, I realize, that both men have used with affection. I move my
lips, but nothing comes out.

“What
happened?” Sophie asks.

“He
woke up a few minutes after you left,” says Gabe. “As far as I can tell it’s
really him. I mean he knows stuff the real Jered would know.”

“Achan
would have run with his tail between his legs,” Taj says.

“What
did you do to him, Sophie?” Gabe asks.

“I
gave him some energy, so he wouldn’t disappear. But I’m still little, and Daddy
says it won’t last.” Her chin falls down, and she shuffles her foot in the
dirt.

“He
was just upset because you are smarter than him,” Taj says, and she looks up
with a smile.

“Anyway,”
Gabe says, “I told Jered what happened, and he wanted to come by himself, but I
kind of insisted. I mean, you guys really need my help, you know?” I can
visualize the goofy grin on his face all too well. “So call me crazy, but why
isn’t Taj killing Her Royal Pain in the Ass?”

“Little
Master has forbid me from trying,” Taj says. “Apparently she has a thing
against killing people too.”

“It’s
bad to murder people when it’s not in self-defense,” says Sophie. “Even the
evil ones.”

“Oh
God, I’m so sorry, Leela.” Jered hugs me to him, rocking me back and forth. I
want so badly to tell him it’s okay. It wasn’t his fault, but my own. Also,
that he’s hurting me.

“Can
you put a shield around Taj so he can get in there and take the necklace off?”
Sophie asks from above.

“Of
course I can,” Jered says.

He
lays me gently on the ground and backs up enough to let Taj in. Taj’s fingers
reach down over my throat and tug at the stone. But just as I feel it give, Taj
jerks wildly and collapses on top of me.

“Taj!”
Sophie screams.

Jered
looks up, smiling. “I’m back. Now give me the stone, Soph.” He extends his hand
and moves from view.

“Daddy?”
she whispers.

“That’s
right, sweetie. Now give me the stone. Daddy isn’t happy that you tried to kill
him. But I forgive you. You were confused. Confused about where your loyalties
lie because you’ve been hanging out with the wrong crowd.”

A
loud crash, and Sophie screams. “Gabe!”

Jered’s
voice. “Give it to me, or Daddy will have to take it from you.”

I
want to yell at her to run. But I can’t even open my mouth. Taj’s body is
suffocating me. How could everything have gone so wrong? The sounds of
struggling fill my ears, and Jered’s body comes back into view, dragging Sophie
with him.

“Where
is it?” he asks, dropping her to the ground beside us.

Above
me Taj’s hand flexes, but all he can do is grab Jered’s ankle. Then something
happens. Jered’s face twists in pain. His hands fly up to his head, and he
stumbles backward.

Moments
later he freezes, breathing hard and staring at me wide-eyed.

“He’s
still in there,” he says, and I believe it is Jered talking. “I’m trying, but I
don’t know what to do.”

I
have to get up. Have to get to him. But how can I? Even if I succeed, my
command is to bring Sophie and Taj back in chains of lead. How can I help Jered
if I hand them over to Kitra?

My
forehead pounds against my skull. Pins and needles prickle through my skin. My
vision fogs again. Jered drops down next to me, pulling Taj off and shoving him
out the door as best he can. I can see the strain in his eyes, though. See that
Achan might take control again at any moment.

“What
do I do?” he asks, leaning over me.

I
have to help them. I try to move my lips. Then I feel his aura wash over me,
protecting me. But it is weak, and I’m sure it is costing him in his fight with
Achan. My hands jerk to fulfill their command, but I am not strong enough. I
force words from my mouth while I have the chance.

“Sophie.”
It is all I can manage before Jered pulls away again, yanking at his hair like
it is on fire.

“Sophie,
come out of the room so I can protect you!” Taj calls, and I feel her sweep by.

“I
know what to do now,” she says excitedly. “Taj, you have to let her out.”

The Beginning

“
worry for you so,” I say.

Achan
sweeps the hair from my face, cupping my cheek in his hand.

“There
is nothing to fear, Little One.”

“Oh,
but there is, Master. Please, I did not tell Kitra everything about the Djinn.
But I will tell you. I trust you.” I bat my eyes at him, letting the satin
sheet fall away from my body.

“Tell
me,” he says, eyes drinking me in.

“So
you have commanded. We are very powerful in numbers.”

“This
much you have told us,” he says.

“But,
if Kitra manages to get more than one Djinni under her control, she will be
strong enough to take us away from you, one by one,” I say, climbing to my
knees, and sliding my hands over his shoulders.

Achan
looks away, licking his lips. I see the fear flit across his face as the
reality hits him.

“But
she would never–”

“Wouldn’t
she?” I ask, tilting his head to look into my eyes. “Is it not she who controls
the Council? Is it not she who commands us all? She has grown comfortable in
this position. Power seduces all.”

“What
would you have me do?” he asks.

I
drape my arms around him, pressing my chest against his. “We must leave. And
Cephas should leave as well, with Taj.”

“Since
when do you care what happens to Cephas?” he asks, pulling back enough to
search my face.

“I
do not, Master. But I do care about Taj. And I worry about the kind of power
Kitra can take for herself.”

“Well,
well, well.” Kitra has appeared in the door. Achan swings around, and I cling
to his back with a gasp. “Trying to poison Achan’s ears?”

“Worried
that I will listen?” Achan asks, smoothly.

“Never.”

“Then
why are you here, Kitra?” he asks.

“I
thought I heard my name,” she says.

“All
the way in your room? Were we that loud?”

They
stare at each other for a long time, neither wanting to back down. I stay
cowered behind my Master’s back.

“I
think you had better come here for your punishment, Little One.” Kitra mocks my
nickname as she says it. I rise, but Achan holds out a hand.

“You
do not have to go,” he says. “She is mine to punish if and how I see fit.”

“Very
well, Achan.” Kitra leaves, spine straight, slamming the door behind her.

“She
has been listening. Perhaps you are right about the situation,” he says,
pulling me around into his lap. “You have done well.”

“Thank
you,” I say.

“I
think perhaps it is time we take our leave of the Council and its ways.” My
heart leaps in my chest. Does this mean what I think it does? Will he finally
see that he does not need this collar in order to have what he wants?

He
kisses me deeply, and I return his passion with equal fervor. I only hope Taj
is having as much luck with Cephas.

Stone

he second Taj frees me from my lead prison, I leap up and wave a
hand, fulfilling my command. Kitra sits up in her throne at once, glee filling
her eyes when she sees what I have laid at her feet on the scarlet carpet.

I hate that she forced me to bind Sophie in chains. I’ve made sure they are as
loose as possible.

“That took quite some time,” Kitra says. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d
found yet another way to disobey me.”

I say nothing as she steps between the two figures on the ground. My fingers
twitch as she leans over Sophie, who lets out an involuntary whimper.

“Give me the stone, and I won’t kill you,” Kitra says.

Sophie looks to me with wide eyes. Inside I rage at Kitra; outside I am careful
to keep my expression impassive. I can only hope the child really has come up
with a solution, though I cannot see it.

“Okay,” Sophie says.

Kitra straightens, satisfied. “Take off her chains.”

I snap at once, and the chains are removed. Sophie stands awkwardly.

“Hand it over,” Kitra says.

I hold my breath. Sophie’s eyes dart around the room, searching for help. But
she is on her own. Finally, she reaches into the air above her head and pulls
out a large round tiger’s eye.

I glance at Taj. His eyes are wide. He shakes his head feebly back and forth,
making me want to cry.

Kitra snatches the stone from Sophie’s hands, licking her lips hungrily. She
pulls up her sleeve, and on her wrist I see a golden bracelet with an emerald
set inside. I touch my throat. I hadn’t even thought to look. I didn’t really
care what color it was.

Securing the stone to the same bracelet, Kitra allows herself a smile.

“Let him out,” she says.

Again, I obey at once. Taj stands. His eyes focus on me, the intensity of his
gaze making me sway. This can’t be happening.

“Now, I think
this
needs to pay a price.” Kitra gestures toward Sophie.

My heart speeds up as the girl staggers backward slightly.
Please
don’t,
I beg inside. I know doing so outwardly will only light fire to
Kitra’s cruelty.