The League of Illusion: Legacy (9 page)

Chapter Twelve

The overturned carriage and the unconscious sorcerer on the sidewalk drew quite the crowd of gawkers. There were two constables present trying to restore order but to Darin it appeared they were doing a poor job of it. Even from across the street he could plainly see that.

He desperately wanted to pinch the driver away from the law and find out what happened. Yet he couldn’t draw attention to himself. The Hawthorne name couldn’t be linked to such doings. His father would murder him, or worse disown him, if Darin were to be implicated in this matter. No, he best watch this situation from afar and hope like hell that both the driver and the sorcerer died before they could say anything about the Hawthornes and the Davenports.

Damn that Jovan and Rhys. They were proving to be more formidable foes then he first thought. It was probably the Druid woman’s knowledge and ability that was aiding them. He always suspected that she possessed great power. Power he’d desperately coveted, but she’d shunned him. It was too bad because he didn’t really like to get h ~8~t siis hands dirty, but for Skylar Vanguard he would get them right filthy.

A chill bit at his gloved hands and he rubbed them together. Turning, he walked down the street to where his carriage had been parked. His driver jumped down from the seat and opened the door for him. Darin slid inside, gathering his cloak tighter around his body. The night was starting to get cold, and by the smell in the air it would rain soon.

He would return home for the evening and send out his man to get the information needed from the driver and the sorcerer. Unfortunately, he had to relinquish the chase until he knew more. He didn’t know where the Davenports were headed. They had won this round of the game. For now.

Chapter Thirteen

The road told them when they reached Whitechapel. Its smooth surface gave way to a rough one pitted with blemishes, much like the inhabitants. Rhys parked the carriage in the light from one of the lampposts but Jovan didn’t think it would matter. If thieves wanted to steal it or its parts, it wouldn’t matter if it was parked in front of the bobbies. People were poor here and did what they needed to do to make ends meet.

The three of them gathered on the dirty sidewalk and looked down the darkened lanes.

“Where the hell are we going to find this Caroline?” Rhys asked.

“I should be able to scry now.”

Jovan handed her the satchel.

After the same ritual she performed in the cemetery, Skylar peered intently into the reflective surface. This time she must’ve seen something because she handed the mirror back to Jovan to put away. Then pointed across the street. “This way.”

She led them down three street blocks, then down a seemingly endless dark alley, which of course was impossible since everything had an end. Jovan was acutely aware of their isolation as they crept down the shady lane. If they ran into trouble here there would be no outside help. They would be on their own.

He was about to ask how much farther when Skylar stopped in her tracks and pointed to the stone wall. Except instead of rock there was now a door. A weird one, painted blood red.

She glanced at him. “For someone with so much magical power you look a bit unnerved.”

He didn’t answer but indeed couldn’t shake the sense of dread that had washed over him. Over the years he’d encountered many things, many different types of power, but nothing felt as ominous or as unsettling as whatever was behind that door.

“Are you sure Sebastian came here?” Rhys asked.

“That’s what Evangeline said,” Skylar answered. “So we must go in.”

She was about to wrap her hand around the door handle and push it open when Jovan put a hand on her arm and stopped her. “I’ll go in first.”

She didn’t argue, just stepped to the side to give him access. He opened the door and went in.

The small entrance was gloomy, dimly lit by a candelabra mounted on the wall. The candlelight flickered eerily over the red-painted walls. Jovan could barely make out the stairs in front of him. But it was obviously the only place they could go so they went down. Skylar and Rhys crowded in after him. He could feel her nearly pressed up against him. He wondered what she’d do if he turned suddenly and t rea they couembraced her tight. He had the urge to do just that. This place was bad. He could sense it all the way down to his toes.

He glanced over his shoulder at Skylar. “Stay close. I don’t like the feel of this place.”

“Nor do I. It feels wrong, as if it has no business existing at all.”

With Jovan in the lead they descended the stairs slowly, cautiously. He procured a lit candle from the candelabra and held it out in front of him. Despite the flicking light, he still couldn’t see much ahead. It was as if the very shadows feasted on the meager glow. Gobbling it up before it could illuminate any danger.

After an unnatural amount of steps, they made it to the bottom. Now they faced what appeared to be a tunnel dug out from the earth itself. A hollowed-out tube leading into the belly of the beast.

A shiver rushed down Jovan’s spine as he led them through. The walls were damp and stunk of mold and dead things. It reminded him of the cemetery. Except this time they were deep underground. After a short time the tunnel opened up into a vast space. A cavern perhaps by the earthen smell.

And that was when he saw a woman standing in the middle of it, eyes trained on him as if she’d been waiting for him this whole time.

“Good evening,” she said, her voice deep but musical.

“Are you Caroline?” Jovan asked.

“I am.” With a wave of her hand, candles lit one by one around the room.

The light grew in size, and as it did Jovan took the time to survey their hostess. Her skin shone like polished mahogany in the candlelight. Her lips were even darker, probably stained by ink as a mark. Her long dark hair was in tight thin braids, bells and bones weaved inside. She wore a simple shift of deep rich red that clung to her generous curves. She wore no shoes and dug her toes into the soft earth beneath her. There was something alluring about her. Jovan felt a slight tug at his loins. But he didn’t know if it was just the look of her or the power that radiated around her. It was so strong it was almost visible like an aura.

“We’re here to…”

She put up her hand to stop his words, her bracelet of bones clacking together. “I know why you have come. I have seen it.” She gestured to the ground, where animal bones lay scattered at her feet. They were arranged in a strange pattern. “There will be a price for my services.”

Skylar stepped forward. “You don’t know what we ask.”

“You seek the one called Sebastian and the item he came looking for.”

Jovan glanced at Skylar then Rhys. It appeared they had come to the right place, however uncomfortable it made them feel. He could see the unease in both their faces.

“Give us information first,” Skylar said.

Caroline smiled and it was as if the whole room shrunk. “That is not how this works, Druid lady. You must agree to the price before I tell you anything.”

Skylar flexed her fingers and took another step forward.

“Be cautious,” Caroline said, “Your Druid powers will not work down here, so far away from the trees and the sun.” She flung her arms out to the side dramatically. “You are in my world now.”

From the shadows lurched twin giants of men dressed in filthy rags and smelling like death. Every step they took appeared cookrld nowumbersome because of the gimp leg that dragged behind each of them. But it was their heads that made them monstrous. Their faces were an amalgamation of scars crisscrossing over their noses and left eyes like the tracks of a locomotive.

They stood beside their mistress, one on each side, the threat implied. No one needed to speak out loud the true purpose of their appearance.

Rhys moved in next to Jovan and gripped his arm tightly. “Let’s go. We’ll find another way to find our brother.”

“There’s no time, Rhys. The Solstice comes soon.”

He nodded and dropped his hand. “But what if the price is too high to pay?”

“Then we’ll deal with it.” Jovan turned back to Caroline. “What is your price?”

“Three gills of sorcerer blood.”

“Ridiculous,” Skylar said.

“Done,” Jovan said.

Both Skylar and Rhys reeled on him.

“Three gills is almost a pint, Jovan. That’s too much,” Rhys said.

“Are you out of your mind?” Skylar poked him in the chest. “You know how powerful your blood is. You don’t even know what she’s going to do with it.”

“It doesn’t matter,” he retorted. “And I don’t care. She can have it if it helps us find Sebastian in time.”

Skylar shook her head. “You’re a damn fool.”

“So I’ve been told repeatedly.” He took a step toward Caroline. “Now tell us about Sebastian and why he came to see you.

“He came looking for something.” Her fingers played around the beaded necklaces she wore. “A key.”

“What kind of key?” Rhys demanded.

“A special one. That unlocks the door to oblivion.”

“Stop with the riddles,” Skylar said, “and tell us in plain language about this key and why it’s special.”

“Very well, Druid.” Caroline nodded to Skylar. “The key opens a doorway to time. Sebastian came for it so he could go into the past.”

It was just as Evangeline had said in the cemetery. Sebastian was looking to go back, likely so he could stop her from dying. Guilt was powerful. It could make a person do just about anything.

“Did you give him this key?” Jovan asked.

“Yes.”

“And where was this door supposed to be?”

“At the circle of standing stones.”

Faster than he could track, Skylar unloosed Rhys’s sword and pressed it to Caroline’s swanlike neck. The two bodyguards just grunted and had yet to move to defend their mistress.

“I said enough riddles,” Skylar seethed. “I may not have my powers, but I can still slit your throat easy enough.”

“Skylar!”

“I’m sorry, Jovan, but this place is making me a bit irritable and I’m tired of being down here. I miss the fresh air.”

Caroline chuckled, the movement forcing the blade to nick her skin, but she didn’t seem to care. “Your woman is quite fierce.”

“I’m not his woman.”

“Of course you are. You have been and always will be.”

This seemed to make Skylar angrier and she pressed the steel even harder. Beads of blood pooled on Caroline’s skin.

“Put the blade away, Skylar. Please.”

His pleas did nothing to stay her hand.

“The standing stones are at Stonehenge. That is where Sebastian took the key.”

“Stonehenge?” Rhys inquired. “How could there be a door there? Makes no sense.”

“You’re thinking too literally, brother.”

Skylar lowered the rapier and stepped back and sheathed it into Rhys’s cane. “I apologize for nearly killing you.”

Caroline chuckled. “Oh, I assure you I was in no danger of dying.” Her eyes went black as pitch and just as foul.

Jovan shuddered, as did Skylar, who was now pressed against him.

“So we have our destination,” Rhys said. “Now let’s get this bloodletting business done and be on our way.”

“I agree.” Jovan stripped off his jacket and handed it to Rhys. He then unclipped the cuff link at his left wrist and started to roll up the sleeve of his shirt.

“But you cannot go to Stonehenge without the key.”

Jovan paused. “But you sai
d you’d given the key to Sebastian.”

“I did. But it has come back. It always returns when its work is done.”

“Then do you have it?”

She shook her head. “It did not return to me. But I know where you can find it.”

Chapter Fourteen

Frustrated, Rhys slapped the paper flyer down on the table with his hand. “The exhibition? Is that woman serious?”

“I’d say so, yes.” Skylar brought her cup up to her mouth. They were back at the Davenport town house taking tea. It was very late and they were all a bit punchy. Some more than others.

“What does she think we’re going to do? Walk into a 990,000 square-foot building and just magically stumble upon this key?” He turned toward Jovan, who was staring out one of the parlor windows and rubbing at the bandage around the crook of his arm. “This was damn well not worth the price of your blood.”

Jovan had yet to turn from the window. “Maybe not, but it’s all we have to go on.”

“Forget the key. I say we just go on to Stonehenge. Maybe we’ll find Sebastian holed up in some village with a wench and a child, happy as can be.”

“But what if we don’t?” Skylar asked. “What if this is our only chance to get this key and we pass it up?”

Jovan turned. “I agree. We have a limited window of opportunity and we should take it.”

“How?” Rhys asked.

“The fair opens tomorrow. We’ll attend and look for this key. Then we’ll figure out how to acquire it.” Jovan came over and sat in one of the vacant chairs.

Skylar noticed the dark circles under his eyes and the pallor of his skin. “You need to rest,” she said to him.

“We all do.”

“I’ll see what I can do about getting us tickets. They’ve been sold out for weeks now, but Lord Effington owes me a favor. But for now I’m going to retire.” Rhys gave them a quick nod then left the room.

When he was gone, she gestured to the finger sandwiches on the plate in the middle of the table. “You should eat. You look as pale as the moon.”

Jovan selected one and took a bite but she could clearly see he had hardly the energy to chew and swallow it.

When he was finished, she set her hand on his. “Come now. I will put you to bed.”

One eyebrow went up at that. Obviously he still had enough vigor to harbor lustful thoughts.

“I said put you to bed not take you to bed.” She shook her head at him.

“You can’t fault a man for his wishful thinking.”

She helped him to his feet. “Oh yes, I can.”

He leaned on her as they mounted the stairs to the third level, which was already lit up by one of the lanterns mounted on the wall. Rhys must have lit it when he’d retired. Skylar led Jovan to his room then helped him to his bed. This proved to be a mistake as he pulled her down with him as he lay back.

“Jovan,” she protested as she pulled and twisted out of his grip.

“Stay, Skylar. Stay with me.”

“It’s not proper that you even ask me.”

“Damn propriety! When have I ever done anything proper? I thought that’s what attracted you to begin with?”

She didn’t respond.

“I don’t care what should and shouldn’t be done, I want you to stay with me. I need you to.”

Her resolve softened. Oh, who was she kidding, it was never strong to begin with, not when it came to him. Her heart had leaped when he’d asked her to stay. It was only her stubbornness and arrogance that automatically refused.

She gazed down at him, taking in the vulnerability and fragility she saw in his sunken face. It wasn’t often that Jovan allowed someone to see such things in him.

Lifting her hand, she lightly traced a finger down his cheek. “I want to resist you.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to be hurt again.”

He raised his hand to her face and swept a curl from her brow to tuck behind her ear. “I won’t hurt you, Skylar. I just want to hold you, if only for a few hours. I won’t ask for more than that.”

His touch was soft and gentle but full of yearning. And it spoke volumes to her. More than any words could at that moment.

“Yes. I’ll stay with you.”

She lay on her side as Jovan snuggled in behind her. He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her tight to his body. She could feel the heavy thump of his heart against her back, and his breath along the curve of her neck. She felt safe, and secure. And loved.

“I came for you that day,” he mumbled against her skin.

“I know, my father told me.” She stroked her fingers over his hand.

“But you’d already gone.” His voice was barely audible. “No note…no nothing…”

Soon his breathing hisont evened out and slowed. Then he was asleep. Skylar lay still awhile, contemplating him and their renewed partnership and whether she was strong enough to survive it. She wanted to tell him that yes, she’d left him a letter, one that begged him to come for her. When he didn’t come, something inside her had died. It wasn’t until years later that her father confessed that he’d taken the note before Jovan could read it. By then it was too late. Their relationship had truly ended.

The ring she wore pinged ever so softly. It was the council calling her. They obviously wanted to know what was going on. They’d likely heard about the chase through the streets and the disturbance at the cemetery. But she didn’t want to face them, not now. She wanted her time with Jovan to last a little bit longer. Sighing, she shut her eyes, forcing her mind on other things, until she too fell into a deep, surprisingly peaceful sleep.

* * *

The next morning they were greeted in the parlor by Rhys with three tickets to the opening of the London World’s Fair. After a bit of breakfast they all donned their walking best and took the carriage to Hyde Park.

When they arrived, there was already a long line of arriving carriages. Skylar looked out the side window to see a steady stream of people crossing the massive park. Families, rich and poor, that would never have mingled, nudged against one another. Derbies and top hats, frock coats and dress coats, polished shoes and scuffed boots, the men led the way. Behind them came the ladies resplendent in their wide hoop skirts and brightly colored hats, with matching gloves of every imaginable color. They all jostled together to enter the iron-and-glass building nicknamed the Crystal Palace, which was constructed to house the fair.

The structure was breathtaking and worth the price of the ticket on its own. She’d heard the queen herself was to officially open the Fair. She wondered what other marvels would be inside. Certainly enough to make the goal of finding the key nearly impossible. She brought her scrying mirror with her so she could hopefully see where the key was located. How to acquire it would come later.

After parking their carriage, they entered the building and were awestruck by the spectacle inside. In the lobby a huge stone fountain was bubbling with water, and large elm trees loomed overhead. Skylar had never seen anything like it.

She glanced at Jovan to see a twin look of awe on his face. “It’s quite spectacular, isn’t it?”

He nodded. “The wheels of industry are turning ever so quickly.”

“How are we to find this key?” Rhys asked as he took in all the exhibits in the two-tiered structure.

It would certainly take them the better part of two days to walk the building and investigate every display for something as innocuous and small as the key. They needed a better method of searching.

“Find me a private spot and I can use my mirror.” She patted her leather satchel.

“Much easier said than done,” Jovan responded.

And it was true. The exhibition was swarming with people from all walks of life. Gentlemen and ladies mingled with dockworkers and house servants. Every nook and cranny and alcove had an occupant milling about, taking in the splendor of the various exhibits.

“Then I suppose I’ll do it out in the open.”

“That’s against council law,” Jovan said with just a hint of smugness. He probably loved toba/p>

“A lot of things we’ve already done are against council law. Why stop now?”

He grinned at her and she couldn’t stop the lift of the lips. She was too tired to fight against it. Fight against him.

“Let’s walk,” Rhys suggested. “We’re sure to find a suitable spot eventually.”

Walk they did, straight down the middle of the pavilion. They passed several courts along the way. The French court displayed several porcelain sculptures and bronze decorations that were reduced versions of works by Michelangelo. The Russian court boasted furniture made from a bright green mineral called malachite. Many pieces Skylar coveted. If only they had time to shop. It wasn’t until they came to the East Nave and the works of the Zolvarian that they found a perfect private spot. Behind a huge zinc sculpture of a warrior on a horse called
The Amazon
was an empty place perfect for secret viewings.

Skylar took out her mirror. “I won’t be but a minute.” She left Rhys and Jovan to stand guard on the other side of the massive structure.

Once alone, she pricked her finger, smeared it on the four corners and invoked the incantation. Within seconds she saw an image materialize in the glass.

Not an image per se, but words.
Day & Newell.
Tucking her mirror back in her bag she came out of the secluded spot. Rhys and Jovan were sitting of the bench waiting for her—on opposite sides of course.

“Well?” Jovan asked.

“Day & Newell.”

Rhys frowned. “Does that mean anything to you?”

“Must be a company that has an exhibit here.” She spotted an attendant making his rounds. She stopped him. “Excuse me, sir?”

He tipped his head to her. “Yes, milady. What might I do for you?”

“Day & Newell. Do they have an exhibit here?”

“Why, yes. A security exhibit. It’s upstairs in the West Nave.”

“Thank you.”

They made their way up the stairs to the exhibits of industry and future technology on the second level. Here they heard the constant
chug-chug
of steam, which powered the various machines on display. This was also where they found the security exhibit from America,
Day & Newell
.

When they approached, a great debate was going on about one of the locks the company had on show. Surprisingly, quite a number of gentlemen crowded around were either involved in the debate or eagerly watching it. Some of the gentlemen were handling a sampling of locks and keys laid out on the tables.

They had no way of knowing which one of them they needed.

“That’s an awful lot of keys,” Skylar said.

“We’ll have to take them all and sort it out later.” Jovan said.

“How do you propose to get them?” Rhys asked, looking around. “Perhaps a diversion would suffice.”

“It would be better and easier if the building were evacuated.”

Skylar wheeled around to gape at him. “Are you mad?”

“I thought that’s what you liked about me. You keep mentioning it.” He gave her where the that devilish grin of his. The one that never failed to incite something deep inside her belly.

“How in hell are you going to do that?”

Rhys waved his hand around. “There are thousands of people here, and if you say a fire I’ll knock that stupid head of yours.”

“Of course not a fire.” Jovan sniffed. “What do you take me for?” He had his hand out before Rhys could respond. “That was not an invitation.”

“How else can we instigate an evacuation?” She went to the railing of the second floor and looked down. Jovan joined her.

He pointed to the bronze statue of a raging bull in the Italian court. “A rampaging animal perhaps.” He glanced over his shoulder to look at Rhys. “You could do that, right? An animal illusion?”

Instead of answering the question Rhys simply said “Rats.”

Jovan pushed away from the railing. “Excuse me, dear brother, but I’m positive you just said rats?”

“I did.” His eyes lit up. “A rampaging animal would be too violent and destructive but a pack of vile rats, a huge pack of rats, would insure everyone would leave the building and quickly.”

“You can do that?” Skylar asked. She’d never seen Rhys use magic. She’d assumed he didn’t possess as much power as Jovan or Sebastian. Obviously she’d been wrong. To create illusions was indeed powerful. Not every sorcerer possessed such a talent. Jovan didn’t.

Rhys nodded. “It’s a difficult illusion, to be sure, and I haven’t done one in a long time. There are so many variables involved but I should be able to hold it until everyone is out of the building.”

“If you need extra power, you can siphon it from me. I have an affinity with nature. Maybe it will help you contain the illusion.”

“Thank you.”

Jovan didn’t look happy at that. “He better not have to touch you or anything.”

“Don’t be foolish, Jovan,” she mocked him. “We will only be holding hands.”

Rhys joined in on the fun. “Unless I need more power, then a kiss might be in order.” Jovan scowled until Rhys clapped him on the back. “Don’t be so sour. It’s only a kiss.”

When Jovan’s frown only deepened, Rhys laughed. And Skylar did as well.

“Where will you be when all this happens?” she asked him.