Books 1-3 by Jamie Mcfarlane

Author:Jamie Mcfarlane [McFarlane, Jamie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 35161402
Publisher: Fickle Dragon Publishing
Published: 2017-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Darkness Exposed

The bright beam of a high-powered flashlight lanced through the heavily treed forest, pausing momentarily as it illuminated the four of us still hunkered down next to the hillside leading to the cathedral's cave. Something about our position gave the invisible form behind the light pause, but so far it hadn't been enough to warrant more than a quick second look. Just as before, this searcher moved on, crashing into the forest to continue his frantic search.

I held the unconscious Petaluma in a seated position in front of me, hugging her protectively with my arms. I wanted to teleport the girl back a few years, to the happy moments I remembered with her as a preteen, playing in this very forest. Just how that sweet girl ended up in a cave full of monsters under her control, while she attacked me and mine, was something I couldn't bear to consider.

We'd been hiding for what felt like hours, but it was more like forty minutes when Petaluma stirred.

"Shh," I encouraged, as Lace's concerned eyes bored into us. She'd been against bringing Petaluma along given her less than positive experience with the girl so far.

"Uncle Felix?" Petaluma asked, groggily. "Where are we?"

"In the forest, hiding from the Dark Folk," I said.

She sagged back into my arms. "He'll kill us all."

"No, sweet child, he won't. The FBI is on their way."

"He's too strong," she said.

"Just rest," I said.

"Felix," Gabriella whispered. "Look."

At the mouth of the cave, Thea emerged, outlined by a light from behind. Apparently, she'd recovered and with her at least one of the necromancers with whom we'd tangled. She stumbled forward and worked her way down the stairs.

"Lady Althea." A man approached from the path that led back to the parking area. "What are your orders?"

"Where is the Applebaum child?"

"Jorie saw her come out of the cave with the princess and the prisoners from last night." I recognized the voice as belonging to the first security guard who'd imprisoned Gabriella and me. "He fired a shot to get them back into the cave, but they ran."

"Kill them all," she said. "No survivors."

"Even the girl?" he asked, surprised.

"Especially the girl," Thea said coldly. "She's weak and knows too much."

I half expected Petaluma to gasp or become angry. Instead, she silently turned into my chest and wrapped her arms around me.

"Willum wants you back at the church immediately," he said.

Thea didn't reply other than to push past him.

"I don't know how much longer I can hold this," Lace said after a few more minutes. "I've never masked so many for so long."

"Have you ever joined with another sister?" Gabriella asked, reaching for Lace's hand.

Lace took Gabriella's hand, looking at her skeptically.

"Do you feel that?" Gabriella whispered. "The warmth in the palm of your hand. Please let me in. Allow my spirit to join with your own."

"I'm afraid," Lace said.

"I won't hurt you," Gabriella reassured.

Lace nodded, the tension in her face draining.

"Share your pain with me," Gabriella said soothingly. "You needn't carry this burden alone.

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