King Cave (7 page)

Ezra’s attention was already turned in the elderly Mage’s direction, probably having heard his heartbeat. “Yes.” His lips pursed. “I didn’t realize he was an Elder.”

Jack snorted, eyeing the Mage. “We’re all dumbasses. He has enough power to light up the entire continent. We should have known.”

“Were we ever told his last name?” Pearl asked, staring hard.

Richard hobbled toward our stopped vehicle, a merry smile on his wrinkled face.

We shook our heads in unison to Pearl’s question.

This past year, all Richard had been to us was the kind, gentle ancient Mage who had allowed us to use his private beach for our entertainment. We seemed to have issues following rules when it came to sand and water, and Coms, the combination not mixing well for us when we had been attacked by Coms, resulting in us killing the lot even after the Kings had expressly stated we were not to fight. We had been ‘grounded’ and had been allowed only on Richard’s property. Once the Kings had let up on their original punishment.

We stared at Richard, dumbstruck, not believing our own stupidity.

My red brows lifted. “I wonder if he watched over us from his window.”

Ezra grunted. “Hell, he probably sat on the beach next to us without us knowing.”

Richard halted next to the front passenger door, his hands folded in front of him and his expression peaceful and patient as he waited.

I squeezed Ezra’s hand. “Roll the window down.”

Ezra continued eyeing the Mage, evaluating, before he finally did as asked. The action permitted the showy drone of crickets weighing the night air to filter through the silence.

Richard merely asked, “Would you mind giving me a ride?”

I jerked my head toward the back seat, my eyes still wide. “Hop in.”

Pearl opened the back passenger door, and then scooted over.

Our eyes were glued to our new passenger as he climbed inside.

Richard chuckled softly while he shut the door, and instantly put on his seatbelt. He pointed toward the road. “If you drive straight, I’ll give you my name.”

Pearl hurriedly thumped my shoulder. Her attention was avid on the Mage. It was probably killing her she hadn’t known he was an Elder, and she obviously wanted to know exactly who he was.

Nodding, I stepped on the gas again, rolling forward.

“There will be a sharp right ahead, so go slowly.” Richard rested comfortably on the seat, and after I made the turn carefully as he had instructed, he stated, “Even though I would much prefer Richard, in light of current events it would be best if you addressed me by my title, which is Elder Richard Harcourt. Or rather, Elder Harcourt.”

Pearl gasped, her jaw dropping.

Ezra’s hand twitched in mine before he relaxed his hold.

Jack jumped enough I felt his knees bump the back of my seat.

I, on the other hand, still had no clue who he was.

Pinching my lips, I kept quiet so my Mystical ignorance didn’t show.

Elder Harcourt chortled, but I could feel his gaze on me. “I’m one of the Elders who fought to bring our factions together when they were living alone and frightened a very long time ago.”

Pearl snorted. “We know who you are.”
Not all of us.
“Why didn’t you tell us before?”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Elder Harcourt shrug. “Anonymity’s a priceless gift.”

Ezra hummed, his eyes forward and analyzing the area with his keen gaze. “You prefer to be nameless.” It both was and wasn’t a question, his tone one of implied curiosity.

“Yes.”

“Why is that?”

I blinked, hearing a bit of Elder Cahal Zeller in Ezra’s tone. Ezra had said he had learned plenty from his father. I wondered just how much my bestie was like his daddy-o, except with his own personal brand, unique to him, of ferreting information. I glanced in Ezra’s direction. He appeared serene, but his eyes were still darting across the landscape, not missing any detail of the lushly wooded area.

Elder Harcourt sounded as if he were smiling when he countered, “Mr Zeller, I believe I will let you make your own assumptions.” He waggled a wrinkled, creaky finger between the front seats. “Please slow down, Ms Ruckler. The road dips here.”

Instantly, I reduced our speed.

The shadowy gravel road was precarious on the down slope, which was most definitely heading toward the beach, the thud of crashing waves steadily approaching.

Pearl made a choking noise. Began fidgeting. Gasping, she blurted, “May I ask a few—”

“I’d prefer if you didn’t, Ms Cooper,” Elder Harcourt interrupted. There was steel in his tone.

Pearl huffed quietly, but stayed mute, respecting his wishes.

We exited the tree line.

The Sound could be seen in the light of my headlights. Gravel gave way to grass, with periodic splotches of sand, and the ground appeared to sharply drop off some thirty yards ahead.

Elder Harcourt murmured, “Turn right if you want a good parking place.”

“Thanks,” I whispered, accepting his guidance and turning right along the tree line, driving onto the tall grass. My Hummer had no issue with the off-roading. When the side of a rounded pitch-black cave came into view, rising fifteen yards out of the grass and spreading back from the beach into the forest, I asked, “Park with the headlights toward the Sound?”

“That would be best,” Elder Harcourt affirmed.

On the verge of the glossy black cave’s roof, I turned the wheel and drove until we were almost at the edge of the embankment. The ground was now mixed heavily with sand. Between the small dunes stretching the ridge, a set of weatherworn stairs could be seen leading down to the beach. Where the cave’s entrance had to be.

Once parked, I grabbed my gun and exited my Hummer with my friends and Elder Harcourt.

The parade of vehicles behind us began following suit.

The four of us trailed Elder Harcourt down the stairs to the cool, dry sand. He led us to the massive opening of the cave’s entrance, while the tattered Mysticals gradually shadowed us, their expressions curious as they did not understand where we were. They weren’t fearful though, the protection clear.

Our group stopped there.

Once again placing my gun under my shirt in the waistband of my pants, I stared at a cluster of ten Mages down the beach, who were glowing brightly with their hands high in the air as they chanted, their low murmurs only an undertone on the increasing breeze.

“What are they doing?” Jack questioned.

“They’re sending a message to all Mysticals to seek shelter,” Elder Harcourt answered, and my gaze found his. He nodded, his lips pursed. “Attacks have occurred at Awakenings, businesses, or homes, worldwide.” He perused the injured behind us. “There will be many more arriving from the call. But if they can’t travel here safely, I do hope they take sanctuary in other places closer to their homes.”

Rolling my shoulders, I felt a weight I had only barely held off rigidly settle.

It was one thing to assume the attacks weren’t contained to the general area, but to hear it spoken as
truth
— he was speaking
truth
, since I had scented his words — was another condition entirely.

We were the Prodigies.

The soon-to-be Kings and Queens of our people.

By all accounts, we were heading into war.

Elder Harcourt smiled compassionately, and for the first time his eyes darted to Pearl’s and Jack’s foreheads before glancing toward Ezra and me. “Why don’t you four go rest.” His words were quiet. “You’ve had a very trying day thus far, and I believe you’re due your quiet.” His hand slipped into his pant pocket. “You saved these people today, but I can handle it from here.”

From the depths of his pocket, he extracted four large skeleton keys with black ribbons tied at the end of each one. “The keys will guide you to your rooms, which Elder Farrar specifically handled himself.” His golden brows furrowed. “He told me to tell you, the first step’s a doozy.”

Pearl and Jack each instantly seized a key, obviously ready to hand the reins over to the Elder, and swiftly began their trek across the sand to the wide mouth of the cave.

Ezra and I took our keys more slowly.

Elder Harcourt’s golden eyes were kind, his words soft. “Go. They will need you.”

My chin quivered, but I clenched my jaw, hardening it.

Studying his skeleton key, Ezra’s gaze was lowered, but then his eyes rose. Met mine.

Our chests heaved.

We moved forward together.

Toward Jack and Pearl, where they were waving for us to hurry. They stood just beyond the fully-armed Elemental and Shifter guards who, on either side of the entrance, were oblivious to our trepidation. Our best friends’ impatience would soon be exchanged for unconditional suffering.

King Cave was pure black. From the floor to the arched walls, which curved to the tall ceiling, the hue was magnificent. The only illuminations were the enchanted golden sparks glowing on the walls that were suspended in midair and placed periodically, creating a stunning ethereal luminosity the further we traveled on level ground.

A hundred and fifty yards inside, we came to a stop.

Gawked.

“Whoa,” Jack murmured, his brown eyes darting.

As I recalled Antonio’s bedtime stories, my own gaze was dancing. “It’s the living quarters.”

Ezra nodded, pointing to various locations. “There should be pools, entertainment rooms, and conference rooms, through those openings.”

“It’s beautiful,” Pearl whispered, staring straight up.

Yes, it was. Even if it was a cave. No Shifter would have a problem living here, especially with the woods outside to run and hunt in. The founding Elders had outdone themselves.

I gaped at what at first appeared to be a vast hole, which extended far into the depths of the earth. Around the edge of the enormous circular drop-off was a wide, continual walkway, with a slight slope, coiling against the wall. Suitably, a black railing was in place so you could travel safely.

Golden doors stood flush against the shimmering black walls along the black circular walkway, flowing down to the very complexities of the cave. Decorated above those doors and appearing oriental in nature were red tiled overhangs, giving each door a more personal, colorful touch. The places Ezra had been referring to were ones with gold tiled overhangs and without golden doors. Instead, they were oversized openings leading to other chambers of the cave. Sparks of golden Mage magic brightened the cave’s wall all the way down, shimmering on the reds and golds and making the area festive and enchanted.

Then there was the ceiling.

The enormous arched expanse was spelled to reflect the sky as it literally was, creating indoors an illusion of the outside. It currently showed the moon and stars twinkling down on us, with a spattering of lingering white-gray clouds. The picturesque night sky
appeared so real that I wanted to touch it just to verify the Elders hadn’t stolen a piece of heaven.

Jack mumbled, “I can’t wait to see my room.”

Oh yes, you could.

Jack had no clue, nor Pearl, what they were about to experience.

They turned left, strolling down the walkway where my own key was leading me.

If we were to turn right on the footpath, we would enter a pronounced open space across the abyss of the cave where tables were set up. Mysticals could sit and converse comfortably while watching others move below. The walkway ended there, the real activity below ground.

Glancing once at Ezra, I saw his lips were pinched. Same as mine.

He and I shoved our feet into motion to follow our other besties, our awe fading from the splendor as we listened to Pearl and Jack ramble about the majesty of King Cave, including the different tales they had heard. The place had been specifically used during the war. Ezra and I walked close enough that our arms rubbed back and forth against each other’s; the contact was a must right now as it was our only way of consoling each other.

My brows furrowed as I absently detected that Jack’s and Pearl’s voices didn’t echo as I thought they might, even though we seemingly had the enormity of King Cave to ourselves for our first viewing. More than likely, it was another spell to keep the noise level down.

After hiking downward and circling the large expanse five times, but still very much toward the top of the cave, we all stopped beneath one of the gold overhangs. The cave opening was gigantic where we now gazed, the branching sector merrily lit.

My key was tugging me in that direction, but confusion held me immobile. I knew all of those golden doors were the living quarters. The offshoots were meant for other needs. Brows still creased, I turned and began strolling down the walkway again, sure this wasn’t accurate.

My left arm jerked back abruptly, my key fisted in that hand.

I grunted quietly. That hadn’t been subtle. It had hurt a wee bit too, my shoulder muscles stretching awkwardly. I glared at the key in my hand as I rubbed my aching limb.

Ezra’s arched, black eyebrow rose. “Guess Elder Farrar didn’t tell you everything.”