Part 7 (1/2)
”She's just stalling.” Patrick complained but obediently backed up a step.
Avery took in a grateful breath and curled her arms back around herself. Adalyn's piercing gaze still on her, Avery sputtered out an explanation.
”You know Mikhail is out to kill Mason, right? After we got Mikhail arrested and all that?”
Adalyn cracked a humorless smile.
”If I remember correctly, it was you that got Mikhail arrested.”
Patrick stiffened again.
”Fine, can I kill her now?” His body shook with readiness and his talons came out.
”Stop, just stop! You know Mikhail is out to get Mason even if he didn't have much of a part in it.” Avery's words were a jumble of hysteria but somehow both harpies seemed to understand.
Adalyn's facial expression rapidly changed from boredom to sharp interest.
”You mean you put my fiance in grave danger.” She growled. ”What do you know? What's the plan?”
Earning more time, Avery took a breath and readied the most critical explanation she'd ever have to give in her life.
”He's after the book. Jericho's book that detailed how to create the amulet of Willow. If he gets it and recreates it, all of the Willow magic in Mason's body wouldn't be able to fight him off. And then when Mikhail kills Mason, the magic will jump from Mason's body to Mikhail's and only make him stronger.”
”Imagine the shame that neither of you girls could have Mason.” Patrick piped in but his sarcastic whine went ignored.
Adalyn's brow pinched together and she drew back, no longer ready to lash out.
”Jericho's book is in my father's library.” She said slowly.
Taking a breath, Avery mustered as much confidence as she could manage. In two words, she implanted the doubt in Adalyn's head.
”Is it?” She asked.
Adalyn's brow pinched tighter and then Avery added, ”They are called the Band of Thieves for a reason.”
The female harpie's face couldn't have possibly grown pinker. She clasped her fists together and glowered. Her blue eyes left Avery and she glared at Patrick.
”Patrick, pick her up and take her with us. We're going to my house.”
Avery didn't even have time to process the words when Patrick made a grab for her. He caught her waist and threw her over his shoulder like a weightless doll. She struggled but couldn't break free. She was trapped again.
Nine.
The short flight to their destination was more uncomfortable than anything Avery had ever experienced. The harpies had taken to an unusual flight pattern, specifically soaring through the cloud coverage, which left the wet and smoggy taste of puffy fog in Avery's mouth.
”Ease up girlie.” Patrick purred in her ear reminding Avery of how uncomfortably close he held her. ”I've got you.” He said. She swatted at him when his hand glided over her backside.
Despite the proximity, she wouldn't fight when they were in the air. He'd propped her over his shoulder and facing down, she watched the sight of the distant green ground speeding by. She'd dug her fingers into his s.h.i.+rt until her knuckles turned white. The combination of anxiety and pressure on her stomach had left her ragingly queasy.
Face hot, she sputtered an appropriate gripe seconds before he dropped them and her stomach jumped back into her chest. They finally began to descend with a rapid change in alt.i.tude until the ground approached in a hurry. Patrick slammed into the ground with a jolt that left Avery rattling. In a swift motion, he rolled her off his shoulder and set her on the muddy ground.
She straightened herself up quickly and her eyes darted to take in the area. Avery wasn't sure what she was looking at. The building in front of her didn't resemble the Harpie Island she'd seen last summer when visiting Samuel. Where that island had praised green garden life, wide s.p.a.ces, and open blue skies, this dull place had tightly blocked off quarters and boarded up windows.
High walls surrounded the compound where Adalyn and Patrick had touched down. The grey walls blocked them off from the rest of the world, which made sense, but also gave a touch of claustrophobia. Three stories tall, the building looked like an abandoned factory and still warded off visitors by the looks of the desolate place.
”This is it?” She asked, mildly disbelieving.
”No, this is where we kill and bury you. Of course this is it.” Patrick said, arm snaking out and grabbing Avery's elbow. She let him, not planning on running. Mason had left for Samuel's place over an hour ago and that would put him in the immediate area. All she had to do, Avery reasoned, was wait.
Patrick's grip tightened until his talons pinched her and brought her back to reality. He dragged her forward and they tromped over the bare ground, wet from recent rain, and slid around the side of the building. Bright red warning signs had been posted up on the door to halt entrance but Adalyn yanked the heavy metal door open anyways. Motion detector lights flickered on overhead illuminating the surprisingly chic hallway. Polished hard wood made up the floors and a thick layer of creme colored paint covered the drywall. Framed paintings of miscellaneous cla.s.sy scenes lined the walls and soft music floated through ceiling stereos. The harpies in Portland may have been living in secrecy but they apparently were still living in style.
The door shut behind them and Avery stole a last quick glance outside. She'd buy as much time as possible but with no sight of Mason just yet, Avery was playing with fire.
”There's no security here. What's to keep the Band out?”
”You act like we're not used to dealing with them.” Adalyn said sourly, tilting her head up. She did well to convey a.s.surance with her overconfident tone but the mere fact that they'd come indicated some shadow of doubt.
”Patrick, keep her here. I can't let my father see her.” Adalyn added.
Patrick's sudden posture change indicated a change from boredom to alertness. Wide eyes glinting, he clarified. ”You're leaving me alone with her?”
”Whoa, wait up.” Avery interrupted when the implications. .h.i.t her too. Adalyn just arched an eyebrow, spun on the heel of her white boots, and walked off.
Patrick abruptly gave Avery a tug that sent her back into the wall. Looking directly up at him, she had to tilt her head back. The height difference was obvious, even worse than with Avery and Mason. Patrick not only hit six foot ten but his wings arched up more radically as well.
”Maybe we got off on the wrong foot. I'd like to clarify some of the bad things that have happened over the past few days.”
”You mean trying to kill me, me hitting you with a car, and then you trying to kill me again?” She said but it wasn't funny.
He rolled his eyes.
”I have to do what Adalyn asks me. I owe her big time. And I would have killed you quickly, though you may not have appreciated it. I wasn't kidding when I said I was interested before.”
Avery grit her teeth, keeping her defiant resolve despite his intimidating posture.
”Did you miss it when I said not interested the first time?”
”Don't be like that girlie, it's a good thing.” His hand slithered out and propped her chin up with an index finger. A playboy worthy smile crossed his face with the single arched, inviting eyebrow. He'd leaned over, arching his body until their faces hovered mere inches away from each other.
”Go away.” Avery growled but couldn't muster the appropriate force behind her response. Her heart hammered making her voice wane and her hands shake. He kept pressing closer. Too close. But then Patrick's body disappeared. The moment happened so fast, Avery barely realized why.
In an explosion of movement, Mason had come from the hallway and lunged for Patrick. The two collided with a deafening pop. They smashed into the dry wall and broke through it with a hurricane of dust. Thras.h.i.+ng, they hit the floor and rolled.
Avery dove backwards, clear of the fight but another arm snaked around her neck. Recognizing the female harpie, Avery fought back. The surprise worked on Adalyn's side but Avery, a human built stockier and studier, cut off the choking movement prematurely. Stopping Adalyn from moving her back, she twisted around and kicked. Her foot met Adalyn's abdomen and the harpie gasped. Grip broken, Adalyn fell backwards and Avery sprung back into a crouch.
”Stop this!” Samuel thundered, bringing attention to his existence at the very end of the hallway.