Darkest Nyte Page 20

  Randalph drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

  "The exact words were: To find Lucinda, Nyte must touch your heart, then follow the compass of your soul."

  * * * *

  Lucinda’s heart thumped at an uneven pace. She leaned forward. "What kind of challenge?"

  Remlin waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. "Nothing too dramatic. I’ll just give them a clue as to where we are."

  Remlin wouldn’t help Nyte and Rand find this place unless he was confident they could not overpower him. But even if he was as powerful--or more--than Nyte, with Nyte and Rand’s combined power they should be able to defeat him.

  What kind of trap was Remlin setting for Nyte and Rand?

  "Don’t worry, Lucinda. I won’t actually let them in when they get here. I have a protection spell around this dwelling to repel intruders and it’s reinforced by some very powerful magic."

  The Oracle, no doubt.

  "And what will you do once they’re here?" she asked.

  "I’ll let them know you’re here, then I’ll make sure they know the chances of rescuing you are absolutely impossible."

  "Why?"

  "To see how they react."

  "Why?"

  He sighed and leaned against the back of his chair. "Lucinda, you ask too many questions. Why don’t you take a nap?"

  He was treating her like an annoying child and she didn’t like it. She wanted to demand he answer, but knew she’d get nowhere with that tactic.

  She didn’t understand this cat and mouse game he was playing, but one thing was clear. If he didn’t have her as his prisoner, he wouldn’t have the bait he needed to lure Nyte and Rand here, and to keep them under his control. He was using her to manipulate them and she couldn’t allow that.

  She had to escape. But how?

  Remlin knew she was in a weakened state, so maybe he believed she wouldn’t try to escape by herself. If he believed that, maybe he would decide to channel the extra energy he spoke of into keeping Nyte and Rand out rather than keeping her in.

  It was a thought worth pursuing.

  Maybe the best way to escape would be to make him believe she was as weak, or more than he believed. She ignored the little voice in her head that insisted she was only fooling herself if she didn’t believe it, too.

  He kept recommending she sleep. Maybe if she pretended she was asleep, she might be able to catch him off guard.

  Unfortunately, the danger was that if she pretended to sleep she actually would fall asleep, then she’d be of no use to anyone.

  Caffeine would be a good idea right now. It would help her fight this feeling of exhaustion.

  "Remlin, could I have a cup of coffee?"

  He raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn’t you prefer a diet Coke?"

  How the heck did he know her preference in beverages?

  "Sure. A Coke would be great."

  After he’d left the room, she slumped back on the couch.

  She had to focus on the fact that she had to get out of here. To protect Nyte. And Rand.

  * * * *

  "Touch your heart?"

  Nyte wondered who had projected the thought into Randalph’s head, and what the cryptic message meant.

  Randalph pushed himself to his feet and stalked across the clearing.

  "Foolishness, that’s what it is. Something to confuse us." Randalph shook his clenched fist at Nyte. "We need to find another approach." He paced a few times, hands clasped behind his back. "You say you know this wizard. Where would he take Lucinda?"

  "If I knew that, we would be there now."

  He watched Randalph march back and forth, nervous energy spinning from him in all directions. Randalph hadn’t liked having someone invade his mind, but more than that, Nyte was sure he was worried about the content of the message. He was probably afraid he might have to lower some of his well-erected barriers and open up to Nyte in order to understand it.

  "There must be other things we can try," Randalph insisted.

  "Name one."

  Randalph stared at him for several long moments.

  Nyte returned his stare with a quiet authority. "Randalph, like it or not, this is the only clue we have. Without it, we could be searching for energy disparities for days and still be no closer to finding Lucinda."

  Finally, a look of acceptance settled on Randalph’s face.

  "All right. Where do you suggest we start?" Randalph gestured toward the path leading to his house. "Should we fetch some books of poetry from my library, or do you think we could find a Hallmark card that could do the trick?" A cool edge of sarcasm edged his words.

  "I doubt that’s the way to touch your heart," Nyte responded. "You’ve never been the sentimental type."

  Randalph’s expression hardened and Nyte silently cursed his use of words. He might have learned sentiment over the centuries, especially after losing the two people closest to him.

  "Remlin certainly isn’t the sentimental type. I’m sure he had a more direct approach in mind."

  "You mean, he actually wants you to touch my heart?"

  "Something like that."

  Nyte approached him and Randalph watched warily. Nyte stopped about two feet away and pointed at his chest.

  "He probably means the energy around your heart."

  Randalph’s features relaxed as understanding dawned. "Sensing the heart chakra."

  "Exactly." He gestured for Randalph to sit down on the fallen tree and, after he’d done so, Nyte held his flattened palm about two inches from Randalph’s chest. "May I?"

  Randalph stared into his eyes. "You truly believe this is the only way to find Lucinda?"

  "I do."

  He hesitated, but finally nodded agreement.

  Nyte stepped closer and rested his palm over Randalph’s heart. He remembered when Lucinda had done the same with him, before he’d recovered his memory. She’d felt his energy and sensed the pain within. The pain he now knew stemmed from Randalph’s betrayal. He shoved that thought aside. Right now they had to work together. They had to find Lucinda. He couldn’t let anything, even something that had caused scars that deep, distract him.

  He focused on Randalph, on the place where his hand met Randalph’s body. A pool of energy quivered beneath his palm, drawing him into its depths. Ripples marred the surface of the pool. Chaotic. Disruptive. And cold.

  As he followed the energy deeper, he felt cold against his palm. Currents of other energy clouded the way, all related to painful experiences, but Nyte followed the cold. Deeper. Colder. More intense.

  Ice cold like the bitter winds of the Arctic.

  Where had that thought come from? It didn’t quite feel like his own. Had it been planted by Remlin? Another hint?

  "You have a deep emotional pain that goes back a long time."

  "What a surprise." Sarcasm frosted Randalph’s words.

  "It’s buried beneath a lot of other issues."

  His bushy white eyebrows arched upward. "Do you think that means he’s hiding her underground somewhere?"

  "No, I think it has something to do with somewhere cold. Arctic cold."

  "To find Lucinda, Nyte must touch your heart, then follow the compass of your soul." Rand repeated the words, excitement edging his features. "Compass. Don’t you see? A compass always points north. He must be keeping her at the north pole."

  Nyte smiled. "Or, more likely, magnetic north. It would be easier to draw power from the Oracle to another natural source of energy."

  He turned toward the path to Randalph’s house. "Come on. We’d better dress warmly."

  * * * *

  Remlin returned with a nice, tall diet Coke, ice cubes tinkling against the side of the glass, bubbles dancing across the dark surface. He handed it to her and she wrapped her hands around it. The cold reminded her of the bitter temperatures outside and she shivered. Maybe she should have stuck with her request for coffee. Or hot chocolate.

  She sipped her drink, the fizz tickling her nose.

&n
bsp; "I think we’re making progress," Remlin said.

  Her attention diverted to the crystal ball and she saw Nyte and Rand entering the back door of Rand’s house.

  Had Remlin already given them whatever clue he had in mind?

  He glanced from the ball to her. "The entertainment will be arriving very soon."

  Which meant she had to make her move very soon. Now, if only she could figure out what that move should be.

  The scene around Nyte and Rand, now dressed in warm-looking parkas, changed from Rand’s living room to a barren, snowy plain.

  * * * *

  The bitter cold wind blasted in Nyte’s face as he and Rand trudged across the frozen ground searching for something other than ice and snow. The thick treads on his boots helped him keep his footing and the heavy parka and thick layers of clothing he wore kept him warm, but made walking cumbersome.

  Nyte sent out a sweep of energy and immediately felt the turbulence as it flowed around an obstruction. That must be Remlin’s hiding place. Distance, or lack thereof, had made all the difference in finding it. Being thousands of miles away, when they weren’t even certain of the direction, had made it nearly impossible to sense this disturbance.

  Elation swept through him like a tropical breeze at the thought he had found Lucinda. Or, at least, where Remlin had taken her. Now, he had to find a way to free her from Remlin’s hold, which would not be an easy matter.

  "It’s about thirty miles that way," Nyte said, pointing to the northwest.

  "Yes, I feel it." Randalph’s heavily mittened hand pulled the hood of his parka closer to his face. Ice crystals had formed on his bushy eyebrows and the shadow of whiskers on his face.

  Together they teleported across the icy landscape to their new destination, appearing in front of what appeared to be a large mound of snow. Nyte sent energy at it, and sure enough, the energy swept around its contours rather than through it. Upon closer inspection, Nyte could see that the sheer edges of ice were not ice at all, but cleverly concealed windows.

  "Shouldn’t we try to hide our presence?" Randalph asked.

  "I’m sure Remlin has been monitoring our activities all along, so there’s really no point."

  Nyte trudged closer to the building, then leaned forward and pressed his face close to the largest window. He knew Lucinda was inside and he hoped to catch sight of her. He needed to reassure himself she was okay. Unfortunately, the glass was glazed and the only thing he saw was his own worried face peering back at him preventing him from seeing the interior.

  * * * *

  "And here they are."

  Remlin stared over her shoulder as he smiled broadly and waved. She twisted around and saw two figures standing outside the window.

  "Don’t worry, they can’t see inside."

  Nyte stepped close to the window and leaned forward to peer inside. The sight of his face, so close yet outside her reach, sent tremors through her. Love swelled in her heart and she knew she would do anything to protect him from Remlin.

  "What do you intend to do now?" she asked.

  "Wait until they figure out how to get inside."

  "And then?"

  "Then I have some very special plans for them."

  She shivered and tucked the blanket snugly across her lap. She had no time left. She had to take action. But she had no idea what. She took another sip of her Coke, then placed it on the table.

  She pushed herself to her feet with a vague plan of getting out of Remlin’s sight, hoping once she was alone some brilliant idea would come to her.

  "I have to go to the bathroom."

  His gaze shifted to her. "Do you need help?"

  Her back went rigid. "I’m sure I can manage on my own."

  She took a step forward--and faltered. The room around her seemed unsteady, swaying slightly from side to side, and the floor seemed to bob up and down a little. She felt a firm grip on her arm and realized Remlin had moved to her side to support her. He led her down a short hallway to a door.

  "The light switch is on the left. I’ll leave you to it. Shout if you need me."

  She nodded and slowly stepped into the room, closing the door behind her. The sun must have set because everything was rapidly turning shadowy. She switched on the light and her eyes widened in awe at the luxurious bathroom surrounding her.

  A huge, black marble tub, set in the corner, took up half of both mirrored walls. It was oval and looked as though it would fit at least two people. A pedestal sink, also black marble, made an elegant silhouette against the dove grey, speckle-patterned wallpaper. Jade towels and flowering plants added bright splashes of color around the room.

  She walked to the tub, keeping her hand on the wall for support, then sat down on the step.

  This is terrible. I can hardly walk, let alone teleport anywhere.

  She drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes, concentrating on drawing energy from the cosmos. Tentatively, she tried to push her way past the boundaries of the house, testing if she could teleport beyond the protective shell Remlin had erected. It was possible he had set it up to stop magical energy one way only. By keeping the energy focused outward, he could set up a stronger barrier against Nyte and Rand.

  She pushed aside the thought that, if she succeeded, she’d be totally exposed to the elements in a very inhospitable environment. She shivered at the thought of the sub-zero temperatures freezing her into a lump of ice.

  Hopefully, she would find Nyte before that happened.

  Her first try, like pushing on a marshmallow, didn’t get her very far. She let more energy flood through her and she shoved hard, but still she got nowhere.

  She leaned against the wall and opened her eyes, breathing deeply. Exhaustion threatened to overwhelm her.

  Rats, how would she ever get out of here? She didn’t want to just sit and wait for Nyte and Rand to fall into Remlin’s trap.

  She shoved herself to her feet and stepped to the sink. She leaned against it as she splashed cool water on her cheeks. The face staring back at her from the mirror looked pale and drawn. Drops of water trailed down her chin as she reached for a towel from the rack beside the sink. As she patted her face dry, the reflection of the wall behind her gave her an idea.

  Escape might be easier than she’d thought.

  Chapter 18

  Nyte was certain Remlin watched them from inside the house, probably smirking at his superior position in this game he had initiated, and for which he had set all the rules.

  Once he got his hands on Remlin, that smirk would shrivel quickly enough.

  At least if Lucinda could see him through the glass, the sight of him should reassure her, knowing he’d come to rescue her.

  Not rescue, he corrected himself. Help her escape. Lucinda would never accept that she needed rescuing. She was too independent for that. She must feel frustrated at being trapped against her will. Again.

  He longed to hold her in his arms, to calm her frazzled energy, to stroke away her stress. As he imagined her soft body pressed close to his in a comforting embrace, images of what that closeness could lead to heated his body despite the frigid temperature around him.

  "What now?" Randalph asked, staring at the house. "I can sense a strong barrier spell around the place, so we won’t be able to teleport in."

  "We’ll have to pool our energy and try to break through."

  Randalph’s expression turned skeptical. "You really think we can fight it, given the resources he’s got?"

  "We could just go and knock on the door, if you prefer, but I doubt he would answer." Nyte pointed to large window. "It will probably be easiest to break through the glass. It will be weakest at the center point."

  Nyte shifted his feet to face the window squarely, then concentrated on centering himself. "On the count of three, send a bolt of energy right at it. Don’t use any kind of light energy, like lighting, because it will reflect back at us."

  Randalph scowled deeply. "I’m quite aware of that fact. I’m no appren
tice, you know."

  True, but Nyte had to constantly remind himself of that fact, since he had known Randalph for a good many years as an apprentice.

  "One."

  Nyte stretched his arm toward their target.

  "Two."

  Randalph grunted, but followed suit.

  "Three."

  Heat quivered from Nyte’s fingertips, pulsing against the surface of the glass. He could sense similar energy pouring from Randalph. It seemed as though they were seeing the window through ripples in a pond, as their energy combined and battered against the glass.

  After several minutes of continuous effort, with no visible effect, Nyte gestured for Randalph to cease. This had been too obvious a target. There had to be somewhere else they could try.

  "I’m going to scout around the perimeter of the dwelling to see if I can find any weak spots," Nyte said.

  He trudged through the snow in a large circle around the building. Randalph plodded in the other direction until he’d moved to a position out of sight of the window, then he sat on a large, icy rock to await Nyte’s return.

  As Nyte moved around the house, he sensed a continuous field of energy. Powerful. Definitely boosted by some means, such as the Oracle. Remlin may have called on superior magical technology to help him, but Nyte was determined to win this game and retrieve Lucinda from his clutches.

  The thought of Lucinda, probably frightened and feeling helpless, scraped at his heart. He knew she was a strong woman, but she was in a weakened state and that would make it all the worse for her.

  He longed to hold her in his arms, to hear her lovely voice say his name.

  Nyte.

  He spun around. Had his longing been so strong that he’d imagined he actually heard her calling his name? It had been so faint.

  Nyte.

  It sounded even fainter this time. Like the whisper of a soft wind. Or a child lost in the night. A lonely, forlorn sound.

  He glanced around, but saw nothing except the snowy terrain.

  Then one more time, he heard the cry. Fainter still. The only reason he had heard it at all was because he’d been listening so intently.