Page 80 of Morning's Light

CHAPTER 18

Aisanna made it to her apartment in one piece and locked the door behind her. She’d managed to elude Orestes and Zelda, though she doubted they were far behind. She had minutes at best to grab a bag and get back to the house.

With a literal sigh of relief passing her lips, she hurried into the bedroom and fumbled through her bedside dresser.

She stuffed clothes and random toiletries into a black duffel. Papers and objects with no distinct importance flew over her shoulders and plummeted to the floor. She’d no sooner zipped the bag closed when she heard the sound of a scuffle from the other room. Instantly on guard, Aisanna brought her hands up in the ready position and prepared to call on her magic.

Astix burst through the door in a flurry.

“Thank God! I’d hoped you would be here.” Astix leaned back on the door as though her small might may keep the wood closed for good. A rat’s nest of auburn hair hung around her head, her appearance crazed. “You need to get out. Now.”

She stole a look around the room and locked the door behind her.

“I thought you were going to leave without me.” Aisanna strode forward and wrapped her arms around her sister’s shoulders. “I was coming to find you. I’m sorry.”

“Out, now!”

“It’s nice to see you too.”

“Aisanna, there’s time for apologies later.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The Claddium. Orestes.” Astix grasped her sides, stooping slightly to catch her breath. “They’re looking for you.”

“Yeah, I figured they would be, after what I did.” Aisanna touched the stone at her throat lightly. “I messed up, Astix. I messed up and they’re trying to throw me in the Vault with Zee.”

“They’re what?” The last word ended on a howl.

“I know you said you have a safehouse. How long does it take to get there? And how did you know I would be here?”

“We’ll talk about it later.” Astix swiveled around and pressed her ear against the wood. “You need to get out, right this minute. I stalled them for as long as possible. But we know Orestes’s earth magic is stronger than mine.”

A prickle of fear rose until Aisanna tasted it on her tongue. She pushed it down. Astix moved until she took Aisanna by the elbow and began pulling her forward.

Pounding sounded at the front door and both girls dropped to a crouch instinctively.

Astix drew a hand over Aisanna’s mouth to stem the flow of words bubbling up. “Too late. They’re here,” she whispered.

Malicious delight coursed through her at the thought of going head to head with Orestes and Zelda one more time. Aisanna nearly rose to fight until Astix tightened her hold and jerked her head toward the window.

Her sister’s power had held the Claddium off long enough to give them time to speak. Would it hold once more?

Aisanna did not want to wait to find out. Their only option now was the fire escape.

Astix kept her eyes open and conjured up a beam of diamond from the depths of the earth. When it materialized in her hand, she shoved it through the keyhole, manipulating the qualities of both metal and mineral to keep the door closed.

A boom sounded when the front door exploded inward. Footsteps echoed down the corridor, several people filing into the apartment. Aisanna recognized their voices and the echoes of a scuffle. Whoever came for her threw glass to the floor and let it shatter. They broke furniture and emptied cabinets to destroy her space. Her sanctuary.

They both scrambled across the cold floor until they reached the far wall. She shut her eyes until tears stung her closed lids and her strength was not sufficient to hold them back. Together with Astix, they moved the window up until there was enough space for them to squeeze through.

Astix held a finger to her lips. Using her version of sign language, she gestured toward the fire escape and urged Aisanna to hurry outside first. Aisanna wasted no time. With the influence of Darkness urging her to stay and fight and her limbs only half-cooperating, Aisanna shimmied her body gracelessly through the window, with her sister standing guard.

She was halfway outside when the bedroom door crashed off the hinges and landed halfway across the room.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Aisanna didn’t recognize the voice and did not stop to see if she knew the face it belonged to. Maneuvering quickly, she slid the last few feet with only the smallest help from Astix.

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