Fated

Before my fingers could find the handle, the door was yanked open from the other side. A pair of big hands reached in, grabbed me by my shirt, and dragged me out. I could hear voices and shouting in the distance, but all I could see through the smoke was the oval shimmer of a gate. Someone snapped out an order, and I was shoved towards the gate and through.

I came down on concrete with a painful thump. Twisting around, I saw other people following me through the gate. Three people. The gate shimmered and vanished, and I could see we were in some sort of warehouse. The man with the big hands bent down and hauled me to my feet again and, as my head cleared, I found myself staring into Cinder’s face.

‘Not so smart now, you bastard,’ Cinder growled.

I remember reading a book where some pretentious writer claimed there’s no moment of enlightenment more terrible than when you realise your parents are simple human beings. Personally, if you’ve grown up listening to your parents having screaming matches, realising that they’re simple human beings isn’t much of a revelation. In my opinion, the most terrible moment of enlightenment is the one where you realise you’re outflanked, outgunned and a sitting duck. It’s a horrible sickening feeling in the pit of your stomach that can very easily be the last feeling you’ll ever have.

The room we were in was square and ugly with concrete walls, narrow slit windows high above the ground and stacks of crates in the corners. It was empty but for me and the three Dark mages. Cinder was there, holding me almost off the ground, and Khazad, his small black eyes glinting. I’d been so focused on the call that I hadn’t been looking into the future for danger and, looking at Cinder’s face, I knew that it might just have cost me my life.

Cinder shook me hard enough to make my teeth rattle. ‘I’m gonna burn you to ash, Verus. I’ll make it slow, so you can feel it. I’m gonna make you tell me which part to burn off next.’

‘No.’ Khazad’s expression was more evil than Cinder’s if anything. ‘Not till I’ve had my turn. He’s going to pay for that stunt at the ball.’

‘Gonna ask you this once,’ Cinder said, and pulled me close. ‘Where’s the girl? Where’s the key?’

‘You know,’ I said light-headedly, ‘I think you asked twice.’

Cinder hauled one massive arm back and smashed a punch into my face. If I hadn’t twisted it would have broken my nose; as it was it sent me back to the floor with stars flashing in front of my eyes. By the time they’d cleared Cinder had dragged me back up again. He drew back for another go.

‘Wait,’ a third voice said. Deleo stepped in front of me. She was still wearing her mask, and her eyes watched me coldly. ‘Give him a second.’

Cinder glowered but obeyed, and a moment later my head cleared. Cinder’s grip was digging painfully into my shoulders; I didn’t think I’d have much chance of breaking it even without the other mages in front of me. ‘Using the annuller was very neat,’ Deleo said once I’d gotten my breath back. Her voice was calm. ‘It stopped us from tracking down your girlfriend. So we decided it would be simpler to track you instead. We knew you’d go back to the museum. All we had to do was wait for you to leave.’ She leant in close, her blue eyes staring into mine, and there was a sudden fire burning behind them. ‘I told you this wasn’t over.’

I looked back at Deleo silently.

Deleo drew back, calm once again. ‘You’re leaving this warehouse in one of two ways. With us to where you hid that cube, or in a bag. Choose fast.’

I hesitated. Cinder grinned. Khazad was staring down at the floor. Deleo nodded. ‘Go ahead, Cinder. Start with his legs.’

‘Wait,’ I said quickly, trying to think. I needed time.

But as I spoke, Khazad did as well. ‘Something’s wrong.’

Cinder and Deleo looked at him, frowning. Khazad was staring around at the walls. ‘There’s something …’ His head snapped around. ‘A ward. This place is warded!’

‘They’re ours,’ Cinder grunted. He didn’t relax his grip, and didn’t look pleased to be interrupted.

‘Besides ours, you idiot! Someone’s been inside!’

‘That’s impossible,’ Deleo said. ‘No one could have gotten through the defences without us noticing.’

‘And I’m telling you they did!’ Khazad shook his head. ‘It’s too risky. We should kill him and go.’ Black energy flared up around his hand, and I knew my time was up.

But before Khazad could strike, a voice spoke from one side. ‘Your attention, please.’

Cinder dropped me to the concrete with a thump as he spun around. A man with dark hair and dressed in black had stepped out from behind a pile of crates. It was Morden.

*    *    *

If Morden was bothered by the sight of three Dark mages a hair’s breadth from attacking, he gave no sign of it. ‘Good morning, all of you.’ His voice was pleasant, and he held his hands clasped behind his back. ‘Cinder, Khazad, I’d prefer if you attempted no attacks.’

‘You said it was clear!’ Cinder hissed at Khazad under his breath.

‘I said we should go! If you hadn’t screwed up—’

Deleo made a quick motion and Cinder and Khazad fell silent. All three seemed to have forgotten me completely, their attention locked on Morden. ‘Master Morden,’ Deleo said levelly. ‘I don’t think this is your concern.’

‘Oh, don’t take it personally, Deleo.’ Morden sounded quite friendly. ‘You’ve done very well. But now it’s time you came with me.’

‘Thank you for the offer,’ Deleo said, her voice carefully controlled. ‘The answer is still no.’

Morden smiled then, just slightly. ‘I’m afraid you’re under a misconception, Deleo. This time you’re not being given a choice.’