“What happened to you?” he asked.
“What happened to you?” she shot back. “And Ellie? You two disappeared into that—that ring of fire, or whatever it was. And now you’re here like nothing ever happened.”
“Long story. We’re both fine, though. Ellie passed out on the way back.”
“The way back?”
“We had to return the same way we went.”
“Through a fire ring,” the cop observed.
“Something like that. Can’t go into it all now. You know of anything I can use to get these off?”
She was secured with handcuffs.
“There’s a key somewhere. I think the office is past that doorway,” the detective said, nodding towards the closed door he’d already noticed.
“Do you know if anyone’s there?”
“I think someone is nearly all the time, but I don’t know who or how many. Different people bring me meals and take me to the toilet. I haven’t been able to discern a pattern of who or how many. I know they have to keep people here all the time, though, because of those.”
She nodded her head in the general direction from where he’d come, where he and Ellie had been deposited, and where Ellie still lay.
“Why? What’s over there?”
The detective craned her neck to study him.
“The Stones, of course,” she said impatiently. “Isn’t that what all this crap has been about?”
Carter had wondered what happened to the Stones after he and Ellie had vanished into the portal. He wanted to inquire what had gone down, but now wasn’t the time. Instead, he said, “You’ll have to fill me in later. Right now, our best bet is getting out of here before anyone sees us. Since the Stones are here, this place will be guarded by shifters. I don’t want to take on one of Nosizwe’s crews by myself while trying to guard you and Ellie.”
“I’d argue that I can take care of myself and help you out, but they took my piece,” the cop admitted grimly.
“Not surprised. I miss mine too. We’ll get us both fixed up once we’re clear of this place. In the meantime, I may have something that can help.”
He reached for the sword, which he’d stuck through his belt before he started searching around.
“What is that?” the detective eyed him suspiciously. “Looks like you’re going medieval rogue on me.”
“You may not be far off.” Carter flicked his wrist and the blade wreathed itself in light.
“Holy crap!” With the sword’s glow, he could see the detective’s eyes widen. “What is that thing?” she demanded again.
“I’m not sure myself,” Carter confessed. He passed the sword around behind her back to see what his best option would be as far as freeing her. “It was given to me by another shifter in that place Ellie and I went. Wherever that was.”
“This is sounding more and more like a damned comic book adventure,” the cop complained through gritted teeth.
Carter chuckled grimly. “I can’t argue with that.”
Taking a chance, he carefully pressed the glowing blade to the thinnest portion of the metal handcuffs. There was a sizzling noise. Carter held his breath, pensive. Would it work? Could the magical flames melt steel? Yes, after a slight pause he saw the metal transforming, drooping, congealing into a gloopy mess. One hand was free in a matter of seconds, and shortly thereafter Detective Ewing pulled the other out.
“Thank you,” she said, rubbing her wrists. “I don’t know how long I’ve been here, but those things get uncomfortable pretty quickly.”
“How many meals did they bring you?” Carter questioned, offering her a hand, which she took. He pulled her carefully to her feet. She swayed, her legs undoubtedly stiff and cramped after sitting so long, but regained her equilibrium quickly.
Shaking out her legs, she replied, “Four? Five? I’m thinking I’ve been here around 24 hours. Maybe a little more.”
Carter calculated the numbers in his brain. His best guess? About the same amount of time as he and Ellie had been gone. He felt a wash of relief to know the world hadn’t gone totally insane while they were absent. Like they hadn’t lost twenty years here on Earth during their brief absence.
“Let’s get Ellie and get out of here,” the cop said next. “Where did you say she was? Oh, and you might want to put that thing out,” she advised, pointing at the sword. “If anyone comes to check on me they can’t miss it.”
“It’s our only weapon right now.”
“Yes, and it took you no time to light it up. How’d you do that anyway? Never mind. Look, I’m just saying, we might be able to sneak out of here and not need a weapon at all, but if somebody peeks in here to check on me or the Stones and sees a glowing sword, we have a snowball’s chance in July of sneaking out. We’ll have to fight our way out. One sword against we don’t know how many guns? Not the kind of odds I like, my friend. I’d rather leave without starting World War Three, if that’s at all possible.
“Although I think World War Three’s coming anyway,” she added as Carter thrust the weapon back into his belt, securing it. Once it no longer touched his skin, the fire vanished. “And I don’t want to be around when it breaks out.”
Chapter Ten
“You’re talking about Sean and Nosizwe—Elia,” Carter guessed, as he led her through the dim warehouse back over to Ellie.
“Yes, and those Stones they’re warring over.”
“Does Sean know they’re here?”
He caught the detective’s shrug in the shadows.
“I don’t know. Once you and Ellie disappeared into the voodoo fire, the flames disappeared. The fire on the Stones also went out. Instantly. Nothing was left but a bunch of people standing around looking at each other. Elia said, ‘We came all this way for this? Did all this work for this?’ Then Mrs. Costas, she accused Elia of not having a better handle on her people. Said it was her fault Ellie got you into the fire. That she
