Chapter 16
It was clear to see why this location had been chosen for such dealings. Eclipsed by trees, unmarked upon any map, and with no registered blueprints, it was the perfect place in which to disappear. Alex led Conrad through the dense forest, pausing as they reached the boundary to look up at the two-storey mansion. The white bricks stood in contrast to the dark embrace of night’s shroud, while the warm glow from the Georgian-style sash windows spilt out onto the stone staircase leading to the front door. Above, as part of the second floor, stood a large, circular balcony supported by pillars and therein lay their entrance.
Motioning for Conrad to follow, Alex crept across the open grounds, his footfalls silent upon the manicured grass lawn. The lack of security seemed suspicious, but given what they were trading here, the fewer people involved, the better. It was not as if those inside were helpless; fifteen powerful clan representatives were not something to be underestimated. Tess had hacked into the dormant security system, using the installed biometric scanners to detect and confirm the number of people inside. It was far fewer than he had imagined, but still more than he was comfortable with, especially given that Conrad had zero combat experience.
Keeping low, they approached the windows, finding the immediate area deserted. Clasping his hands together, he motioned for Conrad to approach, boosting him up so his fingers scraped the overhanging balcony. He heard the white stone being clawed as he fumbled an ascent, before Alex used the pillars to follow. He had hoped to peer inside the many windows, but had already noticed the way they reflected the surroundings on their approach. He glanced at Conrad, relieved to have someone beside him, searching for the words to show his gratitude, but when nothing surfaced he simply offered him a nod.
They knew the Tabus would be located here. Tess had isolated seven signatures, six to the right of this entrance, close together, and one segregated alone to the left. Their plan was simple. Locate Ashley, and extract her, along with any Tabus they could free as they made their escape. His team were due any time in the next fifteen minutes and knew their role.
The door leading inside from the balcony to the first floor was a naïvely simple design. Clearly, the owner had never expected anyone to attempt what they were about to. With careful precision, Alex channelled his ice energy into the lock, manipulating the tumblers within until it opened with a satisfying click. To anyone looking on, it usually appeared as if he had simply placed his hand upon the lock to release it.
Suddenly, a deafening roar shook the very foundations of the house, blasting the door from his grasp before he could open it fully. The powerful force thrust him backwards as wave upon wave of heat and fire engulfed the surroundings. He scarcely managed to expel his essence to create a barrier to shield them from the scalding heat as the windows shattered, blowing outward across the length of the building as the fire feasted, hungrily devouring the air. Groaning, Alex pulled himself to his feet, his ears ringing. They were too late. Grasping Conrad’s arm, he pulled him up with a grimace, all too aware of the barrier half shattering while the rest became a torrent of icy rain.
“Change of plan,” Alex gasped, clutching his midriff. Sweat streamed from his body, mingling with the water as his strengthened barrier became nothing but a frost-lined mist. He dared not shift his form fully as the fire was too intense, and to do so would be a death sentence. At least this way, the fire’s blaze would be diluted, giving them a chance. But time would not be on their side, not against this heat. “We go right, get out who we can.”
Orange and white flames rose from the left, feasting hungrily on the building. Walls collapsed in flashes of silver shards and molten metals, as what remained of the ceiling sagged. As he moved to advance further through the mounting smoke, Conrad grasped his arm.
“What about Ashley?” he demanded, his gaze straying to the left, to the devastation of the ruined building that was engulfed in a cloak of flames and smouldering embers.
“No one will get close to her, she’ll burn out.” He couldn’t hold Conrad’s gaze, it was too flooded with emotion.
Taking another step into the sweltering heat made his every movement feel sluggish. He pushed more energy towards his essence, parting the smoke around his failing protection as it began to steam. He couldn’t keep this up for long; with every second the temperature rose, his sister’s power would become greater and she could not survive fire’s kiss for long. He needed to reach the Tabus, get as many to safety as he could. Retrieving his sister was no longer an option. He grimaced, biting back the rising pain and disorientation as his frozen core began to warm up. They needed to get out of here, quickly.
“I’m not leaving her.”
“Even you can’t survive Phoenix fire,” he cautioned Conrad. “We go this way.”
Grasping his side, Alex tried to suppress the cough, his eyes fixed ahead where the heat had started to shatter the remaining walls. He could tell from the way they glowed and resisted that, unlike the windows,
