MAKING MAGICKAL ALLIANCES: A Paranormal Women’s Fiction Novel

as my feet hit the bottom, I looked around. There were two small cages against one wall and two more against another. At the very back, there was a larger cage—large enough to fit an adult human. It was empty. I could see small forms huddled in filth on the bottoms of three of the small cages. The fourth was unoccupied. Sebastian had already opened two of the cage doors and had moved on to the third. I ran to the first of the two and knelt down to pull the small, unconscious child out. Her tiny face was dirty and pale, with dark circles beneath her eyes, and her breath was so shallow I had to check twice to make sure she was breathing. Lifting her as carefully as possible, I gathered her to me and ran back to the ladder. How would I climb it with her in my arms?

Just climb. I will keep her from falling.

Can you heal her? I asked, as I made my way up the ladder as quickly as I could. She had stopped me from choking once, maybe she could heal, too.

I don’t believe so. I’m sorry. Trixie sounded genuinely distressed.

The child didn’t so much as shift on my way up. How was Trixie doing this? Dorn reached down with his uninjured arm and looped it around the little girl. As soon as he pulled her away from me, I made my way back down, running for the other cage as soon as my feet left the ladder. Climbing in, I pulled the little boy out, not stopping to check his pallor or his breathing—I just focused on getting him up to Dorn. I was covered in muck from the cage, which smelled like a disgusting mixture of dead fish, vomit, and other refuse, but I ignored it, trying to breathe through my mouth. Trixie did whatever it was she did to keep the child’s body tight to me as I climbed up once again. My arms were shaking—I wasn’t used to this kind of physical activity. I passed the child to Dorn at the top and went down for the third and hopefully last time. I’d managed to control my gag reflex so far, but I could taste the stench now, especially since I was wearing so much of it. Sebastian waited by the third cage, his tail lashing anxiously. This little boy’s eyes were open. Well, one of them was. The other was bruised and swollen shut. Bruises covered his thin arms. His curls were so filthy and matted, it was hard to tell what color they were. My heart stuttered at the sight of him. Despite his condition, he lifted his head to stare at me.

“The big cat says you will take me home,” he rasped through lips that were cracked and dry.

Not able to speak, I simply nodded, trying not to cry. He looked over to the now empty cages on the other side of the room, then back at me, the question clear in his eyes. Swallowing hard, I tried to speak, failed, then tried again. “They’re already with Dorn,” I managed, my voice sounding rough.

He looked from me to Sebastian. The cat rumbled deep in his chest, the sound somewhere between worry and a growl of impatience. Finally, the boy relaxed and held out his arms to me. I lifted him out as carefully as I could, trying not to hurt him and wondering if anything was broken.

I do not think he has broken bones, but the bruising pains him. I will do what I can as you take him up the ladder. Trixie’s words were subdued.

“Does this hurt?” I asked.

He stayed silent, but laid his head on my shoulder, his arms wrapped tightly around my neck. I climbed as carefully as I could, trying not to jar him. “What’s your name?”

I didn’t think he was going to answer, but as I neared the top, he whispered, “Kylen.”

Dorn reached down to take the boy from me, but I pushed his hand away. “He’s hurt. I’ll carry him.” Dorn helped pull me out and over the edge of the hatch. The other two children lay beside him, still as death. I glanced up at him.

“They need a healer.” He tensed as several gunshots rang out from somewhere near the loading platform at the back of the boat. He fastened his trident on to his back with effort, gathered up the girl child, then looked down at the boy, torn. “I do not want to leave him behind, even for a short period.”

Sebastian, are you coming or do you need help? We need to go!

I heard several grunts and then a paw reached out of the hatch, claws out, soon followed by another. The big cat pulled himself out and gave his body a violent shake. He looked at the child in Dorn’s one arm, Kylen in mine, then at the boy lying on the deck. This one is too close to death for me to try to move magickally. I will guard him until you return for him. Hurry.

Kylen lifted his head, staring down at the other boy. When his eye met mine, his lower lip quivering, I knew I wasn’t leaving the other child behind, not even temporarily. I ran to the high rail of the ship on the other side, searching for the Sea Witch. “Sebastian, let them know we’re coming over.” And what condition they’re in, I added mentally.

I have already warned them.

Can you call that orca to help? Or any others?

He tilted his head, then nodded. They come.

Trixie, can you help me carry both children?

Yes, just go.

I carefully shifted Kylen to my hip, supporting him with one arm, and then gathered the second boy up, barely containing my own grunt from their combined weight. Dorn stared at me. “Let’s