“Were going to get her back,” Brad said more firmly. “Look, Ill head out right now, get up to the Peak. Ill bring Rowena orPitte , or both of them back if I have to do it at gunpoint.”
“That wont be necessary.” Rowena stood in the doorway, withPitte behind her.
DANA ran toward the house, fled toward it, hoping that the stone and glass would offer some kind of protection.
What happened in the book? What chapter had she fallen into? Were her actions her own will, she wondered, or written?
Think! she ordered herself. Think back and remember. Once shed read a story, it became part of her. It was in her memory. She just had to clear away the fear and bring it back.
She was so scared. The screech of an owl had her heart pounding at the base of her throat. Fog was eating over the ground now, thin and white, just edged with blue. It thickened, seemed to boil around her feet until it was as if she waded through smoke.
It muffled the sound of her running footsteps. And his, she realized. God, and his.
If she could reach the house, just reach the house, she could find somewhere to hide until she caught her breath. She could find a weapon, defend herself.
For he meant to kill her, he meant to wrap that long white scarf around her neck and pull, pull while she struggled for air, while her eyes wheeled frantically in her head, while her veins burst with her blood.
Because he was mad, and she had seen the madness too late.
No. No. Those were Kates thoughts. The thoughts of a fictional character in a fictional world. It wasnt a fictional killer who hunted her now. It was Kane.
If he could, he would take something more precious than her life. Hed take her soul.
At the last moment she veered away from the door. She remembered now, remembered this last chance and battle. Kate had wasted precious time battering against the wood, pounding on it and calling for help before shed snapped back and accepted that there was no one to help.
so?
Edit out that bit, Dana thought, and setting her teeth, she smashed her elbow through the window. She ignored the shock of pain from jagged glass scraping her arm as she reached in, flipped the latch. With a grunt she shoved the window up, leaped onto the ledge, and rolled inside.
She landed hard enough to hear her own bones rattle, and lay stunned, gasping against the pain as she struggled to see through this new layer of dark.
The air was stale and damp, and the heels of her hands skidded on dust as she pushed herself up. No glossy floor, no dripping chandeliers or stunning antiques. No fire roaring in the hearth.
Instead the room was dank and chill, with the gray spill of cobwebs and the breath of ghosts.
This wasnt the Peak of her world, but the Watch of Jordans. She gained her feet, holding her throbbing right arm with her left, and limped across the room over boards that creaked and groaned.
Good job with the atmosphere, Hawke, she thought, fighting to steady herself. Class A haunted house you built here. The perfect place for our plucky heroine to battle the homicidal maniac. Wincing, she reached down and rubbed her tender knee. Kate had banged up her knee, Dana remembered, but it hadnt stopped her.
She drew a breath as she came to the entrance hall, saw the shadows facing off with the streams of moonlight that snuck through the grimy windows.
She liked nothing better than diving into a book, Dana reminded herself, but this was a little more than shed bargained for.
She closed her eyes for a moment and took stock. Shed jammed her knee, jarred her shoulder, sliced up her arm some. She was scared, so scared it hurt to breathe.
But that was all right, that was allowed. She could be hurt, she could be scared. She wasnt allowed to panic, and she wasnt allowed to give up.
“Well see who pulls this story out in the end, you bastard. This goddamn ex-librarian is going to kick your ass.”
She heard the sly tinkle of glass being crushed underfoot and made a dash for the stairs. And the big climax.
“YOU came.”Zoe released Malorys hand, reluctantly let go of Danas. “Do something.”
Rowena stepped forward, touched her fingers lightly to Danas wrist as if checking her pulse. “What happened here?”
“Youre the god,” Flynn shot out. “You tell us. And you get her back. You get her back now.”
Jordan nudged Flynn aside, stepped between them. “Why dont you know what happened?” he demanded of Rowena.
“Hes capable of blocking certain actions from us.”
“And you from him?”
“Yes, of course. He doesnt have her soul,” she said, gently, to Flynn.
“Whatever hes got, get it back.” Flynn shoved forward again, pushing Malorys hand away. He only flicked a cold, hard stare atPitte when he moved to flank Rowena. “Do you think you worry me right now?”
“You waste time in your fear for your sister.”
“Shes cold. Her skins like ice. Shes barely breathing.”
“He took her into the book,” Jordan said and had Rowenas attention snapping to him. “How do you know?”
“I know.” He picked up the book hed set on the night table. “She opened this and she was gone.”
She took the book from him. “Its gone. The key is gone from here. It was not to be this way,” she murmured. “He crosses too many lines, breaks too many pacts. Why is he not stopped? This is not temptation, intimidation, or even threat.”
She turned toPitte , and there was a spark of fear in her eyes. “Hes changed the field, and somehow hes moved the key.”
“It was in the book?” Jordan interrupted.
“Yes. Now, somehow, hes taken it into the story, and her with it. He should not be permitted to do so.”
“Shes alone in there. Whether its the story or whether its Kane, her lifes in danger” Jordan gripped Danas hand. “Bring her out.”
“I cant bring out what he put in. Its beyond my power. He must release her, or she must free herself. I can warm her,” she began.
“The hell with that.” Jordan snatched the book back. “Send me in with her.”
“Thats not possible.” She turned away from him to lean over Dana, to run her hands gently over Danas face.
On an oath, Jordan grabbed her arm, spun her back to him. “Dont tell me its not possible.” He felt a jolt, a shock that sang straight up his arm to his shoulder, but he kept his grip firm.
“Take your hand off my woman,”Pitte said very softly.
“What are you going to do, smite me? My womans lying there helpless, going through Christ knows what, because she gave her word to you. And youd stand here and do nothing?”
“He conjured this world he took her into. Its his power that holds there.” In a rare sign of agitation, Rowena pushed at her hair. “Theres no way of knowing what hes done there, or what would become of you if I attempted it. And Im not permitted to take you beyond your own world. To do so would break the vow I took when I came into this place, when I was given charge of the keys.”
“I conjured this world,” Jordan tossed back, and threw the book on the bed beside Dana. “Thats my mind in there, my words, and Ive got a real problem with some self-serving god threatening the woman I love, and plagiarizing me to do it. I dont care how many vows you break, youre not leaving her in there alone. Youre sending me after her.”
“I cant.”
“Rowena.” Taking her shoulders,Pitte turned her to face him. “He has the right. Listen,” he insisted as she started to speak. “A man shouldnt be stripped and bound while his woman fights alone. It was Kane who broke an oath, and doing so crossed beyond all honor. He was not meant to take her life. He was not meant to touch the key by hand or mind or sorcery. Its a different battle now. We fight on his terms or we lose.”