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“This room is worse than the other one,” Jasper said tightly as he looked around the destroyed furniture. “That lamp has been thrown, they fought.”
Tegan shuffled under the bed and pressed the catch to reveal the secret compartment. “Empty,” she said as she came out from under the bed again. “No blood,” she commented as she looked around. “They fought.” She gestured to the broken chair where it looked like a leg of the chair had been broken off as a weapon. “But they did not kill nor were they killed.”
“Taken,” Jasper agreed.
“How in shade’s name did they miss her?” Tegan asked quietly.
“She hid, and no matter your terror,” Jasper said as he passed Tegan to leave the room, “you never give up your child.”
When they got back to the other room, Michael stood, carrying the young one with him, who had wrapped herself around him tightly. Tegan waited for him at the door and then led them both from the room. In the foyer at the main door, the gathered Sentinels looked at one another and to Michael who held the child, who was now sleeping, exhaustion having overcome her.
“The grounds are empty. If not for the little one,” Jasper said with a look to the small female, “or the blood, I would question whether any Akrhyn had been here.”
“The kitchen is stocked,” another Sentinel spoke. “But nothing looks to be used.”
“This doesn’t feel right,” another said softly. “We’re missing something.”
“I agree,” Tegan said as her eyes searched their surroundings. “We need to remove her and come back,” she said as she looked to Jasper.
“Tear it apart?” he asked with a look to the others.
“Bit by bit,” Tegan said as she turned to look down the hall, her eyes taking in the gorged walls, the overturned furniture. It looked wrong. Almost…staged. “The kitchen has provisions but not cooked?” she asked thoughtfully.
“Yes.”
“Perishables or dried?” she questioned.
“Dried and canned. I think.”
Tegan looked to Michael and the child. “Put her down.”
“What?” Michael looked at his sister in alarm.
“Put her down, now,” Tegan said as she drew her sword. “Get away from her.”
“Tegan, she is a child,” he protested in alarm.
“Michael, drop her,” Tegan said as she advanced. “Trust me, brother.”
Cautiously, Michael lowered the female to the floor. He grunted when his sister forcibly shoved him backwards. Tegan stood over the young female with her sword drawn, and her eyes flashed to Jasper, who was watching on with concern.
“Ancients be true,” Tegan whispered as she brought her sword down into the body of the female. She ignored the cries of horror from her fellow Sentinels even as she shook off Michael’s hand on her arm. “Look,” she told her companions as she drew the sword slowly out of the body.
“There’s no blood,” one of the Sentinels choked.
“An illusion,” Tegan growled. “Another trick, like the mountain,” she cursed as she nudged the sleeping body at her feet.
Just then, a low throaty laugh echoed around the room. The Sentinels drew their weapons as they formed a circle around Tegan and the still seemingly asleep child.
“Tiger,” the voice spoke as the Drakhyn appeared at the top of the stairs. “You are too clever,” it praised her.
“Where are the Akrhyn from this House?” Tegan demanded as she looked upon her enemy.
“The males, we killed. The females, we used.” It sighed theatrically. “The children, we feasted upon…” It grinned evilly. “But not the young females. We kept them.”
“Stop!” Tegan called out as one the Elite sprang forward to run up the stairs. “Do not react to it. It baits you.” Tegan felt Michael press into her side protectively. “You lie. Everything you do is a lie,” she told it as she watched it move to lean on the wooden bannister.
An arrow was loosened and sailed through the Drakhyn.
