Dark Legacy (Dark 27)

That was a revelation. He exchanged a long look with Gary. He has the greatest treasure of all time, Gary said. Of course the Malinovs knew of her. Sergey wanted her exclusively for her abilities, not for children. He kept her to himself.

Elisabeta was trusting. She knew the brothers well, and after their sister, Ivory, disappeared, they went to her often. She didn't think anything of it when Sergey came to her alone and asked her to go with him to a place he'd built in memory of his sister.

Julija walked around the cage, studying it, the wall behind it and the floor under it from every angle. Dragomir saw her stumble, almost go down, and then she straightened her shoulders and put her hands in the air.

Can you do this sitting?

She frowned at him. I have to concentrate. I only saw this spell the one time. After that he waved his hand and she disappeared into the rock.

It won't help if you fall on your butt, Dragomir chided. Answer me. He poured steel into his voice.

She gave him another frown, but this time she shook her head. I am shaky, she conceded, but I have to mimic his movements exactly in reverse. He was standing, and he moved around the cage as he cast.

Just know, if you start to go down, I'll be holding you up. If I have to reach for you, I don't want you to think I'm going to harm you.

Her gaze moved over Dragomir's face. When you came into my mind, I looked into yours. There is only room for one woman. She consumes you. You will fight and die for her. You would never harm me or attack me unless I threatened her in some way. If I start to fall, by all means, keep me from hitting my head.

Both men moved back behind her and the young woman once again lifted her arms. She began a very complex weave in the air. Gary waved his hand and the weave sprang into the air, the thin lines twisted and looping around and through one another. It was complicated, but the mage worked at it steadily. Sweat dampened her brow. Little beads rolled down her face and dotted her skin. Dragomir felt the pounding in her head. The words she had to reverse were dark and ugly, so dark that speaking them kept the ground moving beneath their feet. Her lips moved, but she didn't utter the words aloud, only pictured them in her mind, but the intimacy of that made them worse.

Slowly the weaves began to unknot. When one line was free, she erased it with a flick of her fingers. She walked back and forth while she worked, then around from one side of the cage to the other. She didn't falter, not even when her knees buckled and Dragomir had to catch her around her waist to hold her up. He held her with strong fingers, but kept a light touch so she could move in any direction she needed to without hesitation.

Several times Dragomir caught sight of Elisabeta huddled inside the cage. Her arms were raised over her head, chained to the ceiling. She would be there one moment and then she'd be gone again. He realized the second time he caught a glimpse of her that she had heard every word and knew they were trying to help. Although they hadn't been able to see her, she could see them. Bloodred tears tracked down her face.

He couldn't imagine what he would have done if that had been Emeline. Just looking at Elisabeta made him feel sick and angry. Sergey had kept her prisoner for so long. What harm had all these centuries of imprisonment done to her? Freeing her would be merciful, but after so long, what had been done to her mind? He wanted to hold the woman close and comfort her, as if she were his own sister instead of Traian's. He glanced at Gary's expressionless features. Even he had his eyes on the Carpathian woman. There was something magnetic about her. Something that drew warriors and soothed their tattered souls.

The last line fell to Julija's determination. She erased it and slumped. Dragomir lifted her before she fell and placed her on the stone table. "Just rest for a minute. We will get the chains off Elisabeta and then figure out the next spell. You need blood. You're very weak. I'll give you mine." He turned to Gary. "You're going to have to donate to Elisabeta."

Elisabeta didn't say a word. Dragomir wasn't certain she could speak. She kept her eyes cast down, her long lashes veiling her expression. Gary moved to the cage, waved his hand and the lock fell to the ground. He looked at the chains, and they fell away. Elisabeta's arms dropped as if made of lead. She made no attempt to lift them, or rub at her hands to get the blood flowing.

Gary frowned and very gently took her hand, his thumb sliding over her pulse. "Elisabeta? I'm Gary Daratrazanoff. This is Dragomir Kozel. We'll take you out of here and get you to the healing soil. You need blood." With each word, when there was no response, his voice got softer, more persuasive.

Using his fingernail, he cut a long, thin line in his wrist and held it out to her. She blinked, looked at the blood and then slowly lifted her lashes until she was not quite looking into his eyes.

"I want you to take my blood," Gary said, his voice firming. When there was no response he gave her a definite order, his tone leaving no argument. "Elisabeta, you will take this blood immediately."

She took a breath and then, keeping her hands in her lap, leaned into his wrist. Her mouth moved over the ruby line, her tongue touching the ancient blood. He pressed his wrist deeper into her mouth and then, as if because he'd given his permission or made a demand, she fed. Her movements were almost childlike, delicate and slow.

Dragomir watched her, worry clouding his mind. It was Gary who told her to stop and she did instantly. Once again she sat without moving, her eyes downcast. He looked to Julija for answers.

After hundreds of years of being his prisoner, she's trained to do as she's told. The consequences of not obeying were severe. Julija sighed. She fought him for me. To keep me alive. He hurt her, but she didn't stop. She'll come back from this if I can get her out of here. The holding spell was one Xavier created and it was extremely complicated. I tried to reverse it several times when Sergey and the others weren't around, but I couldn't.

Dragomir narrowed his gaze, studying her face, the lines of strain there, the signs of torture. "You could have gotten free at any time, couldn't you?"

She shrugged. She told me to leave, to get myself free, but I couldn't leave her. Everyone she ever cared about is dead . . .

"That isn't true," Dragomir denied. He turned toward the woman in the cage. "Look at me," he commanded her, using his firmest tone. He waited until Elisabeta raised her gaze to his. Again, she didn't look him in the eye directly, instead fixing her gaze just below his eyes.

"It isn't true that everyone you love is dead. Your brother, Traian, still lives and he has found his lifemate. He searched for you, but there has been no trace. Others have searched. Your gifts are needed now more than ever, Elisabeta. Many warriors have waited centuries for their lifemates and cannot find them. We have no women. It is difficult to continue hanging on. With your gifts, you can bring comfort to those waiting, extend their ability to hold out against the darkness. Your people need you. They want you home. We want you home with us, Elisabeta."

Her gaze flicked from his face to Julija and then back again. She took a deep breath and nodded, but she didn't speak. Once again, tears tracked down her face, tiny ruby drops of blood. The sight made Dragomir's stomach knot.

"Show me," Gary demanded of Julija. "In your mind, let me see the spell he cast to keep her locked in this place. Every detail in your mind. Dragomir is connected to me and I will be able to see what you picture."

Julija didn't hesitate. Dragomir's head was filled with images of Sergey walking back and forth in front of the cage holding Elisabeta. His feet tracked a complicated arrangement around the cage, while his hands moved in an extremely difficult configuration in the air. To do both, one had to be extremely coordinated. All the while, Sergey uttered commands of dark magic, words that should never have been made, let alone spoken.

"A sacrifice was made long ago to seal this spell," Gary said. "In Xavier's chamber, he sacrificed a young mage."

How could you possibly know that? Julija demanded, her suspicion back.

"When it was discovered that Xavier had turned against our people, one of my

ancestors took part in the investigation. They uncovered many disturbing things in Xavier's home. He left hastily and in doing so, left behind years of memories within the walls of the ice caves where he conjured most of his spells. That image, because he sacrificed a human being, was very vivid."

Are you saying that the things we do in this room can be imprinted on the walls? Julija asked, shocked.

Gary nodded. "Of course. The more violent, the deeper the etching. These walls are screaming with their burden. Someone gifted would be able to read all that was done here."

For the first time, the skeptical suspicion left Julija's face. We really might be able to do this, Elisabeta, she said, jumping up, forgetting how weak she'd been before Dragomir had given her his blood.

Dragomir found himself smiling. "You exchanged blood with Elisabeta. That's how she's included in our circle. All this time I thought you were afraid of a blood exchange."

I know how this Carpathian lifemate crap works. I'm not going to say a word around anyone that doesn't already have a lifemate and I'll exchange blood with the women if necessary, but not the men.

He found himself smiling, thankful to Emeline that she'd given him back a sense of humor. The little mage would lead someone a terrible dance if she proved to be a lifemate to a Carpathian.

Do you think you can access the memory in the cave? he asked Gary on their private telepathic path.

I have located it in the memory of my ancestor, Gary assured. Whether she can reproduce it, I have no idea.

"Let's do this," Dragomir said. A shadow slipped into his mind, making him leery. He wanted to get back to Emeline.

Julija took a deep breath and lifted her arms. Concentration was in every line of her body. She looked at Elisabeta. We will do it this time, my friend, and you will be free.

I cannot comprehend such a thing.