Captured (Shadow Guild Hades & Persephone #3) - Linsey Hall Page 0,2

I’ll grab you if you don’t get your arse out of here.”

“Deal.”

She called upon her glittering wings, climbed onto the windowsill, and leapt out into the sky, hovering effortlessly in front of me.

I ignored her and stared down at the bushes.

Grow.

I reached out to them with my power, glad that Hades had taught me how to use it. My power surged within me, calling to the plants.

For a moment, nothing happened. I had more power, but it was bound deep inside my soul. Though I could feel it, I had no idea how to access it.

“Hurry.” Eve’s voice was strained. “The ice is right behind you.”

Come on. I pushed harder with what I had, focusing on the bushes down below. They twitched, their branches lengthening and the leaves filling out.

Come to me.

They reached for the window. Frantic, I looked back. The ice was coming for me. Close. Closer.

I leaned out the window. The bushes had nearly reached me. Still clutching Cordelia, I scrambled onto the windowsill, swinging my legs out and over. The branches reached up and formed a prickly platform. I slid into their scratchy grasp.

Take me to the ground.

They seemed to understand me because they lowered me to the courtyard outside the tower. Eve flew beside me, ready to catch me and Cordelia if we fell. My feet hit the ground, and I turned back to the tower.

The bottom half was coated in a thin layer of ice that glowed with eerie blue magic. I staggered backward, heart thundering.

It was all over the building and growing fast. At this rate, it would devour the whole city if we didn’t stop it.

2

Seraphia

The blue ice spread up the stone wall of the tower, coating it in a thin layer of freezing death.

“What the hell kind of magic is this?” Was it a coincidence that it was here at the Shadow Guild Tower?

“I have no idea,” Eve said. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Yeah.” Frantic, I turned and ran. “We have to find Carrow.”

“Let’s meet at the Haunted Hound,” Eve said.

“Good plan.” With the Shadow Guild Tower empty and quickly freezing, the next best place to find them would be the Haunted Hound, where Mac and Quinn worked. The others often gathered there.

I tucked the stiff Cordelia under my arm like an American football and ran, digging my hand into my pocket as I sprinted toward the city gate that would lead me to the Haunted Hound. I found Carrow's number and dialed.

She picked up on the second ring. “Seraphia?”

“Cordelia is frozen.”

“What? How?”

“I don’t know. Dark magic of some kind.”

“Let’s meet at the Haunted Hound,” Carrow said.

“Already on my way. But there’s something wrong at the Shadow Guild Tower, a dark curse that’s spreading.”

“I’ll send Grey over to check it out.”

“Thanks.” I hung up, shoving the phone back into my pocket. My lungs burned as I ran. Cordelia was way heavier than she looked. Eve flew overhead, easily keeping pace with me.

We raced down the ancient streets of Guild City, passing by shop windows full of magical dancing displays. It was a rare sunny day, and the light glinted off the mullioned windows of the old Tudor buildings. People dodged out of my way as I hurtled down the street, but no one looked at me strangely.

Guild City was weird like that. A frozen raccoon hardly merited notice. Little did they know, it was more than just a frozen raccoon. I prayed the curse was confined to the Shadow Guild tower and not spreading to the rest of the city.

Finally, we reached the courtyard in front of the main city gate, an enormous, ornate structure. As we neared it, Eve landed at a run and drew her wings back into her body.

Together, we sprinted into the passageway meant for foot traffic. A portal at the end would take us to the Haunted Hound, our gateway to human London.

When we reached the portal, Eve gave me a little nudge. “You first.”

I ran in, and the ether spun me through space, spitting me out in the back hall of the pub. A half second later, Eve appeared next to me.

The sound of laughter filtered into the dim hall where we stood, and we hurried into the main room of the tavern. By the fire, the ghostly dog slept in her bed, and the low, timbered ceiling gave it a cozy feel. It was half full of the late afternoon crowd, and most of them were gathered around the small tables, chatting, or playing cards