“Surreal or not, we have to get out of here—and carefully,” Traian reiterated.
He pulled Joie closer to him. He was well aware of the effect of the cold on their bodies and brains. It sapped strength and being inside the cavern was disorienting. He could feel the subtle influence of power now, working at all of them to drain resources and keep them prisoner.
“I need to seal this area off, slow the vampires down, and get all of you out of this cave,” Traian said.
“I’m not so eager to leave,” Joie responded, studying the huge body of the dragon. “This is a treasure. There must be other fascinating things down here.”
“You are being hunted,” Traian said severely. “I am getting you out of here now. I will come back later and find whatever the vampires want so badly.”
“When you’re alone,” Joie guessed.
“When I am alone,” Traian confirmed. He urged them toward the narrow hall. “You must not touch anything, no matter how inviting it appears,” he added as a precaution.
Jubal glanced at Joie. “It isn’t like you to agree to stay behind. Are you certain he doesn’t have you under a spell?” He groaned. “That sounds so melodramatic and stupid. I can’t believe I said it.”
“I’m a professional, Jubal, and I don’t need to make a point. This is his area of expertise, not mine.”
The hall opened into another huge gallery. Tall columns in a gothic style were carved into the walls. The high cathedral ceiling was impressive. Pillars of ice and crystal formed two rows down the room, each holding several round globes of varying colors. As they walked into the huge ballroom-sized room, lights flickered, flames dancing under man-made glass running up the sides of the thick ice wall.
Traian held up his hand to warn them all to stop moving. “Watch where you step. There has to be a way out through this gallery. A powerful mage has made his home here, at least at some point, and he would have a way to get out fast. Spread out and look, but do not touch anything at all.”
Joie was drawn to the aisles of globes as were her siblings. She crossed the ice floor with care, walking along the row of the various-sized spheres, Jubal and Gabrielle close behind her. She peered into one of the largest, a milky blue natural sapphire. As she stared at it, the color deepened, darkened, began to swirl with alarming speed. Mesmerized, she moved closer. The ground beneath her tilted, rippled. She felt a pulling, a drawing as if the swirling sphere called to her.
Traian clapped his hand over her eyes and pulled her away from the globe. “Do not look at them. Gabrielle, come away from there.” There was urgency in his normally calm tone. “Jubal, just pull her with you. I can feel the aura of power in all of these objects. Until we know what they are, we need to give them a wide berth.”
Joie was stunned that she had been so quickly pulled into the globe’s influence. “I thought mages were supposed to be good.”
“Absolute power corrupts. It is something one learns when one’s life spans hundreds of years.” Traian crowded close to Joie, keeping his body between her and the tall pillars.
Joie laughed. “Don’t let Jubal or Gabrielle hear you say that. If you tell them you’ve been alive for a few hundred years, they might change their minds about us.”
“I heard it already,” Jubal said. He was pacing right behind Gabrielle, pushing her through the long, wide-open room. “I have to say, this is the right up there with the dragon. It’s amazing.”
There were clear crystal sculptures of mythical creatures. Small blood-red pyramids made of stone were set into chiseled-out archways in the walls. It was difficult not to stare at the gems and strange objects surrounding them, but Traian was obviously fearful of their safety, and they were ever conscious of the deadly creatures following them.
“Jubal,” Joie called.
He turned to find her frowning. Gabrielle and Traian were both staring at him as well. “What is it?” he asked.
“Every alcove you walk past, the lights turn on.” There was suspicion in Traian’s voice.
Jubal shrugged, obviously puzzled. “I must be triggering a hidden switch or something.”
“It isn’t just the lights, Jubal,” Joie said. “The objects on the shelves lean toward you. A few have actually levitated as if trying to reach you.” She didn’t like the sudden suspicion she heard