Page 73 of Catastrophe

“It’s not something we have in our hands, but it’s something,” Elizabeth said, frowning and staring at the screen.

“I can print some of it out,” Isaac suggested.

“It’s not an exact science for location.” Arabella continued thoughtfully. “Someone may need to investigate before we can ascertain the exact location.”

“What’s happening right now?” I whispered to Isaac.

“I think you gave them a new way to use their magic, and they are trying to work out how to do it,” he whispered back and smiled proudly.

While Elizabeth and Arabella sat down to discuss the logistics of tracking via a code, another member of the team escorted Sigurd to a bedroom to rest. He’d been quiet and withdrawn since Fafnir had flown off with Laurence. Yet Savida, Baelen, and Daithi stood around with the rest of the task team, awaiting assignments.

“While watching you play on your screen is riveting, Charlie, is there something the others and I can do to help in this plan?” Baelen asked.

“What I’m doing is finding where this frigging compound is and who we can expect to be there when we break in. You guys are going to have to deal with the escape plan.”

“Which we can’t do until we have schematics for the building,” Isaac added unhelpfully.

“Have you been able to contact Clawdia since you woke up?” I asked Baelen.

His lip twitched downward. “No. Our bond is strong, but it’s muted, probably because of wards around the compound.”

I listed on my fingers. “Battle hackers for information on hunters; find the location of the compound as well as what wards, tech and people protect it; then get a map for it. My to-do list is full. ‘Spoon-feed tasks to supernaturals’ isn’t on there. I can’t do everything, you know. I’m good, but I’m not the son of a god.”

“I’m rather powerless here,” he retorted quietly.

I looked up at him. “Are you? I thought you had fun gadgets. Powerful items. Wasn’t your room like a golden shrine full of them?”

His eyes flickered, and he looked down at his hand sharply. With a growl, he clenched his fist and muttered, “My ring.”

CHAPTER 18

BAELEN

“Your ring?” Charlie repeated.

With my jaw tense, I explained, “It gives me the power of invisibility. I had it in the dreamscape before the shadows attacked me.” I vividly remembered Zaide looking at my hand and guessing at its power.

“And now it’s missing,” Charlie finished. “Did you have it on your hand in real life when you went to sleep?”

“Yes.”

“So the shadows have taken it?” He summarized and sighed.

My fangs descended as anger brewed inside me like a sandstorm.

As though they haven’t done enough to me. As though I haven’t healed their entire realm. Yet they have the nerve to resort to petty thievery?

“It seems so. I didn’t realize it was missing until now,” I growled, especially irritated because it would be useful in exactly this situation. I took it from my father for the ease of creeping into slave markets and rescuing titans. But those smokey creatures had poached it from me without me even realizing.

Charlie shrugged one shoulder. “To be fair, you had other things on your mind. Or in it, as the case may be.” He gave me a rueful smile and asked. “You wanted to use this ring as part of the escape plan?”

“Being invisible is helpful.” I sighed and rubbed my chin. With it gone, I didn’t have a way to contribute to the escape plan, and I didn’t know enough about the technology in this realm to be useful.

“Not helpful if there is infra-red or heat sensors there,” Isaac added. “Or biometrics door locks.”

“That falls under tech and it’s last on the list.” Charlie replied, “I don’t see anyone else contributing a gadget. At least Baelen’s trying.”

His defense of me made me smile, and I said. “This ring won’t get me through doors, but as far as I’m aware, it makes one invisible in every sense of the word. It’s a powerful relic. Sensors shouldn’t detect me.”

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