Page 34 of Ignited Spirits
I don’t put any thought or intention into it, other than he can’t know that we’re here.
Instead of doing something sane, like knocking him unconscious, my magic takes the most extreme route and turns him into dust as soon as it slams into him.
CHAPTER 12
IZZY
Ihave to swallow down the squeak of surprise that tries to make its way out of my mouth because that is so not what I expected to happen.
Chancing a guilty glance behind me, I see Rhys looking between where the guard was and me in horror.
“Oops?” It comes out more as a question that a statement, though.
Rhys blinks at me before shaking his head. “I said I wanted to minimize bloodshed. I didn’t think you’d take that as you need to vaporize anyone we come in contact with.”
“It was an accident,” I say with a shrug.
“Accidentally obliterating someone? That’s new but about in line for what I expect with you, Iz.” Aiden tries to keep the amusement off his face, but he can’t keep it out of his voice.
I narrow my eyes at him for finding this whole thing funny before spinning on my heel and marching down the sterile-white hallway. White floor tiles, faded white cement blocks, and harsh white fluorescent lights give the place a hopeless feeling, which is perfect for a prison.
Bishop catches up to me in a few steps. “Do you know where you’re going?”
“No clue. It can’t be that hard to figure out, St. James.”
I mean, how big can the prison be, honestly?
Massive, apparently.
“The prison extends twenty stories underground, and the maximum security levels are the lower two,” Bishop informs me.
I pause in my tracks to look at him in disbelief. “Please tell me there are elevators.”
Aiden gives me a shit-eating grin. “Nope. We have to hoof it down twenty flights of stairs to find Dad.”
Letting out a soft groan at how sore my poor legs are going to be tomorrow, I close my eyes to gather the mental energy for this endeavor. I thought this was going to be a test of my magical capabilities, not my physical stamina. The universe must’ve decided onwhy not bothjust to torment me.
“It sounds almost as bad as Tartarus,” Levi rumbles, his deep voice seeming to echo off the walls, even though he tries to keep his volume down.
I open my eyes at his voice. “Mages take their security seriously, none more so than the council. I’m honestly not surprised by how large the prison is, but it certainly makes this whole thing harder.”
“I think that’s the point,” Luca supplies helpfully.
I give him a droll look. “I’m starting to get that. So, which way to the stairs?”
Rhys shoves a hand through his hair, making it even more disheveled as he looks around the bland hallway. “No clue. The council doesn’t release any blueprints of their prison, so we’re flying blind right now.”
“Then I guess we just pick a direction at random.” Looking around, I decide that the stairs are probably farther away from the door. Nodding to myself, I start walking that way down the seemingly never-ending corridor with a million hallways that branch off.
We’ve been walking for a few minutes when three guards sprint out from another corner. They do a double-take when they spot our not-so-merry bunch and skid to a stop.
I throw up a shield to fend off any of their magical attacks. I’d rather not turn anyone else to dust right now, so I let the others get rid of them.
Levi sends his smoky black magic toward them, encasing the one on the right completely. After a brief struggle, the man drops to the ground, lifeless, before Levi’s magic fades away.
Rhys slings a classic attack spell at the middle guy, who tries to get up a shield. Unfortunately for him, Rhys’s magic is much stronger than his. It tears through his shield like it’s tissue paper. When it hits him, the goon convulses and drops to the ground.
Bishop deals with the last one by strangling him with his magic. It’s a little gruesome, watching the guy turn purple as he claws at his throat. His struggles are useless, though. Bishop’s magic is too strong, and the guard passes out within thirty seconds.
