Water slapped against the wooden beams of the pier mere yards from their hiding place. The sharp scents of brine and diesel oil wafted through cracks in the dilapidated walls of the storage shack. Half buried by weeds at the edge of the cracked asphalt parking lot, the wooden shack offered some cover to the surveillance team as they observed the hulking vessel secured to the near side of the dock.

Larry covered his nose with his paws and smothered a sneeze. “Geeze, this place stinks.”

“Shhhh.” Risa hissed a whispered rebuke. “They probably have Air witches listening for intruders.”

It was their second night of spying at the abandoned boatyard. Sandwiched between two brand new marinas in Bridgeport Harbor, where sleek yachts bobbed next to shiny metal docks, the run-down boatyard and its barnacle-covered wooden dock appeared abandoned. Except for the ship moored to the dock that contained a hostage.

After two nights of surveillance, the SBI team and Larry had a better idea of their rescue task. And it wasn’t pretty. Armed men patrolled the boat’s narrow walkways as well as the dock. Several mages made regular appearances above deck, while a shiny black limousine made ominous visits, gliding into the parking lot and up to the pier at random times. The heavyset, muscular man who alighted from the car, always accompanied by at least two bodyguards, was Michael Malfisco. He never stayed long, but the storm clouds on his face each time he left had the rescue team worried.

Midnight had visited the surveillance shed each night to attempt reaching Ted through their mind link. She shook her head in despair after her latest attempt. “I can tell he’s still alive, but he’s very weak. He can no longer speak, not even in his mind. I sense another presence in his mind, though. It’s gotta be an Air Witch. He’s rifling through Ted’s memories and working on unlocking the wards guarding his closest secrets.” Urgency colored her next words. “We don’t have much time to rescue him before he, um, well, you know.”

“Gives up the location of the Universum, albeit unwillingly, or ....” Larry paused, hesitating to verbalize what they all feared.

“He dies.” Midnight’s expression was stoic. “He won’t be the first Guardian I’ve lost, but he might just be the last, if we lose control of the Universum.”

A morose silence overtook the watchers.

The strident cries of seagulls pierced the night air. The dirty grey and white birds wheeled and dove as they sought a last meal and a good spot to roost for the night.

They’d have to attempt a rescue mission soon, no matter what.

* * *

After much discussion, a rescue plan was agreed. Larry had a bad feeling about it, but couldn’t think of a better one, so he was on board. He would not lie low and ignore danger to those he cared for ever again.

That night, with cloudy skies aiding their stealthy approach, a hand-picked team that included the most powerful members of the SBI team, along with Larry and Midnight, launched their rescue mission. They had waited until well after midnight, when they knew the guards would be operating on a skeleton crew, and there was little chance of Michael or any of the magical heavy hitters being present.

Cerri had word from her sources at the Boston SBI that Litha was in attendance at a Witch Council dinner several hundred miles away, in Salem. No one had been able to discover Councilman Jenkins’ whereabouts, but they hoped he wouldn’t miss a Witch Council dinner and so should be miles away from the ship.

The attack required precision and excellent coordination between the witches on the team. Risa’s skills as a Water witch were critical, as the ship bobbed in the sea water that surrounded it. Once on board, they’d need Cerri’s skills as an Earth witch, as the dry wood and metal surfaces of the boat linked it most closely to the earth from which its substance was constructed.

Larry sighed. Talk about a perfect place to use as a hideout and prisoner stash house—on a boat that straddled two elements. Especially if you knew those pursuing you were Elemental witches.

Risa was the first to take action. She quietly slipped toward the water at the edge of the dock. Her job was to use her power and potions to ‘freeze’ the water surrounding the vessel. This would prevent the bad guys from moving the ship away from the dock and taking it into open waters outside the harbor.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Larry watched in awe as the water around the ship jelled into an ice-like slush before freezing solid, encasing the hull in a cold, crystalline prison. Goddess, that Risa was one powerful witch.

Cerri was almost invisible, her Earth magic shielding her from their gaze as she waved the team forward. “Hurry up, everyone! The guards are patrolling on the far side of the main cabin. Time to board!”

Larry and the rest of the attack team swarmed up the ladder and onto the deck, each detaching from the group to undertake their specific missions. Assigned to Ted’s rescue, he and Midnight peeled away toward the under deck stairs. Before they travelled more than a few feet, the night air lit up with shouts and gunfire. Arrows of magical fire thudded into the deck at Larry’s side. A dozen or more mages raced toward their position, while others pursued the rest of the team.

“Shit, Midnight! They were ready for us. There must be a mole. Go find Ted!” That was Larry’s last coherent thought as he charged into battle for the fight of his life.

Cries of pain, along with blasts of magic and gunfire, sounded from every side. Then the deck rumbled as someone started the huge motor belowdecks. Risa, still stationed on the dock below, shouted in triumph. “At least they can’t take the fight away from the dock. I’ll make sure the ice holds!”

* * *

Larry stumbled into the ship’s guardrail when a furry missile hit him hard in the flank. Only his massive size prevented him from falling overboard. He clumsily rounded toward the source of the attack, his bulk leaving him at a disadvantage against the lithe frenzy of his feline assailant.

“Cleo! What the hell are you doing here!” Shocked at seeing Litha’s Familiar on the ship, miles from her magical partner, Larry hesitated, leaving him open to a razor-like swat from Cleo’s quick claws. “Ouch! Damn cat! Why aren’t you with Litha?”

Cleo’s smug smile made Larry’s blood run cold. “I’m not attached at the hip to Litha. In fact, I’m not really attached to her at all. My chosen partner is here with me, defending our right to a place on the Universum mission.”

“That’s right, Larry. My new chosen Familiar is here at my side, in her rightful place.” Councilman Jenkins stepped into view, his arctic eyes and curved lips revealing malicious pleasure at Larry’s shock. He ran his hand over Cleo’s head. She purred, arching her back in pleasure.

“But what about Litha, Cleo? You told me DEAF appointed you as her Familiar—”

“I lied. In fact, I lied a lot.” Cleo’s nose crinkled, and she chuckled. “I haven’t spoken with DEAF in ... oh, about a century, since they assigned me to that magical wet noodle, Jesse. As far as DEAF is concerned, I’m still assigned as Jesse’s Familiar.”

Oblivious to the ongoing battle around them, Larry sat on the deck in shock. “But how—you told me they’d appointed me as Jesse’s new Familiar. What about Litha? As High Priestess, she’s required to have one.” A sick understanding filled Larry’s mind. “Burt. He’s still her Familiar, isn’t he? She didn’t plan to sacrifice him at her ascendance ritual at all.”

Cleo snickered. “Of course not. She had no intention of doing so. Burt’s a good toad, and completely loyal to Litha. I just told you Litha was going to sacrifice him to get you and Jesse together, so my partner here could get you both kicked out of the coven and out of our way.”

Confused, Larry asked, “So, is Litha even involved in this plot, at all? Or is she just your garden variety murdering bitch witch who wanted her own coven and killed Mabel to get it?”

“Does it really matter?” The Councilman’s cold eyes narrowed. “You and your compatriots failed in your rescue mission today. Soon, the wards protecting the scrapyard will fall, and you’ll fail at protecting the Universum, as well.”

“It matters.” Larry growled low. “Was Litha involved in this plot? Did she kill Mabel so she could take over the coven? Yes or no answers, if you please.”

“Well then, yes, she’s in it up to her pretty little neck. The only reason she’s not here tonight is so she can give herself an alibi, and put you lot off her scent. We know she’s under observation.” Smiling, the mage added offhandedly, “And yes, she killed the old bat so she could have her coven. We’ll need a coven-full of witches with decent magic where we’re going.”

Councilman Jenkins’ level words, with their arrogant assurance of success, spurred Larry into action. He summoned his magic, a rich golden light covering his fur with glowing power. Tendrils of magic whipped off his body and swirled, snakelike, across the ship’s deck. He closed his eyes, pinpointed the location of his team members, then mind-shouted a command. “Cerri, Risa, team members, grab the magic lifeline at your sides! I’ll pull us all into the closest ley line!”

Larry stumbled as multiple hands grabbed onto his magical lifeline, but he held tight to each one. Then Cerri screamed, “Go, Larry! The ship is pulling away from the pier!”

Larry took a running dive off the ship’s deck and onto the wooden planks of the dock, his paws pounding toward the shore. Here goes nothing. As he reached solid ground, Larry held his breath and dived straight toward the cracked asphalt. With a final mighty pull of his magic, Larry ripped open a tunnel into the ley line he knew lay directly underneath. He whimpered in pain, his sight dimming, as he used the last of his magic to pull his team members into the ley line with him.

The last thing Larry remembered was Cerri shouting, “They have Risa! She couldn’t break free!” Oh, shit.