Her footsteps echoed down the hall as she continued to run. It was a long, straight path without a single branch or turn in it. She just hoped that the man wouldn’t be able to find the secret door. If he did, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to outrun him.
She didn’t stop until she reached the end of the tunnel and found a ladder leading out. Her arms quivered and almost gave out as she pulled herself up. She focused on taking one rung at a time. The muscles around her knees felt like jelly as she pushed herself to take the next step and the next. She gripped the next rung, her fingers aching, and pulled. Her head cracked against the top.
“Finally,” she whispered. She hung there for several seconds, letting her heartrate decrease and her lungs stop burning. She wiped away the sweat from her eyes with the back of her hand and stared up.
A small groove in the ceiling was the only indication that a hatch was directly above her head. Her shoulders shook as she raised her hand and pulled down on the small latch. It clicked softly and the door sprang open. Cool, fresh air filled her lungs as she breathed in deeply.
“I was hoping you would find your way here,” a low voice whispered from above her.
She was about to scream when Bear’s face came into focus. He leaned down, looped an arm around her, and heaved her out of the tunnel. Layla buried her face in his chest. Sobs wracked her body as everything that had happened came crashing down on her.
Bear cradled her head and stroked her back for several moments. “That’s a good lass,” he cooed.
“How did you get out?” she asked. Her voice came as a low sob.
“After you locked yourself in the cellar, the soldiers began attacking the remaining patrons while that scumbag tried to beat down the trapdoor. We knew Davi told you about the secret tunnel, so we fought our way out.” He shrugged. “We hoped you would get here.”
Layla nodded. “How many people were hurt?” she whispered.
“Not many.”
She didn’t say anything for several seconds as her mind raced through the list of patrons who’d still be in the bar. Images of them lying on their backs, their eyes staring lifelessly up at the ceiling flooded her vision. She blinked back tears.
“We can’t stay here for long,” he said softly. “If I were a betting man, I’d say we only have a small amount of time before that draking bootlicker comes back with an army.”
“Why is he doing this?” Layla whimpered. She wrapped her arms tighter around his neck.
Bear cleared his throat and coughed slightly. “Well, if you want my honest opinion,” he said, “I think it’s obvious he thinks you’re the lost princess.”
“That’s ridiculous,” she replied quickly.
“Is it though?” Bear pressed. “Think about it, darling. You’re the right age. You’ve got a bit of the Shadowcrest look to you. Your magic matched the fae royal line. That’s enough to make me a believer.”
Layla ground her teeth at his words. “Do you know anything about this?” she asked Penny, her thoughts coming rapidly. Her PEA didn’t reply.
“Lots of fae could say the same.” she said to Bear. Fuming, she glanced around them. A group of FGs stood at a distance. Their bikes glinted in the dim light of a gas station sign. They carried on in hushed conversations Layla couldn’t understand. Buildings were boarded up with graffiti marking them. She’d grown up in the slums and had rarely left the boundaries of Estrellala, the capital city of Lunameed and Mitier. This was her home. And tonight, she’d seen it harmed.
She sighed heavily. Ollie’s lifeless face filled her mind. She’d had enough of the bloodshed. “I think I should leave,” she said. “Without you,” she added.
He squeezed her tightly against him. “I don’t know about that,” he said. “We’ve sworn to protect you.”
“Let me go, Bear. I don’t want to drag you into this anymore than you already have been. And I certainly don’t want you to get hurt.” She paused, letting her words sink in. “Besides, I’m the one he wants. Maybe he’ll leave you and the rest of the FGs alone—”
“Nonsense, girl,” Bear interrupted her. “We don’t call ourselves the Fairy Godmothers for nothing.” He motioned to the rest of his gang to come closer. They walked their bikes towards them. “We volunteered to keep you safe. To be your draking Fairy Godmothers and, by the Light, we will do everything we can to help you.”
Layla met the gaze of each one of the FGs who stood around her. None of them looked afraid.
“You better believe it, darling,” Rene said, kneeling so that he was eye-level with her. He clasped her cheek in his hand. “All of our cases are personal, but this time, with you, we all volunteered. Do you know how rare that is?” He wiped a tear from her cheek. “We will stay with you until the bitter end. Or until you get your happy ending. My vote is for the happy ending, of course.”
“You have us all,” Potts declared. His skin had turned purplish-grey from drink and his eyes stared off with an unfocused glint to them, but Layla appreciated the sentiment.
“Don’t worry about us, love,” Sprig said. “We’ve faced worse evils than King Renard. Try facing off against an evil stepmonster—er—mother,” he shrugged. “I lived to see another day then. I will now.”
Despite herself, Layla laughed. They were all being too kind to her. She didn’t deserve it. Warmth spread through her, easing the tension knotting her back and shoulders. She didn’t have many friends. Her parents were both dead. And here were these men she only knew from The Wand trying to help her. It was overwhelming.
“Why?” she asked. “Why are you willing to risk your live for me?”
“Just accept their help and go with it!” Penny demanded. She buzzed in Layla’s mind, sending a small tremor through her body.
Layla thought about deactivating her again but decided against it. She needed an ally who knew her well right now, even one that was integrated into her biological system.
“Because,” Bear said, “every person needs someone in their corner. I think it was high time that you had someone take care of you for a change.” He smiled at her.
Over the years, she’d learned to distrust too much kindness. In her experience, people were only generous when they wanted something or to convince you to put your guard down. Absentmindedly, she twisted a ring on her index finger. It knocked against her knuckle as she weighed her options.
They didn’t have much time. Sooner or later, the king’s man would either figure out how to open the secret tunnel or lose interest and scout her out using the street cameras spread out across Mitier. The tunnel had ended just a few blocks away from the bar. If nothing else, he would use the city police to set up a perimeter and block her exit routes. She needed to be well on her way before then.
“What do you have in mind?” she asked.
“There’s a place we can take you,” Bear said.
“It’ll be safe,” Potts cut in. “Promise.”
“What other choice do we have?” Penny asked.
Layla glanced in the direction of the bar. Smoke billowed into the sky and sirens blared in the distance. Her heart skipped a beat. She knew he’d set fire to The Wand. Knew that he wouldn’t stop until he’d found her.