‘OK,’ said Saul. ‘The boys are through the fence and heading for the back wall. I’m not sure how far the dampening field stretches but they’re still outside it.’ He paused, listening to the voices winging to and fro. ‘Steve, Victor’s given me the go-ahead. Buzz the roof a few times then let Xav off in the grounds in full view of the front door. While he’s doing that, the boys will go over the back wall as arranged. Xav, you keep in touch so you know when to call off your distraction. Yves will short the alarms and CCTV the moment the guards pursue so that’ll add to the confusion. Steve, you circle and wait for Crystal to give you the signal to land. All being well, they’ll be packing our girls out and with you before the contessa realizes what’s going on.’
‘Understood.’ Steve rubbed his hands together. ‘I’d prefer a few rehearsals but I suppose we’d better make the most of improvisation if things go wrong.’
‘I’m afraid you’re right. The telepathic link might fail if the contessa thinks to set up a dampener again. In that event, it’s essential the girls be taken to safety even if that means letting my boys figure out their own escape route. Agreed?’
Steve nodded.
‘Piece of cake,’ said Xav.
‘Xav, you’re the one who is going to be on your own the most,’ Saul said. ‘Will says to make sure you haul your butt back to the vehicle rendezvous. He doesn’t want to have to come looking for you.’
‘Tell big brother that he doesn’t have to worry about me.’
But I could tell Will and Saul were anxious about Xav’s part in this and as they both had a gift for sensing danger, I found it far from reassuring.
‘Xavier, you have given me more grey hairs than all my sons put together.’ Saul frowned, then corrected himself. ‘To be fair, you and Zed. Just try not to add to them tonight.’
Xav gave his dad a hug. ‘I’ll do my best.’
‘Let’s get this show on the road.’ Steve climbed into the cockpit.
Saul helped me into the rear seat. ‘Watch your backs, all of you. Karla will never forgive me if any of you get hurt trying to rescue her.’
Xav put his arm around me as we sat in the back to watch our pilot ready the helicopter for take-off. It was a small craft but could carry five passengers at a squeeze. The plan wouldn’t have been possible without snow on the ground to guide us—almost as good as landing lights; as it was we were all acutely aware Steve was risking a lot to help.
He’s not bad for a self-absorbed movie god, is he? I asked Xav. We had to use my kind of telepathy, about which I was still uncertain, like a kid wobbling on her first two-wheeler bike; but the whine of the engine was so loud, even in the soundproofed cockpit, that normal talk was impossible and Steve would hear us on the microphone in the ear defenders we were wearing.
Hearing you loud and clear, cupcake. Boy, is that one powerful bridge you built. You might need to rein it back a bit.
Sorry.
Don’t be sorry. With any luck, it’ll bust through any barrier the old witch throws up. As for your guy here, he’s bearable as long as he keeps his hands to himself, Xav conceded.
He only kissed me once and it was nothing like yours.
Glad to hear it. He paused. Mine were better, right?
I couldn’t help teasing to lighten the unbearable tension we were both feeling. They were different, that’s for sure.
Better different or worse different? His arm tightened around my waist, a warning to go carefully.
I turned into his embrace. His was kind.
Kind? Xav turned the word over in his mind. That doesn’t sound very impressive.
Oh, I was impressed that he cared to shelter me from the press pack.
And?
And what? Wasn’t I a little Miss Innocent?
How did it compare to mine? he growled.
His gave me a little thrill I have to admit … but yours blew my socks off.
He kissed the space between my eyebrows above the bridge of my nose, urging the memory to stick. Good. Just you remember that, Crystal Brook. And I can do much better, I promise.
I bet you can. It’s a shame now’s not the time to find out.
Yeah, when everyone’s safe, you and I have unfinished business to settle.
I suppose we do. I wasn’t sure of my moves in this relationship. I know we were meant to be together but that didn’t mean I could go straight to being uber-cool about the whole soulfinder thing like Diamond had done.
Sensing my need for reassurance, Xav glanced at Steve but he was too busy flying to pay us any attention. I’ll just take a little instalment now. He bent down to kiss, warm lips soft against mine. I leant in, kissing him back, trying to use my mouth to say what I hadn’t yet admitted: that I loved him and was scared rigid about what he was going to do. As he had on the movie set, he rubbed tiny circles on my spine, a magic touch that melted away the tension. He shifted to hold the back of my neck firmly, taking control of the angle our lips met and I was happy to let him take command. The boy kissed like a champion and I was more than ready to pick up a few tips. For a few seconds I was worried he would notice my clumsiness but then I forgot everything but enjoying the kiss. This wasn’t a test I had to pass but a pledge, an exchange of what we felt for each other.
He broke off the kiss. It’s OK—we’ll be OK. I’m coming back to you whatever happens tonight.
I’ll hold you to that. Just warning you: I’ll kill you if you let any harm come to you.
Excellent. Sweet, moderate response from my understanding soulfinder. Aren’t I lucky?
‘Hey, lovebirds, you might want to know that we’re approaching the castle now,’ called Steve through the mikes in our earphones, not sounding that put out that he was playing gooseberry. Probably a nice break for him. ‘I’m going in low. Time to cover up so they don’t recognize you.’
I pulled on my ski hat and glasses. Xav was already suited up in his ski gear. He put on helmet and goggles, a little awkwardly, as he had to hold the earphones to one side to keep talking to Steve.
Xav scanned the castle grounds, matching it to what he had seen from the satellite image. ‘That’s a good place to start the run.’ He pointed to a terrace outside the ground floor windows of the castle—the same sitting room where we had seen Diamond and the others. ‘How low can you get me when you drop?’
‘A couple of feet off the ground. No wind to speak of so I won’t be battling the elements.’
‘I’ll throw out the skis first then follow. I’ll need a few moments to put them on so if you can use the helicopter to shield me.’
‘Will do.’
Be very, very careful, I begged.
With you to come back to? Sure, I’ll take care.
‘Second approach!’ called Steve. ‘And yes, Houston, we have their attention. Get ready for inane movie star mode.’ We leant to his side and whooped and jeered at the security guard who had emerged from the tunnel to check out the disturbance overhead. ‘Grab the champagne, honey. It’s behind my seat.’
‘Champagne?’ I found the bottle in a box at my feet.
He grinned. ‘I am Steve Hughes. Got my reputation to think of. Never fly without the Dom Perignon on ice. Crack open the rear window and fire the cork at him. That’ll leave him in no doubt as to our intention to be idiots.’
It was an odd moment to realize I’d not opened a champagne bottle before but I’d have to learn quickly—Steve had his hands full and Xav was readying to jump.
‘Distraction enough for you, Xav?’ Steve asked.
‘Perfect. I’ll go out the other side.’
Steve circled and began to lower the helicopter as if coming into land on the terrace. The guard raced back into the building, gathered some reinforcements and emerged into the garden.
Steve waved at the reception committee, making the helicopter dip and swing as if the pilot was under the influence. ‘Champagne cocktails, anyone?’
I levered off the metal top, surprised that that didn’t do the trick of po
pping the cork.
Give it a twist, Xav said, amused at my incompetence.
I did as he suggested and the cork rocketed out of the window, followed by a spurt of foam. The guards reached for their weapons but then called out in disgust as they saw the champagne pumping over the snow-covered flowerbeds.
A blast of air from behind told me that Xav had made his exit. I bent over Steve’s shoulder. ‘He’s gone.’ I turned the gesture into what looked like a kiss on the cheek.
Steve nodded and began a steep bank away from the castle. As we circled I could see Xav straightening up from fixing on his skis.
‘Oh no.’ No one heard my groan in the noise of the helicopter but I could see Xav doing a little war dance on the terrace, a come-and-get-me-you-losers finger wave. He shouted something at the guards and then pushed himself off, taking the end of the first terrace in a flying jump.
Trace?
Crystal? That’s some powerful link you’ve got there. I could feel Trace rubbing his temples.
Sorry, no time to sort it out. Xav’s away. Tell Yves to do his thing.
Will do.
Steve did another circle of the castle. We both watched the little black figure of Xav winding his way through the steep gardens. Two of the guards had disappeared, only to emerge from the garages on the snowmobiles. They jetted off in pursuit, the others watching, the robot butler keeping in touch with a walkie-talkie.
‘Your guy is hell on skis!’ Steve exclaimed.
He sure was. It was like watching a razor blade slicing through white silk. Xav weaved in and out of an avenue of classical statues, jumped a flight of steps and tucked in low to build up speed for a dash down a narrow hedge-lined path.
‘I hope he knows he’s got company.’ Steve pointed. Knowing the grounds, the snowmobilers were cutting to the end of the run, taking a track down the side of the gardens that avoided the obstacles with which Xav was having such fun.
Hell-on-skis, can you hear me? This is flying cupcake.
Go ahead.
You’ve two snow monsters meeting you by the summerhouse.
Copy that, FC. How are the others doing?
I switched mind channels and found my bridge to Trace. It was a little fuzzier this time but still working. It proved that my kind of telepathy could beat the contessa’s dampening field. Where are you guys?
Sky’s resisting Victor’s attempt to put her to sleep. She may be small but she fights like a tiger. Zed’s just trying to catch her. Mom, Diamond, and Phoenix already down. Wait—that’s Sky out for the count. Coming to the front.
I tapped Steve’s shoulder and gestured that he should land.
Trace suddenly burst back in. Will’s hit. He’s hit. The contessa took a shot at us in the hall—some ancient revolver. Get that helicopter down.
I could see the guards on the terrace turn to the house—they’d heard the gunfire too. Our rescue was slewing off course fast.
Xav, Will’s injured. I could see Xav falter then carry on with his slalom. We didn’t have enough seats on the aircraft if they were carrying out a casualty. I’d have to get out. ‘Steve, we’ve a gunshot victim and possibly an armed mad woman firing on us from the castle.’
‘How bad’s the injury?’
‘Don’t know. Where’s the nearest hospital?’
‘Other side of the lake.’
That meant miles—and we had the complication of a cargo of brainwashed soulfinders and a pack of guards heading our way. ‘We’ll need Xav.’ This couldn’t be happening. Xav, you’ll need to get back to the helicopter. We’re going to have to squeeze you in so you can treat your brother.
Will do. I don’t know how he was going to get from the bottom of the hill to the top but he sounded determined.
You’d better have that helicopter down ’cause we’re coming out. That was Trace.
My head was reeling with all these different voices and demands. ‘Now, Steve!’
Steve dropped the Gazelle in the perfect centre of the turning circle and cut the engines.
What about the contessa? I asked Trace.
Disarmed. Zed used his powers to snatch the gun out of her hand. Here we come.
I opened the helicopter door as I saw them emerge from the archway. Uriel was carrying his mother in a fireman’s lift, Trace had Diamond, Yves Phoenix, and Zed followed up with Sky. Last out of the building was Victor who was helping Will.
‘I can’t take them all.’ Steve had come to the same conclusion as me.
‘Girls have the seats. Will and Xav on the floor. I’ll go with the boys.’ I wasn’t used to being in command but someone needed to take decisions. I jumped out. ‘Xav’s heading back.’
Trace placed Diamond in my old seat, his mother next to her. Once they were buckled in, Yves and Zed did the same for their soulfinders and Trace knelt to put a rudimentary bandage on Will’s shoulder, keeping up the pressure to stop the bleeding.
‘Lay him on the floor,’ I suggested.
‘Got company!’ bit out Steve, pointing to the butler and his men. They were racing towards us from the archway.
Zed threw out his arm and the ancient portcullis started to creak and grind. Yves clapped a hand on Zed’s shoulder, joining in the attempt. It was slowly descending but not in time to stop the man at the front. Uriel punched his fist at two nymph statues either side of the terrace steps. They toppled on top of the butler like a couple of Steve’s swooning fans.
‘Where’s Xav when you want him?’ muttered Victor, emerging from the helicopter having wadded up a blanket to put under Will’s head.
‘I’m going to have to get this baby airborne,’ warned Steve. ‘If they decide to use those guns of theirs on us, I don’t want to take a bullet to the fuel tank.’
It was hardly as if Xav was dragging his feet. ‘He’s coming,’ I snapped. Xav where are you?
I got the impression of fists flying. He had tackled one of the men off their snowmobile—the one built like a barn who had given me a lift earlier. With you—in a—moment. Using his ski to swipe the second man off his snowmobile, he jumped on the back and headed up our way, leaving the drivers rolling in a drift. Got two following me—warn my brothers.
‘Xav’s coming in but he’s not alone. He’s taken a snowmobile and the two men are chasing him on the other one.’ We could hear the engines now roaring up the hill.
‘Crystal, get under cover over there!’ ordered Trace, pointing to the trees lining the drive.
Knowing better than to argue when an operation like this was under way, I ran for the pines. The five Benedict brothers knelt around the helicopter, ready to defend it from any direction. The ‘whomp!’ of an explosion in one window of the castle told me Yves had just deterred a guard from taking aim from an upper storey. I felt the pressure of rapidly expanding air on my back so dived off the driveway, rolling to hide behind the nearest tree. I looked over to the castle and saw that fire was now licking the curtains at one window. Hopefully that would divert some of the castle servants from coming after us.
A snowmobile shot into the turning circle. Xav leapt from the back and bolted for the helicopter. Victor swapped with him, taking control of the snowmobile. Xav jumped inside and Steve took off the moment the door was closed. I breathed a sigh of relief. He was safe, so were Will and the other passengers. Now all that remained was to get the rest of us out of here.
From the sick feeling in my stomach, I guessed the telepathic messages between the brothers were flying thick and fast. I crouched down, head on my knees. Now was not the time to get overcome by my weakness. Zed and Yves jumped down beside me.
‘You hurt?’ Zed asked, hand on my back.
‘No.’ I took a deep breath. ‘Telepathy. I’ll manage.’
‘Do your sort to us and we’ll keep the rest to a minimum,’ Yves suggested. Their attention was pulled back to the turning circle. Victor was gunning his snowmobile directly at the guys coming up the hill. ‘Oh, for the love of … what is he doing now?’
; Zed gave a wicked smile. ‘I think big brother is a bit angry.’
‘Jeez—take cover, everyone.’
The air was humming with power.
‘What’s going on?’ I asked. I could feel it—the hair on the back of my neck was prickling—but I knew I was not in its path, whatever ‘it’ was.
‘Our Vick’s pushing a mental snowplough in front of him,’ said Zed. ‘Those guys are going to run right into one hell of a primal scream.’
Yves’s normally gentle face looked quite viciously pleased—payback for Phoenix. ‘You really don’t want to get on the wrong side of Victor.’
I could feel the impact when the snowmobile topped the rise and ran straight into Victor’s mental barrier. The man on steering threw his hands up to cover his face and toppled back, taking the passenger behind with him. The snowmobile veered round in a circle and smashed into the plinth holding a sundial.
Yves pulled me up. ‘That’s our signal to move.’ He led the way, Zed following up behind me, guarding our retreat.
Where are we going? I asked Yves, projecting myself into his head by the fainter trail of our newly developing friendship.
He checked a pace. Wow, that’s weird.
OK, I do telepathy differently. Get over it.
Sorry. I sensed rather than saw him grin. Over the fence and back to the car. We’re expecting the police to arrive any second to help their poor little old contessa against these American housebreakers.
She shot at you!
Self-defence.
She had our people hostage!
And they were perfectly happy there. There was a pause. You can do something for them, can’t you, Crystal? You’re a soulseeker—you can find them if they’ve lost their bonds with us?
I ducked under a branch, keeping in his footsteps. The truth? I have no idea but I’m certainly going to try.
Zed and I … Desperate to have Phoenix back, Yves wanted to beg, plead for me to do it but he knew he was asking the impossible so I felt him change his mind about what he was going to say. We understand. You mustn’t blame yourself if you can’t. None of this is your fault.
That made me only all the more determined to succeed. There must be a way—and I won’t stop until I find it.