Drake Sisters 03 - Oceans of Fire

to remember there was a purpose behind everything he did.
    “I know you hate to sing, Abbey,” Joley whispered, “but just this one time.”
    Abigail closed her eyes. She had to help Joley out when she’d placed Joley in such an uncomfortable and dangerous situation. Abigail was afraid of using her voice. Joley had control of her spell singing.
    Abigail didn’t. She could wreak havoc with her voice. She sang to the dolphins and whales, to all the sea Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    creatures out in her boat when she was alone, but not in front of people.
    She began one of Joley’s original songs, a soft melody of heartache, because her heart wasn’t only aching, it was shattering all over again. She could feel the intensity of Joley’s shocked stare in the darkness, but Joley still joined in, her normally strong voice a little hesitant, but picking up strength as they harmonized.
    Aleksandr stopped moving as the two voices joined together singing. The Drake sisters had incredible power. There was something compelling, almost hypnotic about the voices. One could get lost in the sound, be drawn into another time and place, into either seduction and paradise or such loss one wanted to weep. He shook his head, trying to break the spell and find the small, hidden trap he knew had to be in the narrow tunnel.
    “Oh, yes, here it is, ladies. A very simple but effective device. It’s more of a warning system for them, to let them know if someone has used the stairs and discovered their route. I doubt if they use it more than once a month, maybe even less than that.”
    The singing stopped abruptly. “How dangerous, Aleksandr?” He preferred Abigail to call him by the more intimate version of his name, because he knew when she did, it was because she wasn’t holding him at arm’s length. Like she was now.
    Aleksandr studied the trip wire. “Not at all. It’s a small trip wire attached to a very small stick. If we kick it over, they know someone has used the stairs and their route is blown. With the light, you’ll both be able to clear it, no problem. It’s dry in here and the stairs are completely of rock. I’m coming back for you.”
    “Won’t they know anyway?” Joley asked. “Your hit man friend must have known we’d come in here.”
    “It wasn’t the same man who was at your house last night. I know his work. This is someone else.” The light from the torch spilled over them and Joley took a visible breath of relief. “How many enemies do you Drakes have?”
    “You were the one he shot,” Abigail pointed out. Her stomach rebelled against the idea, lurching and rolling; she pressed a hand hard against it in protest.
    Aleksandr didn’t reply but turned back to lead the way. It was slow going as they followed. The tunnel had less seepage and was sheer rock, but it was extremely narrow and the ceiling overhead was uneven and jagged in places.
    “Careful here,” he instructed. “Step over this little wire.” He held the torch as high as possible in the confined space. “Do you see it?”
    Once pointed out it wasn’t that hard to get over the obstacle and they hurried across the short distance.
    “You’ve never admitted to having a great voice, Abbey,” Joley said as they moved into the small section of stairs that intersected with the mill’s staircase. “You have such perfect pitch. How could I not know that?”
    Abigail didn’t answer. She stared at a spot between Aleksandr’s shoulder blades and kept walking.
    “Both of you have an element not found in other voices,” Aleksandr said without turning around. “I’m

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    guessing that would be magic.”
    “Yes,” Joley confirmed. “I can weave certain spells, help Libby heal, make people happier, that sort of thing. It’s a wonderful gift and I try very hard to use it wisely. There have been times when it’s tempting to use it when someone really annoys me, but Abbey has never sung a single note in front of me. And my sisters can’t have known about her voice either or they would have told me.” She nudged Abigail in the back. “Why are you hiding your ability?”
    “I’m not discussing it,” Abbey said, her voice tight.
    Aleksandr glanced over his shoulder at her. “There seem to be a lot of topics you don’t want discussed lately. Your voice is beautiful and should not be hidden from the world.