Warriors of Poseidon 02 - Atlantis Awakening

crumpled piece of paper. "Directions and a crudely drawn map," he said, holding it out for Alaric and Christophe to see.
     
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    Alaric tilted his head toward the sky again. "I was pleased with your attempted misdirection of Canada, but I would have preferred that you not give away the fact that the gem singer had gone, Christophe."
     
    Christophe inclined his head. "I am sorry for that. I'd hoped to send him off on a false lead."
     
    Alaric still stared at the sky, in the direction where the vampires had vanished. "Did you notice the direction they took?"
     
    "South," Justice said. "They went south."
     
    Gennae shouted at them, waving her arms to catch their attention. The shield shimmered and vanished. "I don't think we need this anymore, do you? But your warrior needs you, Alaric. Brennan is worse."
     
    Alaric nodded at the witch. "I will attend him momentarily," he called out, then turned to the warriors. "It would appear that Erin and Ven are in more concentrated danger than we had hoped, and I am drained beyond use for much except basic healing."
     
    "I'm going after them," Justice said, sheathing his sword. "Their idea of a stealth mission just got blown to the nine hells, in any event."
     
    "I will go, as well," Christophe said, but he stumbled when he took his first step.
     
    "You will stay here and continue healing," Alaric commanded. "You are weak enough to be only a hindrance to Justice, but I have need of your skills here to help protect the coven."
     
    Anger flared in Christophe's eyes, but he whirled and headed for the building.
     
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    "Go now, Justice. May Poseidon be with you, that you may save Erin and Riley and the baby," Alaric said. "Help Ven to assist the gem singer in singing the Nereid's Heart out of the stone, or the future of all Atlantis is in jeopardy."
     
    Before Justice could move, Alaric caught his shoulder in a firm grip and heat seared through his body. The priest's eyes flared brightly, then dimmed back to their normal green, and Justice felt a renewed surge of energy pour through him and a lessening of the pain from his head and the dagger slice across his chest. He clasped Alaric's arm in a gesture of thanks and farewell, and then he shimmered into mist and shot into the sky, following the trail left by the vamps.
     
    The future of all Atlantis resting on my shoulders, after all these centuries of anonymity, he thought, as he soared over the treetops.
     
    We're all doomed.

Chapter 26
    The cabin, Mount Rainier
     
    Ven waited until Jack and Quinn headed outside to patrol the perimeter, and then he took the untouched plate of food out of Erin's hands. "We'll pack this out with us in one of those sturdy plastic bags on the shelf," he said. "Definitely no littering in a national park."
     
    "Are you really worrying about litter?" Erin asked tiredly. "We may not even survive this.
    Who'll carry the plastic bag out then?"
     
    "What we need to focus on right now is rest. You must have drained your energy going up against Lillian."
     
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    She shook her head, and the firelight kissed golden highlights in her blond curls, making him want to touch her hair. Touch every part of her.
     
    "No. I didn't," she denied. "I channeled the Wilding, and for the first time, ever, I didn't have any backlash from it. I'm not sure whether to be glad or afraid."
     
    He sat down next to her and took her hand, needing some form of contact. Needing to touch her skin, even in such a small way. "Tell me. Tell me about the Wilding, and why it's forbidden. I don't understand why you're not making use of every means of magic at your disposal to defend yourself."
     
    She was silent for so long that he assumed she wasn't planning to answer him.
     
    "Is this some sort of witch secret? Your super magic handshake that you're not allowed to share with outsiders?" He grinned. "Cross my heart, I promise I can keep a secret."
     
    A ghost of a smile crossed her face, but quickly faded. "It's not that. It's no secret. It's just that I'm beginning to believe that the traditional thinking on this subject is wrong.
    The rationale for never using the Wilding is that it's a dark magic. That using it could open the door to dark forces intent on usurping a witch's power."
     
    He leaned over and tucked a loose curl behind her ear