COMPARED TO THE OTHER FLOORS this floor shone with light and I couldn't see any wood panelling, instead marbled dove grey stone walls and floors that reflected the light from ornate iron and glass lamps hanging from the ceiling. It felt like stepping into an art gallery, so pristine and modern; but the coppery scent of blood stopped me. I paused in the narrow corridor, ears straining to make out the strange grating sound I could hear. It seemed vaguely familiar, yet set my teeth on edge.Keeping my shield in place I followed the corridor around to the left and around further until I reached an archway. Peering through I saw a spacious corridor with archways into alcoves down either side. From this archway I could count three on the left and two on the right, although it looked like the end one on the left might lead to the stairwell. The archways had elaborate wrought iron detailing over the stone and more lamps hung down. That odd grating noise continued intermittently but I couldn't

THE DEAD SHADOW CREATURES MADE Ignatius smile grimly, their charred corpses a sure sign Cat passed this way, and he opened the door, alert for any sign of movement. The brightness of the stone walls and floor made him blink a moment, and he almost missed the warning buzz, feeling something brush past his head as he threw himself to the side. The giant scorpion lashed out again, and again. Ignatius lunged and scrambled to keep out the way, the smooth stone floor proving a hindrance as his boots slid over it.Making a desperate snatch for the bola, he hurled it out and the chained stones wrapped around the creature's tail. It weighted the tail enough that the scorpion couldn't lift it. Ignatius stood, sword in hand and dealt a fatal blow to the creature's head. Retrieving the bola, he jogged down the corridor, eyes searching for the door to the next staircase. The gruesome sights in each alcove didn't surprise him and the different species made him shake his head at the witch's audacity

SILENTLY THANKING IGNATIUS FOR LOADING me up with so many weapons, I groped around my armour, hunting for the thin blade of elendite I knew he'd stashed somewhere.'Aha!' I whispered in triumph, slipping the blade out from under the rapthna plating on my lower back. 'Will this be strong enough?''Should be,' Alek breathed the words, his fingers exploring the blade. 'You don't usually carry this?''Thank Iggy,' I whispered, then pushed him back. 'Sit straight, I'd hate to slip.'I felt for the base, following the chain down and gave a tiny laugh of delight when I felt the padlock.'What?''Padlock. I'm not likely to get zapped, am I?''No. This room has crystals that block energy. You have to wear one to be able to use your gift.'I nodded and slipped the blade through the arm of the padlock, inwardly thanking the caretaker at my high school who'd shown me this trick with a screwdriver when I lost my locker key.'Pull the chain tight,' I instructed. It was as easy as it had bee

HAVING PERSONALLY TRAINED CAT, IGNATIUS knew she'd held back. Had she performed the move fully, she would have made a more deliberate twist of the wrist before dealing a blow to his elbow, shattering the joint. Not wasting the opportunity, he shoved to his feet, pulling his sword from its sheath and grabbed the axe from the floor. Cat stood between him and Alek, and beyond Alek stood Yakov, the traitor's eyes on the prize while he fought Alek with care, no offensive strokes, confirming Elena's suspicions to Ignatius.A bit of a pity, he thought, it'd be so much simpler if Yakov killed Alek. Not that Ignatius wouldn't enjoy the task but it would probably take a while to get Cat to warm to him again.Now, how to deal with Cat?Ignatius considered the situation while pacing, watching her mirror his moves. Something obviously prevented her using her gift, perhaps that tile, he mused to himself. That meant Cat only had her fighting skills to rely on. Thinking more on that, he slid the sw

THE GOUGED OPEN WOUND ON his chest finally healed and Alek struggled to sit up, spotting Cat lying close to the energy trap with Jenviet stalking across the floor. With his energy humming, he reached out via their link. Cat, watch out, she's nearly on you.I know.He watched as she climbed to her feet, still doubled over. Slowly, Cat straightened up and stared defiantly at Jenviet. A dark red glow spread from the centre of her chest. Molten flames moved beneath the pale skin of her throat, spreading over her face and her hair transformed into a mass of flaming tendrils. A moment later and she no longer resembled Cat at all. Now the Fire Elemental stood there, red eyes burning. The form was female but the voice that spoke had no sex, an ancient voice that rumbled through the room.'DeNaga,' it snarled. 'Your desperate desire for power makes you unworthy.'Al.He jolted in surprise at her voice in his mind while he gaped at the fire creature berating Jenviet.Cat?!As soon as I st