Author's Note:

I have never been to Las Vegas. I have never even traveled close to that part of the country. Other times I have tried to stay accurate to a map of the city but I am using the vague terms this time around. Sorry Las Vegas residents.

This chapter is short because the next one is going to be extremely long. I am working on this like crazy right now so it should hopefully be up before midnight. I should mention this the most fun I have had a in while too.

Chapter 7:

The tower that looked like something out a fairytale was just visible over a large hill. A river could be heard but not seen from their vantage point.

Reid adjusted his royal blue robes that currently resembled a tunic. Mobility was more important at this point in order to get to Clara Rose. If the situation arose where he had to engage in a duel his robes would fall automatically to provide protection.

He communicated to his team of agents through one of his rings. They were scattered in clusters of three around the tower about forty feet away. None of them reported seeing any sort of patrol guards or even the river everyone could hear but not see. Reid did not like this. Something felt off. He wanted to call off the mission but he also knew the agents were eager for action and despite the level of respect they had for him, he knew they were more likely to still act.

He suddenly noticed his watch was glowing to indicate his real team was trying to contact him. He willed it off. He did not have time for the distraction.

Using one of his charms on his bracelet he ordered the agents to move forward another twenty feet. Then suddenly he heard screams. He pushed forward with the two agents and when they approached a certain point they too began wail and run away. He wondered why they were acting so afraid. Then he felt it. It was a terror line. It was a perimeter designed to thwart anyone who could not face the possibility of the horror that might lie ahead. Reid was not as affected as he had faced walking into worse situations.

Reid knew it was foolish, but he continued to press forward. There was no one else capable of rescuing Rose at this point. He had a feeling that he might have to go forward on his own had been a possibility since the minute he knew Rose was gone. He could not come this far without retrieving Guardian Agent Clara Rose.

…

Reid may not be the most athletic agent, but when he was determined he felt he could do anything. The tower was wrapped in vines that were relatively easy to climb as he used his height to his advantage. When there was a branch he could not reach, he willed it to move forward. The room at the top of the tower was about twenty-five feet up and that felt like nothing. He found himself peeking into the window to see Rose trapped inside.

Reid had seen abduction victims tied up in worse situations but something about this scene felt equally horrifying. There was Guardian Agent Clara, usually dressed in crisp business suits with her hair tied up in a bun, dressed as though she were in a renaissance painting. Her hair had fallen down to her shoulders and she was dressed in a pink gown with a gold sash. She was busy working hard on a piece of needlework hung on loom. She had never looked so sad. Reid didn't think she noticed him looking through the glassless window until while continuing to focus on her needlework, she muttered "Reid you idiot."

"I am here to rescue you," Reid offered.

She never took her eyes off her work. "I do hope someone told you this was a trap. The Weiss twins at least."

"What else was I supposed to do?"

"Not this," she said tartly. "Maybe refusing to take the bait and force their hand by making sure the Order comes to you."

"And what would have happened to you?" Reid countered. "You're not exactly expendable as there is no chain of command after you."

"That is what Emergency Council Meetings are for," Rose snapped. "They are not completely useless."

Reid was about to say about how she mattered when she cut in. "We're wasting time. Can you cut me from this weaving spell or not?"

Even trapped in a tower Agent Rose never stopped acting as though she was in charge and Reid found something comforting about it. Reid pulled himself through the window (too easily he thought as there were no protective wards) and approached the loom. Reid watched Rose work for a few minutes and studied the pattern.

He knelt to down to the level of her fingers. "Rose I am going to put my fingers on top of yours while you work. I am going to silent spell an illusion that you are still weaving for about thirty seconds. Then I am going to grab on to you and we're going to jump out the window and I'll have a levitation spell in place."

Rose let out the tiniest snort. "Supposing those spells has any counter-spells in place."

"You basically said your abduction was a trap set to get me in. It shouldn't be too hard to get you out now that I'm in. I also brought some of your jewelry to help me if I get into a duel."

For less than a second Rose's gazed changed to a mixture of anguish and gratitude. "I do hope your right," she said in a weak tone for the first time.

"I am going to start counting to thirty," he said as he placed his fingers on hers. It was a tense thirty seconds while he concentrated on the pattern and how to give the illusion of continuous weaving.

"Now," he muttered and grabbed a Rose by the waist and jumped out the window. It took him longer than he would have liked but the levitations spell worked and they fell to the ground with a gentle thump.

Rose dusted herself off as she shakily got to her feet. "That could have been worse," she said and then gave him a tired smile. "Thank you."

Reid had already gotten to his feet and procured her jewelry. "You're welcome," he said while handing it to her.

Just as Rose was sliding on her bracelets a thunderbolt struck the ground between them. They both fell from their feet. The air was filled dirt and Reid could hear Rose let a cry of anguish as she rolled away down the hill.

"It is time to finish what we started all those years ago!" an eerily familiar voice boomed.

Reid mentally let out a cry of frustration. He had been deeply hoping it wouldn't come to this. He was deeply hoping the firefighters were right.

The dust settled and he saw his face was even more disfigured since he last confronted him.

"Tell me how it ends Dr. Reid," Randal Garner said in a menacing tone.