by T. G. Ayer
Though I tried, I just couldn’t make out his words.
“Samuel?” I asked again, this time projecting my voice into the astral plane.
Nothing.
Disappointment filled me, hot tears building behind my eyelids. I inhaled sharply and got to my feet, then let out a soft, shocked cry.
Hanging in the air in front of me were lines of words, glittering threads of silvery astral energy woven into a message. I took a step back, hit the sofa and sank into the seat with a thump.
Samuel’s handwriting was so distinctive, so old-worldly with its cursive font and delicate flourishes that even without reading the words, I would have known it was from him.
He’d left a message for me. I blinked back tears and focused on the words.
You must find us before it’s too late. Watched around the clock. Teleporting impossible. Astral traveling dangerous. Still in Dastra but of my current location I cannot say.
Do not give up. On me. On Arianne.
Find me.
I will contact you again.
I blinked hard, concentrating on his words. Can’t teleport meant there were wards preventing him from doing so, or it may reveal his abilities and endanger him.
Astral projection would most definitely be impossible if he was being guarded. Unlike me, when Samuel travels he does so with his eyes open. And when he is gone from his body his eyes fade to a milky white. It would be a dead giveaway.
He must desperately need my help if he’d taken that chance not too long ago, and was doing so again.
But what did he mean when he said not to give up on him and Ari? Was he with Ari or was he just ensuring I didn’t stop looking for her?
Tears filled my eyes as the glittering words began to fade. I reached out, desperate to touch the glowing strands, as if the mere contact would comfort me.
But even as my fingers wove themselves between the skeins of shimmering letters they disintegrated into puffs of light and tiny specks, intangible as dust motes on moonbeams.
I wiped away my tears and headed upstairs determined not to get caught in this state of emotional despair. Right now, I wished for Saleem to be here with me, to put his arms around me and make me feel whole, and safe.
The need to be with him was strong enough to make me flick him a quick text. It was innocuous enough that he wouldn’t come running worried about for my safety, but enough for him to know that I needed him. I added the request for a forensic mage, but at this point I wasn’t even sure we needed it anymore.
Minutes later, with no reply, I acknowledged what I’d already known. That with Kai’s mother and Logan involved in the search for her, Saleem would be right at his side since Logan was his commanding officer.
Trying to put Saleem and Samuel out of my mind, I showered and dove into bed, willing sleep to come before my overactive brain took control.
Thankfully sleep won this time.
Chapter 26
Drake knocked on the door for me, only because he wanted something to hit. He was still angry that I’d taken a case and added to my workload. I knew he’d eventually come to the party but when Kai opened the door and I saw my gargoyle friend’s expression, I was certain it would be okay.
Drake was smitten.
And from the look of appraisal that Kai gave him, the attraction was mutual, though it wouldn’t go anywhere since she had a super-hot guy of her own.
“Hey,” I said, hiding a smile. “This is Drake. Don’t mind him if he’s surly. He likes his sleep.”
Drake threw me a fierce glare.
I blew him a kiss as I entered, but I didn’t drop my messenger bag. I wanted it close to me considering it contained my small arsenal from Tara.
Drake ignored me and greeted Kai. Logan appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, at Kai’s side. Must be some sensor men have, that they know the microsecond when another man is scoping out his woman.
Kai introduced everyone and I followed her to the dining table. The two younger shifters eyed me, sending me curious looks, while Kai’s grandma, Ivy Odel, gave me a quick, yet warm, hug.
I’d met Kai’s ShapeChanger friend, Cassandra once before. Probably a year ago we’d crossed paths on a case of a missing woman who it turned out had been on the run from her husband. We hadn’t kept in touch, but we’d gotten along and I knew I could trust her. Her partner Larson with the shocking red hair was new to me.
Kai’s blonde brother stood at his Grandmother’s side, looking stiff and out of place. I’d heard he’d been part of Sentinel too, but was now Second in Command to the Panther Alpha in Tukats. This room was filled with super powerful people.
“So our army of eleven against . . . what did you say, Mel? Over forty wraiths?” asked Kai.
I merely nodded.
“Make that thirteen, although I do believe that is meant to be a bad omen for humans,” said a voice behind us.
I peered around Kai and stared at the new arrivals.
Two people, a hooded male, tall, broad-shouldered, face hidden within the cowls of a cloak.
The woman’s almost white hair was a stark contrast to her pale-gray skin and her black, pupil-less eyes. This must be Illyria, the wraith Kai had mentioned. She gave me the creeps.
“Please forgive me for the intrusion into your home. I felt it would be more prudent to remain out of sight.” The woman spoke softly, tilting her head as she studied Kai and the gathered team.
“Don’t worry about it. That’s fine.” Kai waved the apology away, but I could tell from the stiffness of her neck and shoulders that this woman, or wraith, wasn’t exactly on her Christmas list.
“Just don’t make a habit of it,” said Ivy, folding her arms and staring at the wraith. It was her home after all.
Kai sighed.
“Even with thirteen, this isn’t going to be easy.”
How’s that for positive thinking?
“Okay, I think we should break up into at least five smaller groups. One to take out the guards at the front gate, the other four to simultaneously dispense with the four sets of perimeter guards.”
“Exactly what I was thinking,” agreed Logan.
I wasn’t sure I agreed. From what I’d seen only the front entrance had been top-heavy with guards. Anyone at the side entrances would get in pretty easy.
“So Lily and Anjelo, you two get as close as possible outside the gate and wait for our signal. You can use the long-range rifle and the bow to finish them off. How many were there?”
Cassandra spoke with me. “Two.”
Kai glanced over at us then returned her attention to the younger couple. “Okay, so you guys pick your poison and your target, finish them off, and get over those gates.” They nodded, their faces both so deadly serious I wanted to smile.
“So the other four teams . . . I suggest a jumper with a non-jumper.” Kai studied the map markings that showed three guards on the rooftop. She tapped the little red circles with her fingertip. “Grams, Larsson can jump you and Cassie to the rooftop. You guys eliminate those wraiths, then leave Grams there to keep a lookout. Larson and Cassie will take the north corner. Mel and Drake east. Illyria and I will take south, and Saleem and Iain west. Logan and Wren, time your entry to occur after the outside guards are eliminated.”
Logan nodded. “A simultaneous entry would be stronger. All outside guards eliminated. We enter together for maximum effect.” Kai nodded. “The warehouse had three floors and the refrigerators are on the ground floor at the east end of the building. First team heads directly for Celeste. Kai, you head to her. Mel and Drake will meet you there. The rest of us will spread around the building. I think we have enough of a surprise factor with the jumpers to allow us to catch them off guard. But just be careful.”
“Yeah, they’re using human ammunition, so be extra careful. I want everyone out alive, please.” Kai’s voice was confident yet I didn’t miss the flash of fear in her eyes.
Nobody disagreed with her.
Drake and I had the east side,
thankfully the gargoyle had gotten into the swing of things. We hunkered low, hunching against the morning chill. Things had happened so fast we hadn’t had much time to sit around waiting.
We spent a few moments hiding behind stacks of rain-soaked pallets near the fence, watching the hulking old brick building. A pair of wraith guards watched over the east entrance, but the solid metal door wouldn’t keep us out.
We waited patiently for the signal from Logan.
Drake and I were additional bodies on this mission, more or less superfluous unless something went badly wrong. Kai had deliberately given us the east entrance because she wanted me for astral traveling purposes. Drake’s job was to keep guard while I projected inside and gave Kai much needed advice. Problem was, Logan’s brilliant idea of the earwigs. Which meant anything I said could be heard by the entire team, including Illyria.
As I traveled, scanning the building from end to end, I kept watch over Kai. When she gave the confirmation that she was entering, I paid closer attention.
Then I was watching as Kai shot down a guard she feared was Wren, Illyria’s wraith-partner. When Logan confirmed all clear, Kai headed for the bank of fridges.
I’d been careful not to reveal to anyone exactly where Celeste Odel was being kept.
When Kai whispered, “Something is off. Everyone stay alert,” I couldn’t have agreed more.
“Any specifics?” asked Logan.
“Just that it’s been way too easy,” Kai whispered. “Widd’en’s men aren’t stupid or sloppy.”
“Okay, everyone on alert,” Logan said.
I kept alert, watching as Kai and Illyria moved closer to Celeste’s prison. They reached the bank of fridges, the path clear with no guards around.
“Mel, which one?” Kai’s urgent voice whispered in my ear.
Without a second’s hesitation I answered. “Third from the left.”
I kept an eye out as Kai opened the refrigerator door and rushed inside. But I didn’t expect the bare bed. Nor did I expect Illyria to attack her. It happened so fast I was unable to return from my astral travels in time to teleport myself there fast enough. I watched in horror as Illyria betrayed Kai, and stabbed her in her side.
Chapter 27
My heart was still hammering when Drake and I arrived home. As much as I’d never expected the betrayal, I was sure Kai would feel worse once her panther genes kicked in and she recovered.
But, there was going to be hell to pay.
I was exhausted from the jumps and the shock too. Thankfully, Drake had insisted on driving us to Kai’s place which meant I hadn’t had to jump back home.
My only problem was by the time Drake had driven me to the house, my nose had begun to bleed. It was pointless trying to hide it from him as I scrambled to find some old paper napkins in the glove box and cleaned up my nose.
Drake didn’t say a word.
Even when the text from the hospital came through telling me my client was out of his coma.
The sky had lightened by then. Humans would think that the streets were safer, with the sun shining down on them. As if paranormals preferred to do their worst within the darkness and the shadows.
What did they know?
Drake drove me to the hospital with instructions to call for a ride or to take a taxi. Jumping was off the table, considering I’d need to do it again very soon if Kai needed me.
I obeyed Drake’s every command without complaint.
All he did was give me that dark-eyed gargoyle glare he’d likely perfected at birth
Entering Santiani’s room I saw that he’d been tucked in. All the lights were off again, except for the soft yellow glow of the bedside light and a lone floor lamp behind the twin armchairs.
Nice ambiance.
Very homey.
He glanced over at me and I nodded a little unsure how to ask him the sensitive questions. My indecision had to be set aside when the Indian nurse entered and began to take his blood pressure and temperature.
I walked over to the window to give them some space and privacy. I was tired from the night’s activities. Drake had been grumpier than normal and I wondered how much of that was Kai’s fault. Poor Drake.
My eyelids drooped but I forced the tiredness away. My client had sent word, so I’d come immediately.
That’s why I got paid the big bucks.
Snort.
From my spot, I was able to keep an eye on both patient and nurse, and it didn’t take long to recognize the suspicious glances she was giving him.
After completing her tasks, she made a record of the details in his chart then left the room giving him one last dark glance before the door closed on her. I remained where I was and slipped through the Veil, following her to the nurse’s station outside. She leaned against the counter, glancing again over her shoulder at the closed door.
“Behave yourself, Puja.” The round-face gray-haired nurse at the station shook her head. “You don’t need the patient or his family making a complaint about your behavior.”
“I can’t help it.” She spoke softly, straightened so she faced the nurse at the desk. “He gives me the creeps.”
The other nurse laughed softly. “Just because of his diagnosis?”
Puja lowered her head. “He could be a serial killer or something.”
So she was one of Steph’s kind of serial killer crazies.
“You spend far too much time with your nose in your novels.”
“Yeah. Whatever. I still think there’s something weird about him.”
“I have to disagree.” The other nurse said solemnly. “It’s the daughter I’m more concerned with.”
Footsteps along the hall silenced the two women and I returned to my consciousness to find Santiani watching me, his expression worried. “What’s the matter?” His surly tone rubbed me the wrong way, but I held my tongue especially since the drama he’d had to put up with for the last hour or so.
I sighed and headed to his side. “How are you feeling?”
Half a shrug. “It’s happened three times already today. I’m getting used to it.” I wasn’t sure if he was joking or not.
His lids drooped and his eyes closed. Drugs? Probably. I hesitated. Should I leave now and get on with the rest of my investigation? Or stay until I could find out more about why his daughter scared him so much?
“What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice harsh.
I blinked, off balance now as his eyes were wide, his expression shifting from sleep to rejection.
I leaned forward to place my palm on his forehead. He seemed to need comfort, especially with the look of strain and almost-disgust on his face. I was sure he was dreaming, or at the very least hallucinating.
He slapped my hand away, using his wrist to cut at mine, catching his watchband on my forearm. The blow vibrated up my elbow and though I was pretty certain that he’d have felt as much pain as I had, he seemed unaffected.
I narrowed my eyes and stared at his face. Dilated pupils told me he was still a little out of it.
“Don’t touch me.”
“Carlo.” I spoke softly, trying to coax him out of this hallucination.
“Don’t speak to me that way.”
I frowned and leaned closer even as he shrank deeper into the pillow. “Stay the hell away from me. This is a hospital. Someone could come in at any minute.”
“Carlo,” I said, now more than spooked.
“Don’t call me that. Daughters don’t call their fathers by their first names.” His tone was harsh, but then he laughed, the sound self-deprecating. “But, of course you don’t care about protocol do you. Otherwise I wouldn’t have found you in my bed.”
“Mr Santiani?” I asked again, more urgent now.
He laughed, seeming to no longer hear me. “No just stay away from me. What you did is blasphemy.”
I stood there transfixed, blood rushing through my ears. What the hell was going on here? What had Gina done to spook her father so badly. What had she
done that could have been considered as blasphemy. To be honest I was already beginning to draw a picture but I didn’t particularly like what I was seeing.
Then he laughed softly. Self-disgust filling his voice. “What we did was blasphemy. What would your mother think, Gina? What is wrong with you to make me do such a thing?”
Holy fudge-buckets.
Had Gina seduced her father?
It made so much more sense now. His guilt. Her power. She was very likely blackmailing him but I was more concerned about the why than the what. Not that the what wasn’t important.
I had to move a little faster though. Prions disease in itself wasn’t a pleasant experience. From what I knew, the disease wasn’t curable so my client wasn’t going to be around for too much longer.
A year maybe more, depending on how bad his symptoms were.
Which begged the question as to how he ended up with the disease. What contaminated foods did he eat? Could be any number.
Shit.
What the hell was happening here?
What the hell kind of case did I end up landing?
Not that I always wanted the easy search-find-return-to-client kind of job, but this shit was all kinds of messed up.
What was the word for daughters seducing their fathers? Elektra complex or something.
That led me to my next question.
Was she in love with her father? And if so, what did the seduction have to do with the death of her mother? To me it seemed directly correlated. Everything the two cops had told me was making so much more sense.
The seductive and manipulative behavior with the older cop now made perfect sense. Did the kid prefer older men? She certainly hadn’t come on to the younger cop in the same way.
And the old cop had been terrified too.
I focused on the man’s face, taking a shallow breath as I looked past the Veil to what the astral plane showed me about Carlo Santiani. Usually I didn’t delve this far into my client’s lives. Not only because of the energy it took to access the Divide but because it was a revelation of the essence of the person, a window into their soul and I’d always considered it a very personal and powerful experience. Having only done it a few dozen times in the last couple of years, it still left me feeling both awed and a little tainted.
