by T. G. Ayer
“Area 51?” asked Kai, her voice a little too high-pitched.
I shook my head, then stopped and looked at Kai. “You know, I’m not sure exactly. I was inside, managed to get around the place a little. But it’s not like I had coordinates or anything.”
“Okay, so what do we have to go on?” Kai got to her feet. “You want to tell everyone?”
I nodded and we headed back to the dining room.
“Right, let’s do this,” said Kai.
I sat beside Drake and inhaled. “So Celeste is being held in a facility out in the Nevada desert. She seems to be healthy and clean. She’s still weak and is being held in a secure room. The facility looks a lot like a hospital or medical center.”
“Guards?” asked Logan.
“Two at her door and two guarding a set of doors entering the wing she’s in. Security is tight, key cards for doors and elevators, cameras everywhere. It’s underground, so one way in one way out. We don’t know what facility it is, so schematics are out of the question.”
“I’m guessing you couldn’t tell the specific location?” he asked.
“No. I couldn’t see anything on the surface that would act as a significant landmark. Just desert and cacti.”
“Guards on the surface?”
I nodded. “Two in a hut at the entrance to the facility about a mile away. And two in a small office attached to the entrance. You go to the security desk; they check you out and allow you to pass through. Inside is just a single elevator.”
“Then that isn’t the only way out,” Kai said.
Logan nodded. “Yes. But there should be a maintenance entrance for larger equipment and maybe even supplies.”
“If there is, they didn’t bring her through that way. I tracked her through the top entrance.”
“What if we got in and then tried to find the alternative exit, just in case we need it? If we’re careful, we may not need it.”
Logan’s lips twisted. “I wish I could say it would likely be an easy in-and-out, but I can’t. Not for a facility like this. And especially not for something underground.”
Kai rubbed her forehead. “Okay, so we know she’s fine and not being tortured. She’s alive. That’s a bloody good sign.”
“The problem is, exactly who the hell are these guys and what are they doing with her? I didn’t see a single wraith anywhere I tracked.” I knew I sounded frustrated, but I couldn’t help it.
“An experimental facility?” Kai asked Ivy.
Ivy frowned, and went pale, her blue eyes dark with worry. “You think Widd’en’s men sold Celeste to an experimental lab?” Her voice shook. I’d gathered this Widd’en was the Army leader but I didn’t ask.
Kai asked, “What else could it be? It’s not as if the wraiths have the means to build such a thing anyway. A facility like Mel described is so Area 51, it’s either governmental or heavily funded private.”
“What would a governmental agency want with your mother?” asked Anjelo, shaking his head, a little incredulous.
“Mom is a Hunter. She’s a Mage. She has powers similar to mine, including the glow when killing wraiths. Any government agency investigating the paranormal would kill to study a paranormal like her.” Kai spoke harshly, emotion and fear filling her voice. “It also means that going into a facility like this is more dangerous than anything you’ve ever done. We’re all paranormals here. Each of us would be a scientist’s delight. We have to be well organized. And we can’t get caught.”
“Okay.” Logan rose. “Let me do some digging. Maybe I can find information on similar structures. Perhaps that will give us a good idea of how something like that is built and where the likely emergency exits would be. If anything, at least it will give us a better idea of what to look for once we get inside.”
Kai also got to her feet, staring at the table full of people. She looked so small, weighed down by the horror of it all. “Okay, everyone get some rest. Once Logan gets back with some schematics, we can plan a way inside. I’ll message you all with the time to meet.”
“We’re going as soon as possible, right?” asked Anjelo.
“Yeah. I’d go right now if I could, but yes, we aren’t going to waste any time about this.”
The boy sat back, satisfied. He nodded and got to his feet, and everyone followed suit.
Chapter 33
High, sloping dunes hugged the perimeter of the facility, and gave us much needed cover. Saleem and I transported Drake, Logan and Kai to the facility in the desert. There’d been a last-minute shuffle with Cassandra and Larsson conspicuously missing, and being short a jumper we’d ended up leaving Ivy and the two young shifters behind with instruction to keep weapons prepped and ready in case Saleem and I return for them. An excuse both were smart enough to see through.
The team, dressed in black from head-to-toe, waited as I projected and scanned the area, holding on to Celeste’s portal key. I nodded the all clear.
“Let’s get moving,” said Kai beside me.
“Let me just show Saleem where to go.” I held out my hand, and Saleem took it, following my lead on the jump. We returned moments later, and in tandem jumped the whole team directly to the floor Celeste was being held on.
We hurried into the nearest room, and Logan turned to face us. “Saleem and I will look for the generator and set these detonators to time with the extraction. We’ll do the same with the elevator. Make sure nobody can use it to get to this floor. Then we’ll eliminate whatever guards there are around here. Keep an ear out on the comms at all times. Kai, Mel, and Drake, go for Celeste. Mel, first priority is Celeste. Extract her first, then come back for the rest.”
I nodded, then looked at Saleem. “Saleem knows where we’ll be.”
As a precaution, I did a quick projection, thankful that I’d decided to be overly cautious. As Saleem held out his hand to Kai, I stopped him with a palm to his chest. “Wait. I just projected to check things out and there’s someone in the observation room. We need them incapacitated. I think it’s one of the scientists or technicians.”
“Just incapacitated?”
“Yes, Djinn. We didn’t come here to go on a killing spree,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him.
He just grinned at me with mischief in his eyes.
“Fine. Logan and I will go and see what we can do about incapacitating them,” he said, his eyes still teasing me even as the both of them disappeared in an explosion of orange embers and ash.
A few minutes passed and they reappeared looking smug. Kai and I shared a put-upon glance. Both men took the hint and sobered up, which Kai seemed to find far too funny.
“All clear,” said Logan as Saleem stood beside Kai.
I took Drake’s hand, and then we all disappeared, materializing in a small viewing room next to Kai’s mom. Saleem disappeared, leaving us in a room filled with equipment, monitors, and various machines monitoring Celeste. She looked alive if not perfectly healthy. Good enough for me.
When Kai moved to enter the room, I tapped her on the shoulder. “Wait. We need to make sure nobody is inside the room with her.”
Kai nodded and waited and I jumped, checked the room and returned, relieved. “All clear. Drake, you keep a watch on the door and alert us.”
Drake nodded and we entered the inner room. The closer we got the more obvious it was that they were bleeding her. I’d had my suspicions so I wasn’t surprised. Kai’s face told me she felt much the same.
Kai touched the microphone at her collar. “What time was the power hit set for?”
“Two forty-five,” said Logan in our ears.
“We need to reschedule. We need to wait for the power pulse.”
“Okay, we’ll wait for your signal.”
“What are we waiting for?” I asked.
Kai pointed at the wires connected to Celeste. “These look like they’re monitoring her heartbeat. And the others seem to be measuring her vitals. If we detach her, then it would set off any number of alarms.”
I nodded. “And if we wait for power shutdown, they might think that’s the reason for the lack of measurements coming from your mom. It should buy us some time. Good thinking.”
Kai waved toward the outer room, and exited.
Only to walk in on a guard standing in the middle of the room, staring at the two empty chairs which should have contained two medical staff. His eyes widened when he caught sight of us and reached for both his walkie-talkie and gun.
Drake tapped him on the shoulder and slammed a hand onto the guard’s forearm. Drake lost all solidity, becoming a swirling black liquid smoke. The guard’s left hook drew trails of smoke with it as it passed through.
Poor guy looked shocked and confused.
Drake planted a fist into the man’s throat. Kai and I caught the guard before he hit the ground.
“You didn’t have to kill him,” I snapped at Drake as he solidified. My eyes widened as he dropped his glamor for a moment before he materialized fully. Kai’s jaw dropped, and Drake gave her a sweet smile before turning his attention back to me. “Broke a couple bones in his throat, yes. Killed him? No.”
“Okay, then. That’s totally fine, isn’t it?” I asked, glaring at him.
Drake ignored me, and I just huffed. “How long ‘til the power goes out?” he asked.
“Ten minutes,” Kai said, checking her watch. “It’s going to be a long ten minutes.”
Then we were plunged into darkness.
“Let’s go, Mel,” said Kai as she sped into the inner room. She extricated her mom quickly, while I remained blind in the thick darkness.
“How the hell are you seeing all of that? I can’t see a thing in this pitch black.”
Kai chuckled. “Sorry. It’s my panther sight. Works well in the dark.”
“Ah, that certainly explains it.”
A few seconds later, Kai touched my arm. “Here. She’s ready. Take her home.”
“Okay, see you in a bit.” I disappeared.
Chapter 34
Bringing Celeste to Kai’s apartment didn’t turn out as I’d expected.
Probably had something to do with the armed S.W.A.T team, and the gun to my skull as we materialized.
They’d at least had the decency to help carry Kai’s mom to the bed and lay her down. When I refused to leave her side, the taller, bulkier officer relented. He didn’t remove the guard standing on the inside of the room door though.
The team leader had suggested they take Celeste away to provide medical care but Ivy Odel had told them off, and surprisingly they’d relented.
I was still sitting and fuming at the foot of the bed when Kai stormed into the bedroom half an hour later.
She glared coldly at the guard. “Who are you?” she spoke a little too loudly, but I figured she was upset.
“That is not important right now. At this time, our highest priority is to ensure you and the rest of your team are safe and not contaminated.” He paused as he uttered the word contaminated.
“What?” Kai snapped at the man. “Are you going to give me some bullshit line about contamination? Who the hell are you?”
The guard ignored her and peered into the dining room. She followed his gaze and the pieces fell into place. Saleem must have brought her over and she’d been protecting him from the guards. “What?” she asked him.
“Where is the jumper?” His eyes remained on her face as he asked the question.
“How should I know? He was here when I arrived. How else would I have gotten here?”
He didn’t respond. He shifted his head and spoke into the comms he’d been talking to for that last while. “The Hunter has returned. The jumper has left . . . No, no idea. I’d assume back to the facility to extract the rest of their team… Yes, sir. I’ll let you know immediately.”
Kai folded her arms. “So what is it you people want?”
“I’m sorry, ma’am. At the moment, I am not at liberty to say. Ms. Morgan here is also awaiting an answer. Which you will both get during debriefing.”
Kai ignored him and went to her mom’s side. “How is she?” She brushed a lock of hair from her face.
“Her vitals are fine. She seems to be under the influence of some sort of drug.”
The guard stepped closer. “We wanted to transfer her to our medical facility—”
I cut him off. “Ivy wouldn’t let them,” I said smugly, glad to have seen the older woman throw her weight in the S.W.A.T. team’s face.
I gave the guard a take that glare, and Kai chuckled. “Grams told these jerks what to do and they listened?”
“They had to, or they would have gotten themselves into deep trouble,” said Ivy from the doorway. Kai twisted around and stared at her. “Come, girls. We need to talk.”
We both got up and followed her out of the room. Kai hesitated in the doorway, then kept moving. I touched her arm as we headed to the living room, and sat. Nobody looked comfortable. “I think she’ll be fine. They’ve taken good care of her until now.”
“Yes,” said Ivy as she sat. “They will take good care of her.”
“Who are they and what’s going on?” Kai asked, not caring if she thought she was being rude.
“Mr. Ice over there is Jerry Winter. And ‘they’ are the security detail attached to the Supreme High Council.”
Kai’s jaw dropped.
I caught mine just in time.
“What are they doing here?” Kai asked.
“They got wind that Celeste was in a bunker facility in Nevada.”
“How did they get that information?” For the briefest moment, Kai’s eyes narrowed on her, and Ivy laughed.
“It wasn’t me, dear. Cassandra’s phone was bugged. They saw your texts.”
“That explains why she and Larsson never showed up,” Kai sat heavily. “Where’s Lily and Anjelo?” Her fear was tangible but unwarranted.
“Don’t worry, dear. The officials from the High Council spoke to the kids briefly, then sent them home. Even they don’t think it’s entirely necessary to arrest a couple of children.”
“They’re hardly children, Grams,” Kai said wryly.
“You and I both know that. The High Council doesn’t. Perhaps it’s better they continue to believe that,” Ivy said a little sternly. “It seems you are responsible for those two now, Kai. I hope you make sure you keep them out of danger. One sojourn in the wraith world should be enough for that young man.”
Kai snorted. “If anything, it’s juiced up his desire for adventure. I’m probably going to find it hard to get him to concentrate on school.”
“Well, you do your best, Kai.” Ivy gave the open room door a quick glance.
Kai frowned. “Are they waiting here for Saleem and Logan?”
“Yes. They want to speak to both of them regarding the mission and what they saw.”
“I don’t think that would be a good idea,” Kai said softly.
“Why not, dear? The High Council just wants to be sure Omega is still legitimate and that both those boys were involved only at your behest.”
Kai heard Ivy’s words, but she rose and went to the table.
She picked up a file and handed the file to Ivy. “Now, tell me what you make of that.” I leaned over to peek into the file as well.
Ivy took a breath “Tell me this isn’t true.”
“I’m afraid it is. It’s right there for anyone to see. This facility certainly wasn’t a secret from certain Omega employees.”
I watched the interplay between grandmother and granddaughter, understanding there was more going on that couldn’t be spoken out loud. My worry was for Drake and Saleem, neither of whom had returned.
Kai looked at me, briefly tucking her hair behind her ear. I shook my head. They’d taken my comms as soon as I arrived. But Kai still had hers.
She rose. “Can I use your bathroom, Grams?” she asked, barely waiting for a response before heading for the bathroom and closing her door.
I suspected she was warning them off.
/> Good plan.
Winters seemed to have realized Kai was gone and stomped off to the bathroom.
He knocked hard. “What?” Kai asked angrily.
I heard a distinct flush and could just picture Kai flushing the expensive device down the toilet.
She flung the door open, then headed to wash her hands. “What the hell is your problem?”
“Who were you talking to?” he asked.
“No one. You see anyone here?”
She was drying her hands but Winters bent closer and inspected her ears and collar without touching her.
He stared at the now silent toilet, then straightened. “We would appreciate your full cooperation, Ms. Odel.”
“Of course. You’ll get it when you start telling me what the hell is going on.”
Ivy intervened, poking her head into the bathroom. “Are you two done here? This conversation can easily be held in the lounge.”
While she scolded them the air in front of me shimmered and four men appeared. Three able-bodied, and one older, unconscious man.
Jerry exited meekly, and Kai grinned at her grandmother as she passed. When they entered the lounge, Ivy cried out and ran to the older man’s side. “Oh my, please tell me I’m not imagining this.”
“No, Grams, you aren’t imagining it,” Kai said. Then she glared at Logan. “I thought I told you to stay the hell away from here?” What a waste of Kai’s sleuthing efforts.
Winters grunted. “I knew it.”
Logan and Saleem were both glaring at Kai and I kept wondering when someone was going to clue me in.
She sniffed. “What? Not you too?” Neither man warmed to her. “I was just trying to protect you.”
“Because of the file?” Logan asked.
“Yes.”
Logan seemed to soften. Kai would survive this round with him. Ivy was fussing over the unconscious man and waved for Drake to help take him to her bedroom. Once he was comfortable, they both returned, Ivy with a worried look on her face.
“So what now?” asked Logan.
“High Council debrief,” said Ivy.
