by Ravyn Fyre
“Jade?” Kalen growled from behind me.
I cringed and turned on my heel. Taking a deep breath for courage, I lifted my gaze to meet Kalen’s and immediately wished I hadn’t. His look of uncertainty made me nervous. I didn’t want him to lock me away or, worse, lock my ability away again. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I croaked, “Kalen?”
“Come here,” he rumbled, fisting his hands at his sides. He looked like he was ready to explode and was barely holding himself back.
Standing a bit taller, I cleared my throat and replied, “I’m not so sure that would be a good idea right now. I mean, I have no idea how long my command will last. I should be close in case I need to do it again.” My eyes flicked towards the doppelganger before they moved back to the man who set me on fire with just his voice.
“Do you mean to tell me Clara’s gift is the only one nearby you can use to control his mind?” Kalen challenged as he edged closer to me.
“Clara?” I questioned.
“I believe Clara is the pixie you are referring to. She’s a member of the council and Anolla’s aunt. You met her briefly at the council meeting before you haphazardly went back in time. Regardless, her dust can make her victims do what she wants, but she’s never been able to bypass one's will to survive,” Kalen explained with a look of admiration on his face once again. He took another step closer to me like a predator not wanting to spook his prey. Which almost made me laugh, considering he could flash to me in an instant. But he probably didn’t want to chance losing control over the doppelganger.
In the back of my mind, I knew it was only a matter of moments before he wrapped me in his arms, but I couldn’t find it in myself to step away or make a break for it. Instead, I found myself nodding my head slowly before answering, “I see.” However, I didn’t see and felt out of sorts. Trying to decipher what he was implying, I continued nodding my head like a fool. Only to be saved from having to address what he was implying when Zarina yelled, “They’ve got what they need and are on their way out. Give us five more seconds!”
I flicked my eyes in Zarina’s direction, trying to determine if the doppel was still alive. His lips were already grey, so it was hard to tell if he was turning blue from lack of oxygen like a human would. I moved to get closer and squealed when Kalen dragged me backward, pulling me into his chest as he growled into my ear, “You’re trying my patience, Jade. I want you to use your power. Your gift is amazing and something to be proud of, but the need to keep you safe overwhelms that want. I’m unable to control this creature on my own completely; I don’t trust you near him.”
I could tell it took a lot for him to admit what he perceived as a failure, but I needed him to know that where his gift left off, mine would take over. True partners would fill the gaps in each other's lives, making us an abominable opponent as a whole. We’d fail if he didn’t start trusting me. We needed to learn to lean on each other if we expected to make it out of this mess on top. Wrapping my arms around his arms, I replied, “You don’t have to trust him. You just need to trust me.”
Kalen nuzzled my neck, breathing me in before he rasped, “Trust goes both ways, mate.” At the same time, Zarina announced, “Done!”
With her hand extended to the doppel’s face, she caught the last mind-leech as it seeped from his eye. I watched in awe as it dissolved into her skin. “Where would you like to view his memories, sir?” She looked over at us with a raised eyebrow before she added, “Not like it’s any of my business, but if you intend to let him live, now would be a good time to reverse your command.”
“We’ll meet you in the council room,” Kalen answered, ignoring her last statement. I looked up at Kalen and could see he could care less if the doppel lived or died. It was also apparent he wasn’t letting me anywhere near him. With a sigh, I tried changing my command. Maybe the pixie dust was still viable? “You may move everything again.”
When his body arched off the bed, I scrambled backward as his mouth opened in a silent scream. Kalen tightened his hold on me and called for assistance. Five Sixers flashed into the room as the doppelganger dropped back onto the bed immobile. His eyes stared off into nothing. He was dead. I couldn’t stop the tears as I wailed, “Oh my god, I killed him!”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Kalen murmured reassurances in my ear as I went limp in his arms, “It might not have been you, and even if it was . . . he was a horrible being and, in my opinion, deserved what he got. Don’t beat yourself up about it. You can’t change what happened and accepting it will only make it easier in the end.”
“But I can change it. I could heal him or reverse time so that I didn’t command him to cease living. He might not have been a good person, but it shouldn’t be up to me to be his judge and juror,” I choked out on a sob.
“Please don’t cry; it’s killing me,” Kalen whispered in my ear.
Not wanting to hurt my mate or make a fool of myself any more than I already had, I swallowed my cry and watched without emotion as a couple of Sixers cautiously approached the still doppelganger. I was having a hard time reconciling my gift was capable of taking a life. He should have been fine, damn it! Zarina’s bugs had been in and out in less than a minute. Most humans should be able to go without fresh oxygen for two minutes or more before injury or death . . . Shit! He wasn’t fucking human. I should have taken into consideration that his species might be different. Damn, what was I thinking?
Averting my eyes from the lifeless doppel, I studied the Sixers Kalen had summoned to help. I didn’t recognize most of them, but it gave me hope when I spotted Dr. Annalise Triste. She was the first to reach his side and didn’t waste any time as she began sweeping her hands over the doppelganger’s body. I started to worry when a frown marred her face, and she dropped her hands in defeat seconds later. Looking at me, she said, “I’m sorry. He’s passed over the line, my power can’t reach him. If he’s still needed, we could request a necromancer to reanimate him.”
Struggling to free myself from Kalen’s hold, I swore, “Damn it! The threat is dead. Either come with me or let me go!”
Kalen released me but crowded my backside as I rushed forward to see for myself he was indeed dead. Ignoring those around me, I reached for Annalise’s gift and placed my hands over his core. Pumping her healing juju into his chest, I visualized compressing his heart, trying to mimic the motion of CPR. I wouldn’t take no for an answer. I’d will him to live, even if I needed to turn him into a zombie. At least then he’d be something other than dead.
Feeling drained, I directed the last of my energy into his resurrection and would have pushed more if Kalen hadn’t interfered by flashing us to the hallway outside of the doppelganger’s cell. I whimpered when I felt the doppel’s lifeline flicker and wished I was close enough to help. A part of me knew I was pushing my limits. I could tell my energy reserves were close to being depleted, but I knew his life was salvageable. I just needed to be close enough to make a difference, or did I? As I let my gift guide me, I realized if I left my physical being, I’d be able to finish what I started.
The moment I felt myself disconnecting from my body, something shoved me back in with force. At the same time, I heard a mysterious voice in my head, “What are you an overachiever? You’ve got nothing left in your tank. Let me handle it!”
Shaking my head, I looked down at my hands and wondered why I’d push myself so far. It felt like I was seconds away from trading my life for the doppelgangers. If the mystery man hadn’t stopped me when he did, I very well could have. Chancing a peek at my mate, I recoiled when he pinned me with a glare. I could feel the rage rolling off him in waves. I knew better than to ask him why he’d flashed us away. I was lucky he hadn’t taken me to my own prison to keep me from injuring myself further.
“I’m still considering it,” Kalen growled low.
I gasped and turned to face him. Knowing I hadn’t spoken out loud, I questioned him, “Considering what exactly?”
“Don’t play coy. I’m
still considering locking you away for your own good!” Kalen seethed.
“How did you know I was even thinking about that?” I asked with a frown.
“Tanen’s been keeping track of your thoughts for me,” Kalen replied with a shrug.
My mouth dropped open at his revelation. I promptly snapped it closed and spun around in search of the Sixer who’d been spying on me. I spotted Tanen leaning against one of the glass enclosures. When he noticed my glare, he held his hands up in the air and said, “Sorry Jade. It was an order, but after listening in on your suicide mission, I’m glad he pushed it. I don't think my best friend would be consolable if he had to mourn the death of a mate he just found. I’d ask what you were thinking, but I was in there, and you weren’t thinking about anything except saving that thing even if it was at the cost of your own life.”
I was speechless. Tanen was right. I hadn’t been thinking, and it scared me. With tears in my eyes, I faced Kalen again and whispered, “Sorry. I promise I don’t have a death wish. I just didn’t want to be the cause of someone’s death.”
Kalen’s anger melted away at my disclosure before he flashed the short distance to me and gathered me in his arms. I fisted his shirt and buried my face in his chest. His strength was a balm to my frayed nerves. How would I live with myself if the mystery man wasn’t able to save the doppelganger?
“What mystery man?” Kalen asked, lifting my chin with a finger until he could see my eyes.
“I didn’t get a look at him, just heard his voice. He pushed me back into my body and told me I was an overachiever . . . among other things,” muttering the last bit under my breath. As I thought about the interaction, it made me curious how the stranger had known I was about to attempt something of that nature in the first place. Just another unknown in a long list of questions I wasn’t sure I had the energy to find answers to. Pulling away from Kalen, I peered around him and said, “He said he’d handle bringing the doppel back.” The room the doppel occupied was a flurry of activity, and I couldn’t tell what was going on. When Kalen remained silent, I turned my attention back to him and said, “Was he successful?”
Kalen was staring at Tanen like I’d lost my mind, and he was looking for guidance on how to handle me. My gaze bounced between the two Sixers, and when I couldn’t take the silence any longer, I probed again, “Was the mystery man able to save the doppelganger?”
My mate looked down at me and cupped my cheek before he replied, “I don’t know about your mystery man. We thought you were responsible. No one outside of those already in this room has been around, but to answer your question . . . technically the doppelganger is alive.”
“What do you mean by that? Technically? Is he brain-dead?” I pushed, choosing to ignore his other statement. The one that implicated I saw things.
“No, his brain is functioning,” Kalen answered uncomfortably.
“Then what’s the issue?” I demanded.
“He’s been wiped clean. He has no memories,” Tanen responded.
I whirled around to face Tanen and said, “Wiped? How’s that possible? Nothing I did should have wiped him. Could the mind-leeches have done it?”
“Not their usual modus operandi. If the leeches become flustered during their work, they’ll attack the brain from the inside and will take more than just memories. No, this was something else. Something outside of your control as well, so don’t beat yourself up about it,” Kalen replied before adding, “Speaking of memories. Zarina is waiting for us in the council room. Did you want to talk to your friends before we leave?”
Talk to my friends? Damn, in all the craziness, I’d completely forgotten about Anolla and Castice. I took a deep breath, turned to face them, and noticed that Cynosis had joined them in a cell of her own. I expected her to be pissed off, but instead she looked like a lost puppy as she stared at Tanen in wonder. Tilting my head to the side, I raised an eyebrow and said, “How do I talk to them? I thought the glass was soundproof.”
“It’s one-way glass. They can hear you, but we can’t hear them,” Tanen answered as he studied Cynosis with interest.
“Great, I'll hold a one-way conversation with them. Seriously, I know you guys are aware that’s not conducive to an interrogation. How can I hear what they have to say to my questions?” I shot back with a nervous chuckle. I hated being caught off guard by that knowledge.
Kalen threw Tanen a dirty look as he approached Anolla’s cell. He placed his hands on the glass, and before long the enclosing glass sunk into the floor, revealing an electrical force field surrounding them instead. I moved to intervene when he kept his hands in place, afraid he was being electrocuted until he removed his hands in surrender with a chuckle and addressed my fellow trial participants, “It’s safe on this side of the enclosure, but not yours. I wouldn’t recommend touching the walls from your side unless you’d like to find out what two million volts of electricity feel like.”
Turning to me, he smirked at the look of surprise on my face before he said, “You should be able to hear them now.”
I expected our captives to start voicing their concerns, but all of them looked at me with apprehension. They were waiting for me to explain why we imprisoned them against their will. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I cleared my throat a couple of times before I found my voice. Thankful when it came out strong, “My name is Jade, and I had you brought here for your protection.”
“No offense, but I don't know who you are and if your true intentions were to protect us, why are we in the dungeons?” Anolla demanded with an air of indifference despite her circumstances.
Castice chose not to engage but observed me while he paced his quarters. Cynosis didn’t even bother to acknowledge my existence as she continued to stare at Tanen. I did not doubt that if she had a chance, she’d make him pay. I could practically see flames burning in her eyes at her kidnapper. I wrapped my hair around my finger while I contemplated how I would answer. I could use my gift to remind them of who I was or ignore it for the most part while I addressed the real issue . . . their deaths.
In the end, I went for honesty, “You should all know me as the tall blond who was supposed to be participating in the trials with you tomorrow.” When they started to protest, I held up my hand and added, “To be fair, this isn’t the first time we’ve met . . . the person you saw today was a facade. I wanted to hide my true self so I could go undercover to solve a mystery when I went back in time.”
While I let that thought sit, I eyed each of them before I addressed why we had them incarcerated. “Not to be the bearer of bad news, but I feel it's only fair; you should know why you are here. Anolla and Castice . . . we brought you here because both of you died within hours of each other . . . by the same thing.”
Anolla gasped in response and slapped her hands over her mouth, shaking her head back and forth in denial before she screamed, “No! It’s not possible. You’re lying!” At the same time, Castice stammered out, “What did we die of?”
Anolla’s head snapped to Castice in surprise. You could tell she wanted to reprimand him for his betrayal, but after opening and closing her mouth a few times like a fish out of water, she shut her mouth firmly and looked at me with disgust. Choosing silence instead of admission, she crossed her arms over her chest in defiance. Ignoring her wrongly placed attitude, I addressed Castice instead, “We’re not sure. No one has been able to narrow down the causative agent. It’s one of the reasons why I asked them to bring you here. Besides my prior knowledge of what and when something happened in the past, we’re flying blind. Unless, of course, one of you might be able to tell me who might be out to kill both of you. Any kind of lead is better than nothing.”
“That’s not what I meant!” Castice roared.
Kalen growled next to me, directing our reluctant captive’s attention to my mate. Castice licked his lips and directed his gaze to Anolla instead of the real threat in the room. Curious. I couldn’t help but watch their interaction. Not bothering to hide her dis
dain, Anolla glared at Castice before she shook her head and said, “Defiance, deceit, death.”
Castice’s face fell in response before he turned to Kalen and answered in a flat tone, “I meant no offense. It’s just that I think it would help us narrow our focus in the right area if we knew.”
I opened my mouth to tell him how they died when Cynosis chose to speak up, “Why am I here? I mean, you said Anolla and Castice died in this alternate time, but why am I here? Are these cells on their own air system? I mean, if it’s contagious, I don’t want to catch something from them.”
Turning my attention to Cynosis, I replied, raising my hands in the air, “It doesn’t appear to be airborne, so although I have no idea what type of ventilation system they’ve got going on in here . . . .you and everyone else should be fine.” Dropping my hands in defeat, I added, “To answer your question, though, you’re here because an assassin recently copied you, and we need to question your loyalties. Determine if you are with us or against us.”
Cynosis cocked her head to the side, a frown crossing her face before she answered, “Loyalties? I’m as loyal as they come, and what do you mean copied? By what?”
“A doppelganger,” Castice uttered with a wild look in his eye.
Flipping my attention back to Castice, I wanted to ask him how he knew that information, but then I remembered they had a front-row seat to the doppelganger’s torture session. Heck, they might have even seen him turn into Cynosis. Clearing my throat to address Cynosis, I jumped when I heard Anolla scream out in pain. Instinctively I knew what was happening, but a part of me hoped as I turned toward her that history wouldn’t repeat itself. Natashia had said she’d tried multiple times to save the girl with no success, and it seemed my attempt was no different.
