The Shikari Box Set

by Dora Blume

  “Now was that really necessary?” Mike asked.

  “Yes, yes it was.” She nodded, beaming at Mike.

  “She’s fucking crazy,” Jessie shook her head. She took a step back from the woman toward Erik.

  “So, I hate to break this up but we’re missing one.” Erik looked around the room then turned toward the dining room. He walked through to the living room. He stopped to listen, the man was up in the bedroom. He focused on his thoughts. “Oh fuck,” he said, then ran up the stairs.

  Jess caught up to him halfway up the stairs, “What?”

  “He called for help. Other demons will be here soon.” He stopped outside a bedroom door then held his finger to his lips. He burst through the door surprising the man. The man reached for his gun on the nightstand but Erik lunged for his arm and hitting it and knocking the gun to the floor. He used his other fist to punch the man in the face, landing a well-placed uppercut followed by a jab to his temple. Jessie bent to retrieve the gun and pointed it at the man.

  “Ha, you think that gun scares me little girl? I’ve been a demon for centuries.” He scoffed reaching his hand to touch his split lip, he stood.

  Erik punched him in the face again and Jessie moved swinging her knee up into his gut. The man reached his hand forward grabbing her leg and dropping her flat on her back on the floor. Erik moved swiftly to push him back before he was able to hurt Jess. Letting his instinct take over, his fists connected with the guys face three times before the guy stumbled back catching himself on the wall. He bent to spit blood on the floor. Jessie jumped up, took the gun, and hit him in the temple. He dropped to the floor unconscious.

  “Shit, Jess. We don’t want to kill him.” He bent down, placing two fingers on the guys neck checking for a pulse.

  “What, Sloane did it?” she shrugged. She bent to straighten out her pant leg that had bunched when the guy grabbed her leg. She pulled her shirt, smoothing it against herself and looked to Erik who was watching her movements with fire in his eyes.

  Sloane reached the doorway. “Hey, we loaded the woman up in the trunk. Mike’s pulling the car in the driveway out back to get him. Anyone else in here with them?”

  Erik shook his head, “No, but there will be soon if we don’t get the hell out of here. He was able to call for help after he heard our battle downstairs.”

  ‘How long do you think we have?” Jessie asked.

  “Five minutes, tops.” He reached down and lifted the guy over his shoulder in one quick swoop.

  “That’s one way to move a body.” Jessie smirked.

  Erik hurried down the stairs and toward the back door. When he reached the alley, Mike was standing next to his car, hand holding the trunk lid. When Mike raised the lid, Erik dropped the guy into the trunk. His head hit the side and made a loud thunk. Erik shrugged and Mike pulled the guys legs, letting his head drop inside. He tucked the guys legs under and closed the lid.

  “Time to go,” Mike said. He walked to one side of the car and Sloane walked to the other. Erik and Jessie jumped in Erik’s car quickly.

  “How long do you think before they come to?” Jessie asked Erik.

  “Considering how hard you and Sloane hit them on the head, it should be awhile. If they do, you can freeze them. Now that we’re away from the house they’re not immune to your powers.” Erik started the car and pulled away from the house. He knew they were moments away from being discovered by demons. They couldn’t chance the demons finding out where they live. Erik took a detour to make sure they weren’t followed. Jessie kept glancing back to make sure, eyes darting to the side mirror when she was facing forward.

  “We’re good, no one followed.” Erik reached his hand and placed it over hers which rested on her thigh.

  “I know, I’m just nervous.” Jessie turned her hand to grasp Erik’s. “I’m not used to having my power rendered useless. I’ve never had a house warded against me like that.” She tightened her grip.

  “These are not your run-of-the-mill demons. They have secrets we’ve only begun to uncover. The only reason I know the house was warded because I caught it in her thoughts. I know it’s possible but I haven’t come across it before. Someone is sharing our secrets with them and we need to find out who immediately. They could easily destroy our entire organization.” He kept his hand in hers, needing reassurance as much as she did right now. Everything he knew about his life was changing. What other secrets were being leaked to the demons by their own people.

  They reached the house without issue. The couple were still out cold. Mike and Erik carried them down to the basement. Erik took the guy to the other room and Mike deposited the woman in the chair before Sloane. He bent to secure her ankles and Sloane placed her hands in each of the metal cuffs. Mike stood and backed away from the chair.

  “You got this babe?”

  “Yeah, I can take care of her.” She raised her eyebrows and smiled crookedly at Mike.

  “Okay, I’ll be outside if you need me.” He bent and placed a slow kiss on her cheek. His hand lingered in hers before he turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

  Sloane turned to the closet and began assembling items on a small metal table. When she was ready she wheeled the table next to where the woman was restrained.

  Jessie walked into the room and looked to Sloane. She was uncovering some surgical tools and filling syringes with various colored liquids. “What are you doing? She’s not even awake yet?”

  “Yeah, I’ll fix that in a second.” Pulling the table lined with surgical tools closer, she walked to the sink to fill a glass with water. Jessie peeked at the tools, all were wrapped neatly, the silver glistening in the light. Three, recently filled syringes were next to the surgical tools.

  Jessie shook her head, “Remind me to never piss you off. You’re seriously ready to do this aren’t you?” Jessie watched Sloane inspect each instrument before placing it back on the table.

  Erik walked through the door and Sloane glanced up then back at her work. “The guy is chained down, but not awake. We should discuss the plan before they gain consciousness.” He looked to Sloane waiting for her to stop, when she didn’t hear, he said, “Sloane.”

  “What Erik? Why do we need a plan for everything? I don’t need a plan. I’m going to get the information I need from this bitch. I got everything I need right here.” She swept her hand over the table, smiling. “Go do whatever you want with the guy. She’s the important one, anyway.” She looked up from the table at Erik, then at Jessie. “I don’t need anyone’s help. I got this.” There was a confidence and an eerie glint to her eye when she spoke.

  Erik walked over and looked at the table. “Making yourself right at home, I see. What do you plan on giving her?”

  “It’s just a little benzo, psychoactive concoction to help her to be a little more forthcoming. She will tell me what I need to know one way or another.” The glow in Sloane’s eye was unmistakable. Erik gave Sloane a quizzical look, staring her directly in the eye, contemplating. He stepped away, she would ultimately get them what they needed, so he should let her have her way. He had a sick feeling in his stomach, knowing what she was doing wasn’t right. The professor was still in there and she would feel everything long after the demon was gone. He understood why it needed to happen though. Sometimes things needed to be done which were uncomfortable, but someone had to move beyond that feeling and do them, regardless of the consequences. He knew that right now was one of those moments. He took one last look at Sloane and nodded.

  Erik looked to Jessie and smiled, “Jess let’s go check on the guy and let Bryant know what’s going on. I’m sure he’d love to see you again.” He held his hand out for her. She smiled back at him and took it.

  “Okay, I would love to see him.” Jess followed him out the door. Erik turned and closed the door behind them leaving Sloane alone with the demon.

  They ran into Mike in the hall. Erik stopped to face him directly. “I think she’s going to need help wit
h whatever she’s planning in there.” Erik was concerned that she’d get carried away if she didn’t have someone around to be reasonable.

  “Yeah, I told her I’d be right outside if she needed me. I’m going to let her do her thing until she asks for me.” Mike moved so they could continue down the hall.

  “Okay,” Erik’s voice was low and full of concern. He took a deep breath, he needed to trust them. Jessie looked to Erik and then walked around Mike, he followed. They found Bryant in his study as usual on the phone. He smiled as they walked in and motioned for them to take the chairs in front of his desk. They sat and waited. Bryant politely excused himself on the phone.

  When he hung up, he smiled wide at Jessie. “Oh, my dear Jessie, it’s marvelous to see you. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

  “Oh, you know me, I can’t pass up the chance at a good fight, especially when I have the upper hand.” She winked at him as he sat in his high-back chair.

  Bryant looked to Erik, “What‘s the status of our current situation? I’ve been on the phone all day talking with other members of the order and it seems every major city is having its own problems.” He walked around his desk and leaned back to study his son.

  “What’s the deal with that, every city?” Erik couldn’t believe they were having so many problems right now. They had problems every day but not to this extent, something was different.

  “We’re trying to figure that out, I believe I’ll be taking a trip to Kansas City soon to discuss it. For now, I told them I was needed here until we have this situation under control. What is the status?” He looked pointedly at Erik, “I haven’t heard from you or Sloane all day.”

  Erik steepled his hands and placed them against his lips. “We have the woman in charge and the man that she’s collaborating with in the basement. Sloane’s down there with them trying to get the information we need.” Erik looked to Bryant who paled at that information.

  “You have them here?” Bryant said, his tone rising in surprise. His eyes darted around momentarily then focused again on Erik.

  “Yeah, that’s what we usually do. Why?” Erik studied his father. Bryant shifted uncomfortably. His eyes darted to the door and back at Erik. He looked to Jessie and resumed his smile, folding his hands in front of him. Bryant was uncomfortable, Erik wanted to ask why but knew his father would put on a show for Jessie.

  Bryant shifted, “Oh nothing, nothing. I just didn’t think that you would get them so quickly. I figured you would take your time, plan it out well. But of course, you have Jessie here so I’m sure there was no trouble at all. Sloane also isn’t known for her patience, now is she.” He rolled his eyes then walked back around the desk to sit down.

  “You know Sloane.” He paused and looked over to Jess, beaming. “Jess was a big help too.” He met Jess’ eyes. “The house was warded against us but we managed to take them, anyway. The only problem is that the other demons know they were taken but they don’t know who took them.” Erik studied his father. He began shuffling through papers on his desk, not looking at either of them.

  “How did you manage it, my son, if the house was warded?” Bryant asked.

  “We overpowered them. Well let me rephrase that, Sloane was impatient and charged the woman and knocked her over the head with the butt of her gun. Jess and I took care of the guy upstairs but he managed to call for help. We loaded them in the trunks before anyone arrived so they shouldn’t know that we were the ones who took them.” He shrugged.

  “Oh yes, clever, you are both very clever. Did you say Sloane was down there now with them?” Bryant sat forward and clasped his hands in front of him, placing his elbows on the desk.

  “Yeah, she doesn’t want to wait to torture the woman.” Erik raised a brow, curious.

  “Oh well then, you two better go join them, make sure your sister doesn’t get in over her head. I have to run out for a bit. A few errands, you know. You can watch over things, right Erik?” He stood quickly and reached for his cell phone. His eyes darted around the room but finally settled on Erik, waiting for an answer.

  “Yeah, no problem.” Erik tipped his head to the side, studying his father.

  Bryant reached over to grab his briefcase and put a few things in it before bolting out the door. Erik and Jessie both watched him go from the chairs.

  Jessie looked to Erik, “What’s up with him?”

  “I don’t know, but I intend to find out.” Erik bolted up from the chair and ran to the basement, “Mike,” he yelled.

  “Yeah.” He called.

  “Can you come up here?” Mike bounded up to them.

  “Can you jump in your car and follow Bryant? Something’s up and I don’t think it’s good.”

  Mike’s eyes narrowed, and he looked at him questioningly, “Sure, I can follow him.”

  He took a deep breath. “Awesome, I don’t know what’s going on with him but something’s different and we need to find out what.”

  Mike glanced down the hall, then to Erik. “Okay, but you need to take care of Sloane.” Mike headed out the door to his car. Bryant turned right at the end of the driveway. Mike hurried to catch up with him.

  Erik headed down the hall, Jessie close behind. Erik listened to the thoughts of the two, He figured he could get the information before the woman would say it. They needed to hurry this along, Erik was worried about his father’s strange behavior. He was nervous, Bryant was rarely nervous. He’d never been able to read his father’s thoughts which would’ve been convenient.

  Jessie placed a hand on the back of his shoulder, he jumped. “Hey, sorry, what are you doing?”

  “Listening to the thoughts of the woman, so I can hear what she’s keeping from Sloane. I have a feeling our time is limited.” Erik closed his eyes and waited.

  He couldn’t believe it this woman was at the center of everything and she was holding tight to not talking. He watched Sloane inject the serum and the woman’s eyes began darting around the room but she said nothing. She was alert to everything. Her head whipped back and forth and she pulled against the restraints. Sloane was standing with a small scalpel in her hand. She tested the tip against her finger. A drop of blood dripped from her finger to the pristine white tiled floor, “Ah, good it’s sharp.” She gave the woman a pointed glare and smirked, turning the full attention of her gaze on the woman.

  She asked, “Do you know what it’s like to be cut open during surgery. Can you imagine going through that without any anesthesia? Nothing at all to help with the excruciating pain.” She raised the woman’s shirt and placed the knife slightly against her exposed pale skin. She pushed, only slightly, “Maybe I’ll just take a kidney, I hear they go for good money on the black market.” She smiled at the woman and pushed harder. The woman screamed. Sloane stroked the woman’s cheek. “Oh, don’t worry, you’ll probably pass out from the pain before you die from the blood loss.” The woman thrashed against the restraints as Sloane held the knife against her skin, blood dripping from the cut as she pressed harder.

  “Just tell me what I want to know and you can go back to your life.” Sloane waited.

  Thoughts began racing through her head. She was head of this area but there were others, in other cities. When they were done here Erik would need to inform the order. She was thinking about the things she’d been teaching and how so many demons know. It was only a matter of time before they would find her, so she was determined to hold out. This woman was strong willed. Erik questioned whether Sloane would get anything out of her.

  Jessie watched Erik as he listened, “I take it you’re not getting any good news. Should we try the man? He seems like he might be more willing to crack under pressure.”

  “No, he’s bound to her and would never give her up.” He waited, “I just need her to keep thinking about their plan.”

  “Okay, well I’m grabbing a drink from the fridge, you want anything?”

  “No, thanks.” He met her eyes. She shrugged and headed to the kitchen.

  He
grabbed a chair from the other room. Wishing his power was to make people think what he wanted. He lounged back in the chair. The waiting was harsh. He wanted to poke his head in so maybe Sloane would ask the right questions. His phone vibrated in his pocket, it was Mike.

  “Hey, what’s up?” Erik listened.

  “No, shit. Are you serious? He went there?” Erik clenched his free hand into a fist and sat bolt upright. He stood and began pacing the hall.

  “Yeah, I know this is bad. We might be in trouble. Will you start making calls and sending people our way? They may be coming for their leader soon.” He nodded as Mike spoke.

  “Yeah, I know, I know, just do it. Also, if you see the son of a bitch, grab him. We need to take care of our insider leak.” Erik shook his head. His own father, what the hell, he thought.

  He hung up the phone and went into the room with Sloane, “We need to hurry this along.” Erik looked sternly to Sloane.

  “We need information.” She narrowed her eyes at Erik, confused.

  “Not as much as we need them dead, start asking relevant questions, you know the important stuff. I’ll be just outside if you need me. Maybe give her another dose of the serum. We need her to talk now.” Erik gave her one last look in the eye and closed the door behind him. He hoped she understood, so she’d ask what they needed to know. Their weakness was most important. The demons needed to be gone before the cavalry came calling for their leaders.

  The woman smiled, she looked at Sloane and laughed, “I knew they would come for me. You’ve got nothing, nothing. I can’t wait to watch my demons peel the skin from your flesh.” She opened her mouth in a villainous laugh.

  “Oh yeah, well for now you’re all mine. Maybe I’ll filet your skin as you suggested.” She moved the knife to her arm. She made a slice along her forearm, peeling away her skin.

  The woman’s laugh was cut off by a garbled scream. She panted and said, “You can’t break me. I’m not telling you anything.” Sloane reached for one of the syringes and plunged it into her upper arm.