The Shikari Box Set

by Dora Blume

“Oh, that could be. I know my power would be coveted, and I’ve been asked to join other divisions when they find out what I can do.” Jess sat up.

  “Yeah, you and Bryant went looking for me for my ability. We need to find out what the missing students could do.”

  “Definitely. I’ll go grab the file on the missing girl.” Erik stood and ran up the stairs. He returned with a file in his hand. He handed it to Jess and sat back on the couch. “Here, you haven’t seen this, yet.”

  She spread the file in their laps. Sloane watched as Erik and Jess shuffled through the papers. “Look for the transcript of the interview. Maybe she talks about her ability.”

  Erik pulled out a sheet and handed it to Sloane. “Here, you look through this one. We’ll look for any notes anywhere else.”

  Sloane read the interview, but it only talked about where she was taken and the description of the guy who took her. Nothing about her or any speculative reason for taking her. They probably assumed it was because she was Shikari and didn’t think too far beyond that. It’s what demons do, why question it further. “There’s nothing about it here. If she does have a special ability, maybe her father wouldn’t want it to be public knowledge.” Sloane handed back the paper and Erik tucked it in the folder.

  “So, who would know what her power was?”

  “Her father, maybe Magnus would know. I’ll call Mike. Maybe since he’s a tracker, he can find out if the others don’t know.” Sloane pulled out her phone and hit send. “Hey, Mike do you know what power the girl who was kidnapped had?” She waited, listening.

  “No, why?”

  “Could you ask Magnus? We think the students may be targeted for their abilities. It would help prove our theory if she had a special ability.” She waited.

  “That makes sense. I’ll find out about all the missing students. You may be on to something.”

  “Will you call me back when you find out?” She asked.

  “You’ll be the first call I make, love.”

  “Thanks, I’ll talk to you soon. Bye.” Sloane was all business.

  “So, did he know about the girl?” Jessie asked.

  “No, but he’s going to ask Magnus, or find out himself. He agrees that it makes sense. So far, we don’t know why these specific students are being targeted.”

  “I’m going to go find Caroline and let her know what’s going on. See if she got any information about the board members.” Jessie got up and strode toward Caroline’s room.

  “We should probably go back to the school and follow Mr. Hall. See what we can find about him, and the students that have been possessed on campus. It would be good to know if they are being targeted for their ability. We also need to figure out what their ultimate goal is. If they are targeting students for their abilities, what powers do they need and why?”

  “Sounds like a plan. I’m going to run and grab my duffle upstairs. Can you be ready to go in say, ten minutes?”

  Chapter 10

  “You ready?” Erik asked, lounging back against the counter.

  “Yeah, where’s Jessie?” Sloane asked.

  “She’s with Caroline. She’ll be up in a minute.”

  Jessie reached the landing and stepped next to Erik. “We ready?”

  “Yep, just waiting on you.” Erik bent to pick up his bag.

  They walked to the car, and Sloane threw her bag in the backseat. Erik sat in the driver's seat, and Jessie sat in the passenger seat. Erik reached his hand over to take Jessie’s. He wanted to use his senses to see what she was thinking. She’d been quiet after talking to Caroline, and he wasn’t sure why. Caroline had a habit of answering to people’s thoughts. He wasn’t sure if that was the case with Jessie. He moved his thumb to stroke her knuckles and looked over to meet her eyes. He smiled at her, and she returned his smile for a brief moment before staring ahead again. She kept biting her bottom lip. Erik knew she was anxious about something. He wished she would tell him what it was so they could work it out together.

  “Everything okay Jess?” he asked in a whisper.

  “Yeah, everything’s fine.” She looked back out the window.

  “O….kay,” Erik said and focused back on the road. Jessie looked over to Erik and back out the window. She kept fidgeting in her seat as he drove. Erik pulled alongside the school and parked.

  “Are you going to listen from here?” Sloane asked.

  “It seems like the best plan. We don’t want them to know we’re here.” Erik’s sarcastic tone was biting. He didn’t mean it, but it was bothering him that Jess wasn’t telling him what was bothering her.

  “Jeez, what’s your deal? I was just asking.” Sloane sat back in her seat and huffed out a breath.

  “Nothing. Sorry.” Erik said. Jessie looked over at him and narrowed her eyes. He shook his head and looked out the window. They sat waiting.

  “So, you got anything, because this is killing me? It’s not fun when only you, get to know what’s going on.” Sloane pouted in a whiny tone.

  “Not really, I can’t hear Mr. Hall, right now. There’s not much happening. It must be a break or something.” Erik said.

  “Can I go in there, please?” Sloane begged.

  “No, Sloane, we can’t just go into a school with kids, guns blazing. I know that’s your style, but you need to chill out. We need to get information.”

  “You and your damn information. Don’t you ever just want to act? I can’t just sit here.”

  “Why did you even come with? We have to just sit here. We’re on the side of a mountain. Where else are you going to go?” Erik glanced around the car. There weren’t many places to go. The only thing here was the school.

  “Whatever, I’m going for a walk.” Sloane grabbed the door handle.

  “What? No.” Erik turned in his seat.

  “Oh, don’t get your panties in a bunch. I’m just going to walk along the road. I won’t go near the school, I promise.” Sloane opened the door before Erik could protest. She closed the door and lifted the back of her shirt, showing Erik the gun, before she began her trek up the road.

  “What do you think her deal is?” Erik asked.

  “Sloane’s never been very good at sitting still. You should know that better than anyone.”

  “Now that we’re alone, are you going to tell me what’s bothering you? I noticed your agitation after you talked with Caroline. What’s going on Jess?” He studied her. She was gripping on hand with the other. She bit her lip.

  “It’s not my place to share,” Jessie said.

  “What does that mean? It’s me, Jess. You can trust me.” He narrowed his eyes. He couldn’t believe she would keep something from him.

  “I guess. Caroline hasn’t been able to reach her daughter, today. It’s probably nothing, but I have a bad feeling. Something’s going to happen, something bad. I can feel it.” Jessie continued to grip her hands in her lap. She was chewing her lip,

  “Isn’t it Sloane’s power to see the future. You don’t have that power, Jess. How do you know something bad is going to happen?”

  “I don’t know.” She glanced down to her hands. “It’s just a feeling I have like something’s coming, and we’re not going to see it coming.” She continued to chew he lip.

  “Jess, that’s ridiculous. We’ll figure it out. We always do. It’s what we’ve always done.” Erik glanced out the window. Looking toward the school, he noticed a student heading in the direction Sloane walked. He sat up in his seat.

  “We don’t always figure it out, and lately we have no fucking clue what’s going on. So, why do you think we’ll figure it out. We’ve been playing catch-up a lot lately, and I don’t like it.” She glanced out the window. A shiver ran down her spine.

  “Are you cold?” Erik asked.

  “No, like I said. I have a bad feeling, Erik. A really bad feeling.” She rubbed her hands on her pants and clenched her hands into fists. “Will you please listen in on the school? We need to know what the hell is going on.”

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  Sloane wrapped her arms around herself. She didn’t think it was cold, but suddenly she felt a chill go down her spine. Her phone vibrated in her pocket, and she fished it out.

  “Hey babe, what did you find out?” She answered after seeing Mike’s name.

  “It’s not good, Sloane. The girl, she can manipulate others thoughts. She can put a thought in your head and make you think it was your thought. That’s a dangerous power for the demons to have. They also got another boy. He’s a tracker. Put the two together, and you’ve got a volatile pair. You’re right about looking for specific skills.”

  “Okay, have you learned anything actionable? We’re at the school trying to get intel, but it’s so boring here. I need something to do.”

  “Babe, where are you right now?” Mike asked.

  “Walking outside the school. Why?” She continued to kick at the gravel on the road.

  “You need to get back with Erik, right now. They were able to get the girl because she separated from her friends. They are looking for us when we’re vulnerable, and if they are at the school, they know you’re outside.” Mike’s voice sounded panicked.

  “Wait, what? How would they know?” Sloane stopped walking and glanced around her.

  “I got info on Mr. Hall. He can sense the powers of others. He knew Caroline was investigating when she walked in the school. He also knew she could read his thoughts before she even walked in. He probably knows you can see the future, too. Sloane, love, please go back to Erik. Stick together, I beg you.” The sincerity in his voice made Sloane turn around.

  “Okay, I’ll go back.” She wasn’t afraid of any of these demons, but if Mike was that worried, she figured she could turn around for him.

  “Let me know when you’re back with them.”

  “Uh, okay. Mike, what aren’t you telling me? You’re way too worried.”

  “Sloane, you’d be a huge get for them. You need to protect yourself. They’re looking for powers.” Sloane caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of her eye.

  “Hold on; I think I see someone.”

  “Babe, no, go back to Erik. I know you. Don’t take anyone on, alone. Please, just get back to the car.”

  “Ye of little faith. I’ll be fine. I was bored anyway.” Sloane turned toward the school, but whatever she saw was gone.

  “Don’t worry so much, babe. Whoever it was is gone now.” Suddenly, the hair on the back of her neck prickled. She knew there was a demon. Reaching for the gun in her waistband, she whirled around, but something hit her head. She dropped the phone, and everything went black.

  ✭✭✭

  “What do you think’s taking Sloane so long?” Erik shifted in his seat. He wouldn’t mind going for a walk right now.

  “She’s probably scouting the entire school. Planning entry points for later. Making some kind of plan to infiltrate the school. You know, Sloane stuff.” Jess smirked.

  “Sloane doesn’t plan. She just runs in, guns blazing.”

  “That’s such a weird saying, guns blazing. I mean do guns blaze? Really? No, so why do people say it like that?” Jess rubs her forearm with her hand.

  “Are you cold? I have an extra jacket in the back. I’ll grab it if you need it.”

  “No, I’m fine.” She rubbed at the goosebumps again.

  The shrill of Erik’s phone filled the car. He hit the button. “Hey, Mike, What’s up?”

  “Sloane, we were talking, and she disappeared. I could hear a gruff male voice in the background; then her phone went dead. I tried calling back but got voicemail. Erik, find her. She’s in trouble. I’m running to my car; I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  ‘What? She just went for a walk.” Erik glanced up the road in the direction Sloane had walked.

  “No, Erik. Are you listening? Go find her, now.” His voice was commanding.

  “Okay, okay. I’m going.” He hung up.

  “Mike says something happened to Sloane. We better go to her. I’m sure she’s fine, but Mike sounded worried.” Jess had the door open and flew out of the car before Erik finished. “Jeez, it’s Sloane. I’m sure she’s fine. She’d kick anyone’s ass who even tried anything.”

  Jessie took off at a dead run up the hill. Erik shook his head but followed. She didn’t stop at the top. She ran another quarter- mile before she finally stopped. She bent to pick up something black from the ground.

  When Erik reached her, he asked, “What’s that?”

  Jessie held it up. “Sloane’s phone. Still think she’s fine, Erik?”

  “Oh shit?” He held his hand out to take the phone. He hit a button, and the screen lit up. When he saw her face on the screen, he curled his hands into fists. “Shit? We need to start looking.” Jess was bending down to the ground, reaching her hand to touch the pavement. She lifted her fingers to examine them.

  She held out her red blotched fingers. “Blood,” she said.

  “Fuck, Jess we have to find her. Look for a trail. I’m going to listen.”

  “If they took her, they would’ve had to go back to the school. We haven’t seen any other cars around.”

  “Shit, I don’t know I wasn’t paying attention to the road. I was listening to the people in the school.”

  “I was, there haven’t been any other cars. Come on; we need to get up to the school. If we find any demons, you’ll hear them, and I’ll freeze them.”

  “Okay, let’s go.” They sprint toward the school. Erik was jerking his head around frantically at any noise.

  Jess reached her hand out to touch his shoulder. “Erik, you need to calm down if we’re going to find her.” He paused, looked into her eyes, and nodded.

  “Jess, they have Sloane. That’s my sister.” His eyes were wide as he looked at her.

  “I know, Erik. We’re going to find her, but I need you to focus on doing that.” Her voice was reassuring, and she squeezed his shoulder.

  Erik took a deep breath. “Okay, you’re right.” Glancing in the direction of the school, he paused to listen. “Come on, this way.”

  “What?” Erik pulled Jessie toward where he’d heard a demon. He paused on the side of the brownstone building. Erik glanced around the corner. He held his finger to his lips. He gripped her hand a moment before letting it fall and reaching for the gun in his waistband. He could hear their voices, but it was their thoughts that got his attention. They had known they were coming. They had hoped Sloane would be separated from them but planned to take her, regardless. Erik glanced to their necks; he saw the amulets sparkle against the setting sun. They looked similar to the one Erik had seen on the demon Jessie couldn’t freeze and knew immediately their powers wouldn’t work on these demons. Not unless they were able to separate them from the amulets. Erik took a deep breath and turned to meet Jessie’s curious gaze.

  “They have amulets to make our powers useless. Mr. Hall had known we would be back. He knew of Sloane’s power. He wanted Sloane, badly.” He whispered, eyes wide.

  “Okay, how do we separate them from the amulets so that I can blow them up?”

  “Jess, they’re only students. We need to follow them. They may know where they’re taking Sloane.” Erik turned his head back toward the boys and lifted his hand, running it through his hair.

  “Fine,” Jessie grunted. Erik turned to look at her and smiled at her pout. Damn, she could be so cute, he thought.

  Erik listened. They were on orders from the headmaster. Erik crept toward the corner again. He wanted an opportunity to take the amulets off the two men. He wasn’t sure why he could still hear them, considering they were wearing the amulets. He took a deep breath and checked again to see where they were. The two boys had stopped before the door leading into the building. One of them had a lit cigarette perched between his lips. Erik watched as he inhaled. They were chatting about some incident in class earlier. They’d almost forgotten, not all of the teachers or students were possessed. One of the boys had said, “Wanna bet,” to the science t
eacher before the other boy had placed his hand on his arm, a subtle reminder. They couldn’t be exposed this late in the game. Late, shit how far had they taken over? Erik wondered.

  Jessie tapped Erik on the shoulder. She had taken her hoodie off and stood with her black tank. His pulse quickened at the sight of her nipples through the thin fabric.

  “I have an idea.” She smirked raising her eyebrows at him. She glanced down before looking up through her lashes and bit her lip. Erik’s pants felt tight at the seductive look she was giving him.

  “Shit Jess, I don’t know. They’re men, but they’re also demons.” He appraised her as she batted her lashes giving him a mockingly shocked look. Her mouth dropped into the shape of an o and then she smirked at him.

  “Why Erik, are you saying I’m not attractive enough to distract some poor little boys outta their necklace?” She blanched. “You’re the one who said the demons react the same way boys would. We know the demons can only take as much pain as their human host. So, why wouldn’t it be the same with them, other emotions, say maybe, attraction.” Jessie fluttered her lashes and bit her bottom lip, slowly letting go. After her teeth, she licked her top lip, slowly eyes gazing into his. She raised her brow at the desire that must have been evident on his face.

  Erik wanted to grab her and take her against the building, right now. He closed his eyes, drawing a deep breath through his lips trying to think of anything but Jessie standing before him in her tight tank top and jeans. It took a few minutes for his pulse to go back to normal. When he opened his eyes, she was grinning wide, and her eyes were alighted with accomplishment.

  “See, I think this could work. If I can get my arms around one of them to take off the amulet, I can freeze him. You can sneak up behind the other while I have them distracted.”

  “And if this doesn’t work?” he asked, still trying to pull himself together, which was difficult when she continued to look at him with fire in her eyes.

  “We fight like always and take them with us.” She shrugged. “You know we can take on two pesky demons. Even if we don’t have our powers for an advantage. We’ve trained for this many, many times and it’s us. We’ve done this before, Erik. What has you doubting yourself?” He could feel Jessie’s questioning gaze. It was her; he was worried about her.