Cray opened the door allowing Troyington to enter, followed by Edna and Harmon. He pushed the door shut and the group moved to confront them.
Troyington waved his men forward. “Hold him. He’s not going to like what’s going to happen.”
Cray reached for Randall, and Karen’s hand shot out, grabbing his arm. She bent his wrist at an unnatural angle. “Randall might not be able to fight you because of the contract you made him sign, but I’m not from his world. I can.” She bent his wrist a little further, making him cry out. “You won’t hurt him any more.”
Troyington stepped closer to her. “But, my dear, we’re here for you.”
She looked at him. “I’m not going.”
She jabbed Cray in the face with his own hand, knocking him to the floor. She threw a punch at Troyington, who blocked it easily. He blocked every punch from her in rapid succession, finally trapping her arms at her sides.
Randall grabbed Troyington around his neck from behind. “Let her go.” Troyington dropped his hold on Karen, and Randall threw him across the room.
Karen saw Cray surge to his feet, bringing his arm back to hit her. She crossed her arms in an X in front of her face. Pushing his fist out of the way, she hit his chest with an open palm strike. He staggered back, and she took him down with a low leg sweep.
Harmon grabbed Randall, throwing him against the concrete wall. Randall connected a solid punch to Harmon’s chin before Harmon drove his meaty fist in to Randall’s stomach, dropping him to the floor.
Karen faced off with Troyington when she felt an all too familiar stab at the back of her neck. Edna again stood behind her with an empty syringe.
Randall got to his knees as blood dripped from his head to the floor. “No!” Harmon grabbed his head and pushed him down before slamming him against the floor.
Karen blinked furiously trying to clear her vision. Troyington caught her as her legs gave out. She saw Randall lying unmoving on the floor, blood pooling under his head. His power dulled to a low light inside her, then nothing more.
****
Karen sat up, rubbed her head, and moaned. “I wish Edna would quit doing that.”
“Quit what?”
She carefully turned her head and squinted to make out the figure of a teenage boy sitting next to her on the floor. “Stabbing me with needles to knock me out. It’s getting old.” She stuck her hand out. “I’m Karen. James, right?”
He shook her hand, eyeing her warily. “Right. How do you know me?”
She stood up, taking a few wobbly steps as she brushed herself off. “I was there the day Edna took blood samples from you.” She pulled him to his feet. “I’m so sorry you’ve been hurt.”
He shrugged. “They haven’t done anything too bad to us yet, but I’ve got a feeling that’s about to change. The Oracle told us you’d be coming. She said, ‘When the dragon angel comes, the end will be near.’ I could smell the dragon power in you as soon as you got dumped here.”
Karen trembled as James’ words sank in. Had time run out? Was she going to be able to save the pack children? Could she get a message to the Angels? How was she going to let Randall know?
James’s eyes narrowed and he leaned closer to her, inhaling deeply. “You smell like the guardian,” he said, interrupting her thoughts.
“We’re soul mates.” Karen watched James. “He told me what you and the others are.”
Suspicion filled his face. “And that doesn’t frighten you?”
She shook her head. “No. One of my best friends is a shape-shifter, and my soul mate changes into a gargoyle at night. You guys are comparatively normal.”
He looked skeptical. “You make it a point to hang out with supernatural creatures?”
Karen nodded. “You could say that. I’m a member of a team of paranormals.”
“This team got a name?” he asked. “I mean, if you’re a ‘superhero,’ don’t all those teams have names?”
She nodded again. “Yes, they do. My team is the Angels.”
“That is so cool!” said an excited voice behind her. The girl had short brown hair, and she wore a shirt hanging loosely from her narrow shoulders, and her pants sagged around her tiny hips.
Karen noticed the bandage on the side of her neck. “Nikki, right?”
The teen nodded vigorously. “I follow everything you guys do. I wish there was more about you in the papers.”
Karen checked the girl’s wound. “I’m glad you weren’t seriously hurt the other day.”
Her joy immediately vanished. “The guardian was, and it’s all our fault.”
James stood behind her. “It’s his job to protect us.”
She whirled around to face him. “The guardian suffers so we won’t be hurt.”
“That’s what the guardians are trained for,” James said, his voice rising. “They’re the protectors of our realm.”
Nikki scowled at him, then dismissed him with a wave of her hand. “Whatever.”
Karen thought maybe James was trying a little too hard to convince Nikki. “James, we’re out of time. Troyington has plans to dissect some of you.”
The color drained from Nikki’s face. “What do we do?”
“We find a way out of here.” Karen looked around. “Where are we, anyway?”
“A cabin in the hills,” James said, his voice shaking. “We’ve checked it out. We’re not leaving until they let us.”
The cabin! Karen had found it and still had no idea where it was located. “Maybe a fresh pair of eyes can find something, and the wood folk know about this cabin.”
James shook his head. “The one they know about is a decoy. This one’s farther up in the hills and hidden somehow.”
The door crashed open and Cray and Harmon stood there.
Karen moved in front of the teens. “Go in the other room, guys. Stay there until I come for you. Understand?”
James nodded as he pushed Nikki into the back room. Karen faced the two men.
Cray curled his hands into large fists. “Mr. Troyington wants all the teenagers.”
Karen stepped back with her right foot, resting her weight on it. “Too bad.”
Harmon glared at her. “Your wishes make no difference to us. Stand aside.”
“It’s a funny thing about heroes.” She sprang forward, throwing punches at Harmon, staggering him back, then turned to Cray. “We don’t like kids being hurt. We frown even harder on them being dissected to give some greedy bastard more power.”
Karen blocked Cray’s wild swing, but her movements were sluggish from the drugs still running through her system. As she pulled her arm back, Harmon clouted her on the back of her head, and while she was reeling, spun her around to strike her.
Karen threw her arm up, but he clipped her chin before throwing her against the wall, stunning her for a second. She struggled to pull air into her lungs as she blocked his kick, before delivering one of her own. Cray jumped in and drove his fist down, knocking her to the floor.
“Give up the brats,” he growled.
Karen forced herself not to groan. Between Edna’s drugs and the short pounding she’d taken, her body just wanted to stay on the floor. She lifted her head and glared at them. “No. And you can tell your boss his days of experimentation are over.”
Cray stood over her. “Mr. Troyington isn’t going to like this.”
She pushed herself to her feet, using a hand to steady herself against the wall. “You think I give a damn what Troyington likes?” she growled. “Think again.” Harmon took a step toward her and she snapped her head around to glare at him. “You want more? Bring it!”
Cray stopped Harmon before he reached her. “Dupré said the same thing about a week ago and look where that’s got him.” Cray gave her an evil smile. “He’s not going to live out the day.” He pushed Harmon outside and slammed the door in her face.
“No!” She stumbled to the door and sank to the floor. “Dayla, if you can hear me, keep him safe.”
Chap
ter Sixteen
Troyington walked around Randall. “Cray and Harmon are bringing the older brats here. It’s time to begin the internal exam.”
Randall stared straight ahead, keeping the fear from his face. If Troyington and his goons got the kids, it meant he’d failed the pack and his clan. “Go to hell.”
Troyington leaned closer. “I also told them to get rid of your soul mate. I thought she might be useful, but I was mistaken. Like you, she’s more trouble than she’s worth.”
Karen’s power sang within him, flaring briefly. Randall gave Troyington a small smile. “I think Karen took exception to your orders.”
Troyington slammed his fist into Randall’s head, knocking him to the floor, opening the recent gashes. As Randall wiped at the blood running down the side of his face, Troyington kicked him in the stomach, doubling him up.
Edna came in, carrying two vials. She gestured to Randall, groaning on the floor. “Are you done with him?”
Troyington smoothed his hair back. “Yes. He’s got nothing left I need.”
“I thought as much.” She watched Randall as he pushed himself to his knees. “I need to get one more sample from him before disposal.”
He kissed her cheek. “Take whatever you want. He won’t need it where’s he’s going. Just be careful.” He glanced again at Randall. “He’s unpredictable.”
“In the condition he’s in right now, I don’t think I have to worry.” She pushed him toward the door. “Now scoot. I’ve got work to do.”
Edna shut the door behind him and turned to Randall. “This whole procedure will go much smoother if you don’t fight me. I don’t want to sedate you.”
Randall glared at her. “You’d better use whatever you’ve got, because if you don’t, I’m going to kill you. That’s a promise.”
Edna made clucking sounds with her tongue. “That doesn’t sound good at all. I suppose I should.”
She pulled out a hypodermic needle and jabbed it into his arm. “Now, this won’t knock you out. It’ll just make you more compliant with my wishes.” She patted his cheek. “It’s time to get those reproductive samples.”
He collapsed to the floor as his muscles gave out. Just great, he thought. Trapped in a room with a mad scientist pervert.
“Now, I want you to think of your woman, of how beautiful she is,” Edna said, rolling him to his back. “Think of how much you want her.”
Randall tried to think of anything but Karen, but whatever she’d shot him with channeled his thoughts in a more erotic direction. He felt her hands on his hips, slowly massaging them. His body felt like mud. It looked like whether he wanted to or not, he was going to give Edna the samples she wanted.
She smiled at him. “Doing this helps my test subject to relax. You really are quite the looker.” She started rubbing his thighs. “It’s a shame I can’t keep you.”
Randall scowled. “You’re dead. You know that, right?” he said, his words slurred.
She still smiled at him as she unhooked his jeans and pulled them partway down his legs. “I don’t think so.” She eyed his crotch and smiled as she dragged her hand across his stomach. “You’re almost ready.” She turned, setting up the vials and test tubes she brought with her.
Randall closed his eyes and thought of Karen. He could see her clearly in his mind. Karen, I need you so much right now.
****
Karen checked the front door. “Who makes a door with no handle on the inside?” She’d already determined there wasn’t a back door. The window panes were shatterproof glass with bars crossing each other on the outside. The walls were solid logs, the floor concrete. There was no fireplace and nothing to use as a weapon. James was right. They were here to stay.
She slammed her fist against the door. “I can’t believe this stupid door has no handle, no lock, nothing!” She gave a short scream of frustration.
James came up behind her. “What now?”
Karen sat cross-legged on the floor. She hadn’t lost her temper like that since she’d been a little girl. “I need to calm down. Give me a few minutes, and we’ll start again.”
James nodded. “Call me when you’re ready.”
Karen closed her eyes. Randall, I need you with me so badly right now. He was definitely still alive; his power burned within her. She gave a mental sigh of relief.
She thought she heard something and frowned. Rena, the team telepath, had taught them all how to open their minds to pick up people trying to communicate with them.
Randall? she called with her mind.
Karen.
She could sense the relief in him at finding her. Are you all right?
Not really. Strathmore’s getting ready to do kinky and perverted things to me.
Karen seethed with anger. Edna had no right to heap more abuse on her soul mate. If she could only be with him. Protect him. Use my power.
His mental voice grew faint. I don’t know if I can. She drugged me with something. I can’t stop the reaction to it.
Her hands clenched. I’ll help you.
Karen searched inside herself, finding the spark that was her power. Randall’s lavender light swirled around the silver in a beautiful and strange dance. She called both forth, strengthening them with her will before shooting them down the telepathic link to him.
****
“I think we’ll be able to get rid of these pants in another minute or two,” Edna said. “I believe you’re almost set for me to take my samples.”
Randall’s back arched as Karen’s power slammed into him. He could feel it burn the drugs in his system to nothing in seconds. Her light soothed the pains in his body as the silver dragon coiled around him, protecting him. He sat up, smacking Edna’s hands away. His body had healed faster than ever. Thanks, sweetheart.
Edna quickly stood and ran for the door. Randall caught her, jerking her back to the center of the room.
“You know about my people,” he said in a low voice. “I promised you were dead.”
She backed away from him, terror on her face. “Stay away from me!”
“I’m bound by my word.” He grabbed her arm. “No more experiments, doctor. No more anything.” He twisted her head around with a sickening pop, dropping her lifeless body to the ground.
He closed his eyes as he knelt beside her, saying a silent prayer for her soul.
Randall stood and watched silver light dance across his body. He went to the cold iron door, and taking a deep breath, pushed it open. He hardly felt the metal sting his skin. He ran down the hallway, checking his hands. No burns, no blisters, nothing. Her power had saved him again. The silver light began to fade.
Karen? he called telepathically. He couldn’t find her with his mind, but her power was still with him. He’d know if she’d been hurt. She must’ve exhausted herself.
He only had a few more hours until sundown. Then the search could truly begin.
****
Karen slumped forward as she felt the power return. She couldn’t hear Randall’s thoughts any more. “I don’t know how Rena does it,” she muttered. She wiped sweat from her forehead. It had taken more energy than she thought to maintain a telepathic link.
Nikki poked her head into the room. “Are you all right, Angel?”
Karen pushed herself to her feet. “Yeah. Just tired.”
“I saw the dragon energy form around you. You’re Sterling Dragon, aren’t you?”
Karen smiled at her. “Guilty as charged.” She stretched, working out some of the kinks from her neck and shoulders. Her body trembled as she remembered the feel of Randall’s hands massaging her neck from that morning.
She closed her eyes, almost feeling the warmth of his hands on her skin and her heart ached with missing him.
“While I was in telepathic contact with the guardian, I felt him escape. Hopefully, he’ll be able to find us soon. I could use his help.”
“Are the rest of the Angels coming?” Nikki asked.
“They should be here soon
if they aren’t already settled in the town,” Karen said. “Randall’s got the rest of the guardians on standby.”
Nikki laid a hand on Karen’s arm. “Thanks for defending us earlier.”
Karen hugged the girl to her. “Well, we’ve got to stick together, right?”
She nodded. “The younger kids think you’re way cool. They want you teach them to kick butt.”
Karen patted her shoulder. “Let’s get out of this mess first. Where are the others?”
Nikki stepped back. “In the other room. James made all of us stay there so we didn’t disturb you. Come on. I’ll introduce you.”
She led Karen to a small bedroom at the back of the cabin. The children sat on the floor around James as he told them a story. He looked up at her. “Are you okay?”
Karen nodded. “I think it’s time to go over this place inch by inch. Even if we have no way out, we might find something to use to defend ourselves. Spread out, troops. Look everywhere, including the ceiling.”
She held James back as the others left the room. “How old are you?”
“Seventeen.”
“And the youngest?”
He frowned. “Five. Why?”
She could see questions burning in his face. “Can all of you change at will?”
He shook his head. “No. Just four of us.”
She lowered her voice when some of the group came near. “When we get out of here, the younger kids will be defenseless. I’m going to need you older kids to protect them.”
James nodded, his eyes serious. “I’ll tell them what to do.”
She watched his expression darken. “What’s wrong?”
He hung his head. “I should’ve been able to protect them from the start. I shouldn’t have needed help. I’m the son of Caledon, strongest leader in the history of the northeast pack. Why couldn’t I do anything?”
Karen pulled him close, holding him while his tears soaked her shirt. “It’s okay,” she murmured as his arms wrapped tightly around her. “Let it out.”
Night Angel (Angel Haven) Page 15
