Viking had a scowl on his face. He clearly didn't like whatever game this being played with them. And unless she was wrong, he wasn't sure what their next move should be.
"Yes, have them bring them in for questioning anyway. Even if that thing let them go they might still have information for us. Deuce, Raider, come with me. I think we need to set up a new plan of attack for when our guests get here."
Viking didn't wait for the other two men to follow him. He just strode out of the lounge and turned to walk down the hall. Mia could only assume he was going to walk towards the small office. Soon after, the men Gwen identified as Deuce and Raider followed Viking out into the hall.
Mia listened as both Craig and Stanley confirmed to the people on the other ends of their calls that despite the way the people acted, they should still be brought in. Mia wasn't sure what to make of all this. Not only was everything an adjustment but it had not occurred to her until this point that this being might beat Viking, Gwen, and all the warriors. She assumed they would outsmart it. She wasn't sure now that they didn't appear to have a plan.
That thought brought her gaze to Gwen, who was still sat next to her. "Is this as bad as I think it might be?"
Gwen turned her attention to Mia and blinked several times as if lost in thought. "It could be. But not necessarily. Granted, I don't know of any being that can control multiple people. That being said, I do not think it is likely a being can sever ties that quickly. It takes time to develop a tie to a non-Night Worlder. I would assume something that took that much time couldn't be severed in a matter of seconds. Maybe by the time they get here there will still be some residue, or something to that effect, of the connection. If there is, I think I might have a plan. Although, Viking will not like it. Hopefully he thinks of something in the meantime."
Mia watched the other woman for a second. Waiting for her to divulge this plan that, for whatever reason, Viking wouldn't like. Gwen seemed to be finished talking. Mia wasn't sure why but somehow she knew if it was a plan Viking wouldn't like, she wasn't going to like it either.
Sighing, Gwen pushed herself off the couch. "I am sorry to leave you alone again. Especially so soon after rescuing you from being alone, but I think I have some planning to do. As well as run my plan by my husband, just to prevent him from flipping out when hears it secondhand."
With that, she smiled at Mia before turning and leaving the room. Mia was not entirely sure what to do with herself. She knew she was here for her own safety. Plus Viking wasn't sure he could leave her alone so soon after ending the Maddening. But she didn't like being helpless. Making up her mind to fight off boredom, Mia headed out of the lounge and towards the store. She and Viking walked through the store when coming in instead of coming in the back doors. She'd seen Poet behind the cash register.
She owned a bookstore. She knew her way around the materials. She figured she could have Poet put her to work and then at least she'd be doing something to keep her mind busy and to stop herself from panicking about what may or may not be happening.
As she walked in the back door and scanned the shop, she saw Poet still behind the same cash register. Seeing no customers, she walked up to him. He gave her a mischievous grin. But she figured it was best to not acknowledge it.
"Put me to work. I just can't sit back there and worry about what on earth is going on."
Poet cocked his head to the side a little bit and ran his tongue over his eye teeth. Mia found it was a little disconcerting.
"Sure I'll show you stock room. I believe no one has done any restocking so far today. One of our young Werewolves was going to do it in the morning but since you're willing to do it now, grunt work it is."
Satisfied with her decision to keep herself occupied with something she knew and was comfortable with, Mia followed Poet as he led her towards the back of the store.
Chapter 16
When all of the Sensitives connected to the being arrived Viking went to check on Mia before the interrogation started. When he hadn't found her in the lounge he had a slight moment of panic. Until Carter informed him she left a while ago heading towards the store. Viking knew he didn't have a reason to panic. He would've known if she left the building. But he couldn't help the quick pace that took him into the store. He scanned several aisles before he saw her head peeking out towards the end of the fiction section. Making sure he slowed his pace so as not to alarm her Viking walked over to stand next her.
She smiled at him when she realized he was there. Her smile was warm and comforting and almost seemed to add light to her face. "Have you really come to check on me?"
Viking felt sheepish for one of the first times in his life. "I… I just wanted to check in with you before going to watch Deuce and Carter question the people attached to the being."
Her smile shrunk. Part of him hurt to watch the light disappear from her face. "You mean the two who went after me, right? And the people they were with?"
Nodding Viking answered. "Yes, do not worry, you do not have to watch any questioning or interrogation. You're perfectly welcome to stay out here and stack books. If there's any information you need or pertains to you, I will let you know. Unless, of course, you would like to watch the interrogation?"
Viking could say with almost certainty Mia did not want to watch the questioning. Part of him just knew it. It was not something she was quite ready to watch yet. If she ever would be. She seemed too upbeat of the spirit to want to be involved in anything that could be dark. But he knew it was the right thing to ask her anyway. He learned from his decades with Gwen to not make assumptions about what a modern woman wants.
"I appreciate the offer. But I'm not one hundred percent sure I really want to hear any new information. But please, do let me know if something comes up I should know. Please don't hide it from me. Or think that I'm too fragile to deal with it. If it's going to directly affect me I need to know."
Viking smiled down at her. He was going to love spending his life with this woman. He could already tell. Then the thought occurred to him and he looked around. "Where's Gwen?"
Mia shrugged and went back to stacking books on the shelves. "I have no idea. She disappeared about a minute or two after you left, saying she needed to call her husband and she had some sort of idea to work out. I have no idea where she went. And I haven't seen her. Sorry."
That worried Viking. Anytime Gwen went off on her own brainstorming it meant something was going to be sprung on him. That was rarely pleasant. While Gwen had good ideas. She had an independent streak wider than a Lady of the Dead should have. Though now that he knew she was family, he knew exactly where that independence came from, his mother.
A small pang went through him with that though. He could communicate with her. His nephew was alive, as were other descendants of his sister. The joy of knowing he had family was almost overwhelming.
Sighing, Viking caressed Mia's arm. He wanted to be alone with her. In a place where it was just them. But he also wanted to take her to meet his nephew and meet his mate. But he knew that wasn't possible at the moment. So he settled for a small comforting, intimate gesture. She looked up at him and smiled again. But this smile was a little sad. Knowing he couldn't drag it out any further. He dropped his arm.
There was something in him that couldn't leave her with that sad smile on her face. Viking leaned in and the moment his lips met hers a fire erupted in him. It was as if he was in the Maddening again. What he meant to be a chaste kiss became more. Mia's mouth sighed open. It was as if all their raw emotions poured from their lips. Stepping closer Viking's tongue tangoed with hers. He felt his lust begin to rise to a point of no return.
Growling he stepped away. The loss of contact made his Warrior instincts roar. Viking knew there were other things that needed to be done. He took in her slightly swollen lips, hooded eyes, and labored breathing. He knew she felt the same connection he did. It wasn't simply lust, though that was a large part of it.
Taking a deep shaking breathe Vi
king's hands balled into fists to keep his concentration. "Well, I'm going to get back to it then. Poet has a key to my apartment. I'm sorry I didn't have time to make a spare for you. If you get tired or want to go to bed and I haven't resurfaced yet, feel free to take his key and go on up."
Mia's smile grew a little more genuine. Her eyes crinkled ever so slightly. "You're going to let me in your apartment alone. So scandalous."
There was no helping the laugh that bubbled up from his chest. Mia had a goofy sense of humor he wasn't exactly use to. He hoped he never got used to it. Giving her one more smile he turned and walked back towards the back of the shop. His little mini vacation from duty was over. He needed to get back to work. And after that, he would call Cesar. Hopefully the other man would know what Gwen was up to.
Viking joined Marco, Barrett, Raider, and Craig in the observation room connected to the room they had specifically for questioning. In the adjoining room were Deuce, Carter, and a man Viking could only deduce as was the one who approached Mia in front of her shop. Viking tapped the earpiece he used to communicate with Deuce and Carter. It was something half the size of a Bluetooth but worked well.
"Okay, we're all here. Time to get started."
The unidentified man sat in a chair with his hands behind his back. Viking knew they were tied together. The man looked confused and frightened.
Across from him, in the chair closest to the observation window, sat Deuce. He set his cowboy hat on the table and reclined in his chair so as to appear harmless, even though he was anything but. Carter leaned against the window with his arms crossed over his chest.
"How about we start this off with you telling us your name.” Carter said in his matter-of-fact cop voice.
The blonde man’s eyes jumped between Carter, the glass, and Deuce before landing on Carter again. “Adam. Adam Niece. What am I doing here? What, exactly, is going on? This is not a police precinct. So I don't know why you're holding me."
Deuce chuckled from his chair before sitting up straight. "Funny you should mention that, Adam." He said with his southern drawl.
The drawl sounded so authentic the other man would think Deuce was from the South. But Viking knew better. Deuce was from Russia circa some time during the dark ages.
"You see, that being took you for a ride. We're trying to kill it. And since all we know for sure is you, and those friends of yours in the other room, were all touchy-feely with it, which makes you our prime sources of information. So the sooner you tell us about this being the better. Everything you know about this being. Including how it found you and what it had you do. We'll let you go wander off on your merry way and do whatever it is Adams do."
Viking watched Adam eyeing Deuce suspiciously. The other man truly didn't believe a word Deuce said. There was also a look on his face that wanted to believe Deuce. Everyone watched as Adam fought himself before giving a very heavy sigh.
"It started a month and a half ago. You're going to think I'm nuts." Adam looked at the table. He didn’t making eye contact with anyone.
"You would be very surprised as to what we would believe. And what we would consider nuts." Carter said in a comforting voice.
At that moment Gwen opened the door to the observation room and joined them. She stood right next to Viking all she did was smile before turning and watching the interrogation in front of them.
Viking took his chances of missing something to communicate with her.
"Mia says you have a plan. Can you let me know what that plan is?"
Gwen didn't even look up at him. She maintained her gaze into the other room. "I'll tell you what; I will let you know if that becomes a viable option. Right now it is just a backup plan. Let's see what our friends here have to say first."
That didn't bode well. The longer something stayed secret, the more Viking knew he wouldn't like it. Part of him knew she was right. They needed to hear what these people had to say. He couldn't risk missing anything important just to argue with her.
"Seriously this does not seem like a good idea. For all I know you people could be part of a cult of some kind."
Apparently Adam decided to let nervousness and fear rule his decision on what to share with them. Viking found that frustrating. He knew between Carter and Deuce they would get the information they needed. It was just a matter of how long it would take.
Deuce leaned forward in his chair putting his elbows and forearms on the table. "Look here, son, I'm going to talk real plain to you. You could tell us and we let you go or my colleague and I will make you tell us then maybe we don't let you go. Either way, you ain't leaving until we get the information we need. Got that?" Then he leaned back in his chair again.
Adam looked between Carter and Deuce. As if trying to decide which of them was the real threat. Deuce didn't look like a threat. He was under six feet tall, which was uncommon for a Warrior. He is on the lean side and wears clothes that drape and made him look thin. His dirty blonde hair was cut short and in a haphazard style.
Whereas Carter was a Werewolf and couldn't look like more a threat. He was built less bulky than most Werewolves and stood at six foot. He was the Alpha and carried himself as such.
Finally the other man gulped loudly. "Okay fine. A month and half ago I started having nightmares. I ran track in high school. So in these nightmares I ran around my high school track. I was the only one there half the time. The other half I was in a competition. But every time there was this thing chasing me. Each time it would get closer and closer. There would be less and less room between it and me. It didn't matter how hard I ran. It always gained on me.
"Then a week and a half after that first dream, it caught me at least once every night. It swirled around me like a tornado. Cackling like a mad man. It was decidedly a male voice. That male voice told me I should be on the lookout for it because no one could help me. No one could defend me. I would belong to him. And the faster I gave into that idea, the easier it would be on me.
"Then for three days: no nightmares. I work as a mechanic. I closed up the shop on that fourth day. When this woman approached me.
"You actually have her in the other room. Although, she doesn't look the same. If that makes sense. She looks less threatening. Less volatile. Just less. She has the brown wavy hair. And the black motorcycle jacket.
"Anyway, she was waiting for me outside the shop. Leaning against my motorcycle. At first I thought it was, oh hell, I don't know what it I thought it was. There was no reason for woman to be hanging outside that shop. Especially one I hadn't seen before. Once I got closer I realized there was something wrong with her. Something off. I've noticed stuff like that my whole life. I know trouble when I see it. But by that time she was already walking towards me and I thought if I could just get to my bike I'd be good.
"She walked right up to me and said 'have you missed me?' And while it was a woman's voice there was an undertone that sounded exactly like that thing from my dreams. My blood ran cold. Then she cackled just like that thing did. And I knew. Somehow that thing was in control of this woman. Before I could do anything, she kissed me. I was in shock. She bit my lip. Apparently my blood and hers mingled a little. Because when she broke away her lip was bleeding too.
"And then I felt that being in my head. It was creepy. I'd never had something in my head before. It took it about a week of poking and prodding and fear before eventually it seems to be strong enough or familiar enough or whatever, to control me too. I never would've thought I would break so easily. But there you go. I could see and hear everything it did.
"At first there wasn't a lot it did. Just met up with other people. I could feel they had this thing inside them too. I didn't quite understand it. It seemed narcissistic. It met with itself basically. Some of the other guys actually liked having it in their head.
"One guy, he seemed to have had the thing in there the longest, he and the thing seemed to have melded a little. He's the really tall one in the flannel shirt.
"Anyway, then it
had me stock people. There were two women that it had me stock. One was the small Korean woman in the other room. It had me cut her hand after cutting mine with just a little pinprick while handing her a bag. There wasn't even anything in the bag.
"The second woman seemed to be more aware. She seemed to almost know the thing was coming. It had me chase her across the parking lot. Then the weirdest thing happened; she locked the door behind her and I wasn't able to touch the door. It shocked me. As if I'd been electrocuted. I don't know whether she had an electric fence device of some kind or what, but it was nothing I'd felt before. It momentarily jolted that thing from my body. But it quickly got a hold of me again and had me booking it down the street, but not after giving her some sort of warning I guess you would call it. Saying would see her again. But I haven't seen her and she's not in the other room.
"She had light brown hair, average height. I guess a little thinner. She wouldn't exactly stand out in a crowd. Only she's the only one, as far as I know, who had the foresight to escape it. It really didn't like that. Oh and it refers to itself as Ajax. I only caught it once but I remember thinking it was strange on account of the soap with the same name.
"Someone else tried to get her too. That woman with the motorcycle jacket. But she didn't catch her either. The being's really pissed about that.
"That's all I know man. It wasn't exactly always in control you know. Only when it needed something. The rest of the time it left me alone to live my life. I've been looking for some sort of cure I guess you would call it. But I haven’t been able to find anything." The man sat back in his chair, exhausted, waiting for Carter and or Deuce to call him insane.
There was silence for second before Carter pushed off the wall. "How many people do you think this being is in contact with?"
Adam shrugged. "I don't know. Twelve maybe, no more than that. It's like, every time it adds a person it gets a hair weaker. I get the impression that it could control dozens of people. But unless they're all together in one place it wouldn't be able to control all of them at once, you know?
Viking Sensitivity (Night World Series Book 2) Page 18
