They were weak, as usual. She could just barely make out what was going on. As she watched, she saw herself. She wasn't inside her own body. Not as such. She watched as she walked over to Viking, Raider, and a Warrior she didn't recognize. Viking greeted, her arms outstretched, and she felt a little pang of affection in her chest. As she watched, the other her held a dagger behind her back. It looked wicked and sharp with writing scrolled on it that Mia couldn't read. When her body was close enough to Viking the blade slashed out across his throat. She watched as the other ‘her’ backed up out of range of his arms.
The look of shock on his face hurt Mia. The other ‘her’ quickly slashed at the other two Warriors while they were still surprised. Before running.
Mia stayed floating behind, watching the Warriors grab at their throats. She couldn't really hear what they said but the one part she did catch was something about not healing like they should. Then Raider mentioned symbols on the dagger.
Mia quickly put two and two together. Whatever was on that dagger must've been some kind of spell that made it possible to actually injure Warriors. As she watched, they continued to bleed out. From what she understood they should've been able to heal.
But their bodies couldn't seem to overpower the magic. She watched in horror as the man she was coming to care for died in front of her. She began to reach out to him knowing she wouldn't be able to touch him when she felt something rip her back from the vision.
She shrieked and jumped. As she spun around she saw Viking standing behind her. Not the Viking from the dream but the actual man. Her heart raced so fast she panted. She watched as the smile on his face disappeared, worry and confusion replaced it.
"What? What is it? What happened?"
Mia couldn't seem to form words. She reached out and grabbed his upper arms to study of herself. She tried to concentrate on simply breathing normally. Even though she could hear her heartbeat in her ears.
It took her several tries before her vocal cords seemed to work again. "I just, I just watched you die."
She didn't know a way around it. He needed to know what she had seen. The only way, the only hope, she had of changing it was to warn him.
The look that flashed across his face seemed close to disbelief. But then he seemed to take her more seriously when he saw how shaken she was. His face settled on a worried expression and he grabbed her arms as well. Creating a circuit, as if trying to comfort her and keep her at arms like at the same time.
"What do you mean, you just watched me die?" It was spoken very slowly and very deliberately. As if he was weighing out each word before saying it.
Mia used all of her energy in an effort to keep her voice level. "Sometimes I see things. I have to put effort into seeing them. They usually start out as a sense of an emotion whether that be joy, surprise, fear, anger. This time it was a sense of foreboding. So I concentrated on it until I could see what caused it."
Viking's grip on her arms tightened ever so slightly. "Wait, you can see the future? You are that strong of a sensitive?"
Mia shook her head. Impatient at the interruption. "No, the future is never definite. I only see a possibility. I take it as, this will happen unless you change it. I'm hoping by me telling you, it qualifies as me changing it." She watched him for a moment to see if he would interrupt again.
His hands began caressing her arms rather than grabbing them. "You and I have a lot to talk about as far as this is concerned. I might be able to help you harness, control, and grew your gifts if you wish. My mother could do something very similar to what you're talking about. And if I could help ease this for you, I would appreciate if you would let me. However, I know there are bigger problems at hand. So we will table this for later. Please continue with what you saw."
Mia wasn't entirely sure how she felt about almost being dismissed. Not dismissed exactly, but having him decide she could continue. She set that feeling aside. It was not pertinent at this moment.
"When I concentrated I watched myself walk up to you, Raider, and a Warrior I do not know. I walked up to you and you were happy to see me. The ‘me’ I saw used that opportunity, that vulnerability, to take out a dagger with symbols on it and slash you across your neck. She did this to both Raider and the other Warrior as well. Then she ran away.
"I stayed and watched as none of you healed. In fact, the other guy made a comment about how you should be healing. But you weren’t. Then you startled me as I watched the three of you bleeding out." There were so many emotions swirling inside Mia she couldn't pick just one. Part of her wanted to cry, part of her was angry, part of her just wanted to be held and told everything would be okay.
Viking stared just over her shoulder for what seemed like three or four minutes. Finally, he drew his gaze back to her. "Would you be able to describe this other Warrior?"
Shaking her head Mia apologized. "I'm sorry. But no. It wasn't quite clear enough. It’s simply because I know what you and Raider look like that I was able to register they were you."
"All right, go back over the entire thing. But I don't want you to talk about the major points. Describe to me what clothes you see, what scenery, and any details that might pinpoint this exact event. And just so you don't panic, you didn't actually see us bleed out. For all you know an MP could've saved us."
She knew it was an empty comfort. That he only said those words to make her feel better. That he didn't believe them. But she appreciated the effort.
She then closed her eyes and repeated back to him every detail she could think up. It seemed to be night. They were outside on the street in a residential area she didn't know. She tried to remember every detail she could from the picture. As she concentrated on it, she felt it fading, like it always did if she thought too hard on it. Once she got all the details she thought she'd be able, to she opened her eyes and looked at him again.
Grabbing her tight into a hug, Viking began to stroke her back. At first he started speaking in a language she didn't know.
But after a few words he switched over to English. "Everything is going to be fine. I'm assuming this is supposed to happen soon because you did not describe us as looking any different. Or describe yourself as looking any older. Not that you would age very much now that we’re mated."
Mia could almost hear the frown but didn't comment.
There was a sigh above her head, she felt some of her hair move in the slight breeze it created.
"Also, from my understanding of when Warriors mate, by the time the first stage of meeting is through, which is about the first year, the Warrior and his mate are so connected I would be able to tell if you were not, how do I say this, yourself. So this event is supposed to happen within the next year. That gives us a timeline. That is something to work with." His voice was so calming Mia could tell he had years of practice.
Though he had a point. Only part of her found it comforting. She didn't want to be on alert for the next year just in case something happened.
They stood like that for several minutes. Before Mia remembered what happened before Viking approached her.
She didn't feel like moving from the comfort of Viking’s chest so instead she spoke from where she was. "Is there any news on Carter finding the coffee shop guy?"
When he stiffened she knew it was something she said. A split second before he spoke she realized, as far as he was concerned, she didn't know anything about Carter going to find the missing sensitive.
"Did Gwen tell you that?"
Mia simply nodded, afraid to respond any more than that.
All of the muscles in his chest against her face seemed to relax again. "All I've heard is he wasn't at work. But Carter did get a home address. So there is hope he might find this guy tonight. He also got a name, Douglas Masters."
Mia felt her whole body relax with that news. If they could find this guy. Get him to talk to them. Then there would be no need for Gwen's backup plan.
The arms around her loosened and began to push her back a li
ttle so Viking could look her in the face. "There is nothing more we can do at this moment. How about you and I go up to my apartment and settle in for the night by watching a movie. I'm sure we can find at least one you wouldn't be opposed to watching. Perhaps we'll get lucky and just as we’re settling in Carter will tell us he's headed our way."
Mia nodded a little more vigorously than she intended. She felt herself blush with embarrassment. Sitting on the couch and watching a movie sounded perfect. In a way it was avoidance of the problem at hand. But at the same time, if there was truly nothing they could do at the moment, spending time alone with him was exactly what she wanted to do.
Viking grinned down at her. Showing he was just as excited by the prospect as her. "All right, let me go tell Poet and Raider where we will be. Go ahead and put the cart with the books back with the rest of the inventory. You have to give the college students something to do tomorrow morning. Then I will meet you upstairs."
Mia smiled up at him in response. As he smiled back she got the idea they probably looked like smitten teenagers. But in that moment she simply didn't care.
He waited a few more beats before turning to find the other two Warriors.
Mia quickly finished the section she was working on and walked the cart to the nearest employee because she simply didn't have keys to the inventory storage area. Poet simply walked her over and helped her fill the cart. The young woman smiled at her and nodded before taking the cart. Part of Mia felt bad about leaving the work for someone else. Especially someone very pregnant. But she was pretty sure the other woman wouldn't have taken it if it wasn't something she couldn't handle. Setting those thoughts aside, she headed upstairs.
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A loud pounding noise scared Mia awake. For a moment she forgot where she was. Then the memories came flooding back to her. She and Viking had come upstairs and cuddled up on the couch to watch Dr. No. Her father loved James Bond and she watched the movies with him dozens of times growing up. So it wasn't entirely a surprise she fell asleep in the middle of the movie. Apparently, Viking had as well because her head was still on his chest.
The pounding continued and Mia's heart raced faster.
"It's okay. I'm pretty sure it's Raider and Carter." Then he took a deep breath and Mia covered her ears knowing he was about to shout. "Raider! Just use your key!"
There was some shuffling outside before the door opened. Mia took the opportunity to sit up on the couch. So she was on the middle cushion with Viking to her left. Just as he predicted, both Carter and Raider walked into the apartment.
"I take this to mean Carter found the sensitive in question?" Viking asked not bothering to move or stand up.
Carter nodded. "Yeah. The guy gave me a run for my money a bit there but I caught up with him. When I explained to him exactly what we’re trying to do he came in willingly. We've got him in the interrogation room if you want to come down and see."
Mia turned to watch Viking nod. "Okay, I will be down in a minute. I'd like Poet, Gwen, and Craig, if he’s still here, to listen in on the interrogation. Also, round up the MPs, if they are still here, too. I'd like to see their progress about the spell of theirs. And I think they should hear what this guy has to say, just in case."
Raider nodded, walked back outside into the hallway and disappeared. Carter took a moment. As if he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to take orders from Viking. But after a beat or two he turned and followed Raider, shutting the door as he left.
Viking turned to face her before speaking. "You are more than welcome to stay here if you wish. But since this creature was after you, maybe you should be around for this interview. And for the discussion afterward on what exactly needs to be done. Plus, I would feel more comfortable if the MPs could give you one of these wards as well. But it is still up to you."
The thought of just shrugging it off, pretending it wasn't a problem, staying upstairs and sleeping was almost overwhelming. But Mia and knew she probably should see what was going on.
Earlier, while the previews ran for the movie Viking updated her on what they said during the interviews. And while not the most helpful of information, it was still important she know the warning signs of this being's attack. Just because the being said it was done with her didn't mean Mia believed it.
"All right, I'll head down with you. But I don't think I'll be much help. This isn't exactly my expertise. I'm kind of adrift in this whole thing."
Smiling down at her, Viking caressed her face and pushed some of her straight hair behind her ear. "That's perfectly fine. No one expects you to be an expert in any of this. Now, when we settle all of this you and I are going to go on a proper date. I am going to take you to one of the theaters where you can eat dinner while watching a movie. And it will be twenty-one and over because they serve alcohol. And we will enjoy ourselves and pretend that we are a regular couple. Then maybe after that, we will work on making you an expert on the Night World."
He smiled down at her with his hand resting against the side of her head for barely a second before dropping his arm and standing up. He held out his other arm as an offering to help her off the couch.
Mia knew darn well she could get off the couch by herself but somehow him offering and being able to hold his hand seemed more important in that moment than the sense of pride of getting up alone. After she stood he didn't bother to let go of her hand. Instead he use her momentum to pull her to his chest before ducking his head for a scorching kiss. Mia's mouth opened to his tongue as if it had a mind of its own. She felt herself melt against him. Viking was an unbelievably good kisser.
All too soon he pushed away from her, but continued to hold her hand. Mia knew her face was flushed, even from such a short, yet intense, kiss.
"That is certainly not going to help us get downstairs any time soon." Viking laughed. He gave her a lopsided smile before turning and leading the way out of the apartment. He held her hand all the way downstairs until they got to the tiny observation room. Only then did he let go simply because it was too crowded.
Her hand almost felt cold at the loss of his presence. Which she knew was silly since he stood right next to her. But it wasn't the same without the casual affection. Mia smiled inwardly. Viking was definitely someone she could get used to having around.
The room somehow seemed smaller with so many people in it. But Mia didn't say anything. As far as she knew this was normal. She looked through the glass window. She was sure it was a mirror on the other side. All she saw was Carter, the man Gwen called Deuce, and a younger man in his mid-twenties.
The younger man had blonde almost spiky hair. He wore a gray hoodie that looked brand-new. The younger man's expression was suspicious. But Mia couldn't blame him. After all, he sat in an interrogation room similar to that in a police precinct and his hands were somehow tied behind his back.
Viking seemed to have read her mind because at that moment he leaned down and whispered in her ear. "They restrained his hands in case that being comes over him again."
That made sense to Mia. If this being traveled through people’s to blood, it was best to give the sensitive as little contact with others as possible.
"You know, this would be easier if you would just okay me to stand in the room with them. With all the spells on the glass it's hard for me to get a good read on how connected the being is to the guy." Gwen said from three people away.
Viking nodded and tapped his ear. From the men in the other room's reaction Mia assumed he had some sort of earpiece in, though she hadn't seen him add it.
"Gwen is coming in to get a better read in person. One of the MPs might join her."
Both Deuce and Carter gave the mirror a funny look before turning back to the guy they were interviewing. Gwen maneuvered past them and exited. A second later Barrett followed her out. The next moment both of them walked into the interrogation room.
Calling it an interrogation room in her head seemed a little too harsh. After all, this was not a police precinct. But sh
e didn't know what else to call it. The interrogation rooms she'd seen on TV looked exactly like this. She supposed as long she didn't say it out loud, it would be fine.
"All right, so for our records, tell me how this being seemed to get control of you." Carter asked from where he stood against the wall.
The young guy started talking but Mia quickly drowned him out. It wasn't that she wasn't interested in what he said, it was simply that Gwen and Barrett caught her interest. Both of them stood behind the man being questioned on the opposite wall of the mirror. Barrett his hands out in front of him, fingers separated wide. His eyes were closed and his lips moved but she couldn't hear any sound. He seemed to tense up and almost get excited because his lips began to move faster. At the same time Marco leaned forward and put his hand against the glass. He closed his eyes.
"Barrett has the signature. That's all we need to complete the talismans. He is sort of collecting a sample to use in the spell. Give it another minute or two we'll be set."
Mia didn't realize she was speaking until the words were out of her mouth. "How does he know that?"
She heard several murmured chuckles to her right but kept her eyes straight forward.
It was Viking who answered her. "MPs tend to live in a Strata, or group, if a Strata is relatively close they tend to be able to communicate telepathically. Barrett, Marco, and the other member of their Strata, Lucia are three such MPs."
Mia settled her attention back to the room in front of them. Gwen stood about a foot from Barrett leaning against the wall. Her hands at her side and her eyes closed. She swayed ever so slightly. She wasn't talking, her mouth didn't even move. It was simply slightly open as if she was asleep.
Once again, it seemed as if Viking could hear her inner monologue. "One of the abilities the Lady of the Dead has is to, for lack of a better word, leave her body and astral project. That's what Gwen is doing. She's following the leash between the sensitive and being. To see if we can find a home base. Or a body he prefers to be in. Or something of that nature. As long as no one disturbs her, she should be fine."
Viking Sensitivity (Night World Series Book 2) Page 20
