When we were in the insane asylum, I’d befriended Mildred. A serial killer had been hunting her and other patients, and she’d pleaded with me to help find the killer. At the time, I’d thought she was worried about the patients, but now I wondered whether she’d been playing a game. Was the whole thing some kind of test the demon put me through?
My thoughts started spiraling. Was that the whole point of stringing us along in the asylum? To see if I could survive? To see if I could face down and kill Weatherton? And what if I hadn’t? What if Weatherton had killed us? Would Mildred have shed any tears over our deaths?
I watched her stop and look off into the distance, her head cocked to one side. No one was that good of an actress. Losing her daughter had unhinged her, and Gage must have found her in the asylum. She agreed to help him because he promised to bring back her daughter. I felt myself drawing an eerie comparison between her actions and my own. I was raising the dead because Gage was threatening Luke’s existence. I had gone against natural laws to bring Luke back. Were Mildred and I really that different?
Gage was watching me. “You see, no harm has come to Mildred. I’m not a monster. People who come into my fold—I take care of them.” He paused and watched Mildred as she started dancing again. He gave a little chuckle and asked, “How did you like Mildred’s little party trick?”
When I looked puzzled, he continued. “Ah, that’s right, she never showed you until the very end how she can pop from one place to another. It made it exceedingly easy for her to get in and out of the asylum.” He turned his heard and gave a dramatic sigh. “Now that one is still an enigma,” he said, looking over at Wendy. “Though, I do admit—I didn’t realize just how beautiful she was until tonight. And her abilities as a reader just multiply that beauty tenfold.”
He was right—I’d never seen Wendy look so pretty. The makeup brought out her features, especially with her hair pulled away from her face, and the dress showed off her figure. She was absolutely stunning. Every male within arm’s reach of her seemed to agree. A group of them had already surrounded her. I could tell even from this distance that she was uncomfortable. She had a glass in her hand and was wielding it like a weapon. Anytime someone approached she raised the glass like a sword and retreated. She was moving in a slow, uncomfortable circle around the room, always just out of reach of her would-be suitors.
Sonja seemed to think that Gage was after me romantically, but he hadn’t shown any interest in me beyond the magic skills I possessed. It was the way I raised zombies that brought a gleam to his eyes. He was looking over at Wendy the same way. The hint of sadistic desire that I saw in his eyes and heard in his voice as he talked about her powers sent a shiver down my spine. What happened to her? If she really did hurt herself, what caused her to do such a drastic thing?
At the thought of Gage hurting Wendy, I could feel anger warming my blood. “Leave Wendy alone,” I said through clenched teeth.
Gage continued on as though he hadn’t heard me. “Wendy’s a hard one to figure out. So many secrets inside that head. I tried to get some of them out, but I admit I’ve had no luck. She is so much stronger than anyone I have working for me.” He stopped and took in my dress. “But of them all, my dear, I have to admit, you are my prized jewel.” He leaned in closer. “You look like a sparkling ruby in that dress. Quite exquisite.”
Was Gage actually interested in me? Romantically? It was a truly horrifying thought. Gage had captured me, held me in a cell, forced me to raise the dead. Did he really think these were the actions of a potential suitor? Was he that delusional?
“You have so much to offer, my dear. You are just beginning to come into your powers, and there is no telling what you could accomplish with my help.” His gaze narrowed in on me, as though we were the only two in the room. Having his total focus was chilling; I suddenly felt like a deer being targeted by a hunter. I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck rise. “I will provide you with training and resources that most death dealers could only dream of. I have books in my library that were almost wiped from the earth because the mage world fears the power they offer. I’ve powerful allies that can teach you lost and forbidden magics. I can reward you for your help, Colina—I can make you so powerful that you never have to fear anyone or anything again.” His expression was earnest for a moment. And then there it was again, the hint of sadistic pleasure in his eyes. He could pretend all he wanted, but I wasn’t buying this new friendly approach.
“To sweeten the pot, I’ll even pull your boyfriend out of the berserker’s body. You can keep them both if you like. We all enjoy a little diversion now and again.” He looked toward Sonja suggestively, an approving smile on his face.
The man was a monster. I couldn’t let myself believe anything that came out of his mouth. Was he lying now about finding the spell I’d been searching for? As long as Luke’s spirit was in Dean’s body, Gage could force him out and into the in between. Would the same be true if Luke transferred to another body? A body he had full control over? Was there a way to somehow tie Luke to a new body so completely that Luke’s spirit couldn’t be forced out?
Gage’s fingers wrapped around my arm possessively and his expression darkened. “I am a patient man, Colina, but I will not wait forever. If I do not get your best efforts willingly, there are other ways to ensure your cooperation.”
The urge to pull my arm out of Gage’s grip was strong. I wanted to get away from him, to be free of the hold he had on me both physically and emotionally.
Gage seemed to notice my inner turmoil. “Come, come.” His voice turned soft and soothing. “I know you only have eyes for that one.” He motioned Luke’s way. “Now, after we eat, we can talk more about the spell I’ve found. But for now,” he raised his voice, “we all need to drink, eat, and be merry!” He waved his hand and music filled the air. The sound came from a far corner of the room, where a group of musicians sitting in a circle played instruments.
“Just because we live down here doesn’t mean we can’t have all the amenities. It’s a good life.” Gage let go of my arm and grabbed my hand, guiding me to the closest table. There were bowls of fruit and plates full of colorful, exotic-looking foods on its surface.
Gage reached over and grabbed an oddly shaped yellowish fruit from one of the bowls. He held it up in front of me. “This is a star fruit from Indonesia.” He raised it until it was at my lips, watching me expectantly.
He wanted to feed me? That was a gesture more common between lovers. What would happen if I refused? I hesitated for a moment before taking a bite. It tasted like pineapple and kiwi.
He gave me a smile. “Isn’t it tasty? I like to surround myself with exotic things.” He’s looking at me with such…intensity.
A shudder went down my spine. Sonja said that Gage “desires” me. The thought made me nauseous.
Steeling myself, I asked the question that had been zooming around in my head since he’d abducted me. The one question I’d been too scared to ask up until now. “What do you plan to do with the zombies?”
He sat down in a chair and motioned for me to sit next to him. “Our mutual friend has a dark side.” He laughed as though he’d just told a joke. “I have a taste for the finer things in life, but our friend has one deep desire—to create chaos.” He watched a group of people drinking wine at a nearby table. “The world is always on the brink of war. People are always itching for a reason to destroy each other.”
When he went silent, I prompted him. “And do the zombies give them that reason? How?”
He reached out and grabbed a handful of grapes. “Imagine a thousand undead suddenly appearing in Times Square.” He dropped the grapes onto his plate, watching the fruits scatter and roll. “Picture them ripping through the terrified crowd, tearing folks limb from limb.” His eyes shining, he gave me a wide smile. “Everyone in the magical community is already at each other’s throats.” He reached out, grabbed my hand, and planted a kiss on it. “We have you to thank for that bit o
f chaos. The death dealers, who were once the most formidable group, are now on the run. Word has spread about what we’re trying to accomplish here. Any death dealers tired of playing by the rules—rules that have made them weaker and weaker over the years—are coming here, seeking my protection. I’m more than happy to welcome them into my ranks. It is truly sad to see how far they have fallen. There was a time when no one was brazen enough to try and take on the death dealers. How times have changed. Whole guilds have fallen to angry mobs or the Redeemers. The general population is just itching for a reason to go after all the mage-born. Why not give it to them? Hand it to them on a silver platter.”
I stared at him in horror. “Why massacre so many death dealers if you want them to join you?”
He gave a wave of his hand. “Motivation, of course! You think they'd just come running to me if they weren't dying right and left? I have the Redeemers to thank, really—after all, they are my scapegoats.” I stared at him, wide-eyed, and he continued. “Think how glorious it will be. Everyone will start fighting each other, and with that chaos comes exciting possibilities.”
“That’s what you want? Chaos?” I whispered.
He brought his face close to mine and said in a low voice, “No. That’s what our friend wants. I’m more interested in power. Being at the side of such a dark creature puts me in the perfect spot. Opportunities will arise for me to assist the most powerful beings in the universe. A demon can’t be bothered with day-to-day administrative hassles. I’m more than happy to step in and help out where I can.”
“And take whatever you can,” I said through clenched teeth.
He leaned back and gave me a grin. “Of course. And in this glorious adventure, I could use allies.”
I didn’t say a word, just sat shaking my head back and forth.
He rolled a grape between his fingers. He watched me for a few minutes in silence before saying, “You’ve been wonderful so far. All you have to do is go along with our plans and your friends will be safe.”
“And if I don’t?” I demanded.
His voice and eyes turned cold. “Then everyone you care for dies.” After giving me a long look, his mood suddenly changed again from cold and deadly to smiling and charming. He gave me a wide grin as he reached out and patted my arm. “I know, I know. The answer upsets you. Believe me, I don’t like being the bad guy. I would rather you did these things of your own free will. I’m hoping that, in time, I can bring you around to understanding how vital you are to our operation. There is a place for you here. There is a place for you next to me.” He stood. “Now, eat up. After dinner, I will show you something I’m very proud of.”
It had been days since I had a decent meal, and so I gave little thought to table manners and grabbed at the food. Gage occasionally pushed a glass of wine in front of me, but I refused to drink. He might force me to be his dinner companion, but I was set on leaving every indication that I wanted to be anywhere but with him. He tried to bring up one conversation topic after another, but finally gave up when I no longer bothered to spit out one-word answers between mouthfuls of food.
The fact that I wasn’t a cooperative dinner companion didn’t stop him, however. He was a guy who loved to hear himself talk. That works in my favor, I thought as I stuffed my face. The more he says, the more information I’ll learn that could eventually help me—and everyone else—get out of here.
The crowd had eaten, drank, and danced for hours. I had been a captive of Gage’s all night. Anytime I tried to leave his side, he squeezed my hand a tad too hard or gave a glare that left little doubt of his wish for me to remain by his side.
My gaze constantly drifted to Luke. He had Caleb and Jacob seated on either side of him at a table in the corner. Luke’s eyes never left me the entire night, the frown on his face apparent even from across the room. If he’d been free of his bodyguards and shackles, I had no doubt he’d be jumping over tables to rescue me from Gage’s company.
Don’t trust Gage, Luke had said. And I didn’t. I knew he was only using me. Once I’d done what he’d asked, I had no doubt that he’d dispose of all of us. It meant I had to be clever, and I had to make sure Gage needed me right up until the moment we could escape. I didn’t yet know how, or when, but we had to break free.
When I’d first been taken by Gage, escape was far from my mind. I had been too full of misery. Forced to spend my nights making zombies, seeing Luke every evening in shackles—I’d seen nothing before me but darkness. But now it was there once again: hope. It glimmered somewhere deep inside me.
I forced my eyes back to Gage as he squeezed my hand. He seemed to be enjoying himself. He’d eaten and drank more than anyone else at the party. All through the night people flocked to our table, clambering desperately for his attention. The person who currently had it was the short, redheaded man who’d witnessed and clapped loudly when I’d woken the dead in the fields. From the way the two talked to each other, it was obvious they were long-time acquaintances.
The man kept sneaking glances my way. I did my best to ignore him, but when he suddenly swung the conversation back to me and Gage gave my hand another squeeze, I had little choice but to pay attention.
“She is such a wonder. Tonight she looks like an angel in that dress,” the redheaded man said, giving me a look that made my stomach turn.
Gage covered my hand with his. It was bad enough when he reached out and squeezed it, but the fact that he was now holding my hand made my skin crawl. I tried to pull my hand out of his grasp, but his fingers tightened.
Gage is attracted to you. Wendy’s words floated through my mind.
“She is a wonder,” Gage said, giving me a wide smile. “Mr. Fintan here was just telling me how much he enjoyed watching you raise zombies.”
There was a dangerous glint in Gage’s eyes. He expected me to answer, so I did. “So…glad I could oblige.”
“Fintan was thinking—once you’ve finished your work for me, you might enjoy going with him and helping him with a project we are both invested in.”
I was speechless.
Gage gave me an amused look. “What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?” He let go of my hand.
He’d held on so tight that my fingers were white.
Fintan was giving me a hopeful look. “I know my establishment is not nearly as grand as what Gage has here, but I think you would find it comfortable. I can certainly compensate you well for your time.”
Gage picked up the glass of wine in front of him. He took a long sip before saying, “You saw for yourself what she can do. She is an incredible asset that any mage would be thrilled to have by their side.”
They’re sitting here talking about trading me like a baseball card. Would Gage really hand me over to this man once his army walked? And if I went with Fintan, what would happen to Luke, to Dean, to Wendy?
“How long…” I stumbled on the words and tried again. “How long do you think this project of yours is going to last?” I asked Gage.
I could see the laughter in his eyes. “Hopefully not too long.” He looked over at Fintan. “I would say, at the most, six months. Maybe less if we can find a solution to a little problem we’re having.”
Fintan frowned at Gage’s answer. “I’ll have collected more than enough readers by that time, Gage, my boy. Surely I won’t have to hold onto them for that long?”
“I’m sorry, Fintan, but I can’t hand her over to you sooner. I need to keep her close. She has become invaluable to me.” Gage reached out to grab my hand again, but this time I quickly moved it away.
This seemed only to amuse Gage even more. He finished off the last of his wine in one mighty gulp. He set the empty glass on the table and pushed his chair back. “If you will excuse us, we’ve some business to attend to.” He stood and waved toward the middle of the room. There was a large group of people dancing. “Fintan, stay and enjoy the fun. I’m sure the party will continue into the wee hours.” Gage looked down at me and held out his hand.
&
nbsp; Would Gage really hand me over to Fintan when I finished here? Or was he using it as a threat to make sure I stayed in line? The man was deranged. There was no way of guessing what he might do.
I pushed back my chair and got up without offering my own hand to him, but he grabbed my elbow and led me across the room and out the door. Once out of the room, I jerked my arm out of his grasp.
He gave me a slow smile. “I hope you enjoyed yourself. You’ve looked so sad since I brought you here. I thought I would throw a party and liven things up a bit. What did you think? When we first got here it took quite a bit of work to get this place in order.” He swung his arm out and motioned to some of the side tunnels. “Parts of the mine collapsed years ago, taking a couple dozen miners with it. They eventually closed the mine and the inhabitants of the town moved on. Their bad luck; our good fortune.”
Miners died down here? That’s when I realized for the first time since coming here that I hadn’t heard any voices calling to me, or felt any ghostly presence. If tons of rock had buried the miners, wouldn’t some of their spirits be roaming around, full of unrest? And if the town was old and abandoned, shouldn’t there be ghosts milling around the buildings? “Why haven’t I seen, heard, or felt any ghosts?”
“Because there are no spirits left down here in the mines. That’s why we have to go out to the battlefield,” Gage said.
I jumped a bit at his answer, and realized I had been so caught up in my thoughts that I had voiced some of them aloud.
Before I could ask any of the half-dozen questions now whizzing around in my head, he continued. “The demon eats souls. Didn’t you know?”
A gruesome puzzle clicked into place in my head. It eats souls. There are no souls down here… I didn’t know anything about demons, and yet, with all my ignorance, I had somehow released one into the world.
“Last time it was here, it had quite a feast.” Gage made a grab for my arm and I dodged him. He didn’t seem angry. Instead he gave a chuckle. “Touchy.” He started walking and waved his hand for me to follow. “Come along, this way. I want to show you the solution I came up with in regards to the zombies. It’s by no means a permanent fix, but it might do until we find one. I want to show you the progress we’ve made. I think you will be pleased.”
Revenant Page 6
