“And there is something that will improve things?” Taeral flashed a tired smirk. “I can heal him. Or you can, if you’d like.”
“Er. I’m not exactly sure how.”
“I’ll show you,” he said. “It’s something you should know.”
The offer surprised me. Taeral was usually indifferent at best when it came to explaining anything about the Fae. If I needed to know something, I’d have to drag it out of him. “All right. Thanks,” I said.
He shifted so he was sitting straighter. “There is much you should know,” he said. “I fear I’ve been a poor teacher, and for that you’ve my apologies.”
I shrugged. “Well, it’s not your job or anything.”
“You are my brother. And since our father is incapable of instructing you in our ways…” He trailed off and stared at some distant point.
“Are you worried about leaving him with Reun?”
Taeral shook himself slightly. “No. Reun’s promise binds him—and even without it, I suspect he would watch over him. Though I fail to understand why the memory of his wife drives him so,” he muttered. “Aeshara was a true lady of the Court.”
I raised an eyebrow. “And that’s a…bad thing?”
“Aye. Unless you consider superiority, jealousy, petty cruelty and underhanded scheming examples of good qualities.”
“Not especially,” I said. “Was Daoin like that?”
Damn. I probably shouldn’t have said that out loud. But Taeral didn’t seem angry or insulted. “He was, to some degree,” he said carefully. “Nobles are expected to act superior, else they’d not be nobles. But he was not cruel or jealous. He’d no need to be.”
“So…what was he like?”
Taeral closed his eyes briefly. “Fierce and proud. A true warrior. Feared by his enemies, loyal to his friends,” he said. “But like Reun, he did have something of an excess of arrogance.”
I couldn’t imagine the frail, cheerfully confused Daoin I knew as a fierce warrior. Or an arrogant noble. “I would’ve liked to meet him,” I said.
“And he’d have been honored to meet you.” Taeral gave a slight smile. “But perhaps we should heal Chester now.”
“Oh. Right.”
“How to explain it, though.” He paused for a moment. “You’ve experienced healing yourself. Are you familiar with the feeling?”
“Yeah,” I said. “It’s like having moonlight inside you.”
“That is…a surprisingly apt description,” Taeral said. “I’d never thought of it that way.”
“Was that a compliment?”
“Perhaps.” One corner of his mouth lifted. “To heal another, you recall the sensation of healing and allow it to flow through you, into them.”
“Um. Okay,” I said slowly. “I’ll try.”
I remembered Daoin healing Reun, and then me, back at the Castle—even though it already felt like that happened forever ago. I put a hand on Chester’s shoulder, the arm he’d used to grab the charged fence, and thought about the moon. The cool, welcoming glow that felt like home.
Blue-white light pulsed around my hand and sunk into Chester.
There was no change in him.
“Er. Maybe I did it wrong,” I said. “Do you want to—”
Suddenly, Chester’s eyes snapped open. He gasped and bolted upright, then scrambled away and stood, pulling one of his modified guns. “Don’t even think about it, alien scum,” he half-slurred as he backed away. “My organs’re staying right where they are.”
“Whoa. Chester, it’s us,” I said. “Not aliens. Remember?”
He blinked once, then lowered the gun and rubbed a temple. “What the hell happened?” he said, looking around slowly. “Where are we?”
“Probably not far enough away from the compound, and you got fried,” I said. “They electrified the fence. Knocked you out when you grabbed it.”
Frowning, he stowed the weapon and patted himself down. “Well, guess I’m all in one piece,” he said. “Head’s a little fuzzy, though. I just…wait a minute. I was knocked out?”
“Stone cold.”
“Then how’d I get here?”
“Long story,” I said. “Short version, we went under the fence and Taeral carried you.”
A strange look spread on his face. He seemed about to say something, but he must’ve changed his mind, because he sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Anybody else make it out?” he said.
“Elara. And Marlon, unfortunately.”
“So they’ve got those kids now.” Chester staggered a few steps forward and sat on the ground, head bowed. “Shouldn’t have charged in there like that,” he said. “I might as well’ve marched them over and turned ’em in at the front gate.”
“Hey,” I said. “Rushing into it was my idea.”
“Maybe, but I should’ve known better.” He lifted his head, and there was misery in his gaze. “We have to get them back. All of them.”
“We will.”
“How are we going to do that?”
Elara’s voice made my breath catch. I kept forgetting how quiet werewolves could be when they wanted to. “I don’t know yet,” I admitted. “But—”
“We go back to my place, like I said.” Chester rose with a determined expression. “I’ve got grenades, plastic explosives, you name it. They might be aliens, but they die just like people. So we load up and wipe ’em right off the goddamned map. Blow those bastards back across the galaxy.”
“But my family’s in there,” Elara half-whispered. “We can’t just blow everything up.”
“We’ll figure it out,” I said, hoping I sounded more confident than I felt. Because I had no idea how this was going to work. There were just too many of them, and they were too well protected.
But I’d promised to go back.
I stood and grabbed the flashlight. “We should definitely go to Chester’s for now,” I said. “Whatever we do, we’re going to need more tools than we have. I think…” My brow furrowed as I passed the light across the clearing. “Where’s Marlon?”
“He’s over there.” Elara turned and gestured—then froze in mid-point as she realized he wasn’t. “Marlon?” she called, moving quickly across the clearing. “Where are you?”
Something rustled in the trees just ahead of her. Elara paced back rapidly and grabbed for her gun.
Marlon stepped out with a scowl. “Had to take a piss,” he said.
“Whatever. Just warn me next time, will you?” Elara said, slumping with relief.
I expected him to snap back at her, but he just shook his head and moved toward the rest of us. “Oh, good. Your little pet’s awake,” he said. “Think we could move it faster now?”
“You want to dial it back some, tough guy.” I stared at him until he looked away. “By the way, we’re still headed to Chester’s. In case you’re wondering.”
“Yeah, I heard,” he said sullenly. “So let’s go.”
I didn’t show it, but I was surprised he hadn’t argued about our destination, after the fit he pitched at the compound. But I guessed he was probably thinking of something else to complain about.
This was going to be a long damned hike.
CHAPTER 30
It’d taken us about two hours to get from Chester’s to the bunker, and another two from there to the compound. But the route had been up and over, and since Chester knew pretty much every inch of the mountain, he had a more direct way back.
Along the way, we tried and failed to come up with a plan that resembled having any chance of success. Glamour disguises might get us in, but there were so many to rescue, we’d never get them back out—and some of them were humans. Couldn’t risk them freaking out and alerting the bad guys because someone was trying to cast spells on them. Killing the soldiers one at a time was out too, since they obviously moved in groups.
Marlon stayed out of the discussion. That seemed to be fine with everyone.
When the roof of Chester’s barn came into view, the moon
had set and the first blush of dawn stained the horizon. “At least we can grab something to eat now,” Chester said. “Clear the mind, so we can focus.”
“Fantastic,” Taeral grunted. “I don’t suppose you have any whiskey?”
Chester laughed. “A man after my own heart,” he said, and then lowered his voice. “By the way…thanks. For getting me out of there. I mean, they were trying to kill you. You could’ve left me behind.”
“Aye, we could. But we’d not have even considered that,” Taeral said. “Well. Most of us would not have.”
“Think I can guess the exception,” Chester muttered, glancing back at Marlon.
“You’d be correct there.”
We got to ground level and started around the barn. Halfway there, Elara caught up to us and grabbed my arm, stopping the whole group. “Wait. Something is…not right,” she said.
“What is it?”
“Do you smell that? No, you wouldn’t. You’re not a were.” She looked over her shoulder. “Marlon, do you?”
His gaze cut away briefly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“That scent. Could be a person. People, even,” she said. “And I think car exhaust, too.”
Marlon shook his head. “There’s nothing there,” he said, pushing through to the front. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”
He strode rapidly away, across the junk-strewn property toward the camper.
“Marlon, wait!” Elara ran after him.
Damn. It looked like we were going, too.
We rushed across the yard, dodging rusted vehicle carcasses and random piles of scrap. Marlon had already vanished around the front of the camper, and Elara was close behind.
I heard her sharp intake of breath just before we made it far enough to see the small army of Milus Dei soldiers waiting for us, with a collection of ATVs and Jeeps parked half-hidden from the road.
And Reese was leading them.
There were at least thirty. All armed, dressed in body armor, and standing at attention behind Reese with weapons drawn. In addition to handguns, most of them had handcuffs, Tasers, and nightsticks on their belts. A few carried cattle prods.
I really didn’t feel much better knowing they didn’t plan to kill us.
Elara stood frozen in place just a few steps past the entrance to the camper. But Marlon was still moving—straight toward the soldiers.
When he stopped, Reese grinned at him. “Well done, Marlon,” he said. “You gave us plenty of time to get here. I have to say, shooting yourself was a nice touch. Wish I’d thought of that myself.”
“You son of a bitch,” I spat. “You’re working for them?” Now I knew why he’d stopped trying to redirect us to the bunker—he’d already told Reese where we were headed. It explained a few things back at the compound, too. Why he’d insisted on using ‘his’ way out, and fired on the first of the soldiers. He’d wanted to draw their attention.
And this was how Reese knew we were Fae, and came to the sheriff’s station prepared. Marlon must’ve told him after the attack at the path.
But we still had half a chance. They were only in front of us. If we pulled back now, ran for the mountain, maybe we could lose them. At least Taeral and Chester might make it with me.
Before I could try anything, I heard movement behind me and glanced back to see another two dozen or so armed men forming ranks. Cutting off a retreat.
Then four of them broke loose and immediately seized Chester.
“All of you drop your guns,” Reese said as the soldiers started frisking him, removing weapon after weapon. “Unless, of course, you don’t mind if we kill Mr. Rigby. Maybe you don’t. He is only human, after all.” The grin widened. “You have five seconds to decide whether he lives or dies.”
Taeral snarled an oath and dropped the shotgun he still carried on the ground. I glared at Reese as I produced the dagger and tossed it. “That’s all I got,” I said. “Gave my gun to your boy, here.”
“We’ll see about that.” Reese nodded, and more soldiers split off to search Taeral and me.
“Marlon?” Elara said haltingly. “I don’t understand.”
Marlon ignored her. “She’s not part of the deal, got it?” he said to Reese. “None of the younger ones are. They shouldn’t have even been up there, but these Fae bastards dragged them in.”
“What deal?” Elara’s voice rose as she took a step toward her brother. “Marlon, what deal?”
“Stay back, Elara.” Marlon spoke in flat, deadly tones, then turned back to Reese. “I brought Sadie to you,” he said. “That was supposed to be it. But you took the elders, too.”
Reese shrugged. “Plans changed. We had to neutralize them. They could have killed the Fae…and we have use for them alive.”
“Well, now you have them. So let my pack go.”
This time Reese laughed outright. “You’re not exactly the brains of the family, are you?” he said. “I knew there was a good reason to use you.” He made a sharp gesture, and a column of soldiers behind him marched toward Elara.
“You son of a bitch,” Marlon growled. “If you touch her, I’ll—”
“Oh, for God’s sake. Someone shoot him.”
Several rounds of gunfire erupted from the ranks. Elara screamed and sank to her knees as Marlon went down, riddled with bullets. She didn’t even try to resist the soldiers when they cuffed her and dragged her toward the tangle of vehicles.
“Get him loaded up.” Reese stepped casually over Marlon’s still form and walked toward us.
I glanced aside and saw they’d already cuffed Chester. Two of them held his arms, and another two kept their weapons trained on the back of his head. He looked just as furious as I felt. There wasn’t a damned thing we could do to stop any of this.
Reese was a hell of a lot smarter than Foley had been.
He stopped in front of me, produced a pair of shackles and handed them off to one of the soldiers guarding Taeral. I assumed they were cold iron. “Put these on tall, dark and angry,” he said. “If he resists, dose him with mandrake. And try not to damage the hardware. I’ll want a look at that arm later.”
My jaw clenched hard. “You know, I’ve been trying to better myself lately and not kill so many assholes,” I said. “But for you, I’m going to make an exception.”
Reese smiled. “Is this the part where I tremble in fear of your awesome power, or should I just skip directly to pissing myself?”
Okay. I really hated this guy.
“Nothing to say?” Reese shook his head. “I suspected the Quaestio branch had you pegged wrong. Now I know they did. You can’t be the DeathSpeaker—you’re far too weak. But I suppose I should thank you for getting rid of Foley,” he said. “The man was insane. We never should have allowed him to run the research branch. He was a hot-headed hunter with delusions of grandeur, and he exposed an operation that went unnoticed for years. Nearly toppled the entire organization.”
I bit back a sharp retort. Focusing on long-term plans was almost impossible when everything in me wanted to tear this smug bastard to shreds, right now—but if they really thought I wasn’t the DeathSpeaker, it could be an advantage. “My pleasure,” I finally said. “Got any other crazy bastards you want me to kill? Maybe you could volunteer yourself, since you’re nuttier than a goddamned fruitcake.”
The smile remained in place. “Oh, I’m going to have a wonderful time with you. I already owe you for getting me shot,” he said, holding up a bandaged right hand. “You might have escaped the first time, but no one gets away from me twice.” He stepped back and looked beyond me. “I want this one unconscious for the trip. Hit him with the maximum setting.”
Before I could think oh good, a cattle prod, something hard rammed my spine, and incredible buzzing pain filled the whole world. Then everything was gone.
CHAPTER 31
This was the second time in as many days that I’d woken up in a cage. I didn’t like it any better than the first time.
Coming around to consciousness hurt like hell. For a minute or two, all I noticed besides the pain was a cold floor that felt like ice beneath me, and wire mesh walls with bars outside them around me. My head took its time clearing. I heard sounds, low mutters and echoing footsteps. A pair of black-clad legs walked past the front of the cage.
I finally realized the floor was so cold because I was wearing pants, and nothing else. No shirt, no shoes…no pendant.
That got me moving. I pushed up to my knees, wincing, and succeeded only in making myself too dizzy to see anything. As I hung my head and waited for the whirling sensation to pass, a voice spoke from somewhere to the left.
“Don’t touch the walls.”
The voice seemed vaguely familiar. When I figured I could move without puking, I lifted my head carefully and looked. A flash of red hair in a separate cage next to me identified the speaker—Tate.
At least he was still alive.
I took my time arranging myself in a seated position, and then said thickly, “I can probably guess, but why shouldn’t I touch the walls?”
“They’re electrified,” Tate said.
“I was right. I could’ve guessed.” I sighed and scrubbed a hand down my face. Beyond Tate, there were more free-standing cages that looked occupied, but I didn’t see much movement. The cages lined one side of a long, narrow room. And there were large screens mounted on the opposite wall, powered down at the moment. I didn’t know what they were for, but the sight of them failed to lift my spirits.
I had to assume they weren’t for showing in-captivity movies.
Reluctantly, I looked to the right. Taeral was in the next cage over—awake and sitting, but not moving. They’d stripped him down to pants, too, and taken his metal arm. There were no more cages past his. Only a gap of about ten feet, and at the end, a windowless, industrial double door with two soldiers stationed in front of it.
Fields of Blood (The DeathSpeaker Codex Book 2) Page 14
