The Crystal Telepath

by Evelyn Lederman

  Darden looked in deep thought as they made their way to the separate room. He must have been trying to figure out what he could share orally and what he had to share through the warrior channel. It would be so convenient if Cianan started to pick up their conversation in that channel. They would know he could be trusted. Only people that were loyal to the true leader of the Troyk universe would be able to converse in that private telepathic channel.

  “Cassie’s father is aware of where I am from and my telepathic gift to travel through the portal. When I contacted Cassie, I asked her to bring her dad. He is familiar with Chicago and the suburb where Yorik’s daughter resides.” Darden explained to the group, establishing the cover story for Cianan.

  “Shirl opened the portal while searching for Alexandra. She was interviewed by your father and then released. He knew of her crystal telepathic abilities and sent her to the Nightshade universe. She is being held captive there until we deliver the master vampire’s daughter. We will need you to travel to Chicago and convince the girl she needs to come with us. I know this goes against everything you believe in, but it is Shirl’s life we are talking about.”

  Starc could see that Benko was trying not to react to what Darden was telling him. The drinks were delivered and the legend took a healthy sip of his beer. “I understand what you are up against. I will do everything in my power to assist you in getting your friend back.” He shared more information with the group through the warrior path. “When my father made that unholy alliance with the Nightshade rulers that was the friction point that caused me to unsuccessfully rise up against him. Your friend is in peril because of my father. I do not like to use my skills, but in this case, I can do it with no guilt. Besides, I owe it to her parents to continue to look after her.”

  “You seem awful familiar with our world,” Cianan commented.

  “I did not like my daughter dating an older man. Darden was forthcoming with me concerning who and what he was. Naturally, I did not believe him. When he took me on the trail where the natural portal between worlds exists, I wanted to know more. We have so many legends of gods, monsters, and other creatures. It made sense that such beings came to our world at points in time through such portals. With a telepathic being who could control portal travel in front of me, why would I not believe in a world of vampires?”

  “Who said anything about vampires?” Cianan responded. Starc knew that Cianan was suspicious of who this Ben Clark was. He was a member of Jeryl Jarlyn’s gatherers, men who searched for Benko Jarlyn.

  “Darden mentioned it when he called us and requested our help,” Benko replied. “Listen, we are wasting valuable time. I understand the girl is your sister. You should be doing everything in your power to rescue her, not cross examining a friend who is here to help.” Starc could not help but admire Benko. The man was more than what legends depicted him to be. Here was a man who spent his adulthood in a world that was not his own. He offered to assist them without hesitation.

  Their food arrived and Starc realized he was starving. He had barely eaten earlier this morning before they ventured to Ginkgo Terra. Starc rationalized he also needed energy to rescue Shirl. Before he knew it, he had a pile of chicken bones sitting in front of him. The Troyk universe brought back food and inventions from other worlds. He wondered why chicken wings were not served in his world. His mouth was still on fire from the hot sauce placed on the chicken. Alex or Shirl would have to help Tolfer reproduce the recipe. For the first time, he felt confident they would rescue his soul mate. He did not know if it was Benko’s presence or that they were one portal trip away from their quarry.

  As they were finishing their meals, Starc could feel a headache coming on. He grabbed more herbs and chewed on them, something he noticed the others were doing as well. He could not believe that Darden would spend days in this world, fighting constantly with the headaches. Yet again, he thought of his soul mate and what she must have suffered as this world’s atmosphere attacked her brain.

  Darden stood and addressed the group. “We should find an isolated spot and I will open a portal to where Yorik’s daughter lives. Once we have her, I will take Cassie and Ben back to Sedona.”

  “That will not be necessary,” Benko responded. “We will find our way back. Your first priority is rescuing Shirl. Cassie and I do not want her spending any more time in that world than necessary. We’ll enjoy the sites of Chicago for a day or two. It would be a shame to travel there and not enjoy their deep dish pizza.” Once again, Benko did not disappoint Starc. When he had Shirl home and settled, Starc wanted to return here and work with Benko to plan his campaign back to the Troyk universe. What was a little headache when it came to creating a better world to raise his children? He had never really considered the future before, his support in the past had been to seek out vengeance.

  Tarsea shook Benko’s hand. “It was a pleasure meeting you, sir. I hope the next time we meet, it will be under better circumstances. Darden has mentioned you and I had looked forward to meeting you. I am sure my girlfriend, Alex, would like to eventually meet you.” Starc knew that Tarsea would want Benko to know that Alexandra, who he watched over her whole life, was safe in the Troyk universe. “She is my soul mate. Thank you for keeping her safe after her parents died. She has thrived in our world, but you need to come home and take your rightful place. We will be prepared when you want to make your move, but do not wait too long. There are more uprisings and we cannot get to everyone in time.”

  Benko stood, “We should be on our way. Chicago is two hours ahead of us. It would make sense to arrive when it is still light out. Dusk is the perfect time to arrive and grab the girl.”

  Starc had expected Benko to respond to Tarsea’s words. It should not have surprised him when he did not. One battle at a time. This time he would be fighting for Starc’s soul mate. The next time, perhaps a world.

  In all the years Starc had been a CT Guard, he had never been through a forced portal. Within this portal, he could barely make out the frequency emitting from Darden’s crystal. The crystal that his brother gave him for Shirl lay cold against his chest. Like a natural portal, there was little turbulence within the void they traveled. It was not lost on him that Darden had control, otherwise they would be falling through nothingness until a random portal opened.

  They emerged in a wooded area, just outside a city teeming with people. Yorik’s daughter, Afton, attended Northwestern University in Evanston. The shadows created by the trees and the time of day, helped to cloak them from pedestrians along the sidewalk. They just had to find their way to McCulloch Hall on Sheridan Road.

  Before they left Sedona, they decided that Cassie would approach the girl. Cassie would represent herself as a high school senior who was going to attend Northwestern in the fall and wanted to check out the campus. Like her father, Cassie was a mind control telepath. She would use her telepathic gift to bring Yorik’s daughter to the rest of the group. Benko would then convince Afton that she wanted to see her father. No one was proud of what they were doing, but Shirl’s life was in jeopardy.

  Starc watched as Cassie entered the dorm. He wondered where Shirl went to school and if she lived in similar student housing. They were running too close to the time that Yorik had given them. If the girl was not in her dorm or had taken off with some boy, they would not meet the deadline to save Shirl. Darden was as agitated as he was, as he watched his brother pace.

  He exhaled a breath of relief as Cassie exited the building with a tall, pale, dark haired girl. The two young women were dressed similarly. Under different circumstances the two could be going out to a bar to have some fun, since neither were carrying books.

  They had decided that Darden and Benko would emerge as soon as they saw Cassie walking onto the well-lit sidewalk. Cassie would introduce her father and say Darden was her older brother. The plan was dependent on Afton having the slightest desire to see her father. Everyone knew a mind contro
l telepath could not force someone to do something they did not want to do. They prayed on indecision, even if it was just a smidgen of desire or doubt.

  Starc could hear his heartbeat pounding as he watched the small group conversing under the street lamp. He saw Afton nod. That was a good sign. The girl smiled in response to something said. Guilt consumed Starc. He was sending this young woman to God only knew what. Shirl was depending on him to save her.

  The small party made their way toward the rest of the men. “Afton, this is Starc, Tarsea and Cianan. They are coming with us to see your father. Remember I told you we were going through a portal to another world. There is nothing to be afraid of.”

  Under normal circumstances, finding out you were going to be walking through a portal would tend to cause a great deal of anxiety. Benko’s control of the girl’s mind was strong, she actually appeared to be excited at the prospect. Afton had a huge smile on her face and walked forward to stand near Darden. She took his hand as he opened the portal that would take them to the Nightshade universe. Cianan and Tarsea followed the two into the portal.

  “Thank you both for what you did,” Starc said. “I know it was not easy to manipulate the girl’s brain. Had Shirl not been in danger, I would never have asked such a thing.” Starc did not wait for a reply. He walked through the portal, his soul mate should be on the other side.

  Would Yorik be true to his word? Did a blood lust vampire attack and kill Shirl while they were gone? Drake had promised he would protect her. Had the vampire kept his word? What condition would he find his soul mate in? So many questions and concerns crossed his mind as the void within the portal consumed him.

  As Starc emerged from the portal, he was greeted with screams from a female. Afton was in her father’s embrace and was hysterical. Even a mind control telepath at this point would not be able to convince the girl her father was not a monster. Darden and Tarsea stood close to the girl and her father, but did not attempt to separate the two. As before, the room was full of vampires with blood lust showing in their eyes.

  “We have delivered your daughter. The female crystal telepath should be returned to us and we will leave your world. This is simply what was agreed to.” Starc said, hoping the master vampire would stick to their arrangement.

  Yorik did not hear him or did not wish to respond to him. The creature stroked his daughter, as someone would a cat. Two women came for the girl and took her away. Afton yelled for Darden, as she was dragged from the room. Starc could only imagine what his twin was feeling at this point.

  “I now have two males and a female with crystal telepathic abilities. What a treasure I have been able to obtain. My people are starving and you hold the ability to bring people to my world to save my dying race. The friend you brought with you can return to your world.” Yorik spoke with regal bearing, but it did not seem to faze the four men before him.

  “A deal was struck. My sister for your daughter. We delivered our end. A ruler such as yourself would naturally be true to his word. Let her return with our friend,” Cianan sucked up to the master vampire. Starc hoped Yorik would consider Cianan’s words. The butterflies in Starc’s stomach wildly fluttered as a menacing grin crossed the master vampire’s face. He knew before Yorik voiced a word, he was not going to like what he was about to say.

  “My word is my bond. The female crystal telepath may leave. However, the three of you will stay. Your world still owes me tribute and two crystal telepathic men will support the efforts to feed my starving people. The brother that travels with you will stay as insurance that you both will return.” With a simple gesture, the vampire guard came to remove them from the room.

  “Wait,” Darden yelled, “let us at least see the woman. She is new to her telepathic powers and I want to assure she will be able to navigate the portal. It would be a waste to both our worlds if she loses her way within the void.” Starc could see that Darden’s request was being considered by Yorik. The vampire must have been weighing what he would gain allowing the three of them to be re-united with Shirl. Most off-world people did not know that a crystal telepath under certain conditions could open a portal anywhere.

  Yorik appeared to be wavering. Starc decided to continue where his brother left off, hopefully tipping the scales in their favor. “A threat is only as good as your word to follow through. How do we know Shirl is alive? Holding me hostage to assure my twin’s compliance is worthless if he cannot trust I will still be breathing upon his return.”

  The vampire approached them. It appeared the blood lust impacting his eyes had weakened. They were now a lighter shade of red. “There is logic in what you say.” Starc almost laughed. Logic seemed to be the last trait he would imagine a vampire who was barely holding back his hunger would possess. “You will be taken to the female telepath. For the time being however, you will not be needing these.” The master vampire removed the crystals that both his brother and Cianan wore.

  Yorik motioned once again for the guards to remove them from his presence. Starc held his breath, as the guard escorted them from the room. He prayed the crystal he wore underneath his tunic would remain undetected. Shirl would be able to harness the power of the crystal to open a temporary portal out of the Nightshade universe. The only hurdle that remained was making love to his soul mate. The thought of forcing her to have intercourse with him to save their lives was abhorrent. He just knew no other means to leave this world.

  Chapter 12

  Shirl paced her small haven within this hellish world. She wore a short white toga that draped over one shoulder. It was what the women in the harem wore, if they were allowed to wear anything. The bare shoulder allowed the vampire easier access to their victim’s life blood.

  Her neck had barely healed before Drake reinforced his mark on her flesh. During his last visit, Shirl was able to convince him to have Chartail brought to her room. She had used the promise he had made her to the best of her ability. Shirl knew if she asked too much, her words would eventually fall on deaf ears.

  Chartail moaned, bringing her attention back to her new friend. Her body was ravished with more bite marks than Shirl cared to count. The drug they gave her replenished her blood at an alarming rate, allowing Yorik to harvest her several times a day. The last time Yorik came, he took Chartail’s blood and raped her in front of Shirl. Fortunately, Chartail was in such bad shape, she was oblivious to being violated.

  Drake held her back from any feeble attempt she could make to protect the woman. All Drake could do was stop Yorik from killing his tribute. Shirl started to think maybe it would be a blessing if Chartail died from one of the attacks. Although Shirl had no sense of time in this place, she knew time was running out for both of them.

  Shirl adjusted the blanket covering Chartail. She was not coming back to consciousness, merely vocalizing the tormented dreams she was enduring. The sound of the wood door scraping against the stone floor grabbed her attention. It was too soon for Yorik to visit Chartail again. The woman would not survive another attack at this time.

  She turned toward the entrance, prepared to hold off Yorik. Shirl was at the point where she was prepared to offer him her blood. Perhaps with the master vampire’s mark on her as well, Drake would take more decisive action toward her and Chartail.

  She almost did not believe her eyes as they basked on Starc, Darden, Tarsea, and her brother. Whether it was sheer relief or the soul mate connection, she immediately went into Starc’s arms. Shirl had been used to cold turning to heat when Drake held her. This was something quite different. Starc’s skin was scorching hot against her. It felt as if her blood was boiling.

  Shirl kissed him, as a thirst for his taste overwhelmed her. Her body craved his. Starc’s strong hands grabbed her hips and lifted her to his body. She wrapped her legs around his waist as Starc carried her the short distance to one of the stone walls. Shirl felt the cold stone against her back, but it did little to relieve the intens
e heat coming from her body.

  Shirl continued to devour Starc. She became aware of male voices at the edge of her consciousness. Her body disregarded what little her brain was capable of communicating. Only the urgency to have this man inside her mattered. The fact there was an audience was completely lost to her. Shirl had never reacted this way to a man in her life. She could barely breathe for the need that engulfed her being. Her one coherent thought was that the mating bond was righting itself, after Drake’s manipulation of it. Presently it was overcompensating, as it tried to find the right balance.

  The ripping of her panties away from her body barely registered within her overwhelmed brain. Starc adjusted his hold on her and entered her with one thrust. Her mind flashed to a scene from Wild Orchid where the Carrie Ottis character witnessed two people making love against a wall in a ruined resort.

  Shirl had wondered what it was like to be so overcome with desire. She now knew. Starc released his claim on her mouth. Shirl took in air, replenishing the oxygen in her lungs. Breathing was overrated. She placed her mouth back on his, needing Starc like Drake needed blood.

  Her universe narrowed to just this man and what he was doing to her body and soul. He drove in and out of her. No words penetrated her mind, his cock did all the communication necessary. Nothing existed to Shirl except her soul mate and the urgency building within her. She was in the cusp of something she knew would be mind-blowing magnificent. There could have been an eighty piece marching band playing in the room, she would have been ignorant of their existence.

  Starc kept thrusting, filling her to the hilt. She met his frenzied rate. Shirl could feel him deep inside her womb. There was a part of her that needed him deeper. Reaching where no man could ever go physically.

  Shirl adjusted her body, trying to accommodate even an additional centimeter of him. She pounded on his back for more. There was an itch inside of her she never knew existed, but Starc was satisfyingly scratching it. He continued to drill inside of her. The static within her body was building until Shirl was not sure she could take anymore. He exploded in her, relieving his body of his seed, as she cried out with her own release.