by T. G. Ayer
At this point, I wasn’t sure.
Besides, what the hell was I supposed to think about Ari? My sister had turned out to be nothing at all like I’d thought she’d be. But then, had I really spent any time at all truly thinking about what kind of person she would have turned out to be? If I had to be honest with myself, I would say no. I hadn’t given it much thought at all.
Life had certainly been hectic in the last few weeks, and even when Samuel had confirmed he’d found Ari, I hadn’t envisioned her in any way other than the little girl I’d lost all those years ago.
And now, the young woman who strolled ahead of me, arm-in-arm with my mentor and dearest friend, was nothing at all like the sister I’d hoped for, longed for.
My mind stilled at the admission.
Was I that mean?
Perhaps it was the fact that I had Celeste to think about. Her safety was at this moment, the most important thing, and I didn’t have time to be dawdling in some unknown plane manufactured from the remnants of Samuel’s glorious past.
But how in the heck was I meant to get myself out of here when I had no control of my journey here in the first place?
And Samuel?
I no longer entertained even the slightest hope that he’d aid in getting me out of this place. No, that hope had been flushed away when I’d seen the stark truth in his golden eyes—Samuel remembered nothing.
Not of who I was to him, and perhaps even nothing of what he’d sacrificed to be here. Where ever here was.
Ari led us back through the orchard toward the great house glancing over her shoulder and smiling every now and again, her behavior strange, unusual, as though she wasn’t all that used to company and she was slightly unsure of how to behave.
And yet beneath that hesitation, I could see the edge of steel, the cool shimmer in her expression that confirmed she knew very well what she was doing.
Which only confirmed that I was in deep shit.
Still, I had no choice but to follow in their wake, dragging my feet to put a few much-needed feet between us.
Ari was already at the top of the stairs and heading to the door when she called out to me, “Hurry, we need to wash up, or dinner will be spoiled.” She pouted then swirled around and hurried off inside leaving Samuel along on the porch.
I rushed up the stairs toward him. “Sam-sam, please, you must—”
I didn’t get anything more out.
Samuel turned around, his eyes flashing with fear and anger. “What are you doing here? You want to die?” he growled, his arm raised as though he intended to hit me in the face.
“But I—”
“No!” he whispered his voice ragged, harsh, desperate. “It’s too soon. Stay away, Mel. You’re not ready yet. Only when you’re ready.”
Then, as I was struggling to process his words, he did land the blow I’d known was coming.
Only there was no physical impact.
Samuel’s hand had impacted my aura, splintering the protective veil around me. The blow shattered more than just my protection. It also shattered whatever force had kept me tied to his make-believe dimension, and it sent me hurtling back into the astral plane, Samuel’s words echoing in my mind.
You’re not ready yet.
Chapter 15
I tumbled into the ether, the familiar feel of my life-thread still throbbing in the distance. I rushed onward, praying that Celeste was okay. I’d never taken a physical body into the astral plane, and I was pretty sure there would be some serious repercussions—more likely Celeste would be paying for that more than I would.
I skimmed along her feedback thread, comforted by the knowledge that I’d tethered her to me, so it was simple enough to follow the link all the way to her side.
Her aura was clearer now, though she still appeared weak—and I was trying hard to ignore the fact that she was physically here. Besides, I was also a little distracted as my mind, also still on Kai, reached out for her feedback.
If it were possible to jump for joy inside the ether, I would have done so. I was filled with relief as I watched Kai making her way down a deserted corridor, the mysterious redhead close behind her. A scan of the premises confirmed the pair were alone and their journey to the exit would remain unchallenged.
I did still feel that little spike of bitterness, I knew that I should have saved Kai myself instead of leaving her to save her own ass. Nevertheless, I was comforted by the knowledge and focused on Kai’s mother who needed me far more now.
I glided to Celeste’s side and whispered in her ear, “It’s Mel again. I’m getting you out of here. Just stay calm.”
Celeste blinked hard, and a small muscle pulsed near her jaw as she floated, weightless in the ether, unaware of where she was. Her last memories would have been of her imprisonment and torture, of her daughter being held captive, too. She was a mother, and she was going to resist, still believing her daughter was two floors up, also in need of rescue.
And I understood how she felt. But I was taking her out of the astral plane now, even if I had to knock her out to do it.
You can explode an entire bedroom in your sleep. One weak demon hunter should be a piece of cake.
I curled my arm around her waist and held her tight, then lied. “As soon as you’re safe, I’m coming right back for Kai.” Hearing my words, Celeste relaxed, and she didn’t resist as I jumped her to my room at Elite HQ. I suspected it was more because she was weak that she gave in at all.
I materialized, hand still encircling Celeste’s slim waist. I’d intended on grabbing my phone and ringing Horner—better than yelling out into the hall for help.
But I didn’t get the chance.
The moment we solidified, heels on the hardwood floor, Celeste’s weight jerked me down so hard that I stumbled and sank to my knees, my arm still wrapped around her. She tilted to the left, and I tightened my hold, at the same time craning my neck to look at her face.
Eyes blank and staring at the ceiling, Celeste sank further to the floor, unaware of my feeble attempts to support her dead weight as she slipped into unconsciousness. Perhaps it was the fluorescent light of the lab, or my rush to get her out of that awful place to safety, but I hadn’t registered the extent of her injuries, nor had I understood how weak she truly was.
Celeste’s chest rose and fell rapidly, and her breathing was so faint that I panicked, stricken with fear that she was going to die right there in my arms.
But I shook my head and forced the fears away, storing them where I’d now begun to hoard all my fears and disappointments—somewhere deep within the dark recesses of my mind.
And then, I bent to the floor, curled my arms beneath Celeste and jumped her to the bed where I laid her down as gently as I was able to while having to remove my arms from her waist. Then I raced to the hall and yelled for help.
To hell with the phone.
I’d barely begun to pace the carpet when Horner rushed into the room, a taller silver-haired man at the director’s heels—I’d left the door wide open in the hopes of speeding up the arrival of help.
Horner slowed his steps, eyes widening at the sight of Celeste, lying deathly pale on the bed. The agent who’d arrived with Horner hurried around us and made his way to the far side of the bed where he proceeded to climb up beside her.
He was taking her hand in his when I started to speak. But my voice cracked, and I had to clear my throat and swallow the ache in my throat first before looking over at Horner whose eyes had at last left Celeste and were focused on me.
“They were holding her hostage in the same facility as Kai. She was lucid, aware, when I found her, but she’s not responding anymore. There were drugs in her system, sedatives I think, but I was sure the effects had faded, so I’m not sure what’s wrong.” I could hear the fear in my voice, but I didn’t care. I was afraid damnit.
That was Kai’s mom lying there at Death’s door.
But Horner only held out a hand, placing his warm palm on my shoulder. He appli
ed a gentle pressure to guide me out of the way as the room was suddenly filled with agents—medical ones from the way they moved so quick and silent, performing their tasks; checking Celeste’s pulse and pressure, supplying oxygen and running a line into her arm for hydration.
“She will be fine, Agent Morgan.”
Horner’s voice broke through my fear. But I ignored him, my senses reaching for Kai again, and I was further relieved to know she’d reached some sort of air duct that would lead her out of the underground facility.
I leaned my head toward the Elite’s director and gave him a whispered update, to which he responded with a short nod and a flurry of texts.
My gaze flicking beyond Horner to the doorway and caught Cassie as she skidded to a stop on the threshold. Wide-eyed she studied the scene, then rushed toward me. “What happened?” she asked me in a hushed whisper.
Horner glanced at me, apparently also keen on hearing my update. I suppressed a weary sigh and gave them the Cliff’s Notes version of the hybrid shocking the shit out of me, my dazed exploration through the ether, and my short, though totally mind-boggling visit to a place that shouldn’t exist.
When I attempted to gloss over the whole Celeste-within-the-astral-plane-in-a-physical-form, and having remained there while I’d been stupidly lost, the entire room fell deathly silent.
I swallowed and evaded all shocked eyes.
“Well, then,” said Cassie, almost under her breath. “That rather takes the wind out of my sails doesn’t it?”
I frowned. “Why? What happened?”
She raised her hands saying calm down. “Kai’s fine.”
I rolled my eyes. “I knew that,” I replied, letting out a tense breath.
Cassie said a rude word a little too loudly.
“What?” I whispered, leaning toward her.
“Nothing. Wind. Sails,” she waved a hand blandly, “you know...again.” She threw me a disgusted glare and shook her head.
I coughed, her meaning finally sinking in. “Sorry, Cass. It’s been a long day.”
Before Cassie could reply, the medic standing beside Celeste called out, “She’s lost a lot of blood. We’re going to need a transfusion here.”
A second flurry of activity had me stepping further away as medics disappeared and reappeared bearing more supplies. I wasn’t entirely sure what I was supposed to do now that Celeste may not actually survive—Horner hadn’t fooled me with his assurances.
“Keep her sedated,” called the second medic. “She needs rest. I’d have induced a coma, but I think she’s just been physically devastated and needs recuperation.”
With that news, Cassie threw an arm around my waist. “You going to be okay if I run along and check on the shifter?”
I nodded, then let out a defeated sigh. “I’ll be fine. Just tell her to get her ass moving. Saleem can’t wait forever.”
Cassie smirked at that, then gave me a pointed look, the kind that meant anything from ‘Behave yourself because I know you’re bad,’ to ‘Take care of yourself because I suspect you won’t,’ to ‘Don’t worry, everything will be fine, even though I know you don’t believe me.’ Then she hurried out of the room wiggling her fingers over her head in a farewell wave.
Smiling, I focused on Kai’s mother again and watched the agent—a MindMage no doubt—who’d been sitting beside Celeste as he administered to the Hunter. The slight young man sat so silently, Celeste’s other hand in his palm, his face strangely serene, platinum hair shimmering as it reflected the lights from the room.
Then he exhaled slowly and opened his eyes, blue sparks flickering in his gray-green eyes. “Her mind is untouched. But her memories are filled with a terrible amount of pain. She’s been in the facility for the last two weeks, sir.” The man’s eyes clouded in confusion.
I glanced at Horner and found the same expression mirrored on the face of the Elite’s director.
He let out an exasperated huff. “Thank you, Ridley. Celeste was meant to be in Galakris, procuring a batch of Krisl stamens,” he muttered to himself, his features now shadowed as he lifted his hands and then dropped them at his sides. He really wasn’t handling this revelation very well.
That’s a bit of a concern.
I shook my head, and the movement must have caught his eye as he looked over at me as I spoke. “She’s been gone for two weeks, and no one thought to go in search of her?” I asked, aware too late that the question sounded critical and had been aimed at Horner himself. But if the director was affronted, he didn’t display the emotion, nor did he defend himself.
I fell silent for a long moment as I stared at the emaciated frame of Kai’s mom. She’d returned in a similar condition the last time I’d retrieved her from Omega’s desert facility.
I let out an annoyed grunt. “I’m getting a little tired of saving Celeste from secret evil research facilities. Maybe we need to put a tracker on her or something.”
It only struck me that I’d spoken out loud when Ridley chuckled and turned his head to look at me. “She says she already has a Tracker.” He snickered then, eyes sparkling now with amusement.
I rolled my eyes. “Please tell me she can hear my voice, and not that she can read my thoughts. There’s enough of that going around already.” I curbed the temptation to glance at Horner as I gripped the strap of my satchel. I needed to go check on Kai, and it appeared Horner and Co had everything under control.
Celeste too, since she could sass so well while unconscious.
Ridley laughed softly. “Celeste wishes to let you know that she is unfortunately unable to read your mind, but she does have one instruction.”
“Which is?” I asked, scowling.
He grinned and shook his head. “Her exact words are: Get your skinny ass moving, honey, and fetch me my daughter, or so help me, I’ll get up from this bed right now and give you a paddling.”
I raised an eyebrow and matched the mage’s laughter with my own. The sound was a mixture of fear and tension and relief—something I was pretty sure the entire room was well aware of.
Don’t need to be a MindMage to know she scares the crap out of you.
I smiled at her sleeping face wondering if I should just tell her that Kai was fine. Instead, I just said, “Yes, Mom,” then shook my head to the sound of more laughter. These Elite agents sure seemed to find me amusing.
I wonder why.
I shared an amused glance with Horner who whispered, “We’ll get Kai here. You go get some rest.”
Surprisingly, I wasn’t able to decline. For some strange reason, I was hit with a sudden wave of fatigue, and I nodded at Horner wondering if he also had the power to induce sleep.
I straightened and gave Celeste one last look, then obeyed Horner’s orders.
Only, I’m pretty sure his instruction to get some rest hadn’t meant that I should pass out cold right beside him.
Chapter 16
With my mission with Kai over, I had time to think. And by thinking, I mean I was pacing up and down inside my office, scowling at the carpet as I went.
Then Drake walked in, his face resembling a dark cloud, a pretty mean feat especially for him, given his dark gargoyle complexion. “That’s not a good sign,” he said, studying my face as he settled into the sofa that sat against the wall beside the door. He leaned back, and stared at me, then—when I didn’t reply—he cocked his head. “Care to explain what happened?”
I shrugged, then headed to my desk to take a seat. Somehow, I felt a lot better with the heavy piece of furniture between us. Funny that I could face-off against demons and powerful hybrid ass-wipes made of electricity, but the prospect of my gargoyle bestie being angry with me made me all tense and worried.
“I got the details from Steph,” he said. “But it appears even her version isn’t the whole story. So…what exactly happened Mel? You had us worried what with being unconscious for more than twenty-four hours.”
My eyes widened, and I sank against the back of the chair. “Twenty-fo
ur hours?”
His eyes narrowed. “Have you not looked at your phone. There’s a thing called a clock. Appears on the lock screen. Numbers that tell the time. Words that tell you what day it is.”
I made a face. “It’s a little too early in the day for lectures, Drake,”
“It’s almost lunchtime,” he said with a smirk.
“Well, it’s not even my breakfast time yet, okay? I just got up.”
“Then what are you doing in here? Have you even had something to eat?”
“No, she hasn’t,” said Steph as she breezed into the study bearing a large tray filled with plates and cups. Drake sprang to his feet and cleared my desk—not that it was all that hard considering I hadn’t sat at it for almost a week.
Steph laid the tray on the table and handed out plates and mugs. She tucked a stray string of blonde hair around her ear and pointed at two decanters, “Coffee and tea. And I have OJ, scones, Victorian sponge cake, Devil’s Food cake, chicken-and-mushroom pastries, and custard pies.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Is that all?” I asked dryly.
Steph paused and glanced at Drake and then back and me, eyes a little wide as she hesitated. “Um…if you want anything else I can go out and grab it,” she offered, her expression filled with concern.
I let out a soft laugh, feeling a little bad for teasing her now. “I’m kidding, Steph. This looks amazing. I didn’t even know you were home.”
She shrugged. “I had it all prepared for when you woke. I knew you’d be hungry. You’ve barely eaten in the last few days anyway. So with a full day unconscious, I figured you’d be needing some calories.”
“Yeah, that I do,” I muttered, tugging at the waistband of my jeans. “I think I lost a few pounds.”
Steph gave me a sharp look, then pursed her lips as though she was biting down on the urge to say something. I let her be, pouring a mug of coffee and grabbing a scone covered in cream and jam.
