by Dale Mayer
The gaze that stared back at him was almost more than human. There was no artifice there. Only fear. And anger. Someone he loved was hurt. And that Ronin could understand. The dog wanted its owner to stand up. To have its life back to normal.
And he wanted it in a bad way.
Close your eyes and talk to him. When your eyes are open, your conscious mind interferes with what's possible. I know you calmed several irate animals over your career.
Ronin was often able to soothe a dog that had been hurt or was angry or injured. But not always. "Yeah, normally dogs respond well to me."
And animals respond to the capable, calm, almost soothing nature of your energy. But right now, you're worried and the dog is worried. So you're rubbing up against each other's fear, increasing it, instead of easing it. Tabitha talks to Tripod all the time. That's what he's looking for from you.
Shit. Tripod. I'm here to help. Ronin closed his eyes and spoke to the dog mentally. Tabitha is in trouble and I need to get to her. She's hurting in a bad way.
A rumble washed over him. Ronin frowned and repeated his statement. The rumble deepened. Ronin swore he could see the dog's features as clearly as he would if his eyes were open.
Only they weren't. Ronin's eyes were definitely closed.
It's a vision skill. Keep seeing the dog in your mind and stroke him in your mind. See him accept you. See him liking the attention.
Ronin struggled to follow through. He eased into the vision of the dog's face, soothing him as he spoke to him about helping him. Helping Tabitha. He reached out and felt a warming of the energy around him and the fear easing.
Then a huge tongue caught him by the chin and stroked upwards across his face.
The smell was gross, but his heart leapt. He opened his eyes to see the dog gazing into his eyes. A plea for help deep inside. "That look can't be real."
It is. Once a connection is made... Stefan's voice trailed off.
Ronin stood, gently patted the dog then squeezed between the dog and the doorway. The dog trailed behind, whining deep in his throat.
Ronin stopped to take stock. And was hit with waves of nausea and a horrible buzzing in his head. He shuddered. His whole system went into lockdown. He could hardly breathe.
Damn. A cat was here. Somewhere close by.
But Tabitha needed him. His hand at his throat, struggling to hold back the panic, he tried to study the rooms in front of him. Instead of a nice clean layout, the house appeared to be a maze. "Where is she, Tripod? Show me Tabitha."
The dog cocked his head to one side, as if understanding him, then bounded upstairs. Ronin followed, barely seeing where he was going until he dashed into a bedroom.
"Stefan said she's in the shower," he said, and felt like an idiot for talking to the dog. His chest eased slightly, making it easier to focus. He raced for the small room off to the side. Clothes lay crumpled on the floor. Otherwise, the room appeared empty.
He pulled back the shower door to find Tabitha nude, in a ball, with a bluish gray cast to her skin. Icy water beat down on her back. He turned off the water. His hands went to Tabitha's neck. He could barely find a pulse under her clammy skin.
Crap. He raced back to Tabitha's bedroom, tugging something white and pillowy off her bed. Back at the shower, he bundled it around Tabitha and scooped her up in a cocoon. As he turned toward the bedroom, a tall blonde stood in the doorway. Shay.
He didn't slow down.
"Good, you've got her." Shay was already leading the way back outside. "The ambulance is coming up the drive. Roman is waiting for them."
Ronin brushed past her, and carrying a still-wrapped Tabitha, carefully made his way down the stairs to the front door. He'd cleared the front porch when the ambulance came to a quick stop. He took his first clean deep breath. The men raced out and opened the back doors.
"She's in a bad way."
He laid his precious bundle down and stepped back as the men went to work. Before he knew it, she'd been loaded into the ambulance, one man still working on her as they ripped down the driveway.
He stood and stared down the empty road. Tripod howled, then abruptly walked over to sit beside Ronin.
Ronin stared at the huge dog who gazed solemnly back at him as if he were telling Ronin to fix this.
***
"What the hell is going on?" Fez said to the empty night. They should have been here by now. That they weren't, was a huge problem. These goods had to be moved to the next destination. And fast.
Fez paced the long rows of docks. What was the hold up? He should be out of here by now. He'd called the boss once... He checked his phone again. At least his boss hadn't called back. But if Fez didn't check in with him soon, there'd be hell to pay.
Especially since Roberts had taken off to do something and hadn't come back yet. Fez glanced around. He couldn't shake the feeling that the boss was going to show up any second. The man came and went like a damn ghost.
Shit. Where the hell was his package?
Even more important, were the contents still alive?
Chapter 4
Saturday, late afternoon
Stefan stood at Tabitha's bedside, his medical specialist, Dr. Marsden, at his side. He studied the pale face on the white pillows. Tabitha's beauty shone in an unearthly way. Her skin appeared luminescent. He asked, "So there's nothing physically wrong with her?"
Dr. Marsden shook his head. "Nothing that is showing up on any tests. I think she's terrified...and has gone into hiding."
"Originally..." Stefan rubbed his temple and tried to marshal his thoughts. "When I heard her screaming for help, I caught scattered bits of her thoughts. She believed she was going to die. When I found her, she'd curled tightly around her cord as if protecting it."
The doctor nodded. "Sensible. What I can't be sure of is whether her previous attack had something to do with this one, or...if that attack left her open to this one and possibly others yet to come."
"They weren't the same attacker. I know that for sure." The words barely out of his mouth, Stefan winced. There were no sureties in this world, but as far as he knew, the woman who'd attacked Tabitha a month ago was dead. Along with her murderous brothers. "But she's spent a lot of time in the ethers leaving her body unprotected. For all we know, someone in the ethers picked up on that and was planning to take over her body."
"It's possible, but why wait until now?" Dr. Marsden walked to the end of Tabitha's bed.
"We all sleep and dream walk, and there are many other people to target. So why Tabitha? Her energy? Her abilities?"
That caught Stefan's attention. "Her abilities," he asked cautiously. "Why would her abilities make a difference?"
Dr. Marsden glanced his way. "Many people would be mentally damaged by the experience, yet Tabitha obviously has an ability to stay in the ethers."
That prodded something in Stefan's memory. The last time Tabitha had been in the ethers for a prolonged stay, she'd hidden out there until it was safe. "You think she's choosing to hide in the ethers?"
"Exactly. Most people, even psychics, won't do that. Can't do that. It takes a special ability to walk in the space between life and death. I've heard of that space, the In-Between."
"Hmm. Isn't that backwards? She hides there when she feels under attack...yet by leaving her body open like this, she's actually putting herself in a more vulnerable position."
Dr. Marsden laughed. "You'd have thought so, but take a closer look."
Startled, Stefan glanced back at Tabitha's long and lean frame. He shifted through the layers of energy, but it was hard because the energy was compressed, lying tight and hard against her body.
"I can barely see her aura as it is!" Stefan exclaimed.
"Exactly. It's some kind of defense system. Her energy is locked down in protective mode that stops anyone from accessing her body from the outside. Even her cord is hidden."
Stefan had never seen a case like this. Or an energy system like Tabitha's. He searched the ethers lo
oking for her cord – the so important connection to her physical body that kept her alive…and couldn't find it.
Yet she was lying there breathing naturally. Normally, as if in a deep sleep.
"See what I mean?" The note of wonder in the doctor's voice had Stefan walking closer to study Tabitha. "Her cord is actually dispersed all around the room. If you look closely you'll see signs of it. Just not how it connects to her."
"So once again, something new." Stefan snorted at that. "Does she need anything from us?" The two men stared down at the comatose woman.
"Not from me." Dr. Marsden turned to study him, one eyebrow raised in question. "Maybe from you."
Stefan nodded his head. "Could be. I'll check." He looked around the small private room. Should he try contacting her here or from home? Here he'd have to deal with so many other interfering energies.
"Do you want to try now, while you're here?"
Stefan shook his head. "Want to? No. Should I? Yes."
Dr. Marsden turned in a slow circle to study the sparse room. "It's hardly the best place for a session, is it?"
"Depends on the number of spirit entities hanging around. Considering it's a hospital, there're likely to be more disembodied souls here than living people."
Stefan hated being in crowds to begin with, and although he was comfortable with the dead and walked the ethers as easily as Tabitha, dealing with angry, frustrated, or needy disembodied souls was not fun. If he could slip past that to the ethers, he'd be fine. But if not...
"I'll do it here. At least long enough to make sure she's fine." He spied the chair in the far corner. He pulled it up to her bedside and walked to position himself back in the corner where he sat cross-legged on the floor.
Ignoring the doctor, Stefan settled his back against the wall and took a deep breath. He released the old stale air from his lungs and consciously brought in fresh, life-giving air.
His energy shifted slowly, then faster and faster as he drew on his years of practice to make his exit from his body that much smoother.
He opened his eyes. And found himself in the In-Between. A light-colored fog filled the room that no longer existed. He swept away the fog, preferring clear openness to the muted look of clouds. Here the energy responded to thoughts and he could make it look as he wished. The practical side of him said not to bother, he wouldn't be here long enough to arrange the setting to his personal style or artistic sensibilities.
He zipped through the ethers. In his mind's eye, he focused on Tabitha's cord. On finding it healthy and happy.
And there it was. He smiled. The cord shimmered a deep lavender, almost as if it were covered by glitter paint. It was fun to see this side of her because in the physical world, she was down to earth and practical. No glitter to be found.
His journey was fast and easy as he moved through the vast space. He traveled faster and faster, navigating with his senses as he headed to her side.
Hey. Tabitha's laughter told him he'd reached her.
He grinned and opened his eyes to find her standing there smiling in front of him.
Damn. You look good.
Thanks. I'm feeling quite a bit better actually.
He studied her features, seeing what she wasn't saying out loud. She might be feeling better, but her energy didn't glow like it should. There were dark hollows, dents in her energy as if she worried and was trying to hide it. Like she'd hidden out here.
With a gentle shake of his head, he said, No, you're not. For you, this is a safety zone. But I want to know what happened to bring you here and why you felt you needed to retreat here instead of call for help.
The air filled with her bitter laugh. Because I'm safe here. Only I have no idea what happened. Quickly, she told him what she remembered.
And do you think this attack is related to all the headaches? As if someone was trying to get inside you, your consciousness? If so what's it going to take to get you back to your body?
I didn't leave my body. I'm just resting here for a bit.
And as you know from before, that little bit is likely to become a long bit.
No, she corrected. It did last time. That doesn't mean it will this time.
How was he to convince her to come home? Ronin had to become friends with Tripod to get into the house.
Really? They've never met up to now. I've held off bringing him to the house after he made a casual comment about not liking cats.
Stefan grinned, thinking Ronin had yet to meet Tango. And what fun that would be. Is he allergic?
No idea, she confessed, I didn't ask him. I was too surprised at the time.
Yet you didn't break it off? He wasn't going to let her off that easy. If Ronin was going to be her reason to come home, then he needed her mind on him now. Enough hiding.
She shrugged. There aren't too many interesting men that can handle my abilities.
Then you'll have to come back, won't you? Especially before the media gets wind of this. You know how they have portrayed the reserve as being in trouble recently with all the break-ins and vandalism. If the media finds out about this state your physical body is in... The center doesn't need more bad publicity or to have the donations could dry up.
Hey, that's not fair, she said. I'm here because I was attacked.
And Tango and Tripod? They are guarding your place and keeping your body grounded. Your absence is hard on them.
I've already been by to visit with them. She waved her hands dismissively. They are fine.
So much for that tactic…
Then he had it. He smiled inside. Except that Ronin is searching your house to find anything he can about your attacker.
He's inside the house? Right now? She went ghostly pale. Damn. That's so not a good idea. He could be in danger. Tango knows when someone likes him or not.
And, Stefan said gently, Ronin is a cop who cares deeply about you. You were attacked and if, in the course of his investigation, he's attacked...
I'm gone.
The fog swirled around Stefan, blocking her from view. By the time he cleared his vision and swept back the cotton clouds, there was no sign of her.
***
She came to so suddenly, her body jerked from the harsh landing and she bolted upright, ready to run out of the room – and found herself in a private hospital room with a stern, darkly handsome doctor staring down at her. It took her a moment to recognize him. Dr. Marsden.
"Whoa. You're not going anywhere." Dr. Marsden reached out to stop her.
"I have to leave." She glared at him.
"Easy, Tabitha." Stefan stretched out his legs and stood up slowly. "Dr. Marsden has been looking after you."
What was Stefan doing in the corner?
"Sorry. I hate hospitals," she muttered as a poor excuse for her behavior. "And why is it you think I can't leave?"
He was wrong of course, but she didn't need to antagonize anyone further. It drained too much energy. But she really wanted to go home.
"Because you were attacked. I'd like to run some tests."
She shot him a shuttered look and shook her head. "If you know as much about this stuff as Stefan believes you do, then you understand it was a psychic attack. And that means nothing will show up on your tests."
"And you're going to do what, wait around until he tries again?" Stefan asked quietly.
Silence.
Damn. Her animals, as well as her body and her soul were vulnerable. The attack had been horrific and too damn close to being a win for the other guy to make her happy. Would he try again?
She slumped back against the headboard. "He wants my soul, not my body. At least that's what I felt during an attack. Stronger each time. And do you have any suggestions? Some magical way to keep my soul in my body and away from this thief?"
"Did you get a sense of why he wanted it?"
The two men stood at the end of her bed, their gazes intent as if they could find the answers they wanted if they could just look hard enough. Tabitha pushed bac
k a few strands of long hair as she tried to marshal her thoughts. "I could sense he was terrified. Angry. And was looking for someone or something."
"And found you instead." Stefan walked around the side of the bed, then picked up her hand and held it tight. "Or was he looking specifically for you?"
"For me." She knew that deep inside. "He wanted me."
***
"Hello, Stefan. You used the phone this time?" Ronin grinned at the sound Stefan made on the other end. He peered through the thick wire mesh, trying to see what animal was on the other side the fenced pen. Tabitha's place was an integral part of the reserve. Anything could be on the other side of the fence.
