INVISIBLE FATE BOOK THREE: ALEX NOZIAK (INVISIBLE RECRUITS)

by Buckham, Mary

  Option number two?

  There, just behind me, was a choice. A smaller door.

  Leading where?

  One way to find out.

  I stumbled as I clambered to my feet, pivoting in a less than graceful arc. The hard thud against metal behind me told me at least one Were had breached the window.

  I thrust against the door, not trusting that it’d actually be open. But it was.

  Thank you, Goddess, for small blessings.

  I was through that door faster than a kid aiming for the presents under the tree on Christmas morning.

  A hallway. Dark. But the scent was familiar. Too bad I didn’t have the time to figure out why as I was too busy running as fast as I could.

  At first, the hallway looked like any small, narrow slot leading to a set of other rooms maybe. Or a back door. But it didn’t take long for this hallway to start sloping downwards, the width widening, the walls changing from drywall to stone, and the smell. That’s what struck me. Musty. Old.

  What was this place?

  That’s when I heard it. Not the thudding behind me but the scream in my head.

  “Alex!”

  Bran. Bran was somewhere down this hall.

  I picked up my pace, ignoring the stitch in my side, how hard it was to catch my next breath. Looked like my amazing shifter stamina was thinning as fast as my magical abilities. At this rate soon all I’d have left was my sarcasm.

  I’m coming. Hang on.

  I had no idea if he could hear me or not. Or if my team could find me. Or what I’d find if I could locate Bran.

  But I kept running. Sliding around the corners. Looking for a way to stop the Weres chasing me.

  “Go back,” Bran shouted mind to mind. “It’s a trap.”

  Too late.

  Chapter Sixty-two

  Now I knew how rats in mazes felt. Each corner I skimmed around led to another short passage and another corner. Whoever made this place must have been paid by the number of angles they could build.

  At least Gorilla Guy wasn’t adept at the quick burst of speed then adjust and turn school of attack. If we’d been on open ground I’d have been a goner.

  Behind the roaring ape I could hear the hard pounding of the human Were’s boots meeting concrete floors. He was gaining.

  I hadn’t seen another door, or window, or even a shadow to hide in. No choice but to keep running.

  Next corner, I remembered why the smell struck me. I was back in the corridors Sabina and I had navigated when we escaped the cells.

  Talk about coming full circle.

  My stomach took a nosedive. If I was right, I was heading straight toward a dead-end where the cells were.

  No choice as gorilla gave another roar that rocked off the rock walls.

  Not far now. Scramble, slide, flat out burst of speed, another turn and, pow, three cells, two open, one closed, and a dozen people standing in a semi-circle before them.

  The welcoming committee.

  I skidded to a wobbly stop, huffing breath like a steam engine, wondering if I should grab the open but empty cell and lock myself in before the two Weres caught up with me.

  Not enough time as the human Were raced around the last corner and almost ran me over. I sidestepped, which was the only thing saving me as his size and speed kept him rocketing forward until even the folks in the half-circle scattered before being knocked down like bowling balls.

  All but three who remained frozen in place. Braver than the rest? I didn’t have time to guess as the gorilla ripped around the corner and slammed into the human Were who’d managed to stop.

  If I’d had an ounce of breath left I might have snorted. Hadn’t I said Weres were not the brightest crayons in the box? Watching these two tangle arms and hairy legs was worth the near-death experience.

  Almost.

  Should I run back the way I’d come?

  By the time I thought through the option one of the three frozen figures in the cell had raised his hand and pointed it in my direction.

  Like a laser zap to my nerves I felt his magic from where I stood, suddenly rooted to the ground. Crashing waves of tainted darkness swirled and eddied around me and I stood there. Not a thing I could do to break free.

  WTH?

  “How nice of you to join us, Miss Noziak,” he said and the pennies dropped with a deafening clang.

  He’d been in the laboratory. Earlier. When I’d killed the white-coated guy. Colin Farrell voice. That’s where I’d heard him before. And the night Philippe Cheverill was murdered. I’d talked to him there, too. Then there was this morning. The druid friend of my father’s.

  I guess Weres were not the only ones slow on the uptake. Could I really have been so clueless?

  “I see you remember me.” He sounded so smug, so calmly casual I wanted to lunge for his face and wipe his grin off.

  But I couldn’t move. Not my legs, or hands, or even my mouth worked. I wasn’t even sure I was breathing. All I could do was look straight ahead where I now recognized the other two statue-still figures. Bran and my father. Trapped like I was. Man, this guy had wicked powerful magic if he could keep two magic users and my father ensnared.

  Then there were the Weres who’d untangled themselves and were whipping around, looking for me.

  Good news? Fear could still spike an adrenaline rush through me, enough to make me light headed. Bad news? I couldn’t do a bloody thing about it or the Weres.

  “Richard,” a woman’s voice ordered. She said the name in the French way. Reachhard. Though her accent was pure lilting Irish. “Do not harm her.”

  Someday I was going to get an accent that made a command sound like a sexual act because hot damn if her words didn’t work. On the human Were at least. The gorilla glanced at her once, drool running down his open mouth, before he turned and flung himself back toward me.

  Two things happened at once.

  The spell holding me broke, or was removed, long enough to fling me sideways, out of the direct line of attack.

  Another spell punched the Were full force, stopping him so fast in his tracks he slammed face forward onto the floor.

  Ouch! That had to hurt. Who was I kidding, I knew it hurt because even landing at an angle pain was ricocheting through my body.

  From where I lay on my side I could see the glare of those tiny gorilla eyes, so small in comparison to the size of his body, and raging with hate.

  I’d landed with a sprawl on some old hay so I slowly pulled myself to my knees, bracing myself for another jolt of that dark magic, keeping my focus split between the druid smiling across the chamber and the gorilla glaring at me from a few feet away. Who knew if or when he’d be freed.

  “Come, Miss Noziak,” the druid said. “You could have made this much less painful for yourself if you’d hadn’t escaped earlier.”

  So this was my fault?

  Nothing like a cold dousing of anger to give a boost of in-your-dreams attitude.

  I wobbled to my feet, a snarl building inside me. I didn’t say being pissed against a dangerous druid was a good idea, but it did get me going.

  “So next time a psychotic a-hole kidnaps me I should count my blessings?” I asked, my smile so sweet it could sharpen razors.

  I saw the druid’s brows draw together. “I’m offering you a chance to make history.”

  Puhleeze. “You offer that same chance to my dad? And Bran?” I pointed to where the two remained so still it backed fear down my throat.

  “They are here to insure you would come,” was the druid’s response.

  Man, this guy could sell sand to the Arabs.

  “I’m here. What now?”

  “Now, together we usher in a new age.”

  Was he serious?

  “I have waited for a long time for you to join me, Miss Noziak. A long time.”

  “You asking for a date or something else?”

  He laughed. A sound that if I didn’t know better I’d be attracted to. Did I mention I have
lousy taste in men? He wasn’t done though. “I’m offering you a chance to change history. We are about to enter a thrilling age, one that the world has never seen the like of before.”

  “A thrilling age for what?”

  “For preternaturals, of course. For all of us.” He raised his hands before him in a Moses-on-the-mountain move. “It’s time those who possess magic and abilities take our rightful place in the order of things.”

  “I’m guessing you mean, us on top, humans on bottom.”

  “The way things once were, Miss Noziak.” He was taking that paternal I-know-best tone that gave me the heebiejeebies. “We are set to correct a terrible wrong.”

  “Sounds like you’re wanting to make a new wrong.” Note to mouth. Stay shut.

  He tsked. The man actually tsked, as if talking to a child. He was so not winning any points in my ledger. But as long as I kept him talking Van and the team stood a better chance of finding us.

  I couldn’t take out a druid who wielded as much dark magic as this guy did, while being surrounded by Weres and whatever the woman was who’d called to the Were. A witch would be my guess. A black one.

  And then there was Bran and my dad to consider. I had no idea how to free them and if, on the off chance I could overcome the druid, would eliminating him leave those two forever encased in stone stillness?

  I think my dad’s plan had officially tanked and it’d be left to me to pick up the pieces.

  I nodded my chin at Bran. “Why don’t you release him? A show of good faith and I might consider finding out more about this plan of world domination.”

  Okay, maybe I could have phrased that a little less snarky. Maybe, but not likely.

  “Only a fool would unleash a powerful mage, Miss Noziak, and I am no fool.”

  It was worth a try. I shrugged my shoulders and asked, “So what’s involved in this epic change-the-world plan? Flood? Fire? One of the seven plagues of Egypt?”

  “There were ten plagues,” the witch woman snarled, her accent echoing the druid’s, though obviously not liking all the chitchat going on as she turned to the druid. “Enough of this, Padraig. Ensnare her and call forth Zaradian.”

  I knew I didn’t like this bitch.

  Padraig didn’t even glance her way as he said, “Patience, my dear Breena. If she helps willingly, she could be a powerful ally in the new order.”

  Lucky me. I spoke to the druid, cutting out the bitch-witch totally. “I do appreciate the carrot versus the stick approach. It’s refreshing.”

  He smiled. An honest one, which was disconcerting. Much easier to gut a full-fledged bad guy, which I knew he was, but one who could smile made him a little less uber evil. Didn’t it?

  “I appreciate your wit, Miss Noziak.” He turned sober so fast it made my head spin. “But know that there is a stick. I just prefer not to use it.”

  He flicked his fingers toward Bran, and I didn’t need mind-to-mind communication to see the pain flash across his eyes.

  “Stop!” I stepped forward.

  The druid smiled again, this time it didn’t reach his eyes. “Your choice.” He looked like he’d scored against me. He had.

  “Hurting him doesn’t predispose me to want to help you.” Oh, look at me, big words when what I wanted to do was bare my teeth and attack.

  And who said I hadn’t learned some self-restraint.

  The druid waited. Guess it was my turn to hold out the olive branch. Or appear to do so.

  “Tell me why you need me?” I asked, slightly less caustic than I’d sounded thus far.

  “I understand you’re able to merge magic with others.”

  My stomach dropped like an atom bomb. Who’d told him?

  My tone held even, regardless of the tap dance of nerves racing through my body. “And if I could?”

  “Your power. With mine. We’d be unstoppable.”

  “Don’t, Alex.” Bran’s voice came through to me. Weak but still dictatorial. It was everything I could do not to shoot my gaze in his direction, which would be a dead give away that I was paying more attention to Bran than the druid.

  Not smart.

  “So together we’d call the demon Zaradian?”

  That frown creased the druid’s face again. “Did I say he was a demon?”

  Oops. TMI. I ratcheted up an aren’t-I-smart smile. “I’ve done my homework and have read my myths and fairytales.”

  “She lies.” The witch cut me a killing glance. “She seeks to distract you. Don’t trust her.”

  What got her panties six ways to Sunday? Oh, that would be me.

  I gave her a glance I’d learned in high school from Terri O’Donnell. Bitch meet bitchier. “And what does your friend here have to do with your plans?”

  Buy time. Buy time. Buy time.

  “I’m not his friend,” the woman positively shrieked. Good, throwing her off base would keep the druid from accepting that I was lying and would continue to do so as long as the clock kept ticking. “I’m a full Council member and you’d do well to be wary.”

  Her voice had slid down a few octaves, which I admit was a whole lot scarier than a screaming fishwife. This time my shrug was not so casual or easy to pull up. “Whatever.” I dismissed her, bracing myself for retaliation.

  Which came with a roar. Her roar. Followed by a low, breathless chant.

  “As I do unto thee.

  Smite mine enemy torments of hell.

  Black, black as night. Red, red as blood.

  Bring her pains of flesh.

  Lesions on skin will glow.

  Afflict her with tormented blow.

  Sores and pain afflict her now.

  Pay her, well endow.

  Dukes of darkness, Kings of hell,

  Smite mine enemy, bring her hell.

  Lessons learned and lessons taught.

  Bring her to her knees to rot.”

  I’d had a kidney stone pass once through me as a child and thought nothing could hurt that bad. I was wrong.

  As if a vice was twisted around me, I slapped knees to floor, all breath sucked out, all focus on the blinding pain knife-jacking through me. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t beg, couldn’t do anything except writhe.

  “That shall teach you, puny witch,” she hissed.

  “Enough, Breena. You undo all I have done.”

  Stop this pain, druid, and I’ll consider doing whatever you ask.

  Hang on, Alex. Bran’s voice. His timing so sucked.

  Light flashed before my eyes. Good. I’d pass out. Surely, that would stop the torment.

  Try, harder.

  I might have groaned. Or whimpered. I know I bit my lip, could taste the coppery tang of fresh blood.

  By the Spirits, make this stop.

  I twisted into a pretzel shape, gasping for air, praying for release.

  Magic, Alex, use your magic.

  Can’t.

  It was the only word I could think of as the room darkened around me.

  “Enough,” the druid shouted.

  It was too late. I slipped to the floor, welcoming the blackness.

  Chapter Sixty-three

  I woke in small, incremental stages. Not trusting my body. My memories. Knowing any second I could slide back into that pain.

  Without opening my eyes I took stock. Cool air touched my skin. Hardness beneath me. Machines softly gulping around me.

  Where was I? Did I really want to know?

  I swallowed, piecing images together. My dad. Bran. Statues. The druid.

  I’d been trying to buy time before bad things happened.

  The witch.

  I’d failed.

  Nothing new there. Bitterness joined the wafting breeze surrounding me.

  Pity party? Like that had ever solved anything.

  I cracked open one eye, refusing to groan when I realized where I was. The lab. The same damn lab where I’d killed the man in white.

  “You’re back amongst us,” Irish Voice spoke. I’d liked that voice a who
le lot better when I thought it’d belonged to Colin Farrell, to a person who might have a soul.

  The druid had none.

  “Where am I?” I asked, already knowing the answer but needing every second I could gather to pull my courage around me. Courage to face the druid. His sucks-for-humans plans. And my role in them.

  My fingers felt for the cold lip of the metal gurney I was stretched out on. This too was familiar, and right now it gave me a sense of solidity sorely missing. That and the feel of my anathema dagger against my leg.

  Clueless Weres, they hadn’t searched me for weapons. Their loss, my gain.

  “Miss Noziak … may I call you Alex?”

  Yup, full-fledged nightmare. The boogey man was trying to be nice. Like hiding a suicide bomb in a stuffed teddy bear.

  I pulled myself up to my elbows, a distance that was a lot harder to achieve than I’d thought. At least I wasn’t flat on my back anymore. A vulnerable position. Too vulnerable.

  I ignored the druid’s question and threw out my own. “Where is she?”

  He didn’t have to ask who I meant. “Breena means well.”

  And if I believed that I deserved all the pain I’d already absorbed. My brow arched. I didn’t have to say anything else as I struggled to sit up fully.

  “I’ve sent her away.” If I didn’t have an idea of what a psychopath he was I might have heard hesitation beneath his words. But he was what he was and I held no doubts what I faced.

  Gloves off. I had no idea of what was happening to my team, to Van. No help from Bran or my dad. Only thing I did know is that I was alone, down to the wire and bad things roaring at me.

  Not just me. If the druid succeeded—no, I wasn’t going down that dark tunnel. That way laid madness.

  So it was up to me. Time to get my Noziak on.

  I spoke through dry, cracked lips, “What exactly do you expect me to do?”

  A fleeting smile sparked his expression but he wasn’t a fool. He stood half way across the room as if wary of being caged with a witch/shaman/shifter.

  Smart because I was feeling my shifter self rising to the fore, waiting, just waiting to rip me some heads off and I had my eye on one right now.