Into the Abyss: A Psychic Visions Novel (Psychic Visions Series Book 10)

by Dale Mayer

  “Isn’t he hunting the Ghost?”

  “Yes he is.” That should make Travis happy. Her brother was in a hell of a mood. It was starting to put her in one too. “Look, if you don’t have anything else to say then I have to go and do something called a real job.”

  “Hunting killers is not a job,” he growled. “It’s a death wish.”

  Well, as a conversation killer, that was a good one. Because she already knew how she was going to die, just not the final details. As her mother had often told her there was no way to avoid fate. Tavika didn’t really think there was any point in worrying about it. But it wasn’t a pleasant end and getting murdered was almost a guarantee given her line of work. She just hoped that was a long time in the future. At the Ghost’s hand? She hoped not. Still, if she took him with her, she’d die happy.

  “Stop that,” Travis cried. “Don’t you know how much I hate hearing you talk about that?”

  “And we all know some things can’t be changed. Look, Travis, I have to check up on a couple of people. I’ll talk to you later.” She didn’t give him a chance to argue, she ended the call and put away her phone. Her brother had a lot of good qualities, but he was very narrow-minded and focused.

  Unfortunately sometimes she fed into it because it was the same as her own. They were both obsessed with finding the Ghost. But he didn’t want her to find him. She could see into his world enough to know it wasn’t the healthiest obsession. From looking into her world, he could see how detrimental her absorption was.

  When they discussed this topic it sent them both into a tailspin.

  Originally she’d planned to go straight home. Take some time to sort out her notes. Today had been a wash. She hated that. Instead she decided to take a quick walk through the area and check up on some of the less fortunate people in the world. Maybe someone knew something.

  At the first park, she checked to see if Maggs or her friends were around. This was one of their alternate locations. But the place appeared to be clean. There were no shopping carts, cardboard boxes, or even people huddled in corners.

  Maybe that was a good sign? She picked up the pace and carried on past a couple alleyways but didn’t see anybody. She walked down to where she’d seen Maggs last and stopped when she saw her stuff but no sign of Maggs. Not liking the way her thoughts were taking her, she turned to study her surroundings. She had yet to make a trip into the abyss and sort out these dots that she could see everywhere.

  This place was full of pathways, but she couldn’t see the big picture standing here. She pulled up the collar of her coat against the sudden wind and hurried back to her truck. As soon as she got home that was going to be her priority. Until she opened up the front door and walked in.

  And remembered Jericho lived there now. She no longer had privacy to do anything. Definitely not walk into the abyss.

  And how the hell did that happen?

  “Good timing.” Jericho smiled at her as she stepped through the door. “Dinner is almost ready.”

  She stared from the doorway, her plans crumbling into dust. And yet she couldn’t afford to let it go. She’d meant to do it last night but it hadn’t happened. Time was of the essence. This was important. Somehow she had to take that trip. But how? She glanced around at what had been her private space and didn’t know what to do.

  *

  “What’s the matter?” Jericho stood in front of her, gently lifting her chin with his thumb to stare into her eyes. “Tavika? What’s happened?”

  She tried to shrug off the questions. But he wasn’t going to let her.

  “Nothing. Nothing’s wrong. It’s just…” She shook her head. “I made plans, forgetting you were here.”

  Plans? What the hell did that mean? And what difference did her plans make if he was here. Unless…her plans included another man. Shit. His research said she didn’t have a partner and hadn’t in the last year. It was one of the reasons why he’d chosen to move into her physical space – to help keep her safe. And if he was honest, to be closer to the Ghost, knowing that was who his final target was going to be.

  He stepped to the side so she could enter and carefully place her bag down on the floor.

  “Dinner smells good,” she said.

  “Glad to hear that. What plans?”

  She gave him a hooded glance and said, “Private plans.”

  “A man?”

  From the startled look he could tell she hadn’t considered that option. Something inside of him settled. Good. This had nothing to do with the competition, and therefore he could afford to be magnanimous. “Obviously not. If you need space and privacy that’s fine, I can head out for a few hours.”

  Something lit up in her dark brown eyes before she dropped her gaze, shutting him out. It just made him all that much more curious. And he was plenty curious already.

  “Let’s get you some food first. Then I can take off for a while.”

  Much more agreeable, she nodded and went to the table. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  He hated that her voice was much happier now that she knew he was going to leave. That wasn’t exactly what he’d hoped for in a reaction.

  “No, it’s ready.” He brought a big pan of ribs out from the oven. At the table he quickly cut them into smaller portions for the two of them. He loved the way her face lit up at the sight of real food. “Do you know how to cook?”

  She shrugged. “A little. Never taken the time to learn.”

  Right, with her family situation he doubted domestic skills were at the top of her priority list.

  They dug into the hot food. He watched as she devoured her plateful with the same single-minded purpose he’d come to see with her work. He knew right now it was more a case of her wanting him to leave rather than the food. How depressing was that? He wasn’t at all sure how to make a move on this woman. Not that she might rebuff him, but he wasn’t even sure she noticed him. It was as if she shut it all down. Her body had been aware, but in a way he’d never seen before, she’d managed to shut off the sexual attraction.

  That’s the last thing he wanted her to do.

  As much as he admired that ability because sexual energy was a huge resource that could be utilized when needed, it was also frustrating as hell because he didn’t know how to do it himself. Besides, he liked the buzz of sexual attraction. It felt great and he didn’t want to let that go. Damn the woman was someone he’d like to spend time with.

  He finished eating, gathered up the dishes and washed up. He’d had other plans for himself tonight. But it was her space, and he’d moved in without giving her much choice, so he felt obligated to follow through. Still, he wouldn’t be going far. Turning, he snagged up his jacket and said, “Okay, I’m off.”

  And he turned and walked right to the door, leaving her still sitting at the table staring at him.

  He flashed a quick grin and said, “Don’t miss me too much.”

  Outside the apartment, standing in the downtrodden hallway, he couldn’t help wonder what she was up to. If he sat here he would be able to notice if anybody came or went. If he went down to the main entrance he’d have to sort out visitors that were coming to her versus going to somebody else.

  Maybe she was only trying to make a couple of phone calls. He was a fool. He needed to let it go.

  There was a coffee shop across the street. Ten minutes later he was sitting down with a hot cup, his notepad open in front of him and his phone out as he sorted his own life.

  “Hunter, any news?”

  Hunter’s voice was tired, angry. “No, nothing yet. Not enough information. You know it’s past daisy flowering time – right?”

  “Sorry. I’ll try to contact her again tonight.”

  “Try now,” Hunter urged. “If Anna’s attracted to that apartment you know she’ll be hanging around there.”

  “I’m not in the apartment right now. I’ll give it a shot when I go back.” He wasn’t going into details about why he was not at the apartment. H
unter would howl with laughter. That was one of the things that was almost impossible to keep private between psychics. If Hunter was close by he’d have no problem pinpointing how much Jericho was interested.

  “Hell, I don’t even have to be there,” Hunter said in disgust. “I can pick that up from half a county away. It would help all of us if you just take her to bed. Then maybe you could refocus on what’s important here.” And then he hung up.

  Jericho slunk lower in his seat and sipped his coffee, his mind on Tavika. What the hell was she up to? He seriously contemplated popping into the apartment in ethereal form for a second just to see. Not to invade her privacy but to make sure she was safe. At least that was his argument. She was entitled to time alone. He didn’t have to like it, but if he had plans and somebody crashed his party he wouldn’t be very happy either.

  As he lifted the cup in front of him some kind of blast hit him. He slammed back into his seat. The hand that held the cup wobbled, sending coffee spilling all over the table.

  “Shit.” He jumped up and looked around, but the little café was empty at this hour.

  The waitress came running over. She had a cloth in her hand. “Oh dear.”

  He stepped back out of the way, his mind still trying to figure out what happened. He couldn’t sense any danger, but he knew something major had happened. There was only one person he could ask about something like this.

  “Stefan?” Thankfully the door to his friend was open.

  What?

  “Shit. You didn’t feel that?” How was that possible? It had been a mini shockwave.

  No. But I’ve been painting. Give me a minute.

  Jericho had seen Stefan do this many times, but it still unnerved him.

  Stefan could sit down, close his mind off and open up his senses at a damn near universal level. He had a connection to the eighth world around him like none other. He understood when there was something deadly, evil ripping tears in the fabric of their existence.

  Hunter had seen it as well. They’d discussed it occasionally. Both of them were in awe, neither one jealous. Both of them wishing Stefan the best but knowing something like this could kill him.

  Jericho paid for his coffee and stepped outside. He glanced down at his fingers to see a fine tremor still working its way through them. The hairs in the back of his neck stood upright. He couldn’t help but turn to stare up at Tavika’s apartment. And sucked back in his breath. Where there’d been lights there was now an odd glow. Where there’d been windows there was now something that wavered and shimmered in the evening.

  “Stefan? What the hell is going on?”

  Stefan came back instantly. I have no idea. But it’s centering around Tavika.

  “I’m standing outside her apartment right now, but her windows don’t look normal – they are showing weird glowing light. I just got hit by an energy blast. And you tell me it’s all about her. How is that possible? I have no idea.”

  But somebody is… No, it can’t be…

  “Stefan, dammit. You’re not making sense. Tell me what’s going on?”

  It’s like somebody, and I’m going to say Tavika, has blended layers, almost pinching things together so she could see them better. In the process there was a mini sonic boom.

  Jericho stood on the street staring at the building slowly coming into focus again. He didn’t know if it was what he had done that made seeing it difficult or if it was what she had done. It was most likely his reaction to whatever she’d done. He struggled with the concept that she’d done anything on the scale Stefan was talking about.

  I wasn’t kidding when I said she was powerful.

  “But we also assumed she was untrained and unknowing.”

  No, never that. We didn’t know to what level she’d been trained, nor how much she knew or accepted? Those are three different things.

  He was still shaky at the thought of what he’d just been through. And more so as the concept of this being something anyone could do. “Okay, say it is her. Say she did do this – how come nobody else was affected?”

  I think the question is more to the point of how far is her reach? How many people who understand what might have just happened are in that field? And does she have the power to make that become even greater?

  “You didn’t feel it though?”

  Stefan said thoughtfully, It’s interesting because I’m not sure I did. I was painting and there was a point in time when my hand slashed across the canvas. As if it was something I had no control over. The painting’s quite ruined, he said with a laugh. At the time I was almost cheering thinking it was my subconscious telling me to stop painting and take a break. He laughed again. It’s really quite ugly so I’m happy to toss it.

  Jericho shook his head. He didn’t even know what to say. “How is it that nobody was upset some woman managed to send out a shockwave?”

  It could be you were in the blast radius this time. Stefan’s voice lowered. I wonder how much power she can pack into that. Considering she’s sitting on a pressure keg – what’s the effect when she dies?

  Jericho shuddered. Jesus, he didn’t want to find out. He raised his gaze once again to her windows to see a weird blue glow. Okay that was enough of the shit.

  He bolted toward the apartment building.

  Chapter 21

  This wasn’t good. This wasn’t the way it was supposed to be. Tavika should have had more control. The energy should feel more sustainable. She didn’t understand why it was causing her so much trouble this time, yet her consciousness whistled through her mind and said, Of course you do. And yes she did.

  She reached up to scrub her face. The pressure inside was squeezing at her, tensing her muscles into concrete. The problem was Jericho. She was afraid he’d rush in at any moment and disrupt her. So she’d made the transition harder rather than gentle, more abrupt than smooth.

  A foolish error.

  What the hell? She had more skills than that.

  That shockwave had been an amateur move. She could only hope nobody noticed.

  Her mother would be screaming at her right now for being so undisciplined, being dangerous to the world around her. That she should practice and practice and practice until she got it right.

  Tavika opened her eyes and stared dry-eyed at the small space.

  How the hell did one practice something dangerous without being dangerous? This was a difficult skill to learn. Accidents were bound to happen. They had happened too often to make her mother happy.

  But her excuses had fallen on deaf ears a long time ago. So she had stopped developing. Well, she stopped in any way her mother would recognize.

  She closed her eyes and sank back into the abyss. Her mother had called this place something very different. But for Tavika, after all she’d been through, that name had stuck.

  It was a space of everything, and of nothing. It was a space where she could get lost forever.

  And sometimes she wondered if she shouldn’t do just that. Let go and fall away. She didn’t know what would happen, but she assumed it would be the end of her physical body too. The end of everything as she knew it.

  She rubbed her temple. Dare she go in again?

  The patterns weren’t making sense. Maybe because she hadn’t been able to focus. She’d tried to track the blue dots and had found the trail but it was faint, edgy. The dots faded as if worn away or possibly not fully formed enough to follow. She didn’t understand.

  She had to try again.

  She spread her hands out in front of her and started moving the clouds out of her way. They snarled but drifted obediently. A few of them clung to her fingers refusing to move. Gently, she insisted. This was her domain. Everyone in the physical world might try to hide from her, but good luck trying to hide here.

  There were some that could. Like the damn Ghost. That made no sense to her, but it wasn’t something she’d been able to change. Then she had so much more to learn. She thought it had something to do with wanting something too
much…and therefore the energy pushed it away.

  There…blue wafted to the left. She reached out to touch it and it disappeared again. She blinked several times trying to see past the clouds. She had seen so many similar patterns in the midnight sky. Now the space in front of her was lit up like a million Christmas lights. And yet, as if she were caught in the middle – everything was obscured. Off to one side there was a faint gold string of dots. Whose pathway was that? It wasn’t Anna’s though and she had to stay focused. Just as she went to snag more clouds and toss them away she heard footsteps.

  No. No. No. It couldn’t be Jericho. She needed more time. She slammed out a warning and dove deeper and deeper into the cloud. If she could just get below the clouds she could see what she needed. She pushed at the clouds and shoved them away but instead of moving back, they closed tighter and tighter until she was gasping for breath. There was just enough panic coursing through her to make her realize she was causing some of this on her own.

  Another amateur stunt. Jesus, it had to be Jericho throwing her off. She knew better than this. She had to. This performance was never going to get the Ghost.

  She gasped for breath, trying to ignore the pain, determined to go deeper.

  Hands reached out and snagged her up. She could feel her soul being pulled up and away, and she cried out, “No no no.”

  “Yes.” Jericho’s voice snarled through the mess of confusion. “Come back, Tavika, come back.”

  Her voice weak, her heart frantic, she called out, “No, I’m almost there. I’m almost done.”

  “No. You are done. That’s enough.” He did something and her world dissolved in front of her.

  She slowly opened her eyes to realize instead of sitting in the middle of her living room floor she was now on the bed, Solomon crying softly beside her. Her eyelids were so heavy it was hard to raise them. Her body was so light she couldn’t feel the bed beneath her. She stared into his dark eyes and whispered, “What happened?”

  “You tell me. I came racing in here when I realized something was wrong.” He glared down at her. “Can you see yourself? Can you feel how you are? How lax your body is? How absolutely ice cold your skin is?”