Shiela Stewart - [Darkness 07]

by Consuming the Darkness (epub)

  ***

  She heard her name being called over and over again and when the cold hit her she opened her eyes to see Detective Vega leaning over her, a worried look on his face.

  “Thank God! The ambulance is on its way.”

  “I don’t need an ambulance.” Though her brain was a little foggy, she remembered clearly what had happened. “He has Nathan. Where’s the note? I had the note.” Looking around, she saw it lying at her side and paused before picking it up. This time, when she linked, she was going to be prepared. “He’s alive but I couldn’t see where he’s being held.” She scowled at the detective when he took the note before she could pick it up.

  “You linked with him? After what you just went through?”

  “Don’t you start on me now.” Pushing to her feet, more than a little unsteady, Sienna headed to her room to change. She shut the door in the detective’s face.

  “We’ll find him, Lieutenant, but not at the risk of your health,” he shouted through the wood.

  “It’ll go faster if I link with the killer.” She wasn’t about to waste time on logistics when she had a sure fire way of finding Nathan. Throwing on a pair of jeans and a faded gray sweatshirt, Sienna yanked the bedroom door open to the detective’s scowling face. “Don’t look at me that way.”

  “You nearly died the last time. I want to find him as much as you do but—”

  “Who is in charge here, Detective? Me. I make the decisions on this case, not you.” Grabbing her weapon and badge, she looked around then realized he still had the note. “Give me the note, Detective.”

  “The hell I will. And don’t pull rank on me because I don’t officially work for you. Remember, I’m just doing this to help my pals out.”

  “Fine.” She didn’t need him or the note. She could do this on her own. “Stay, Daisy,” she demanded as she left her apartment.

  ***

  He could feel the pressure of the chains around his body and the hard chair he sat in, but Nathan couldn’t move. How it was possible was beyond him, but he accepted the fact that he was somehow frozen to his spot. And the damnedest part was he couldn’t even speak.

  “How are you doing there, Nathaniel?”

  At least he was able to move his eyes and looking to his left, Nathan watched his enemy enter the tiny room. It occurred to him now that this was exactly how the killer was able to take his victims without a struggle and without anyone hearing them scream.

  They didn’t have the ability to do so.

  “Oh, silly me. How can you respond to my question without the ability to speak? Well, I need to remedy that. There you go. You can speak now.”

  “Why are you doing this?” His voice did work after all. What a relief it was.

  “I find you fascinating, Nathaniel. You’re a worthy adversary. You keep me on my toes.”

  “Yet I don’t even know your name. Doesn’t seem fair.”

  Pulling up a rickety-looking wooden chair, the killer sat. “I suppose you’re right. Kenton Bladwell.”

  He had a name now, not that it did him much good…for the time being at least. “Mind my rudeness if I say it’s not a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Kenton?”

  “Well, that’s not very nice at all.”

  “When I’ve got reason to be nice, I am. Being frozen and chained to a chair doesn’t make me overly pleasant.”

  Kenton leaned back, an amused look on his face. “And you’re not the least bit curious as to why you can’t move?”

  “You’re a demon.”

  Kenton sat forward and his dark eyes gleamed with excitement. “I wasn’t sure you knew of my kind. That makes things so much easier.” He sat back and picked at the lumps on his face.

  “What are you going to do with me?”

  “Not kill you. I like you, Nathaniel. Originally, I was going to take your heart, but then I changed my mind and took your partner’s instead.”

  Nathan’s gut clenched. “Why?”

  Kenton shrugged as he stood. “I realized if I killed you, we couldn’t continue this game of cat and mouse, and I so enjoy our game.”

  Nathan wondered if there was any way of breaking the guy’s control over him. “How are you keeping me frozen? I don’t get how it works.”

  “It’s the eyes.” Kenton leaned down, his face meeting Nathan’s. “The instant I first make eye contact I’m inside your mind. I have control of it from thereafter. I could make you do all sorts of things, like this.”

  Beyond his control, Nathan’s tongue slid out of his mouth to lick his lips. It was not a comfortable feeling knowing someone had control of your every movement.

  “I can control you and make you do almost anything I want, which is part of my plan. Thanks to all those healthy hearts my powers of control are at their highest.”

  “What sort of plan?” He could only hope Sienna knew he was missing by now and was busy searching for him.

  Kenton straightened and wandered around the room. “It’s growing more and more difficult for me to be out in the daylight. Jacob’s Cove may be accustomed to creatures like me, but the rest of the world isn’t as open. I need you to gather more humans for me to feed from. We’ll tour the world. I hear the French hearts are especially tasty.” Kenton licked his lips and Nathan cringed at the forked tongue that slid out.

  Be damned if he would ever do anything to help the bastard. “If you control my mind, why do you have to chain me to the chair?”

  “I can’t control you when I’m asleep.”

  Ah…a loophole. “And you don’t think the instant you drop off I’ll make a break for it? These are only chains after all. I could find a way out of them.”

  “True,” Kenton drawled as he knelt down at Nathan’s feet. “But do you know the combination to deactivate the bomb I have programmed to the chair?”

  He lifted the small sensor pad and Nathan cringed at the amount of explosives attached to it.

  “I’d hate to lose you, Nathaniel, so don’t play the hero.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  What she needed was coffee. Good, strong coffee to wash the fatigue from her body. So on her way to the office Sienna stopped at a local take-out joint and ordered the largest cup of coffee, to go, that they had. She gulped it down, hot, while driving one-handed, her mind solely on saving Nathan.

  Why hadn’t she told him she loved him?

  Because she’d been afraid of losing him. And now—no, she refused to believe she would lose him now. She was going to save him from that beast and when she did she was going to profess her love even if it meant going against everything she’d promised herself.

  If he left her after, she’d deal with the pain.

  Coming to a stop in her parking spot, Sienna rushed from her car to the back entrance of the police station. By the time she reached the evidence room, her coffee was empty. Crumpling the take-out cup, she tossed it in the trash as she unlocked the door. Stepping inside, she scanned the rows of shelving units filled with evidence from previous cases. Following the dates, she headed to the back and found her case number and pulled the box out of the shelf. Tearing the seal, she yanked off the lid and quickly went through the evidence bags sealed inside until she found the one she’d come for.

  Holding up the note, she knew without a doubt what she had to do.

  Locking the door behind her, Sienna raced to her office. She came to an abrupt halt at seeing the chief and the mayor standing in her locked office. She reminded herself that both parties had the ability to transport themselves anywhere they liked. Even into a locked room.

  “We know what you’re about to do, Lieutenant.”

  “How did you find out?” Sienna asked Mayor Hawthorn as she sauntered past her.

  The mayor followed Sienna with her eyes as she moved to her desk. “Dan
te called us. It’s too dangerous, Sienna.”

  So they were on a first name basis now. That was fine. But it wasn’t going to stop her from doing what had to be done. “I’m aware of the risk.”

  “Dante told us you had an episode last night that involved you channeling into the victim and losing consciousness. Your heart stopped and you had to be resuscitated.”

  She acknowledged the chief with a nod of her head. “And now I’m fine.”

  “Fine enough to pull this off without coding?” he challenged.

  “And what’s the alternative? I have no idea who the killer is, no idea where he is. Am I suppose to just sit back and wait for him to toss Nathan’s heartless body away when he’s done with him? I can’t do that.”

  “You’re in love with Nathan,” Trinity said on a sigh.

  “Yes,” Sienna admitted and it felt damn good.

  “I understand how you feel, but is he worth your life?”

  Sienna stood tall, her back straight as she responded firmly. “Yes.”

  Trinity held her hand up, stopping Basil from speaking. “Then let us help.”

  “Are you serious, Trinity? This could kill her.”

  “Sometimes, love is worth dying for. What do you need us to do?”

  “There really isn’t much you can do. All I need is this and then I’m set.”

  “At least let us call in Cooper. Doc Hawthorn,” Basil corrected when Sienna gave him a baffled look. “Having a doctor present could save your life.”

  “Fine, but only if he can get here fast. I’m done waiting.” Before her eyes, the chief vanished and though Sienna had heard he had the ability it was different to see it firsthand.

  “How do you do it?” Mayor Hawthorn inquired.

  Sienna ripped the seal on the plastic evidence bag and shook the note onto her desk. “This note was left in one of the victims. It’s written in the killer’s blood. If I touch it, hold it long enough, I can link myself with him. By doing that, I’ll be able to see where he is and where he’s keeping Nathan. If I can’t see it, I can slip further into his mind and read his thoughts.”

  “Sounds dangerous.”

  “And painful. I won’t lie by saying there are no side effects. There are plenty. Locking with his mind could backfire on me and he could have control over mine, which would put me into a vegetative state. Damn human genes. But I’m riding on my demon genes and hoping they’re stronger than the human part of me. Don’t ask me to stop now because I won’t.”

  Trinity flipped the long red braid of hair over her shoulder as she spoke. “I once gave my life for my husband, so I know all about wanting to do whatever you can to save the man you love. If I see that you are losing control, I will step in and bring you back.”

  Sienna’s head tilted. “You can do that?”

  “I can, and I will.”

  Sienna jumped when the chief popped into her office, the doc right beside him. “That is just wild.”

  “I cannot believe you’re doing this,” Doc Hawthorn chastised with a raised index finger. “After what you’ve been through, the risks are—”

  “We’ve been through all of this already, Doc, so save your breath. I’m doing it and I’m told Trinity can help me should I lose control, so if you all don’t mind, I’d like to get started.”

  “Good thing I brought my hospital kit.” Doc Hawthorn lifted his ancient black bag.

  “Here’s hoping you won’t need it.” Deciding sitting on the floor was the best, just in case the doc had to perform CPR on her again, Sienna took the note carefully in her fingers and sat. Taking a deep breath, she placed her palm over the bloody print.

  The jolt entered her like a stab of white hot light. She gasped, her head flew back and when she saw the doc rush to her side, she shook her head. “I’m good. I…feel him. He’s…happy…secure. I’m going to go deeper. Unless I stop breathing, don’t stop me. Got it?” When she received nods from all three, she closed her eyes and let herself sink into the mind of the madman.

  It was dark, and the need, a great need for power, was so strong Sienna felt it grip her. He was strong, had recently become stronger, but she wasn’t about to let that stop her. She had her own strength and, forcing an opening, pierced through the core to his mind.

  ***

  “We have a visitor.” Kenton said, rubbing his head as if he had a headache.

  “Someone’s here?” Thank God, Nathan thought. He was finally going to be saved.

  “Not physically.” Kenton sat back in the chair across from Nathan and smiled. “It’s your lover. She’s attempting to break into my mind. Isn’t that fascinating? Did you know she was a Tejakkan demon, Nathaniel?”

  “Yes.” Damn it, she shouldn’t be doing this. Not after nearly dying earlier.

  “She’s strong, but we’ll see who is stronger. Would you like to say hi to your lover, Nathaniel? She can hear you, so why don’t you blow her a kiss.”

  “Stop this, Sienna. Don’t do this, please! I’m okay. He won’t hurt me. He needs me. Just break the link and let me go.”

  “Aw, that is so sweet.” Kenton grinned. “She says, ‘not in this lifetime’. I like her; she’s tough. I’ve never had a Tejakkan heart before. Could be interesting to find out if I would attain her powers.”

  “Sienna, stop, please, just stop!”

  ***

  She saw him, heard him as if he were in the room beside her but she couldn’t see where he was. “I’m not stopping until you’re safe, so save it.” Pushing harder, Sienna dug into the killer’s brain and was bombarded with memories of his life that did nothing more than make her head feel as if it was splitting in two. “Not going to work, buddy.” She swept the memories away like a person would an annoying fly. But when she stepped inside the memories of the killer, it was enough to make her stomach roll.

  “You want inside, Lieutenant? Then by all means, come on in.”

  She felt herself being pulled into the abyss that was his mind and had no control. There were screams, so loud it nearly pierced her eardrums. The moans echoed in the darkness and rebounded inside of her mind. There was joy, so much joy as he took life after life and savored the power it gave him. He’d been a killer long before he knew what the humans’ deaths could do for him. He enjoyed toying with his victims, pulling off fingers, arms, ears, watching them bleed and beg for their lives. And he’d only been a boy when it had all begun.

  She felt his greed, his hunger, his desire to inflict pain and it coiled in her belly like acid.

  There were experiments, where he would see how long a human could live without arms, without eyes, without internal organs.

  “Enjoying yourself, Lieutenant? Now it’s my turn to play.”

  She felt him pull her in even deeper, felt the slippery fingers of his mind grab hold of hers and squeeze.

  “NO!” Sienna screamed but the sound never got past her lips.

  “Well, isn’t this interesting. It seems, I can control your mind. Better end this little party before you ruin my plans. Grab your weapon, Lieutenant. That’s a girl. Now put it to your head. Wonderful. Now pull the trigger.”

  Sienna felt the penetration into her mind like a tearing of skin. She cried out but then as quickly as the pain had come on, it ended.

  “I told you I would help you.”

  Sienna felt herself being pulled back, pulled out of the dark abyss that was the killer’s mind and as she broke free, the light pierced her eyes and made her cry out in pain.

  “Her heartbeat is irregular. Lieutenant, can you hear me?”

  She knew it was the doc’s voice but she saw nothing but blinding whiteness. “I can’t see! Why can’t I see anything?” She panicked, swiping a hand at her eyes.

  “Give your mind time to recoup. Just close your eyes and take a few deep
breaths,” Doc Hawthorn soothed, placing a hand over her eyes.

  “I knew it was too dangerous,” the chief spouted.

  “I had to bring her out of it. He had control of her mind.”

  “You should have stepped in sooner.”

  “Stop it!” Sienna hollered at the arguing threesome. Pushing the doc’s hand away, she opened her eyes, blinking rapidly. The haze that covered her eyes was dark and there were some sort of sparkling lights flashing before her vision. “I know where he is. I know where he has Nathan.”

  “Tell me where he is and I’ll go get him,” Detective Vega stated, kneeling in front of her.

  “We have to move fast before he takes him somewhere else.” Sienna turned to Trinity. “If I let you in, can you see where he is?”

  “Yes, I can but it could—”

  “I don’t want to hear the buts. Next question. Can I transport with you? It’s faster if we go by air…so to speak.”

  “I can, but it might—”

  “Once again, not caring for the buts. Let’s do it.”

  “You truly love him.”

  “With all my heart.” Sienna held her hand out to Trinity.

  “Then let’s do it. Basil?”

  “Try to stop me.”

  With a vampire at either side, Sienna opened her mind to let them in.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Sitting helplessly in his chair, Nathan wished he could do something to stop Sienna before it was too late. Closing his eyes, he tried to fight off Kenton’s control. He didn’t know if it would even be possible but he had to try.

  “Damn it!”

  Nathan’s eyes flew open to see Kenton burst to his feet.

  “I lost control. We have to go. She knows where I am.”

  As Kenton knelt at his feet for what Nathan assumed was to disengage the detonator, he hoped the guy would lose his grip long enough to let Nathan go. When Sienna with two other people popped into the room—and how weird was that—he sat in his chair, his jaw dropping.