PANDORA

by Rebecca Hamilton

  ‘I went nuts.’ I hear in my head. ‘I’m surprised I didn’t distract you the entire time.’

  I knew if I sought you out I’d land on my ass, again. I think the response to myself. Just as I’m about to open my mouth to respond, his eyes widen and he kisses me square on the lips.

  ‘We reached it! True connection,’ he says excitedly in my head.

  ‘What is true connection? And what does this mean for us?’ I ask telepathically, I hope, at least, I think he can hear all this.

  He chuckles and his eyes twinkle. ‘We are connected completely now.’

  “I’d know that look anywhere,” Athan smiles brightly and stands beside us. I duck my head a little as my cheeks turn red.

  “It’s all Caine’s fault,” I say quietly. Seth tenses beside me.

  “No, he triggered you both into an intense emotion. If I’m mistaken, it was because Seth was entirely focused on you and the bond. He felt everything you felt,” he says still smiling.

  I glance around and see Caine talking to Fane. Just like that, ice fills my veins again. “You’re here,” I whisper to Athan. “Where are they? You found them, right?”

  The look in his eyes isn’t promising, but I haven’t lost hope.

  I swallow and squeeze Seth’s hand to prepare for Athan’s words.

  Chapter 22

  The Rescue

  The last twenty minutes rush through me with every step I take closer to the abandoned warehouse.

  Yes, my mom and cousin have been found.

  No, there’s no way to tell how safe they are.

  Yes, they’re alive.

  I suppose that’s all that matters, they’re alive. But they couldn’t guess if they’re still human or what condition they’re in.

  Tears well in my eyes and my lip quivers.

  ‘Calm down, sweetheart.’ Seth’s voice rings through my mind.

  Avan made some kind of communication transmitter, magically of course. I have no idea how a tiny metal disc attached to my gum band will help anyone hear what’s going on, but apparently he’s linked everyone to it. But that little useless disc is apparently useful and a huge part of the plan. Everyone that’s linked will know the minute I need help.

  They’re all banking on me to get the demons to release my family, with a magically enhanced dollar bill. It’s charmed to reveal directions to the lot, only to Mom, when she exits the warehouse. Avan said it also has a spell on it that will allow her to be okay with me not leaving with her. I’m still not sure how it’ll actually work, but Avan said his magic never fails. I don’t know how he did it, just some funny foreign chant and some liquid he and Bo cooked up. He also warned that the charm that my mom will be placed under will wear off when she sees Henry and Leland, together. That’ll be a fun moment for the two of them. After Mom and Alex leave, it’s all on me to keep myself safe until the moment when the others can spring me loose.

  The caw of a bird pulls my attention to the sky. I can only see one bird, directly over my head. It makes me curious if it’s one of the firebirds or if it’s just a bird. Kass explained what it is to be a firebird, and they have the ability to shape shift into any bird, except a Phoenix, that is their leader’s form. When he dies, his oldest son will inherit the Phoenix, through fire.

  The form of a firebird is too amazing to blend in around here naturally, so their true forms are rarely flown. Chase showed us his just before I left. Stunning, but there is no way that bird could ever fit in unnoticed around here. Literally, a golden bird with reds and browns mingled into the feathers. Like the other shifters, they are huge, but they also have a prehistoric quality that I can’t nail down. Maybe it’s their talons or massive beak, could just be that it’s a human sized bird.

  I stumble over a loose chunk of sidewalk and swear. I wonder if they all heard me. ‘Ask Avan if the communicator is working. Please?’ I ask Seth telepathically.

  There’s a short silence. ‘He said it sounds like it, but hum to yourself real quick.’

  We probably should’ve tested this before I left, but whatever. I begin humming one of my favorite songs. I wonder who will know it.

  I hear Seth’s husky laughter ring through my head as I make the next left. ‘My dad asked if Henry sings that to you.’

  I want to laugh, but I can’t, in case the demons are watching me. ‘He doesn’t sing it to me. Well, he has, when he’s being a dork.’

  ‘By the way, my dad knew the song was Sister by Dave Matthews Band. On the sibling note, yours had Charlotte call Avan, again. He wants to be kept in the loop. Avan promised to keep him on speaker, he doesn’t have to talk to him the whole time, but he wants to know everything as it happens.’

  I cross the last street and approach the abandoned wallpaper warehouse on the right. I hear another caw and look up. One of the Aerials sits on the roof with his head bobbing up and down. This is it.

  ‘Wish me luck,’ I say telepathically.

  ‘You got this,’ he responds.

  I take a deep breath for strength and walk up to a broken, vandalized door. I push it open and step through as I release my breath. Cockroaches scurry across the floor as light from the sun seeps in. Goosebumps rise on my arms, my skin crawls, and I bite back a scream.

  Inside smells terrible, mostly of mold and mustiness, but also a tang of death is thickly hanging in the air. I’d bet there are rats or something in here, too. Only the light from the clouded windows, close to the ceiling, let any light in. Barely enough to make my way across the litter filled floor.

  “Hello?” I say in a normal voice but with the echo, it sounds like I yelled. Something shuffles against garbage on my right. I freeze and snap my eyes that way.

  “Well, well, well,” a cold voice says. “What do we have here?” I recognize that voice.

  That voice was the creepy, sing-song voice in the reverie. I shiver and hear the words echo in my mind. “I can feel your soul. Come ‘ere pretty thang. You’ll be a great addition to our family.”

  The man stops about two feet away from me. I fist my clammy hands at my side and quell the urge to run. “He said you’d show up,” he smirks and looks past me. “But he thought you’d bring your dogs, and we would all get to have some fun.” He flashes a toothy grin, and I swallow the rising bile.

  “I’m here to send my family home,” I say as confidently as I can.

  He frowns. “I’d much rather keep them here,” he shrugs.

  “Dax, bring her back,” a hidden woman says in a commanding voice. I recognize that voice from the reverie. A shiver runs through me as I remember how she hit me, and looked at me like I was a snack.

  Dax, the creepy guy, grabs my arm and pulls me to where Rhenata’s voice came from. His hand is so cold, like he just walked out of a walk-in freezer. I gag as my skin crawls again, like thousands of spiders crawling over me.

  I do my best to ignore Seth’s anger and the press of leather attached to my leg. I can’t use it yet. I need to play the part to free my family.

  Rhenata comes into view as we turn the corner to a hidden hallway. Her curly red hair contrasts against the porcelain-like tone of her skin and the darkness of the hallway. She turns to me and smiles. I see the resemblance between her and Avan now, their faces are the same shape, same smile, but the difference is in the eyes, I notice as Dax pulls me to stand directly in front of her. Avan has a rich chocolate color that’s near black, but he has kind eyes. Rhenata has honey colored eyes, with a hint of red and black flecks, making her look as evil as I know she is.

  I swallow and try clearing my throat. “May I see them?”

  “You may,” she says and points to the door to her left.

  Dax re-grips my arm and tugs me through the door as Rhenata’s eyes follow my movement. The door leads into an empty room that has two doors. He takes a deep breath and winks at me before shoving me through a door and slamming it behind me.

  Its pitch black and something, or someone, whimpers. My mouth goes dry and I try to back up, but I
’m too afraid to move. The light flickers on and I see them, still taped in the same position as in the photo. Tears of relief gather in my eyes, and Seth reminds me to stay on task as he brushes my mind like a healing balm. I run over and hug them both before carefully peeling back the tape on their mouths.

  “I love you, I’m so sorry,” I say, as my tears leak down my face.

  “What happened? How are you here?” My mom rushes. “Where are we?”

  I ignore her questions and untie them. Then I pick up Alex, he looks fine, a little scared, but he’s happy to see me. I feel his pants, they’re completely dry.

  “A redhead came in every hour, she took care of us, but didn’t at the same time,” she mumbles noticing my inspection of Alex. “It’s always the same woman,” she whispers and bites her lip as she rubs at her wrist. “What is going on?”

  I ignore her and give her a one-armed hug. “I’m just so glad you’re okay. I feared the worst,” I say as I squeeze her. I lean in real close to her head. “Henry and Leland will probably explain everything to you. There’s something that I have to take care of. I’m giving you something that’ll take you to Fane. I’ll be just f-fine, Mom.” I give Alex back to her and kiss Alex’s adorably chubby cheeks. I pull out the money for her from my pocket. “I had to take a taxi here, so since you don’t have anything, use this.” I enforce my words slightly as I press a small wad of cash into her hand.

  She stuffs it in the top of her bra and nods. “What is this all about? Why aren’t you leaving with me?”

  “I’ll be back shortly. I just gotta take care of something first,” I say and pray with all my might that it’s not a lie. Seth’s presence in my mind is reassuring, I’ll bank on that.

  The door swings open. “They are allowed to leave, but you need to come with me,” Rhenata says, pointing at me.

  I nod, hug my mom and Alex one more time as I say a silent prayer that the charmed money works and they can leave safely. The next thing I know. Mom walks away, Dax follows like a good little pet, and Rhenata is filing her nails with an emery board she pulls out of thin air. ‘Kass and Fionn will follow them until they’re safe before returning to you,’ Seth says. I mentally glare at him for speaking in Rhenata’s presence. We’re not supposed to let on that we can freely communicate, and Rhenata is sensitive since she’s sorceress and devuxen.

  I wait until I hear the outer door creak before speaking to Rhenata. “Thank you for treating them decently.”

  “It isn’t them we want.” She shrugs. “No sense in dragging innocents into all this. They were a pawn to get you and it worked.” She smiles evilly. “Tell my brother I do miss his tricks.” She slants her eyes at me and presses her pointer finger on the gemstone on my bracelet.

  Icy tentacles enter my bloodstream from my wrist. I yell out as my body begins to shake uncontrollably and my bracelet clangs to the floor. My breath comes in short bursts as I slowly feel warmth travel back into me.

  She laughs. “Much better,” she says then she touches my forehead. My vision gets cloudy as black tentacles swim in my eyes.

  “I wouldn’t do that Rhenata. She’s mine,” Derik growls. My vision returns to normal, and Seth swears. I bite my tongue to keep from releasing my sarcastic comment.

  She rolls her eyes and steps away from me. “She’s no longer protected by my brother, do as you wish,” she says flatly and shoves me in his direction. “Tell your father to come see me when he’s done here,” she looks in my direction with disgust. “He better not keep me waiting.” She turns heel and walks out.

  ‘Tell Avan she just left,’ I tell Seth.

  ‘Done. Bo is with him, and Caine is following until they catch up.’

  ‘But, I need him here!’

  ‘He’ll circle back. Don’t worry about a thing.’

  “I’m glad you followed my instructions but you see my father and our Clan wanted more of a fight,” he taps his chin, and my eyes widen. “Don’t worry.” He waves my expression off. “You’re mine, they won’t have you . . . At least, not until I’m done,” he says and laughs an ear grating laugh, and I ignore Seth’s threats as much as I can.

  “I am not your anything,” I say laced with hatred.

  He smirks, and walks across the room to open another hidden door. Two guys walk in, and I recognize one of them from school, Steve.

  “You remember Steve, don’t you?” Derik laughs for some unknown reason. “This is Justin.” He claps the shoulder of a tall sickly-looking guy. “They’re just gonna hang out with you while I run out for a bite.” He winks at me, and my stomach begins to climb my esophagus. “I don’t want to accidentally drain a certain someone.” His eyes travel up and down my body, and my stomach inches higher. “Don’t let her leave, you know she’s mine.” Derik glares at his buddies before walking out the door.

  I look between the two and my mouth goes dry, my stomach bottoms out, and I have that instant urge to run again. But I have nowhere to go. I’m trapped in a small room, with one exit, and two demons that are staring at me and practically drooling. You can see it in their eyes, the hunger, the want, and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.

  “Relax, Jaz. Since Derik staked his claim on you, we can’t touch you,” Steve’s eyes rake over my body, and Seth swears again. “No matter how bad we want to,” he says and gives me a toothy grin with a wink.

  I literally bite my tongue to keep the bile and string of sarcasm at bay. I decide ignoring the comment is best and take a calming breath. “Could one of you guys grab me a chair?”

  “We aren’t your slaves,” Justin sneers. “You want to sit? Then sit on the floor.” I look down to the floor. Dust, trash, and what looks like mouse droppings litter the floor. I’m sure they can plainly see the disgust all over my face.

  “So, you guys are what? My babysitters?” I snort and glance around the room. There’s a table along the far wall and boxes are strewn across the floor. My stomach flutters at the sight of two windows to my left, unfortunately they’re too high for me to reach them if I wanted to and are so filmy I can’t see out of them.

  “Being devuxen isn’t as bad as you think,” Steve says as he walks over to me. I just look at him like he’s crazy, and wonder if all demons are just as delusional.

  ‘In a way, they’re the same as humans. Some are crazier than others.’ Seth chuckles. ‘If they had some mental issues as a human, I’d guess they’d have mental issues as a demon, too.’

  “I just don’t see how anyone would choose that lifestyle,” I shrug. “Did you know what you needed to do in order to survive when Derik turned you?” My lip curls in disgust.

  He shrugs. “No different than killing a cow to make burgers and steaks.”

  Disgust and outrage fills me, and it’s more than likely plain to see on my face.

  He just compared someone’s sweet old grandma to a happy meal!?

  Justin moves and in a blur, he’s standing right in front of me, closer than close. He’s so close I can feel the chill radiating off his body, crashing into me like icy ocean waves, smothering around me.

  He presses his middle to my chest. “I believe Derik was right when he said how stupid you were,” he glares down at me.

  “Dude, she’s Derik’s,” Steve moves to stand next to us. “Back off.”

  Justin grins at Steve. “He’s not here. What do you say we have some fun?”

  “What do you mean?” I choke a little.

  “We can’t damage your soul,” he says and strokes my cheek. I flinch away from him. “But we can still have some fun.”

  I cringe, and Seth growls out another string of interesting curses. “Won’t Derik be back soon?” I ask shakily, and try to back away. Too bad I’m already standing against the wall.

  Steve’s lips are moving, but all I hear is Seth.

  I close my eyes and take a deep breath. ‘Seth, I need you to calm down,’ I plead. Just as I open my eyes, a cold hand lands on my hip, and Justin’s fingers dig into my skin through my cloth
es. The growling and swearing continue, and it takes everything in me to not wince or scream. I bring my knee up quickly, and it bangs into Justin’s crotch. He backs away from me, thankfully. Steve starts laughing at Justin, who gives me the death stare.

  “You like it rough, huh?” He spits.

  The door bangs open, and I jump.

  “Thanks fellas, I’m good to go. You can leave, now,” Derik says and crosses his arms over his chest.

  Justin straightens his stance and glares at me before turning to leave.

  “See ya later, Jaz. You’re gonna be great,” Steve says with a smile.

  It’s strange to feel relief with Derik’s arrival, but honestly he couldn’t have shown up at a better time. My breathing comes slightly easier, but I’m too panicked to breathe easy.

  “Did you miss me?” Derik asks as he closes the door.

  I bite back my snort. “No,” I say honestly. “But I am glad you came back when you did,” I say. “Your friends are a little too welcoming.”

  I push off the wall and accidently close some of the distance between us, but staying against the wall is not an option.

  He nods. “Their actions won’t go unpunished. After the ceremony, you can deal with that how you wish.”

  “What ceremony?” I ask stupidly.

  He laughs. “You’re mine. There’s only one thing left to do now.”

  “I’ll never be yours, Derik. Don’t you understand that?” I ask in exasperation. I’m so tired of repeating myself to him. Seth brushes my mind gently, warning me to be careful now.

  ‘Be careful, love.’

  Derik closes the distance between us quicker than I thought possible. “Sweet, stupid, Jasmine,” he says in a way that contradicts his words. “Once you walked through those doors, you became mine,” he strokes my cheek. “I know exactly what to do, don’t worry, this won’t hurt at all.” He leans forward as if to kiss me. I bring my knee up and hit him in the groin. He hunches and falls to the floor.