Slipping the Past

by D. L. Jackson

  “Who said you wouldn’t feel pain if I fucked you?” His eyes darkened and he shoved the staff into the holster on his back. “On second thought, I’ll do this the old-fashioned way. Barehanded. We can go back to my place.”

  “Lovely.”

  The humor fled his face. “Jocelyn Miller. I have a warrant for your arrest.”

  “Yup, a warrant. Okay, got that. Tell me something I don’t know.”

  “You made the top of the list. The biggest head price. How’s it feel to be on top?”

  “Do I get to make an acceptance speech?” Jocelyn took more steps back, passing the old man, switching her ride to a dumbstruck candy striper.

  He grinned. “Okay, I’ll play. What would you say?”

  “Duck.”

  “Duck?” The reaper gave her a puzzled look and then his eyes widened a second too late.

  Nate laid the Louisville Slugger against the back of Ian’s head, dropping him to a heap on the floor. “I knew this would come in useful. Glad I kept it.” Nate kicked Ian. “That’s payback, asshole.”

  “It’s about time.”

  “I know.” Nate grinned. “I’ve been wanting to serve him a healthy dose of what I just gave him since he twisted my arm in that wreck.”

  “That’s not what I was talking about. We need to get out of here. Now.”

  “Kind of figured that out. It’s why I’m here.” He glanced down at the unconscious reaper and gave him one more kick in the ribs for good measure. “You sure know how to pick them.”

  Jocelyn grabbed Nate’s hand and tugged him toward the elevators. “Ian’s got a friend.” The elevator doors dinged and slid open.

  “Shit,” Nate said.

  “Yeah, I know. He’s a young one…can’t teleport, but he’s a strapping buck and a mean bastard. Plus, he’s a little pissed about his jacket.”

  “No, I mean ‘shit there’s another on the elevator and he isn’t young.’” Nate swung her around, placing her behind him. “Do I even want to know what you did to the other guy’s jacket?”

  “Probably not.”

  “What is this, a reaper convention?” Nate stepped back, forcing her to retreat.

  “Didn’t you hear the news? I made the top of the list,” Jocelyn said, borrowing Nate’s eyes. “Nope. Not the same one. That sucks.”

  “Sucks. Uh, yeah. Looks like it’s open season.”

  “Surrender the woman. You’re of no concern,” said a squat reaper built like a tree trunk. This one appeared to be all business.

  Nate pushed her back. “I’ve got a problem with that.”

  “You’ll have a bigger problem if you get between me and my capture.”

  Nate swung the bat. The reaper jumped back.

  “Get out of my way, boy.”

  He swung again. “Boy? Get any closer and I’ll serve a homer down your throat.”

  “You haven’t got the balls.”

  Nate arced the bat, changing direction, and swung upward. The bat connected with a soft thud between the man’s thighs. “I call that my grand slam special.” The reaper squealed and dropped to his knees, followed by a face-plant into the floor.

  Nate grabbed Jocelyn’s hand and they took off running. Away from the crying reaper, past the unconscious Ian, and back toward the first reaper. The day just kept getting better with each tick of the clock. God, could it get worse?

  Then the power snapped off.

  Chapter Five

  “There’s a big one at our twelve o’clock. I saw him before they cut the lights,” Nate whispered. “Stay here. I’ll draw him away.”

  “I don’t like you using yourself as bait.”

  “You’re my sister and it’s my job to protect you. Besides, it’s too late. I don’t think Ian will forget what I did.” Nate dropped her hand and pushed her into a room. “It’s only a small distraction. Use it to get your ass out of here. I’ll meet up with you at the hotel.” Nate slipped away.

  “Nate,” Jocelyn hissed. “Get back here.”

  No answer.

  “Nate,” she dared a little louder.

  Nothing.

  Jocelyn groaned. She’d have to do it regardless what Nate thought. He’d bitched about her taking over the clerk, but there were times when it was necessary. He wasn’t going to be happy about what she did, but he’d get over it. Better safe than dead.

  Jocelyn jumped into Nate and seized control. Surveying the dark corridor, she moved Nate around overturned carts and people huddled on the floor, forcing him toward an exit and safety. The reaper lifted his head and stared in Nate’s direction.

  “Jocelyn Miller,” the Enforcer called out. Shit. He’d picked up her energy, riding inside her brother. Her intent hadn’t been to make Nate a target, but that was what she’d done.

  Jocelyn swallowed and eyed the biggest obstacle ahead. Sensing her fleeing soul, the reaper swung his arms in their direction. With only a split second to react, she forced Nate to step to the side. The reaper’s hands grasped air.

  The Enforcer reached again and Nate and Jocelyn bobbed down, shifting the other way to avoid him. Energy brushed energy and she shivered. An inch closer and he’d have caught them.

  “I have a warrant for your arrest.”

  Doesn’t everybody? Jocelyn shuffled them back, using a gap to dodge between the reaper and wall, heading for the open corridor. They stepped over a tipped cart and picked their way around medical supplies and debris.

  As the distance between him and his prey increased, the reaper started after them. He cursed something unrecognizable when he tripped over the cart. A loud clatter of metal filled the hall and the Enforcer scrambled to find secure footing.

  Her vision fuzzed and Jocelyn felt the pull back to her body. She focused and held on. If she let go now, she wouldn’t have enough strength left to stay there, let alone jump back again. A hundred yards would get him to a fire escape and out of the hospital. A little farther and he’d be safe.

  Static filled her vision and a wave of distorted energy rippled through her as though someone yanked on the collar of her shirt. She renewed her effort a second too late. Her grip slipped free and Jocelyn’s soul tore away, racing back toward her body.

  “Joce!” Nate yelled, turning around in the corridor, one hand extended in front of him, patting empty air.

  Jocelyn gasped, drew in a lungful of air, and struggled to stay on her feet. She grabbed the door jamb and wobbled back and forth. He had to run. The hall ahead of him was now clear, but not for long. The reaper was zeroing in. She opened her mouth and a hand clamped over it. Another arm wrapped around her waist, dragging her backward into the room. Jocelyn bucked, kicked, and tried to bite.

  A mouth pressed against her ear. “Calm down and stop fighting me. You’re kicking off energy they can track.” His hand slid from her mouth.

  “Gabriel.”

  “That’s right. Fifteen Enforcers are here, not counting myself. If you want to get out with your soul intact, you’ll do exactly as I say.”

  “Why are you helping me?”

  “I’m not.” He caught her arm. “Let’s go.” He headed for a clear part of the hall and the opposite direction of the Enforcer.

  “You can see in the dark?”

  “No, I’m like a bat with sonar.”

  Kinetic manipulators were rare stock. One in one hundred thousand was born KM like Gabriel. They could feel and interpret energy patterns, track using the abilities, and as she’d just learned, sense where it flowed in open paths, allowing them to see in the pitch black of a basement corridor.

  Maybe he couldn’t see in the dark, but she could. That was the benefit of having fully dilated pupils. Light hurt, but in the absence of said energy…. Jocelyn stepped forward, took her glasses off, and poked her head out the door. Minimal pain. Several people huddled together near the floor. Nate turned slowly in the hallway, bat extended.

  “Jocelyn,” he called. “You there?” Nate bumped into an empty wheelchair and whacked it with the bat, s
ending it spinning into the wall with a loud bang. “Jocelyn?”

  Gabriel clamped his hand back over her mouth. The reaper’s grip tightened on her arm. “Don’t answer,” he whispered. “They’re listening, hoping you’ll give yourself away. Look to the left. Low-grade tracers.” Two reapers, a male and a female, slid along the wall, moving toward Nate.

  Gabriel pulled her from the room and toward a fire escape. “We’re going to the roof.”

  Jocelyn twisted out of his grip. “Not without my brother.”

  “They don’t want him. Not unless he’s with you,” Gabriel whispered and grabbed her arm again.

  “They might. He did something stupid earlier.” She pulled away and started toward Nate. Gabriel growled under his breath and snatched her wrist. He yanked her back and lifted her off her feet, bringing her nose to nose with him.

  “You’re leaving now.” Sparks of energy leaped into his eyes.

  Jocelyn kicked him in the shin. The muscle in his jaw flexed.

  “Put me down.” She kicked him again.

  Gabriel hefted her over his shoulder.

  She pounded on his back and drew in a deep breath.

  “Scream and I’ll toss you to them,” he said softly.

  “Put me down,” she whispered.

  Gabriel charged down the hall, weaving around patients, doctors, nurses, and reapers. The reapers lifted their heads as they passed, as if they sensed something, but couldn’t place it.

  “I’ve cloaked your energy. It’ll work for all but the strongest. Let’s hope we don’t run into Ian.” He went around a corner, pulled the fire escape open, and started up the stairs.

  Jocelyn snorted.

  “What?”

  “I’ve already had the pleasure of Ian tonight.”

  Gabriel froze mid-step. “You saw Ian?”

  “Yeah, I engaged him over tea.”

  “This is serious. Did you talk to him?”

  “Yes, until my brother dropped him in the hall with his bat. Seems I’ve made the top of the list.”

  “You shouldn’t have said anything to him.” Gabriel started back up the stairs, moving faster.

  “Have I made it to the top?” He continued to climb. Jocelyn smacked him in the shoulder. “Gabriel.”

  “Yes, and if your brother attacked him and Ian knows, he’s officially on that list, too. Aiding a fugitive. Assault on a DSLE officer.”

  “I have a week.”

  “They don’t know that. They’ll take you into custody. Our deal is known to a privileged few.”

  Jocelyn gasped and began to wiggle. “We have to go back for him.”

  “Not until you’re safe. You’ve no idea what Ian will do to you.”

  “I have a pretty good idea and I don’t care. Let me down. Please, we have to save my brother.”

  Gabriel stopped and let her slide down his body, until she rested on her feet. He reached up and cupped her chin, staring into her eyes. “Get to the roof. I’ll retrieve Nate.” He leaned in, his lips almost touching hers. Their energies whirled together, sending her heart racing.

  Any other time and she’d see where this was going, but right now another matter cluttered her thoughts. Jocelyn shook her head, pulled his hand off, and stepped away. “I have to save him.”

  “I’m perfectly capable of handling this. Get to the roof. I’ll meet you there.”

  “I need to know he’s okay.”

  A growl rumbled from Gabriel’s chest. “Either you go to the roof now, or we both go and I’ll leave Nate to my co-workers.”

  Jocelyn slid her glasses over her eyes. “I don’t need your help. You can turn the lights back on.”

  The stairwell illuminated. “I told you I’m not helping you.”

  “Call it what you want, reaper. You’re as guilty of aiding.” Jocelyn brushed past, giving him a shove as she went. “If you don’t come back with my brother in five minutes, I’m going after him.”

  “You don’t have a timepiece.”

  Jocelyn glanced over her shoulder, tossing her hair. “I don’t need one. One thousand one….”

  “That’s not exactly accurate.”

  Jocelyn raised her hand to cut him off and continued up the stairs. “One thousand two. One thousand three.”

  “Stubborn, impossible woman.”

  “One-thousand-five.”

  “You missed four.”

  “No, you interrupted the count. I skipped forward. One thousand ten….”

  A draft moved behind her and the door to the stairs clicked shut. Jocelyn turned around and smiled. “One thousand three hundred.” She started back down the stairs toward the hall.

  ***

  Gabriel strode toward Nate. He caught the bat and ripped it out of his grip. “Follow me.”

  “Not in this lifetime.”

  “Your choice.” Gabriel dropped the Louisville and started down the hall, his black leather coat fluttering behind him.

  Nate scooped up the Slugger. “Yeah, you better run!”

  Gabriel continued walking and lifted his fist, unfolding his middle finger.

  “Jackass,” Nate muttered under his breath. The lights buzzed and popped, flickering overhead. Nate heard a sound behind him and glanced over his shoulder. Several reapers moved down the hall toward him. “Hey, wait.” The lights went out again. He took off running for Gabriel. “Can I change my mind?”

  “Keep up and keep quiet.” Gabriel snagged the front of his jacket and yanked him forward. “If I had my way, I’d leave you here. I’m an Enforcer, not a babysitter.”

  “Then leave me. I don’t need your help and neither does my sister.”

  “Who said I was helping you?”

  Nate snorted and knocked the hand off his jacket.

  “Who?” The hand came back and Nate was flung through an open door, lifted off his feet, and slammed against a wall. “Who says I’m helping you?”

  “Jocelyn,” Nate stuttered.

  The reaper dropped him. “Go to the roof and get your sister out of here. There’s a service elevator. Exit is at the rear of the building.” Nate started up the steps. “And, Nate?”

  Nate stopped.

  “I’ll see you in five days.”

  “You’re not coming?”

  “I’m already deep enough. I can confuse them for ten minutes. After that, you’re on your own.”

  “You are helping us,” Nate said and grinned.

  Gabriel flipped him the bird again and vanished.

  ***

  Voices approached and Jocelyn ducked into a room. This floor had windows. There was no way she could hide in the dark like she had in the basement. Several babies began to cry. Even the infants could feel the energy the reapers gave off. A good reason to make herself scarce.

  She cocked her head and listened to the Enforcers pass. She slowed her breathing and tried to think about anything but what lurked outside. Where was Ian? Had he awakened? She rubbed her arms and slid down the door to sit. The energies on this floor, the maternity ward, confused her and she wasn’t sure if she walked in circles or if she’d been here at all.

  Perhaps if they confused her, they’d disorient the reapers. Hindsight told her it might have been better to wait as Gabriel had told her. But a stubborn gene she’d been born with negated common sense. Now she was stuck, not knowing if Gabriel had gotten Nate to the roof, where she’d be if she wasn’t so hardheaded. And stupid. “Damn.”

  Many of the newborns were special children. Their strands of manic energy—pulsing…twisting…swirling—blanketed the entire ward. Jocelyn’s brain began to rewind and the cries of the infants grew louder, echoing inside her skull. She grabbed her head and sank to the floor. Oh God. Not now. Please not now.

  Bright lights. They hurt. Blurry forms moved around her and the light stabbed into her skull. Cold. So cold. She drew in a deep breath, her first, and screamed.

  “It’s a girl,” someone nearby announced. Then a gasp. “What’s wrong with her eyes?”

&nbs
p; “She’s marked,” said another.

  “Would you like to hold her?” She was set on a flat surface and the energy of the person who’d had her backed away.

  “I’m not touching it.”

  A deep voice she’d heard before. Normally, a pleasant energy came from him. Encouragement when she’d been in the womb. Then, he’d talk to her for hours. Now he seemed afraid, but there was something more. His energy felt different. Disgust?

  A woman’s voice, weak and familiar. “She’s a baby. Harmless.”

  “She’s cursed.”

  “It’s only a birthmark.”

  “The unforgiven carry marks.

  “Nonsense. She’s your daughter. Don’t you want to hold her?”

  “No. She’s no daughter of mine. You’re not bringing that home with you. As far as I’m concerned, they can keep it. They’ll call a reader in, you’ll see.”

  “I don’t care what a reader says. If she doesn’t come home with me, neither will you,” the woman said.

  “So be it.” The male’s energy receded and disappeared from the room.

  The woman began to weep. “Give her to me. Give me my Jocelyn.”

  Hands seized her arms and hefted her to her feet. Jocelyn pushed the haze from her mind. The scent seemed familiar. Her stomach flipped. Him.

  “Take slow, deep breaths.” The voice traveled through her body, setting her nerves to burning. Liquid heat pooled into her belly.

  “Gabriel?” Jocelyn sucked in a staggered breath.

  “They’re gone.” He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. She pressed her ear against his chest and listened to the beat of his heart. The rhythm twisted her insides to knots. The man holding her was flesh, warm under her fingers, living and breathing. Not a monster and not a ghost from her past. Energy buzzed through her. Calm yourself. He can feel it.

  His hand slid along her jaw and pulled the glasses from her face. “Open your eyes. It’s dark. We’re in the closet.”