Monster (Tainted Elements Book 3)

by Alycia Linwood

  Jaiden handed me the laptop. “Actually, we can check that.” He opened the drawer of the nightstand and took out his tablet. A couple of moments later, he lifted his eyes toward me. “The team tried this already, but the elementals either didn’t go there, or the library was too full of people to do anything or try to monitor energy levels. So basically, it didn’t work.”

  “Damn.” I chewed on my fingernails. “Okay, so I can’t walk into that lab saying I have a theory. If the guards can check what investigators have already done, like you can, they’ll never let me in. Or worse, they’ll tell me to ask the boss first.”

  Jaiden put down the tablet, nodding. “Yeah, they’d do that. You’d need to come up with something urgent that can’t wait. Maybe while my father’s out.”

  “And what if we dig out random scientific-sounding words and invent something? If they can’t understand it...”

  “They’d still ask you for the simple version.”

  I put the laptop next to me and lay down on the bed, groaning and closing my eyes. “God, I’m not smart enough to deal with this. The simplest thing I can come up with is to mind-control the hell out of the guards...” I opened my eyes and looked up at Jaiden. “I think I know how we’re going to do this.”

  “How?” He climbed on the bed next to me, lying down on his side. “There are elemental energy detectors everywhere. And even if you risk it and get through the main door, the alarms will go off and the scientists will lock themselves in before you can even get to them.”

  “That’s why we have to remove the detectors. They’re technology. Technology malfunctions all the time.” A slow smile was creeping over my lips, reinforcing the throbbing in my cheek, but I ignored it. “Is there a way to shut down the power?”

  Jaiden considered it for a moment. “I’m afraid not. If the outside source of power fails, we have a generator which kicks in immediately. And the generator’s wires are deep inside the walls and they are protected with magic. You can’t get to them. My father made sure no one could attack the building from the inside. But those energy detectors are a recent addition and I’ve no clue how they’re connected.”

  “Find out.”

  He sat up and reached for the tablet, his fingers moving swiftly over the screen. “I can’t find anything. I guess we could ask someone, but it would be suspicious if the whole system shut down right after I asked.”

  “Is there a chance we could go on a patrol to look for elementals or something with someone who knows this stuff?”

  “I don’t know. Why?”

  “I could mind-control them. Elemontera didn’t protect the agents against me and they think I’m not stupid enough to try anything since my parents’ lives are on the line. But I don’t know if they’d send someone with such expertise on a regular patrol.”

  Jaiden shook his head. “They wouldn’t. None of the regular agents know this. Only someone from the tech team could help.”

  I sighed. “Okay, do you know anyone from the tech team? A girl maybe?”

  “Yeah,” he said hesitantly. “But none of them particularly like me.”

  “Really? Did you sleep with all of them?”

  “No!” he sneered. “Well, not all of them.”

  “Okay, so that was another terrible idea.” The sole thought of some girl’s hands on Jaiden made me want to cut through her brain with my element. Wow, okay. I took a deep breath.

  I supposed I could try to mind-control one of them into thinking that the boss had ordered him to let me into the lab, just like I mind-controlled Tommy in the lunchroom, but even if I succeeded in getting a guard to a spot in Elemontera where I could use mind control, someone could see it, and it would be suspicious because they’d know there was no way that a guard got such an order. And mind-controlling all the guards one by one would take too much time and would be too complicated.

  “I guess we’re back to plan A,” Jaiden said. “You have to convince the guards to let you in. I’m sure we’ll be sent to look for elementals tomorrow, so we could go back to that building, find something, and ask to urgently speak with one of the scientists.”

  I looked at him, waving my hands in excitement. How hadn’t I thought of this earlier? “The scientist! That’s our key!”

  He narrowed his eyes, tilting his head. “I don’t follow. If you want to mind-control one of them, that will be complicated because they rarely go out alone, they use different hallways, and they definitely don’t have the authority to invite agents into the lab without obtaining permission from my father.”

  “No, I wasn’t thinking about them. Your father sent me once to take that biochemical weapon we’d found to some guy, Victor or something. I know where his lab is. If we are careful, we can catch him, and I can mind-control him to give us something that needs to go directly to the lab. Maybe something that is dangerous to put down. Something that would leave them with no choice but to let me into the lab.” My lips spread into a smile. “I’d try it without involving Victor, but if I’m discovered before I get to the lab, then I’m screwed.”

  “I don’t know anyone named Victor.” Jaiden frowned. “Why would my father believe this guy sent him something? And how would he even find you?”

  “I can say I was in the area and that he spotted me and... I don’t know. I’ll ask Victor if your father would believe it.” I shrugged. “We can try. There’s really nothing to lose.”

  He considered it for a moment. “Okay, we’ll try that.”

  “Great. Now what?” I sat up, running a hand through my hair to untangle the knots.

  “I don’t know. Do you want to read a book? Watch a movie?”

  “Movie would be good.” I stretched my arms, fighting the urge to yawn.

  Jaiden picked up the remote control and pressed a button. As I followed his gaze, I realized there was a plasma TV almost hidden on the dark wall.

  “What would you like to watch?” he asked.

  “I don’t know. Anything.” All I wanted to do was not move from the bed and get some rest. The screen went bright, the beginning of a movie flashing on it. Jaiden threw the remote on the bed and turned to me.

  “Let’s get you comfortable.” He picked up the pillows and stacked them so I could lie down and still see the TV, and then he settled next to me. The movie seemed interesting, but it couldn’t quite hold my attention. I kept glancing at Jaiden, who finally looked at me. There was something in his dark eyes, something warm and inviting.

  I didn’t waste another moment. Leaning forward, I pressed my lips against his. His mouth moved against mine, slowly and gently. When we pulled apart, we were both breathless.

  “I...” he started to say, but I put my finger across his lips.

  “Shh. Don’t say anything.” I pulled myself closer to him, resting my head on his shoulder, and closed my eyes.

  Chapter 14

  The next day Jaiden and I were called to the boss’s office. The only thing he told us was to go out and find the elementals. That was exactly what we needed, so I hurried to take a shower and got dressed for a mission. Since the team was absolutely clueless about the possible location of the elementals, we’d been sent to patrol the city and report anything suspicious.

  As I made my way to the elevator, I passed by a couple of agents, their faces grim. I wondered if they were worried because they couldn’t catch the elementals or because we couldn’t even discover the elementals’ identities. Except for Raven’s—or should I call her Sandy?

  Jaiden was waiting for me when I emerged from the building, and I breathed in the fresh air, my face warmed by sunshine. Speaking of my face, whatever Jaiden had put on me yesterday had worked and my cheek wasn’t swollen anymore, but a nice shade of purple had developed just under my eye. But as long as it didn’t hurt like crazy, I’d live. I’d popped a painkiller just in case.

  “You ready?” Jaiden asked, his hands in the pockets of his black leather jacket.

  I nodded. “I hope this works.” Turning into air
, I rose up until I could see the whole city below me. Jaiden followed me, but soon he disappeared in another direction. I flew around a little because it would be too suspicious if I went directly in the direction of Victor’s lab.

  The city was alive with people and cars, and I wondered how many more elementals like me were in hiding or still didn’t know they had an extra element. My generation was the first to have genetic manipulation go awry, but the same process had been repeated numerous times over the years.

  I wondered why Elemontera or the government hadn’t put a stop to the genetic manipulation if they were so against tainted elementals. But then again, our cases were rare, and still less magic disease carriers were being born, thanks to that process. Besides, if they planned to become like us, then they needed us so they could find a way to replicate our DNA or whatever it was that gave us an extra element.

  Two hours later, I flew closer to that shop where Victor’s lab was hidden. Landing in the nearby alley, I considered reaching all the way into the building and finding his mind. Focusing on my element, I let it roam, but as it brushed a mind, it slipped inside, snatching at the brain signals.

  I gasped, unsure in whose mind I was inside, and tried to pull my element back, but it didn’t work. My breathing ragged, I started running down the alley, as far as I could from that mind I was in. My element finally detached its greedy fingers and slammed into me, unsatisfied. I panted, leaning against the wall.

  A shimmering not far from me caught my eye, and I stared at it, trying to figure out if it was a friend or enemy. If it was Jaiden, he would have already yelled something. I hadn’t looked into any cameras or asked for a meeting with Noah, so it couldn’t be him. Bracing myself for a fight, I waited for the shimmering to settle down. I couldn’t exactly attack someone I didn’t know without a reason, especially if it was some other elemental who thought I couldn’t even see him.

  When the shimmering cloud turned into a blue-eyed boy, I gritted my teeth and glared at him. “God, you could have said something! I almost attacked you!”

  Noah approached me, his face serious, worry creasing his brow. “Hush. I came for you.”

  “What?” I gaped at him, stepping away as he took something out of the pocket of his brown coat. It was some kind of a white device that resembled a phone, but I was sure it wasn’t one. “What is that?”

  “Your mission has been compromised,” he said, reaching for my arm. “I’ve been waiting for you to get outside so I could find you. Lily gave me this device so I can take off your bracelet and take you somewhere safe.”

  “What?” I blinked at him, a sour taste in my mouth. “Are my parents okay?”

  “Yeah, they’re fine, but Elemontera is about to find out that we sent agents to pretend to be your parents, so we have to get you out. Now!” He tried to take my wrist, but I pulled my hand away.

  “You sent agents to pretend to be my parents?” I reached out with my element, but not for Noah’s mind. I searched around to see how much time we had and if any other agents were around.

  “We knew the boss would never accept that he doesn’t know where your parents are when that’s the only thing that keeps you loyal to Elemontera. He dispatched men to find your relatives too, no matter how distant.”

  I opened my mouth to say something, but he raised a finger to shush me.

  “Don’t worry. It’s all been taken care of. Lily was afraid Jaiden had revealed something about your mission to his father, or that something had happened to you. You don’t know how glad I am you’re okay. But I don’t know why the boss has issued this order now. Did you do something? Did he tell you anything?”

  I chewed on the insides of my mouth. Oh, yeah. I had a pretty good idea why the boss had done it. After all, he wouldn’t let just anyone go to his private floor and to his son’s room. Now he needed to make sure he could control me. Maybe letting me go with Jaiden was a part of his plan to make me more compliant, because if I were to fall in love with his son, my loyalty would only be stronger, or that was what he could be thinking. “I... I don’t know.”

  “Give me your hand,” Noah said, his neck and shoulders tense, his eyes darting left and right. “We need to hurry!”

  “No, I can’t. I’m about to find a way to get inside the main lab.”

  “Didn’t you hear a word of what I just said? Elemontera knows!” Noah hissed.

  “We don’t know that,” I said calmly. “If they thought I was trying to do something, they would have already detained me and not let me out to give me a chance to escape.”

  “And what do you think they’ll conclude when it turns out that people who are now living in your house are actually actors and not your parents?”

  “Okay, so they’ll find out. Maybe they’ll think my parents are just smart and figured out they were monitored. They probably know my mom was friends with the ex-president of the Element Preservers. I mean, what did they expect, anyway? That they could monitor anyone and that no one would find out? Just because my parents went into hiding doesn’t mean I had anything to do with it.” I could always play dumb with Elemontera.

  “Don’t be crazy. You have to come with me. You could get yourself killed.” Noah’s eyes were pleading.

  “And tell me when we’re going to get a chance as good as this one? Will we let Elemontera hunt us forever because something might happen to me? I knew the risks when I signed up for this. You might think that what I’m doing is crazy or extremely stupid, but it’s my life. And I won’t back down now.”

  “Damn it, Moira!” Noah’s face contorted with anger. “Think about it for a second. Just think about it!”

  “I am thinking about it! And I’m not going anywhere, not now. Jaiden and I have a plan...”

  “Jaiden?” Noah sneered. “Of course he’s involved. I should have known. You want to get yourself killed, and for what? For him?”

  “Look, it doesn’t matter. I made my choice. You don’t have to like it or agree with it.” I moved my bracelet away so he wouldn’t try to take it off by force.

  “Great. Are you going to mind-control me like last time? What was so important about that note that you didn’t want anyone to see?” His voice was cold as ice.

  “Just forget it.” I shook my head and started down the street.

  “We found out what you did... Those four carriers...” he said. “You shouldn’t be in Elemontera anymore. It’s not good for you.”

  I stopped, glancing at him over my shoulder, then I just kept going. When I looked back again, he was gone. Glad that everyone, including my parents, was still safe, I headed toward Victor’s lab. I didn’t know what the boss would think about my parents, or if he’d found out about their connection to Lily, but would he immediately assume I was a spy?

  As far as I knew, no one was aware that I’d even seen my parents or Lily. And I had Jaiden on my side. He’d tell his father we’d only been captured by Sheridan and no one else. Unless of course the boss assumed I’d been a spy all along, even before Elemontera found me. That wouldn’t be good for me, but I didn’t want to think about that. If I could get myself into that lab and infect the system, nothing else would matter.

  Chapter 15

  As I entered the store, I reached with my air for Victor. There was only one mind in the lab, and I assumed it was him, so I ordered him to come out. A couple of moments later, the door opened and he walked outside, his eyes dazed, his white coat stained with green spots.

  He turned to me, his face lighting up. “Oh, there you are. Come! We don’t have much time.”

  “Um, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Maybe I should check in with my boss first. I mean...” I put up a show for the cameras that were all over the shop.

  “Nonsense, dear. This can’t wait.” He went through the door, and I followed. Once we were in the lab, I checked the corners for cameras and couldn’t find any. Victor stood in the middle of the room, blinking in confusion. Tightening my grip on his mind, I looked into his eyes.
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br />   “How do you know Jack Maiers?”

  “We’ve been friends for a long, long time. Since he was in college, actually.”

  “Oh. Does he trust you?” Who would have thought the boss would actually have a real friend?

  “Yes, of course.” Victor smiled.

  “Why don’t you have better protection here? Elemontera’s labs usually have guards or special alarms and devices?” I could still back down if there was something I didn’t know about.

  He waved his hand in dismissal. “This is my lab, not Elemontera’s. Jack offered, but I don’t want any strange men or devices around here. They affect my experiments. All my readings would be wrong with so much technology around.” He went quiet, and I pushed my element a little harder to get him to continue. “I tried one of his energy detectors, and my velinioam burst through its glass. Chemicals, especially elemental chemicals, are a dangerous thing.”

  Velinioam? I’d never heard that term before, and I had absolutely no clue what it was. “Okay, so what are you working on? Something for Elemontera?”

  “No, I don’t work for Elemontera.” His brow furrowed. “This is science. Elemontera is... corrupted by technology.”

  My lips parted in surprise, but I just nodded. This actually gave me another idea. “You don’t like technology much, do you?” I asked.

  “No. I told you, it affects my experiments too much.”

  I looked around at all the glasses, cups and containers. Some of them had a shimmering or glowy look, which meant they were all enhanced with elemental energy. No wonder they wouldn’t work well with technology that had elemental energy in it too. “But if Elemontera were to forget about their technology, do you think it would be a better place?” My element was starting to get uneasy, wanting to squash Victor’s mind, but I held it on a tight leash.

  “Oh, yes.” Victor’s eyes sparkled.

  The boss might trust this guy with dangerous biochemical weapons because Victor was good with it, but I wasn’t quite sure his mind was intact after breathing in all these strange fluids. Actually, the smell around here was constantly bitter, and I couldn’t quite pinpoint where it was coming from.