by Nina Bangs
“There. I’m in your thoughts now, Passion.”
That’s how he did it? Ganymede had entered her mind with not even a ripple.
Ted scowled. “I could have been gentler, but traitors must be punished. You deserve to suffer after abandoning your brothers and sisters.”
“Well, if you can read my mind, then read this. You’ve been handing all of us a load of crap since we came into being. Bastard. Wow, cursing really does make me feel better. If I’d known what a wing nut you were, I would’ve cursed a lot more a lot sooner.”
There was no warning. Ted simply leaned down and punched her in the face. Her head rocked back and hit the wall hard. Momentary dizziness made her close her eyes.
Passion felt as though someone had sucked all the air from her lungs. Her stomach heaved and she had to force back the nausea. It wasn’t the pain that made her want to throw up—although the side of her face hurt like hell—but the realization that this was the first time anyone had ever struck her in anger. And she never would have guessed that the blow would come from the man who’d controlled—yes, she could now admit he’d controlled all of them—everything she’d said and done…forever.
All the wasted time, all the lives she might have ruined by intruding on people’s thoughts. She opened her eyes and stared at him. Passion hoped he saw all the disgust and contempt she felt for him.
He smiled. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that. You’ve always been a pain in the ass. I wasn’t really surprised when I realized you were helping them.”
“What are you?”
He widened his eyes in mock surprise. “I’m an angel just as I’ve always claimed.” Ted straightened and leaned against the bathroom doorframe. “Of course, I fell a long, long time ago.”
Fallen angel. Horror tore at her. Not only because of how easily he’d fooled her, but because she feared not even Bourne could stand against one of the Fallen.
Ted smiled. “That’s the first thought you’ve had that has pleased me. And you’re right, of course he can’t stand against me. By tomorrow night, I’ll be the new Big Boss.”
He pushed away from the doorframe and moved a little closer. Passion hated her instinctive fear.
“Now that I’m in your head, I think I’ll see what you know about Bourne’s plans.”
If Passion could laugh, she might be a little hysterical by now. Bourne had used the same method with Kemp, only Bourne had been smart enough not to warn him beforehand. And Bourne had evidently slipped in unnoticed, because Kemp had never suspected he wasn’t alone in his mind.
Ted’s expression didn’t change, but Passion sensed his anger, his need to hit her again.
“So Bourne has Kemp. What did Kemp tell him about my plans?”
Now was Passion’s chance to test her theory that Ganymede had jumped into her mind so easily because she hadn’t seen him coming. She was ready for Ted. She retreated to a corner of her mind where she built her mental wall high and thick, imagined solid steel. Then she hunkered down behind her wall and made her mind a blank.
She could feel Ted probing, trying to find a way past her defenses. The wall held.
“You can’t keep me out, little girl.”
But she did. And sometime in the next few minutes Ted’s probing became painful pokes. It felt as though he was sticking a needle into different parts of her brain. Passion kept her mind a blank even as she kept her wall strong.
“I’ll ask the question in a different way. Maybe you’ll like this version better.” His voice was low and ugly with anger. “What are Bourne’s plans?”
The pain increased. Forget the pins. Now he was using a jackhammer on her brain. If she could’ve screamed, she would have. The pain went on and on. Her wall started to bend and buckle.
“I’ll be in soon. You can’t keep me out.”
He was right. Even her steel wall was collapsing under so much agony. The worst part was that she couldn’t keep her mind blank. The pain wouldn’t let her. So before he blasted through, she focused all her thoughts on Edge, on what she intended to do with her bag of Hershey’s Kisses.
“Yes!”
Ted’s exclamation of triumph was accompanied by a stab of pain so intense she thought she’d pass out. She didn’t. Too bad.
“Now for Bourne’s plans or anything else of importance you’d like to tell me.”
And in her fantasy, Passion performed her Dance of the Seven Hershey’s Kisses for Edge. Over and over and over again, each time with a slightly different variation.
The pain escalated in direct proportion to Ted’s curses. She wanted to reach up and rip off her head.
But something almost as good started to happen. Darkness crept into the corners of her vision, unconsciousness slid closer and closer. And when blackness finally descended, she welcomed it.
It only took a few seconds after waking for Passion to realize that Ted’s Torture Show had only taken a commercial break. He was standing by the bathroom door frowning and the side of her face was throbbing in time to her heartbeat.
She’d wanted to believe she was mentally stronger than he was. Passion now knew she wasn’t. If he started doling out more of the same, she’d cave, and then hate herself. Probably not for long, though, because he’d kill her.
“I don’t have time for this.” He almost sounded petulant. “I have to summon the avenging angels.”
Passion didn’t know why he still called them that. They weren’t angels. They were…Whatever she was. But she wasn’t going to ask him any questions because she had to start building her mental wall all over again.
“I’m leaving you here, Passion. When I come back, I’ll see if you’re ready to answer my questions.” His expression promised more pain if she remained stubborn. Then something seemed to occur to him. “While I’m gone, think about those answers. Once Bourne is gone, you’ll be an important member of my empire.”
Empire? Had he said empire? Oh, boy.
His gaze turned sly. “You’re surprised. You probably thought I’d just kill you after I got my answers and that would be the end of it. But you’ll be working for me for a very long time, Passion. You’re Life, much too valuable to destroy.”
He’d known about her power?
It mustn’t have been hard for him to read her outrage. “I’ve always known you could restore life. Why do you think I allowed you to stick around to annoy me? And if you’re interested, I have enough power to cloak the colors of sin you’re able to see.” He lowered his voice. “You have no idea how powerful I am. Just hope you never find out.”
He started to turn away. “Oh, and don’t waste your time sending out mental calls for help. I’ve layered enough spells around this room to block anything you try to send. And even if someone tried to ride to your rescue, my wards would keep them out.” He smiled. “Try not to miss me too much.”
She listened until she heard the front door close. There were plenty of people who could hear a mental SOS if she had the power to send it.
Wait. Why wouldn’t she have the power? Passion had learned a lot about her mental strength as she’d spent night after night in the minds of others. Maybe Ted had never taken it away at all when he kicked her down here. He hadn’t shut down her other power, the ability to see the colors of sin. She’d just assumed she no longer could enter others’ minds and so hadn’t tried.
But before she could search for someone, she’d have to get past Ted’s spell. She’d learned the best way to reach into a mind wasn’t the swallow–it–whole method. That spread your power over too wide an area, weakening it.
Passion had always gotten better results by slipping through the tiniest possible opening in a person’s thoughts. The more nonintrusive the better. Then she’d direct all her power through the small opening, hitting her targeted area with the power of a laser.
Praying that she still had her power, Passion focused. Then she began to drill a mental hole in Ted’s spell.
17
Death
walked the Castle of Dark Dream’s halls, and tonight he’d live up to his title without any regret.
Passion was missing. No one had seen her after she left Sweet Indulgence. She’d been wrong. Evidently Archangel Ted did have an interest in her.
Edge reached the last door in the long hallway. He focused his power and blew it off its hinges.
Bain winced. “You know, Sparkle’s going to be pissed about having to replace all these doors.”
Edge glared at him. “I’m going to find Passion if I have to tear down the fucking castle.” He strode into the empty room, and after checking in the bathroom and closet, returned to the hallway where Bain waited. “You said all the humans are gone?”
Bain nodded. “Every one. They ran like rabbits. Afraid of a bunch of small insects.” Contempt for humans oozed from him.
“Bedbugs bite. Don’t think you’d hang around long either if they targeted you as their demon dessert.” Edge didn’t give a damn about bugs. He wanted to find Passion. “Is Murmur still here?”
The demon cast him a wary glance. “Yes. Why?”
“He’s not going to sit on his ass doing nothing. He’s still in that body he loves so much because of Passion. So I’d say he needs to shut off his music and help find her.”
“You might not be the best person to ask him.”
“I’m the perfect person. He hates my guts. I’ll promise him a favor. It’ll make his century.” Edge took the stairs up to the tower and Murmur’s room.
He knocked on the door and then waited. Bain stood out of the line of fire.
Murmur finally opened the door. He didn’t smile, and his eyes had that red glow going, but he also didn’t come out blasting. “You left my door on its hinges. You’re maturing.”
Edge controlled rage that was too close to the surface. He needed the demon. “The guy who tried to hire you is named Ted. He’s been masquerading as an archangel. He’s Passion’s boss. Now she’s missing. I’d like you to help find her.” What he wanted to say was, “I’ll rip your head off if you don’t get your butt out here.” Way to sweet-talk a demon. Edge thought about also asking if he could search Murmur’s room but decided against it. No need to antagonize him more.
Murmur relaxed enough to nod at Bain and then to lean his shoulder against the doorframe. “And why should I do this?”
Edge knew better than to appeal to a demon’s better nature. They didn’t have one. “I’ll owe you.”
Excitement glowed in Murmur’s eyes. “A favor? You’ll owe me a favor?” He did everything but lick his lips.
Edge took a deep breath. “Yes.” The demon looked so gleeful that he wanted to punch the smile off his face. For Passion’s sake, he didn’t.
Murmur went back inside his room to get his key and then returned. He joined them in the hallway. “What have you tried so far?”
“Violent door removal.” Bain sounded resigned.
“Why am I not surprised?” Murmur kept smiling, though. “Who else is hunting?”
“Everyone.” Edge knew he sounded grim. “She’s either unconscious or not in the castle because Ganymede and Bourne have been putting out mental calls.” It still bothered Edge that Ganymede had been able to reach into her mind, but he hadn’t. His disappointment wasn’t because it showed that Ganymede had more power, but because Edge was jealous of anyone who could touch her in a way he couldn’t.
He wouldn’t even consider that she might be dead. If he believed that, nothing could save the castle or the city. And she’d never want to be the catalyst for his deadly rampage.
Bain spoke up. “I talked to Bourne. He doesn’t think she’s dead. This Ted wants to reign over his own little kingdom of powerful nonhumans. He won’t have a kingdom to reign over if he destroys his minions.”
Edge tried to calm his breathing. He hoped Bourne was right.
“Makes sense. Have you thought about a portal?” Murmur seemed interested.
“Bourne was able to open one in his suite.” Hope stirred in Edge. “From what we’ve seen so far, Ted has the power to do something like that.”
“How much of the castle have you searched?” Murmur looked bemused as Edge blew away the only other door on his floor. “You know, there’re easier ways to open doors.”
“Yeah, but this takes the edge off my need to maim, murder, and mutilate.”
Murmur waved him on. “Then by all means blast away.”
“We’ve searched all of it. This was the last room.” Edge went inside and did a quick search. Nothing. Frustration and fear pounded at him along with a rising sense of time running out. Where the hell was she? He rejoined Bain and Murmur in the hallway.
“Bain said he’d only checked out one floor with you.” Murmur followed Edge down the stairs.
“At first Bourne sent Edge off to search on his own. But then he decided I might see something Edge missed.” Bain stopped at the bottom of the stairs and pointed down the hallway. “I only helped with this floor.”
Murmur nodded. “Let’s go back over all the places you searched.”
“Why?” Before seeing the demon in action, Edge might’ve dismissed his suggestion. But Murmur had crazy skills, and Edge would use anyone or anything to help Passion. He had no pride where she was concerned.
“I have the power to see past glamours that would probably fool you. Things aren’t always what they seem.” Murmur took the lead as they retraced the steps Edge and Bain had already taken. He stopped at the end of the hallway. “Nothing here. Let’s go down to the next floor.”
That’s when Edge heard it. Passion’s voice. Faint and cutting in and out like a bad phone connection.
“Edge. Help. Ted…”
Ted what? He was missing words.
The others sensed something happening and stood frozen. They didn’t ask questions.
“I’m…”
Where? Edge strained to hear.
“Bathroom.”
What bathroom? But he’d missed that important info.
“Can’t move. Can’t talk.”
Her voice faded away and Edge wanted to break something, preferably Ted’s head. Through his haze of fear and fury, he felt wonder that she’d reached out to him, only him. How had she managed it? Then he remembered her job description. She was used to touching the minds of others. But something was stopping her from maintaining a strong connection.
He waited a few moments, hoping she’d return. Nothing. But at least she was still alive. Relief left him weak. Finally, he turned to the others and told them what she’d said. “Where the hell could she be? I’ve searched the halls up here, and the others have covered the rest of the castle.”
“We’ll retrace your steps, and then we’ll retrace theirs. We’ll hunt for glamours and any sign of a portal.”
“I’m impressed, demon.” And he was. “I should’ve put some thought into the search instead of just becoming a human wrecking ball.” Reason had packed its bags and taken a fast flight out of town once he realized she was gone.
Murmur shrugged. “You care for her too much. Love rots the brain.”
Edge’s response was automatic. “I’m not—”
“You are.” Murmur sighed. “Denials bore me, so don’t bother with them. Let’s go down to the next floor.”
Edge didn’t pay much attention as he followed the demons down the stairs. He felt his way around the word “love,” poking at it in the same way he would an aching tooth. The pain felt way too good. He was glad to reach the bottom of the stairs.
He scanned the length of the hallway. Every door hung open, even Passion’s. Okay, so his temper had been off its leash by that time. “Nothing here. I searched inside every room.”
Ignoring him, Murmur walked slowly down the hall, staring intently at every door. Finally, he stopped in front of an open door about halfway down the hallway. “This door is still closed.”
Bain nodded his agreement.
“How?” Edge trusted the demon’s judgment enough not to argue.
Murmur moved closer. “Very nice.” He reached out to what looked like open space where the door had been, but it was obvious he was touching something solid. “A very strong spell. As soon as you touched the door with your power, the spell made you see what you expected to see—a door blown open. I can see what is because I have no expectations.” He cast Edge a sly glance. “And, of course, I have a variety of amazing skills while you have only one.”
Edge ignored the taunt. “But I went into the room, searched it.” He knew the spell was possible, but it was still hard to swallow.
Murmur nodded. “The spell sold you a bill of goods. You thought you’d opened the door, and you thought you’d searched inside. Actually, you never left this spot in front of the door. Once the spell had seized your mind, it allowed you only to see what its creator wanted you to see.” He looked at Edge, all slyness gone. “The battle between your Big Boss and this Ted will be epic.” Anticipation glittered in his eyes.
Edge’s first instinct was to blast away at the door he couldn’t see, but that hadn’t worked the first time. “Can our combined powers take the door down?”
Bain shook his head. “Along with the glamour, there’s a ward shielding the door from attacks. Removing spells isn’t one of our talents. You need someone with more magical skills.” He glanced at Murmur. “Agreed?”
Murmur nodded. “I wonder if your Ted is inside?”
“It doesn’t matter.” If he could get through that door, no one would stop him from reaching Passion.
“It matters to those of us who care about keeping our asses.” Murmur backed away from the door. “I bet if you manage to get past this door, the door to the bathroom will have enough wards to fry you to crispy-done if you disturb them.”
Bain added his thoughts. “Plus, Ted might be sitting behind that door like a big fat spider waiting to pounce.”
“I don’t think so.” Even as he talked, Edge reached out to Bourne’s mind. He’d thought about trying to get Zane up here, but with Passion’s life on the line, he wanted the best. “His avenging angels aren’t here yet. He’s not ready to face Bourne.”
