Shifting Isles Box Set (Books 1-3): The Prisoner, S.P.I.R.I.T. Division, and Return to Tanas

by G. R. Lyons

  “Thayeron Cryntz,” her father growled.

  “Very good, Mr. Rothbur,” Cryntz taunted. “Very good. You finally figured it out. Of course, you'd never have discovered my identity if it hadn't been for that little slut of a daughter of yours. Bravo on faking her death after my failed attempt at the hospital.”

  “You listen here, Cryntz–”

  “No, you listen!” he said, his smooth voice suddenly dripping with venom. “Come after me all you want, but you'll never stop me. Crawford and Saira are going to die, and there's nothing you can do about it.” A gunshot sounded on the other end of the line, and Cryntz barked, “Come and find me.”

  The call went silent, and Saira stared down at the mobile in her father's hand, unable to breathe.

  “What do we do now, Chief?” Malrin asked.

  Benash straightened up, supporting Saira, and tossed his mobile aside. “Let's go.”

  Saira locked the apartment and followed the officers as they ran back down to the cars, thunder crashing all around them as they tore out onto the streets and raced back to the agency.

  Lightning flashed in the midst of utter darkness, blinding them all, and the rain came down in a roar. Saira flinched at every flicker of light and crash of noise, her heart racing with worry as to how they would find Charlie once they arrived.

  Her father manually overrode the steering of the car as they neared the agency office, sliding the car right up onto the curb and slamming his fist on a button to shut it down. The other cars pulled up right next to them, and everyone piled out, racing up the stairs to the front door.

  Saira followed them inside, creeping forward in total darkness, until a flash of lightning behind them showed the reception desk in a wrecked heap off to one side, with Lani alive but unconscious in the midst of it. Stepping around the debris, they made their way into the main office area, only to find it completely unrecognizable.

  Another flash of lightning showed every bit of furniture and equipment lying in broken pieces around the edges of the room, as though a bomb had gone off in the center and blown everything outward. A few broken screens flickered and flashed, while the overhead lights buzzed as they struggled to come back to life.

  The officers spread out around the room, picking their way over the debris, and Saira looked around, trying to find any sign of Cryntz.

  Then she screamed.

  “CHARLIE!”

  Benash looked up and saw Saira running toward the middle of the room, where Charlie stood alone, his hands bound behind his back. As the lights flickered above him and the lightning flashed outside, he saw what had made Saira scream.

  A rope knotted around Charlie's neck lay trailing on the floor behind him before it rose up to the rafters, high overhead, the end slung over a beam and tied around what used to be a desk but now looked like nothing more than an enormous, crushed can. The weight hung there in midair, supported by powers that Benash couldn't fathom.

  Saira ran straight for Charlie, then lurched to a stop several feet away as a dark figure emerged from behind him.

  “I wouldn't do that if I were you,” Thayeron Cryntz said, leering at Saira as she froze.

  “Fire at will!” Benash yelled, and raised his own weapon, aiming for Cryntz's head.

  Cryntz lifted a hand, giving all the officers a quick glance. “That won't be necessary.”

  Benash stumbled back, stunned, as his gun fell to pieces in his hands.

  SAIRA WHIRLED around, watching in shock as the officers' guns came apart and hit the floor. She looked back at Cryntz and saw him wave both arms, throwing the men to their knees and locking them in place so they couldn't move.

  The lights and screens flickered and died, overwhelmed by the magic all around, leaving the room in total darkness.

  “Oh Saaaaaairaaaaaa,” Cryntz chanted in a murmur, moving around her in the dark. The lightning flashed, and she gasped, flinching away as he appeared near her and vanished again. “Sweet Saira. Pretty little Saira. The girl who could have had any man she wanted.” He paused, and Saira felt him suddenly behind her. “And probably did, truth be told.” He waved his hand near her, and a torch flared up in the middle of the room, giving just enough light for her to see Charlie and the rope and the prostrate men all around her. Cryntz grabbed her by the hips and leaned in close. “Because you certainly weren't a virgin when I had you.”

  “Leave her alone!” Charlie shouted, struggling against his bonds.

  “And then you had to go and pick this pathetic excuse of human flesh,” Cryntz scoffed, stepping around Saira and waving an arm at Charlie as he walked over to him. “Tell me, darling, what in seven hells did you ever see in this man? I mean, the peacekeeper's daughter and a common petty thief? Hardly an ideal match. Although, I suppose he's at least trying to be a man now, trying to impress Daddy and all by working for him.”

  “He's more of a man than you'll ever be, Thayeron,” Saira hissed, then flinched back as he turned to face her.

  “Is that so?”

  Saira yelped as he appeared behind her again, holding her by the shoulders.

  “Did you make him a man, then?” he murmured in her ear. “Did you fuck the boy right out of him?”

  “Stop it!” she cried.

  He laughed in her ear and reappeared close to Charlie once more.

  “What do you think, Crawford? I'm half inclined to let you have her one last time before she dies. I might enjoy watching that. Or– Oooh! Better yet.” He strode over and rested an elbow up on Charlie's shoulder, leaning in as he asked, “How about I let you watch me rape your wife?”

  Saira let out a cry and covered her face.

  “Yes, I think that's the plan,” Cryntz murmured, and he was suddenly behind her again, his arms circling her waist. Saira cringed, trembling and fighting tears, as he ran one hand down her thigh to the hem of her dress, then drew his hand up between her legs, his fingers pressing into her.

  “Mmmm,” he taunted. “Crawford, you should feel this. I think she wants me.”

  “That's not arousal, that's fear, you asshole!” Charlie shouted. “Now let her go!”

  “Oh, no, I don't think s–” He paused, the backs of his fingers brushing along the inside of her other thigh. “What do we have here?”

  He yanked out the knife she had strapped to her leg, and moved around to face her, waving the blade.

  “You won't be needing this.”

  With a sob, Saira lunged for the knife, knocking it out of his hand and scrambling for it, but Cryntz got it first and took a step back, shaking the blade at her.

  “Now, now, now, you wouldn't want to send Crawford to his death early, now, would you?”

  Cryntz pointed up at the weight suspended at the end of the rope and flicked one finger, the weight dropping about a foot before lurching to a stop again, pulling up some of the slack rope that trailed on the floor.

  “You see, darling? If you try to kill me, my magic fails and Crawford dies. You'd best behave.”

  He casually strolled over to Charlie, turned to stand next to him, and raised the knife to Charlie's throat.

  “Now,” Cryntz said, leering at her. “Strip.”

  Saira let out a breathless cry, and Charlie screamed, “No! No, don't do it, Saira! Don't listen to him!”

  Cryntz swung his arm down and slashed the blade across Charlie's leg.

  “Now, Saira!” Cryntz growled as Charlie bit off a cry of pain. “Do as I say!”

  “No,” she cried. “Gods, please, no…”

  He whirled around and shoved the blade against Charlie's throat again, so hard that it drew blood.

  Saira screamed.

  “Any day now, my dear.”

  “Saira, no!” Charlie yelled.

  Tears streaming down her face, Saira yanked on the buttons on her jacket and ripped it off, casting it aside.

  “Good girl,” Cryntz murmured, tossing the knife aside and strolling toward her. The knife vanished beneath a pile of debris, impossible to find i
n the dark.

  Shaking, Saira reached for the zipper at the back of her dress, and Cryntz came to a stop, holding up a hand.

  “Wait. Better idea.”

  He grabbed Saira and shoved her toward Charlie. She stumbled and caught herself, straightening up and backing toward Charlie and away from Cryntz, wincing and gasping as the lightning flashed outside, followed almost immediately by a crash of thunder.

  “Strip him first,” Cryntz ordered, pointing a finger at them. “It'll save me the effort, and it'll be fun to watch.”

  Saira flinched and backed up another step, standing right in front of Charlie.

  “Now, darling, if you don't mind.”

  Saira shook her head rapidly, gasping for air as she sobbed.

  “Saira, honey,” Charlie whispered behind her.

  “No,” she cried.

  “Look at me.”

  Stifling a cry, Saira slowly turned around and faced him, seeing a look of calm determination in his eyes.

  “Charlie–”

  “Just do as he says,” Charlie murmured.

  “What?” she gasped.

  “Do as he says,” Charlie repeated, and looked pointedly down at his side before meeting her eyes again.

  Saira rested her shaking hands on his shoulders and felt the strap of a shoulder harness under his jacket.

  She looked up at him with a slight gasp, and he gave her a subtle nod.

  With trembling fingers, Saira moved her hands down to the buttons on his jacket, undoing them one by one, and then moved her hands back up to his collar, reaching for his tie. She paused, resting her hands there, then took a deep breath and reached inside his jacket, yanking out a gun and spinning around to face Cryntz all in one fluid motion.

  Cryntz flashed her a grin and vanished, the light of the torch winking out at the same time.

  Saira trembled, her arms shaking as she held the gun out in front of her, aiming one direction and then another as she tried to find him in the dark.

  “Saira, Saira, Saira,” he taunted, and she spun toward the sound of his voice, only to have it rise up somewhere else as he said, “You can't kill me, Saira.”

  She spun again, and heard his laughter in another direction. She followed the sound, gasping and shaking, but the voice had already moved.

  “You know I can just take that away from you,” he teased from one direction, then continued from another, “but I have a feeling you'll give it up yourself. You can't beat me.” He moved again, and Saira spun around too late, trying to follow the voice. “I'm going to fuck you until you can't see straight…and then I'm going to tie you up and let you watch while I fuck your husband…and then I'm going to kill you both. Slowly.”

  Saira screamed and whirled toward the voice, firing in the dark.

  Cryntz's laughter filled the space.

  “You almost killed your own father,” he taunted. “I'd be a bit more careful with that.”

  “Stop it!” she screamed, turning one way and then another. “Just stop it! Please!”

  Lightning flashed, briefly showing Cryntz off to one side before he vanished again. Thunder crashed, and Saira covered her ears before holding the gun out again, her arms shaking.

  “Shoot him, Saira!” Charlie yelled. “You can do it!”

  Saira shook her head, gasping, “I can't. I can't.”

  “Yes, you can! I know you can!”

  “Ah, isn't this touching,” Cryntz said with a laugh.

  “Shoot him!”

  “Yes, Saira darling, by all means, shoot me.” Cryntz paused, his voice coming from just behind her. “I guarantee you'll miss. I wonder who you'll accidentally kill?”

  She swung around, but he was gone again. Crying, she lowered the gun, her arms weakening while her heart still raced with fear.

  “Come now, my dear, this grows tedious,” Cryntz said from one side, then moved to another. “We must get on with the plan.”

  Saira gasped out a breath, her eyes wide as she slowly turned back to face Charlie in the dark, his outline just barely visible in the tiny bit of light making its way through the rain-soaked windows from the street lamps outside.

  The plan, she thought, trembling as she straightened, and in a flash of lightning, she caught Charlie's intense gaze on her, a knowing expression on his face. Plan, pattern, compulsion. He's moving in a pattern. Find the pattern, Saira. Find it!

  She closed her eyes and listened, hearing Cryntz's laughter as he moved to one side.

  “Any time now, my dear,” he said, his voice coming from another direction.

  Saira whispered to herself, “One, two, three…”

  “And as much as I'd love to continue tormenting you like this–” he said from a different side.

  “One, two, three…”

  From another place, she heard, “I'd much rather see you whimpering under me.”

  “One, two, three…”

  “So how about it, my dear?” This, from another angle. Saira counted, and heard his voice again from the first point at which he'd stopped. “Otherwise, I'll just drag out the torture longer.”

  She counted again, and he moved to the second point he'd been to before. “You remember that, don't you? Two whole days I had you, and–”

  He vanished, and Saira spun around. In the space of a second, she came to a stop, aimed at the third point where Cryntz should move to, and fired as the lightning flashed outside, illuminating the room as Cryntz appeared just where she'd expected him, the bullet striking right into his heart.

  He made a choking sound, gaped at her for what seemed like an hour but was probably only a second, and then fell, collapsing face-down as the lightning faded.

  Saira lowered her arms, dropping the gun at her side, and started to take a deep breath when several things happened at once.

  All around her, lights and screens came back to life, illuminating the destroyed office in a harsh glow. The officers fell forward, no longer trapped by Cryntz's freezing spell, some immediately jumping up to surround Cryntz while others hurried to reassemble their guns.

  Then the crushed desk hanging at the end of the rope started to fall.

  “No!” Saira screamed, running toward Charlie as the slack rope slithered up from the floor.

  She was just a few steps away when the rope lurched to a stop, just at the point of it tugging slightly on Charlie's throat. She gasped as she looked over, seeing her father and Vorena standing beneath the weight, their arms raised toward it as they tried to hold it off with their combined telekinetic strength.

  “Cut the rope, Saira!” her father shouted.

  Shaking, Saira dove for the gun, spun around, aimed, and fired.

  And missed.

  “Now, Saira!” her father yelled, groaning under the strain of holding off the weight while it still swung high above their heads.

  She aimed and fired again, fraying the rope but not enough. She let out a cry of frustration and tried to aim again, but the weight fell another few inches, pulling Charlie up onto his toes.

  “Saira!”

  Saira gave a wordless yell and fired a third time. The rope snapped apart, dropping Charlie to the floor while Benash and Vorena dove out of the way, letting the mangled desk crash between them.

  “Charlie!” Saira cried, tossing the gun aside and throwing herself to the floor beside him.

  “I'm alright,” he gasped, struggling to sit up while his hands were still bound.

  An officer rushed over, dug Saira's knife out of a pile of debris, and cut the rope binding Charlie's hands. They worked the knot loose from around his throat, and Saira cast her arms around him, hugging him fiercely.

  “Gods, Charlie…” she sobbed.

  “It's alright, honey,” he murmured. “It's alright. I knew you could do it.”

  “Gods, what if he's–”

  She looked over, and saw Malrin bend down, shoving something aside and straightening up.

  “He's dead, alright,” Malrin said, and served a vicious kick t
o the body. “Bloody bastard.”

  Saira sighed with relief and turned back to Charlie, running her hands over his body while she looked for wounds.

  “Are you alright?” she asked, gasping back tears.

  Charlie nodded, looking slightly pale and dazed.

  “I think I saw the ghost.”

  “What?”

  He pointed toward the mangled desk, and swayed slightly as he asked, “Was there a woman over there?”

  Vorena appeared right beside them and laughed. “Did he actually see me?”

  “I think so,” Saira said.

  Her father came over and joined them after making sure the others were unharmed, and Vorena gave him a playful shove.

  “Your telekinesis sure has gotten better there, Hawk.”

  “And thank the gods for that,” Benash said. “Though I'm pretty sure that was all you.”

  Charlie blinked and looked around. “Who are you talking to?”

  Vorena laughed. “I guess I'm invisible again.”

  She patted Charlie on the shoulder and he jumped, making everyone laugh, though most of them clearly had no idea why.

  Chapter 30

  CHARLIE SAT on the floor, holding Saira, while the chief called in a medic to have him checked and Cryntz's body hauled away. With no damage to his throat and an easily-bandaged cut on his leg, the medic said he'd be fine, and the chief sent everyone home, leaving the enormous task of righting the office for the next day.

  Arm in arm with his wife, Charlie followed the chief out to his car. The lightning had stopped and the rain had faded to a slight drizzle, a hint of the Mother's moonlight peeking through the clouds in the distance.

  Charlie took a deep breath, hugged his wife, and helped her into the car, climbing in beside her as the chief took the wheel.

  “Anybody hungry at all?” Benash asked.

  Charlie shook his head, and Saira answered, “Gods, no.”

  “Me neither,” he said with a chuckle. “Let's just stop by the theater and give Garbon our regrets, and then we'll go home, alright?”

  Charlie and Saira nodded, and they lapsed into silence as the car made its way through town.

  The rain stopped completely as the car pulled up to a temporary parking space at the theater entrance and powered down to idle. Garbon himself was hovering under the eaves, eagerly scanning the street, and hurried toward them with a smile when he saw Benash get out of the car.