by T. G. Ayer
Skating along the rabbit-warren of the corridors, I sensed a change in the ether, a throbbing of energy that was unlike anything a mere human could generate.
A set of double metal doors up ahead shimmered with energy which seemed to push against the steel. Locked and bolted from the outside, it certainly looked capable of holding a prisoner.
I projected inside the room, pausing at the entrance to gauge the situation. The room wasn’t large, no more than twenty square feet. Empty of furniture, the only thing that occupied the floor was an iron cage.
Silvanya, Elf Princess, sat in the cage, a stubborn defiance in the set of her spine.
A single guard paced a foot from me, swearing under his breath.
Silvanya was smiling, and as I drew closer the condition of her bloodied nose became starkly clear.
We were a matched pair.
I frowned and stared at the guard who was busy waving his hands around and staring at his damaged fists, fueled by frustration and probably fear.
I couldn’t imagine the excuse he’d have to come up with to explain to Elise how he’d lost the elf princess. Especially when she’d been safely behind bars the entire the time.
Returning to my body, I opened my eyes and inhaled sharply.
Erik stood from the chair where he’d been sitting, elbows resting on his knees, shoulders hunched over while he kept an eye on me.
I gave him a nod, then got to my feet.
“I found her.”
Chapter 29
A smile curved Erik’s lips.
He’d been rather subdued since we’d returned to the hotel room and I was beginning to worry he was having doubts.
He leaned excitedly toward me. And I had to push him out of the way as I took a step toward my satchel.
“So what’s the plan. Are we going in to get her?”
I shook my head. “I don’t have the energy to transport two people at the same time. You’re going to have to stay behind. It’s a pretty simple process, though. I jump, grab her and take her straight to my house in Chicago. I’ll have someone watch her there, and I’ll return for you.”
There must’ve been a clear apology in my tone because he was already nodding where he’d usually be fighting me for a chance to do his part. I was glad that he understood, glad too as I didn’t have the time or the energy for an argument.
My body felt numb with fatigue, limbs wobbled like jello, bones throbbing with constant pain. I was more tired than I’d ever been on a case.
Or in my life.
My heart still ached every time I thought about Anjelo and Logan.
Blinking away tears I focused on Erik. “Oh, can I borrow your Phaser hoodie?”
Erik grinned, grabbed it from the bed and handed it over. “I like the way you think.”
I smiled and patted his shoulder, giving it a quick reassuring squeeze. Then I projected into the basement room, arriving behind the guard. I had to ensure the coast was clear.
I’d already scanned the cell for cameras and had found one in the far-left corner. With great care, I materialized directly behind him so his body would shield me from the camera.
I was glad I’d taken the time to wear Erik’s Phaser hoodie. It would give Elise cause to think the vigilante had taken Silvanya.
Grabbing hold of the guard, I jumped him to the roof of the building and disappeared, leaving him alone and confused.
I teleported straight back to the basement, materializing inside the metal cage in front of the girl, keeping my back to the camera.
“Please don’t be afraid. I’m here to take you to safety,” I said, hoping she would understand me. All too often we made the assumption that other magical races would understand our languages. More often than not, that wasn’t the case. But seeing that her father had understood me perfectly well, I didn’t think I needed to worry.
She smiled and nodded. “Thank you.”
I pointed at her face. “What happened?”
She lifted a single arched brow. “The guard thought he could get frisky with me.”
“What did you do to deserve that honor?” I peered at her bloody nose.
She grinned and cupped her hand, then made a grabbing, upward motion.
No need for words.
I liked her already.
I held out my hand and the second she took hold of it I jumped her straight back into our living room.
Silvanya swayed on her feet, and I held tightly onto her waist, helping her slowly to the sofa. “Stay there for a bit. Teleporting has that effect sometimes.”
She nodded and sank back against the cushions, her pale hair framing her face in much the same way as her father’s. I was pretty sure she wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Heading out into the hall to the bottom of the stairs, I yelled for Steph, sighing with relief as the stamping of her feet echoed down to me as she hurried from the comms room.
“What happened?” she said, her voice loud and concerned as she scrambled down the stairs toward me. “Are you okay?”
I batted her searching hands away. “I’m fine, but we have a guest.” I glared at her as she rolled eyes, but she schooled her features when I pointed a warning finger at her.
Steph, for all her complaints, was a wonderful host to the lost people I brought home. I had nothing to worry about when she looked after them. Having a comfortable, homely environment to house them in while they transitioned from the trauma of their ordeal, from captivity to freedom, was always helpful.
We entered the living room, and Steph gave Silvanya a short wave. “Hey. I’m Steph. Just tell me if you need anything.”
Silvanya smiled back and introduced herself simply with her name, leaving out her titles or any reference to her royal lineage. Steph mentioned something about tea while I scanned my phone for any updates from Saleem or Kai. When I looked up she’d disappeared.
I shifted to the doorway, drawing a curious glance from Silvanya.
“I’ve got to fetch Erik. I’ll be right back.”
Before she could say a word, I jumped back to the hotel room, where Erik was sitting on the bed staring at his phone.
Again I was taken with how young he looked for his age. I had to keep reminding myself of the fact.
“You ready?” I asked, startling him so much that he flinched.
“What the-” His eyes widened and then he scowled. As he got to his feet, I hooked an arm around his waist and jumped him back to the living room.
With our arrival, Silvanya cringed, moving away from Erik as he materialized beside me. She gave him a fearful glance then looked away.
Erik hesitated then took a step back, sitting slowly on the larger sofa as far away from the princess as the furniture arrangement would allow.
Steph walked into the room with a cup of tea in her hand. She headed for Silvanya, handed over the hot drink carefully, then glanced at me, giving Erik a pointed look.
I shrugged and would have spoken had Erik not leaned forward and said to Silvanya, “You okay?” he shifted closer, “What did she do to you?”
Silvanya’s eyes lifted to meet his, eyelashes dark and framing eerie silvery eyes. She stared at him, as if shocked at the question.
“You can tell us what she’s done,” I said softly. “We’re going to make sure that she’s apprehended and punished.”
The girl nodded but she didn’t appear convinced.
I went to sit beside her, maintaining a tiny bit of distance in case she was disturbed by my close proximity. Who knew how her time in captivity would affect her, now or in the future.
“We found your father as well,” I said softly, “We were unable to take him to safety immediately, but the plan is to go in and get him as soon as possible. He knows you’re safe.”
Her gaze snapped to my face, her eyes now round and filling with tears. “Do you swear that he is safe?”
I nodded and so did Erik. “He is. I was with him for a while. He is a very brave man.”
Silv
anya frowned and she looked from Erik’s face to mine, her brow furrowing in confusion. “What do you mean . . . brave man? Why haven’t you brought him to safety?”
I patted the back of her hand. “He agreed to stay behind to gather evidence against Elise Garner. We need to catch her in the act.”
Silvanya got to her feet and glared at me. “You have no idea what you have done.”
I shook my head. “If you explain it to me, then I can understand your concerns better. There’s a lot about this case that’s really confusing for all of us.”
Silvanya leaned forward her expression earnest and scared. “You don’t understand. That woman knows where our family lives. She’s been holding us, forcing us to do her bidding, because she knows we would do anything to keep our family safe.”
“Where is your family?” My heart thudded. Nothing surprised me about Elise Garner, yet each time I heard how low she’d sunk, I felt sicker.
“In Kil’rith, the elf realm. She has exclusive access to the veil between the worlds. She can come and go as she pleases. She’s proven it many a time. At first my father refused to help her, but when she returned with the pinky finger of my mother’s left-hand, we both knew we had no choice.”
My heart tightened enough to hurt and I exchanged shocked glances with Steph and Erik.
“Then it’s imperative that we shut her down as fast as possible.” I glanced at Steph. “Can you access that camera feed and keep an eye on it twenty-four-seven. We’ll take turns watching.”
Silvanya began to cry, glaring at me through her tears.
“Why are you doing this to him? Hasn’t he been through enough?”
I looked at her sadly. “I’m really sorry, but this was the only way. Your father wanted to help. He knows the consequences if we all do nothing. It’s not a mere possibility that when she’s ready she may return to enslave more people from your world. It’s a definite.”
Silvanya sat down and wiped eyes. “When can I go home?” I hesitated, hating that I had to force her to remain here against her will. “You get some rest. You’ll be needed here for debriefing after everything is over. And I’m sure you want to wait to see your father?” She gave a small nod. “I’m hoping we can get your father out of captivity and Elise imprisoned in the next couple of days.”
“Is there a way to block her access to our world?” Silvanya asked, desperation edging her question.
I nodded. “There must be a way. But she has to be held accountable and imprisoned. Stopping her access to Kil’rith isn’t enough.” I looked over at Steph. “Steph will look after you. I wish I could stay. I have a few errands that I need to run.”
Silvanya nodded, wringing her hands as she turned to face me. “I apologize if I have appeared ungrateful. I understand what you’re trying to do. And if my father agreed to do this . . . to help you, it is not my place to object. And I hope you can return him to us safely.”
I squeezed her fingers and then gave her a quick hug. Within my embrace, the elf-girl shivered, and I suspected she may be suffering from shock. Likely PTSD, even if she’s her own kind of badass.
I released her and went to Steph. “Can you get Chloe here? We’ll need her help now.”
I sighed, feeling weighed down by it all as my body rebelled against the non-stop crazy of my world.
I glanced out the window at the navy-blue sky, bathed in soft pink and violent red. Dawn was greeting us and yet it felt like all the days had bled into one.
“All these time zone changes are making me a little crazy.” I turned to Erik who was back to studying the screen of his phone. “Come. We should all probably get some rest. I’ll show you to a room. You can stay here as long as you want to.”
He nodded and got to his feet, giving Silvanya a concerned glance. I knew what he was feeling.
Guilt.
That she’d had to go through such horrors at the hands of his mother. That he’d been unable to stop that horror.
But Silvanya had turned to speak to Steph, her tone low. Already, she appeared to have calmed down and had even smiled a few times as she talked to Steph.
I left them to it and headed upstairs with Erik in tow. One of the best things about this old house was it had more than enough rooms.
I led Erik to one at the furthest end of the hall and opened the door for him. As he entered, he paused on the threshold and turned to look at me. “I don’t think I’ve said this to you, but I’m very grateful for everything you’ve done for me. Anybody else would’ve just handed me back to my mother, collected their pay and left.”
My lips curled into a fond smile. “Not sure I could have done it any differently. You get some rest and we’ll talk later.”
He hesitated as if there was something else he wanted to say, but bit his tongue and strode inside in silence.
I sighed stilling the urge to put my arm around him in comfort. He’d only rebuff me. “You don’t have to feel guilty about them, you know. What she did is not on you.”
He turned and looked away. “Common sense tells me that it isn’t. But everything else about the situation makes me feel responsible. Maybe for not stopping it sooner. Maybe for running away and leaving her with full control, with nobody to rein her in, even if it was just to act as her conscience.”
I shook my head and leaned against the threshold. “You have to stop blaming yourself. That’s the only way you’re going to get over this. You’ve seen Silvanya . . . she’ll be fine. She doesn’t look like the damsel-in-distress type.”
He snorted and smiled, giving me a grateful nod. I waved at him and closed the door, leaving him to get some rest.
It was probably time I got some of my own.
Chapter 30
After so many near-mishaps, I navigated the shower the way a soldier moved across a battlefield. The spirit had so far been a very private persecutor, keeping his hauntings just between the two of us.
I’d found leaving my bedroom and bathroom door open, tended to reduce the frequency of his attacks. Not that it was always a possibility what with our intermittent guests.
My shower was only disturbed by a disappearing cake of soap and a narrow miss with a squeeze-bottle of toilet bleach which had taken the place of my shampoo.
Paid to be observant.
I’d dressed in jeans and a burnt orange peasant shirt, and was sliding my knife into my boot when my phone beeped.
I grabbed it from my nightstand and read the message from Natasha.
I found you a Kitsune sorcerer. He’s agreed to meet you but because he had so many conditions I negotiated neutral ground. The Sahara Desert. Come as soon as you can. And remember, he’s a sorcerer so he’s not truly trustworthy.
I raised my eyebrows as I read the message, then texted back for the time and specific location.
I yawned as I left my room, having spent the last hour or so tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
Too wired. Too worried. Too . . . everything.
My slippers slapped the bare wood of the hallway as I headed for the stairs, but when I got to the top of the staircase I froze, staring down at the staircase from which I’d so recently taken a swan dive.
A moment of vertigo kicked me hard in the gut and I found my fingers curling tightly around the balustrade of their own accord, knuckles white, muscles strained.
What the hell?
Was I now afraid of heights or something? Seriously? I couldn’t afford any more crazy in my life.
Inhaling a breath filled with hot fury, I descended the stairs, taking each riser one at a time. I made it all the way to the bottom without incident, and released the breath—which was considerably calmer.
Entering the kitchen, the first thing that caught my eye was a plate of freshly-baked muffins. I stopped in my tracks. Not that muffins were confusing. Just the freshly-baked part had me wondering.
This could not possibly be the work of our Stephanie.
I also found a freshly-brewed pot of coffee and poured a cup, while gl
ancing covertly at the baked goods and wondering if they were magical death muffins.
Footsteps echoed along the hall and Silvanya entered, looking rested and much calmer than a few hours ago. She wore a pair of ripped skinny jeans and a light knitted jumper—both courtesy of my closet seeing as Stephanie would have been too short to have anything to fit the slim, tall elf.
Her silvery hair though, was half hidden by a multi-colored, knitted hat—this one actually belonging to Steph—a few random tendrils escaping and framing her face.
Despite the relaxed attire, Silvanya still looked pretty much the regal princess that she was.
The princess now frowned as she glanced at the untouched muffins. “Are you not hungry?” she leaned over and grabbed a muffin, and began peeling back the blue polka-dotted paper.
How did I not know we owned such things as blue-polka-dotted paper cups?
Slightly relieved—although I wouldn’t admit it if anyone asked—I reached for a muffin, wondering again when I’d turned into a pitiful lump of paranoia.
“Did you make these?” I asked as she popped a chunk of fluffy sponge into her mouth.
She nodded, silvery locks swaying. “We don’t sleep much, so I had to find something to do. What bad manners I have,” she spoke through her mouthful and gave me a sheepish smile. Swallowing hard, she wiped crumbs from her mouth and laughed. “Back home the ingredients are . . . slightly different.”
We settled into a chat about baking ingredients, which for some strange reason led into a conversation on the difference between politics and sexism in the EarthWorld vs Kil’rith.
I was struggling to remain focused on the conversation, and a few minutes in, I got to my feet and smiled apologetically. “I’m really sorry I’m a little distracted. I’m expecting a message.”
Slipping my phone from my jeans pocket I skimmed Natasha’s texted response.
My place in twenty. We go together.
She certainly wasn’t giving me much of a choice. The only consolation was she already knew about the poltergeist. I tucked my phone back into my pocket and lifted my gaze to meet Silvanya’s.