Disappointment was written all over Raine’s face. What alarmed Candy was what she saw in Raine Narmouth’s eyes. Controlled anger brewed within him. Candy could sense the violence he was capable of inflicting. She did not know if this was the start of a new telepathic gift or all in her imagination. Candy just knew she needed to separate Alex from these men.
“Let’s go,” Candy said. She reached for Alex’s hand and removed it from Raine’s clutches. “We are going out to dinner tonight and I don’t want to wear the same outfit two nights in a row.”
“That can wait,” Chanz Narmouth stated. “You girls want to have lunch with us.”
Candy could feel the pull on her brain. Chanz was using his mind control powers on them. She was not sure what to do. They could not let on they were immune to the telepathic power that ruled this world. Would all three girls be so set on going shopping they did not have a single doubt about going to lunch with these men?
“I am hungry,” Alex stated. “We have to play along with these bastards for now. I am letting Tarsea know what is going on through our familial link. He will use the warrior link to communicate any actions they are going to take. This has got to end today.”
“I know a great place not far from here,” Raine Narmouth said. He grinned from ear to ear. How such a nice looking man had to resort to such measures to get a date was beyond her. When he smiled, it seemed that the heavens sang. It blew her mind how such a lovely exterior could hide such a dark soul.
“I would rather go to the restaurant you took me to on our first date,” Alex said. She threw such a dreamy look at Raine, Candy would have thought she was besotted with him. “I don’t want to leave the confines of the zoo until the guys are here. Knowing Tarsea, at least one of them is close by.”
Candy hoped Tarsea had ignored their wishes and someone was relatively near. In preparing to protect Alex, she had planned on a physical attack, not mind control manipulation.
The choice of restaurants seemed to satisfy both brothers fortunately. Chanz did not use his powers to get them out of the zoo’s borders. Alex and Raine led the way. Raine continually tried to hold Alex’s hand and she shook it off. Candy knew she needed to distract Chanz so he would be too busy to convince Alex she really liked Raine.
“What exactly do you do for the government?” Candy asked. “I am new to this world and am still learning how things run around here. Most of my time since leaving Ginkgo Terra has been in the penal colony. You cannot imagine how happy I am to be gone from that place.”
“I steer our population by enforcing the choices our government has made regarding the health and well-being of our wondrous community.” Candy had not heard such crap in her life. She had to concentrate on not choking on the nonsense the man had just served her. She had always imagined the mind control telepathic government would do their manipulations covertly.
“We are here!” Alex exclaimed. “I am going to have shrimp. It is my favorite thing in the whole world. That crustacean is a delicacy in the Starling Province.” Candy was grateful Alex had steered the conversation away from mind control. They needed to talk about harmless, insignificant things until they were ready to take action. Candy was at a loss for what to say to the brothers.
“Alexia,” Chanz said, “you are as beautiful as my brother stated. I know you want to have dinner with him tonight and spend the night together.”
Candy choked on the water she was drinking. Chanz stood and in Candy’s mind she saw him pounding on her back. There was nothing helpful in his manner or motives. She shifted in her seat and caught his arm before he connected. Candy placed a fake smile on her face. “I am fine,” she said. “Thank you for your concern.”
Chanz looked shocked by Candy’s actions. She could see his facial expressions change from surprise to suspicion. They needed to get out of here fast.
“Hi, girls!” Candy looked up and there stood Starc and Koel. “I thought you were going shopping,” Starc said, his eyes glued to Raine Narmouth.
“We were,” Shirl answered. Shirl made it appear she was now confused. “For some reason we wanted to grab a bite to eat with Raine and his brother. Thanks for the offer, but Candy does need a new outfit. Can we have a rain-check?”
“A what?” Raine said. He looked back and forth between Starc and Alex. No doubt he was trying to figure how he could keep Alex by his side and not alert Starc to what he had planned. Candy really loathed this man. Something was going to happen between Raine and Alex. She could sense it. The problem was, she didn’t know what or when. A feeling of helplessness overwhelmed her. What good were her powers if they did not provide specific information?
“We should go,” Alex filled in the awkward silence that had followed Raine’s words. “Another time, Raine.” Alex grabbed Candy’s arm and started walking away from the brothers. “Get a move on, Shirl,” Alex continued through their closed link. “I don’t want the Narmouth brothers to get any more worked up than they already are. Light a fire underneath your soul mate and Koel. Let’s get out of here.”
They walked toward the zoo’s exit in silence. She imagined Starc and Koel were upset they could not pound on the Narmouth brothers. Candy could not blame them. Uneasiness surrounding an unspecific event kept brewing in her mind and did not abate. She needed to stay on guard. Candy considered sharing her suspicions with the others. Ultimately she decided not to. How serious were they going to take a feeling? These new telepathic powers were relatively untried.
Once they left the zoo’s property, they walked the streets of Aster Province to the boutique Shirl and Alex kept talking about. One particular outfit in the display window caught Candy’s attention. She stood before it gazing at the beautiful tunic. It was pinned to a backdrop and was paired with a short black skirt rather than leggings.
“If ever an outfit was you,” Shirl said as she came to stand next to Candy, “that certainly is. Let’s go in and have you try it on.” Her friend did not have to ask twice. The three women entered the shop with Starc and Koel in tow.
There were three women already looking at the outfits for sale. Candy was momentarily distracted by watching Koel approach each woman and unceremoniously touching each one. What had originally entertained Candy now made her sad. Of the four friends she had come to think of as brothers, Koel was the only one who had not found his soul mate. Now that she had Tolfer, she understood what having her other half truly meant.
“This should be your size,” Shirl started to hand her the tunic she had admired. There was a disturbance in the street that grabbed her attention before she took possession of the beautiful top.
“We will see what is going on,” Starc said before he and Koel ran out of the shop. Shirl looked at Candy, handed her the tunic, and then took off after her soul mate.
Candy sensed Alex was toward the rear of the shop and was busy looking through the racks of tunic and legging sets. Another feeling of apprehension hit Candy as she debated joining the people on the street or staying behind with Alex. The nagging that was preying on her brain did not let up as Candy continued to delay joining the commotion outside.
Movement toward her head caused Candy to step back and pivot around. Her hands were up as she deflected a steel rod that was meant to knock her out. Chanz Narmouth holding the weapon looked startled. He had not expecting any resistance from his victim. Candy took the luxury of glancing over to where Alex had been, her friend was gone. She grabbed a display vase to throw at Chanz to slow down his attack. She communicated the attack through the warrior channel to alert the others they were needed. Whatever had happened on the street was a diversion. Narmouth dodged the vase. Candy took the opportunity to throw herself forward against Narmouth before he had the chance to go after her again with his weapon. Candy knew Starc and Koel would be there momentarily and they would finish taking care of Chanz Narmouth.
Her knee hit the floor hard as the rest of her body was cushioned by the man she fell onto. Pain rocketed through her leg. As she expecte
d, almost as soon as she was prone, Starc was pulling her up. Koel was holding Narmouth down. Koel snatched a couple of leggings and bound Chanz’s hands. People from the street started to enter the shop to see what had happened. The communal pathways started to hum about Chanz Narmouth’s attack on the survivor of the penal colony.
All the attention her attack attracted made it impossible to go after Alex. What had happened was too much a topic within the communal pathways for them to leave until the authorities arrived and finished their interviews. Tarsea, Tolfer, and Solfa’s team were busy trying to find Alex as Candy was helpless, answering questions. Chanz had stated he had been attacked by her as he asked her out on a date. The lunch date had been communicated within the communal pathways but chatter found it hard to believe Chanz’s story. A mind control telepath could not control what was communicated within the pathways.
Candy and her party were released after about an hour. There had been no communications from Alex. Since Alex was not communicating through any of the channels she still had access to, they imagined she was unconscious or had a head injury inflicted by her abductor. She had failed to protect her friend from a known danger. How would she live with herself if any harm came to Alex or the baby?
Candy paced the common room as half the team searching for Alex returned. She did not know Aster Province like the rest of the group, so she was sequestered at the Childers’s.
Norri and Pattrice had both arrived wanting to be near those who loved Alex as they did. Listening through their familial link had frustrated Norri and she did not want to deal with Pattrice’s hysterics alone. For once Pattrice’s crying did not disturb Candy. It gave her the necessary distraction she needed from worrying about Alex. She kept telling herself Raine Narmouth loved Alex and would not do anything to permanently harm her.
“I cannot lose her like I lost her mother,” Pattrice cried. The traumatized woman was in Norri’s arms. “She has to be all right. That baby is going to have to make up for not being able to have a hand in raising Alexia.” Candy stopped pacing and watched as Norri continued to hold her cousin. Those two were as close as she was to Alex and Shirl. A bond that would withstand the loss of Alex. Candy had to stop thinking in that manner. Her friend was going to be all right. She had to be.
Listening within the various pathways, Candy hoped for even a smothered cry for help from her friend. If she had been knocked out or drugged, Alex’s first communication through the pathways would be almost incoherent. It was imperative Candy jumped on whatever Alex was able to provide. She decided to have some of the herbal beverage to clear away what little static she heard within the telepathic links. Missing the smallest whimper because of static would be too tragic to contemplate.
Leenea was sitting in the kitchen alone. Candy hugged the woman before going to pour herself the herbal tea. She sat next to Tolfer’s mother, sipped the beverage, and opened her mind to hear Alex. Never having been into meditation, Candy wished she had the discipline to quiet her mind.
A presence entered her head. At first Candy discounted it. It kept trying to break through whatever barrier that prevented a solid connection. After a few more sips Candy turned off all chatter within her brain and concentrated on whoever was trying to communicate with her.
Whoever was trying to enter her brain was confused and uncomfortable. “Cold,” Candy said out loud.
“What is it, dear?” Leenea looked at her concerned. A mother’s concern, something that had been elusive in her life. A feeling of belonging washed over Candy. It was an emotion she would have to explore later. For now she had to deal with finding Alex.
“Someone is trying to communicate with me,” Candy answered. “It is not like anything I have experienced here or in the penal colony through any of the pathways. I am getting feelings rather than words. This may sound crazy, but I think Alex’s baby is trying to reach out to me. Her little girl is cold, which means Alex is somewhere refrigerated.” While she was telling Leenea this information she was also sharing it through the warrior channel. Hopefully it would make sense to one of them.
“Chanz Narmouth has a financial interest in an ice factory,” Starc shared through the warrior link. “I do not know why I did not think of that sooner.”
Considering their history, Candy imagined Starc had researched everything there was to know about Raine and Chanz Narmouth after the incident with Elzbeth. That unfortunate episode in Starc’s life could be the key point in saving Alex. “Where is the factory?” Candy asked, “I am coming to join you. Make sure that Shirl is there as well. We are going to deal with Raine Narmouth for good this time.” The perfect fate for the predator consumed her mind.
“I was heading home,” Tolfer entered the channel, “Give me two minutes and we will head over together. I know where the ice is manufactured.”
Candy used the two minutes to bring Leenea, Norri and Pattrice up to date. She did not want to give the women false hope, but could not let go of the feeling they were on the right track. The presence in her mind was less frantic knowing help was on the way.
She was outside the house and ready to go when Tolfer arrived. They ran side by side. Tolfer communicated their destination was ten blocks away and everyone would be arriving within minutes of each other. When they reached the factory her friends were armed with crystal weapons and ready to storm the building. She took one of the guns without hesitation. This time she did not ask if there was a stun setting. If she was going to use it, she was going to go for the kill.
It was late enough in the evening that the factory was closed for the day. If there was a night watchman he did a great job of not being obvious. Starc had a brick and threw it through the window to allow them to unlock the door. There was a small lobby area they walked through, and then they entered a long hall with what appeared to be freezers on both sides. Fortunately they were unlocked so they were not going to lose valuable time breaking into them. Dividing into two groups they started entering freezer after freezer finding nothing. There were only two left to be explored.
Feeling sick to her stomach, fearing she had been wrong, Candy stood before the last freezer. The baby had stopped sending her emotions several minutes ago. Candy grabbed the handle and knew before she had finished the task Alex would be there. Whether the baby was all right was another story. They found her friend wrapped up in blankets shivering. Alex was unconscious and terribly pale. Tarsea lifted her and carried her out into the hall. Leenea had followed them with a tower of blankets that they proceeded to wrap around her friend.
“Take her home and warm her up,” Tarsea instructed his brother and mother. “I am staying behind and will wait for Narmouth to arrive. As soon as we have him dealt with, I will head home.”
“I am staying, too,” Candy said. She was not going to miss out on dealing with her friend’s abductor. “Shirl, you need to stay, too. We are going to make your desires come true. Raine Narmouth is going to go through the portal one last time to the darkest hole we can find.” Candy had not missed how Shirl or Alex muttered that desire each time the topic of Raine Narmouth came up.
Shirl gave her one of her brightest smiles. “I know just the place to send him.” Based on the worlds Candy had been exposed to, she figured they both had the same destination in mind.
They held onto some of the blankets Leenea had brought and entered the freezer where Alex had been held. It was a certainty Raine Narmouth would return shortly. In his own warped way, Raine loved Alex and would not leave her there to die. Candy grabbed the blanket Alex had been wrapped in and took her friend’s place on the floor. Although she was quite a bit larger than Alex, she hoped Raine would not notice. The rest of the group was to the left side of the door in a blind spot. Raine would not notice their presence if he entered and did not turn around before getting to Candy.
She lay on the cold floor waiting. No wonder the baby had been cold. Candy could not help but shiver from the low temperature. As she lay there, she continually reached out to the ba
by, hoping to get some kind of sensation from her. It broke her heart when she got no response. After ten minutes of freezing her ass off, the door to the freezer opened. She lay still as she heard footsteps approach her.
A hand gently shook her. “Alexia,” Raine Narmouth’s voice penetrated Candy’s ears. “Wake up, baby. I want to take you somewhere warm where we can be together.”
Candy slowly turned over and raised her weapon. “Too late, Romeo. Alex is nice and warm at home. She is safe from you.” She looked up and saw the rest of the group circling Raine Narmouth.
“We are ending this now,” Starc growled as he bound Narmouth’s hands. “Your brother will be facing Troyk justice for assaulting Candy. However, we have a totally different plan for you.”
Candy got up and shoved off the blankets. “Shirl, open a portal for the Nightshade universe. We have another payment to render for their part in freeing me and Tolfer.” A wicked smile crossed Shirl’s face.
Raine started to scream when he realized where they were taking him. It was ironic his obsession had originally spared Raine from meeting his ultimate fate in the vampire world. Nothing would save the lowlife scum now!
Shirl did not say a word. A portal opened before Candy’s eyes. Being a mated female crystal telepath, Shirl could open a portal anywhere with very little energy from her amethyst.
Candy did not have a moment’s hesitation entering the portal for a world populated with bloodthirsty vampires. She could not think of a more fitting ending for a man who raped women physically after they were mentally manipulated.
Chapter 21
The Nightshade Universe
Candy stepped into near darkness. Torches somewhere in the distance provided the only light. Her eyes quickly adjusted. Shirl turned next to her and Candy heard her walking away. She started to follow Shirl and Starc, who was dragging along Raine Narmouth. Shocked by the glowing red eyes before her, she hesitated going forward.
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