Central

by Raine Thomas

  James closed his eyes and concentrated. The first thing he noticed was the tingle of the mark on his wrist. Encouraged, he opened his thoughts further.

  The second thing he noticed was the pulsing pain. It sat at the base of his skull like someone had driven a hot poker through it. Waves of some indefinable agony made him feel like his insides were trying to twist themselves into knots. A bitter taste entered his mouth. It was all he could do to not try and spit the offensive flavor away.

  Olivia was experiencing this on an even greater scale? The thought horrified him. It also compelled him to push past it and focus every bit of his Gloresti energy toward helping her.

  Beyond his eyelids, the world glowed gold. He had never felt or seen Amber’s healing energy at such a peak. He was sure that to open his eyes would have meant blindness from its brilliance. Bit by bit, the pain ebbed. The overwhelming vise around his gut eased. His head stopped throbbing.

  Amber? Skye?

  His eyes flew open. They all looked at each other. He had directly heard Olivia’s thought and felt the fear and hope behind it. His heart somehow managed to swell and ache at the same time.

  We’re here, Liv, Skye thought, her eyes glistening. He was astonished that he heard her, too.

  Can we sit down? Amber asked. She looked ready to fall over.

  They sat.

  We need you to tell us as much as you can about where you are, Liv, Amber thought. Tell us anything you see, hear, smell. Anything.

  Better yet, Skye thought, try your best to open your thoughts and senses to us. We’re trying something a little different.

  I can’t see anything, Olivia thought immediately. Her fear pervaded all of them, but the thought had been communicated in a clear and level tone. I’m blindfolded. Someone’s carrying me.

  Don’t move, Gabriel thought. Try to stay limp, as though you’re still unconscious.

  There was a moment where they could sense her processing this.

  Gabriel? If a thought could be stunned, this one was.

  Yes. We’re all here, Liv.

  Another pause. James? The thought was hesitant. But her fear had notably eased.

  Yes, Olivia, he thought. He didn’t have to project anything to know he was sending his love and emotion through to her with the thought.

  Do NOT cry, Amber demanded, obviously sensing Olivia’s emotions reaching a critical point. We need you to focus.

  I know. I’m sorry! But I have to get this in. I love you, James. I’m sorry for being so miserable.

  I love you, too, Olivia. It felt so good to simply convey the words to her that he was able to truly focus for the first time since learning she was missing. Everyone surely felt his intense relief.

  I repeat— Amber thought.

  It smells dank, like a basement or something, Olivia interrupted quickly, recognizing Amber’s tone. Hang on…let me try what Skye suggested.

  There was silence. But a few seconds later, they could sense what she was experiencing. Their combined effort to connect with her and her effort to push her senses toward them was actually working.

  James felt painful pressure against his diaphragm. He realized she was being carried over someone’s shoulder. There was pain in his wrists and ankles, telling him she was bound, tightly. The only sounds were of an unknown number of Mercesti breathing as they walked with her.

  It’s echoey, Skye observed.

  She was right. And the smell that Olivia had mentioned was very apparent.

  They’re below-ground, Caleb thought. That narrows it down, as does the fact that they got there in less than hour.

  How can you be sure of that? Amber wondered. We don’t know when Olivia got here.

  The bodies were still warm and fairly solid.

  Oh.

  I’m not sure whether they returned the same way, Olivia thought, but they flew to that spot from the west.

  Gabriel immediately relayed all of the thoughts to Hitoshi, trusting him to spread the word. Much to James’ surprise, Titan suddenly leaped from the center of their circle and ran off. He suspected the panther was following his hunter’s instincts.

  Excitement shimmered among them. They had just greatly narrowed down the possibilities and were pursuing a lead.

  The brief surge of hope that flashed through him rapidly subsided as he realized that the person holding Olivia had slowed.

  “Open it,” someone barked.

  Olivia’s fear spiked. They all did what they could to send her calming thoughts.

  Courage, Liv, Amber thought. Her grip on James’ wrist was vicious, telling him she wasn’t as calm and unaffected as she sounded. We’re here.

  “Put her over there,” someone else said in a bored voice from across the room.

  There was an abrupt movement when the male holding Olivia leaned down and let her fall from his hold. She kept herself as loose-limbed as possible. The surface she landed on was hard. Cold.

  Then James flinched when a searing pain exploded in his abdomen and rib cage. They all cried out in shock as the blow impacted them.

  Someone had kicked her, he realized. Kicked her while she was lying bound and blindfolded and unable to protect herself. He thought his fury could know no greater bounds.

  He was wrong.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  “She is awake,” said the male who had been holding her.

  Olivia hunched, curled into the fetal position in an attempt to protect her midsection in the event her assailant decided to take another shot. Even as she gasped for breath, she felt Amber send more healing energy through their connection. It helped tremendously.

  Thanks, she thought.

  No problem.

  “Was the kick really necessary to determine that?” came another male voice. It sounded more curious than anything else.

  “She expelled some disgusting fluids all down my back,” snapped the first male. “I think some got in my boots.”

  Inexplicably, she felt herself blushing.

  Good, Skye thought.

  Her sister’s genuine satisfaction served to alleviate Olivia’s embarrassment. Then she heard footsteps nearing. Trying to ignore the thumping of her pulse in her ears, she forced herself to stay as attuned to her surroundings as possible to assist her family in finding her. It helped to have something to focus on besides her mind-numbing fear.

  She felt hands beneath her armpits. Her heartbeat jack-hammered. She was lifted and set on her feet, an awkward stance because her ankles were tied so tightly together. Then she unexpectedly felt the bindings around her wrists sliced away.

  She just as suddenly realized that she had lost nearly all feeling in her hands. Before she could even consider trying to fight her way free of his grasp, he had lifted her left arm and clamped something around her wrist. When he released that wrist and grabbed her right one, the left one remained secured above her head. This was not going to improve the circulation to her hands, she realized.

  “This is an unusual marking,” said the male holding her. “I wonder why it glows.”

  She fought the urge to yank her wrist out of his grasp, reasoning it would draw more attention to the mark. When he simply secured her right arm above her head as he had her left, she knew she had dodged a bullet. At least the shackle would cover the mark from view.

  Good girl, Amber thought approvingly.

  A door opened. Olivia was once again struck by the odd idea of doors underground. Even the place where Amber had transitioned had contained only open caves, not doors.

  A good point, Gabriel said. That means it isn’t a temporary place where they’ve got you. If they’ve built doors, they’re established there.

  She wasn’t sure how that helped, but maybe once he shared that thought with the elders it would jog something loose.

  “Well, well, well,” said a voice. “Looks like we have perfect timing.”

  Ryce. She couldn’t prevent another surge of fear. Beads of cold sweat appeared on her forehead. His voice immediate
ly invoked the memory of being held by him with a dagger to her throat after the Becoming ceremony. If Amber hadn’t healed her, she would have died.

  You’re not the same now as you were then, James thought. You could break that hold a hundred times now.

  She gave a mental nod even as she registered the impression of more than just one new presence in the room. She also realized that Ryce’s footsteps were getting closer.

  “Are you sure you got the right one?” he asked suddenly. His voice sounded as if he was directly in front of her.

  “What are you talking about?” asked the male who had carried her into the room. He sounded petulant. “Of course she is the correct one. I saw her green eyes myself before I had to knock her unconscious. She was trying to protect the weak, sniveling Lekwuesti. She killed Gregor.”

  “Hmm,” Ryce said consideringly.

  And then she felt his hands running along both of her arms. She froze in shock and revulsion as his touch continued down her arms and along her body. The outrage that blasted through her head was not her own. She was too horrified to react.

  “She is stronger now,” he said appreciatively.

  “Ryce, did I give you permission to touch her?” asked yet another male. This voice was smooth and commanding. And since he was speaking as though Ryce answered to him, she knew exactly who it was.

  “I beg your forgiveness, my lord. You know I have been thinking of her for some time now.”

  “Yes, well, we have far more important plans for her than to simply hand her over to you to play with.”

  “Yes, my lord.”

  “We can remove the blindfold now. I would like to see those green eyes for myself.”

  Her stomach turned. She could taste her own fear.

  Better to see what’s coming, Caleb conveyed matter-of-factly. And we’ll get more clues this way.

  That very excellent point helped calm her a bit. Her head jerked when the person behind her—she didn’t think it was Ryce—reached up and began loosening the knot. Within a matter of a few seconds, he had the blindfold free.

  She expected to have to blink against bright light and was surprised to find the room only dimly lit.

  Most Mercesti can see in the dark, Gabriel informed her.

  Even as she absorbed that thought, she swiftly looked around the entire room. The walls, floor and ceiling were all made of some kind of polished stone, again confirming that she was underground. As her eyes touched on the door, she realized it was made out of wood and reinforced with some kind of metal bands.

  The entire chamber was about the size of Gabriel and Amber’s bedroom back at Central. She realized that she was actually chained in the middle of it and everyone stood around her like she was some kind of offering on display. A quick count told her that there were twenty Mercesti in the room with her. All of them were male.

  When she spotted the long table on one side of the room containing a wide variety of wicked-looking instruments, she deliberately pulled her gaze away as panic flooded her.

  Dear Lord…how was she ever going to have the strength and courage to get through this?

  James knew that the fear and alarm that coursed through them all at the sight of the instruments of torture was not all Olivia’s. He worked very hard to suppress his emotions, knowing that she needed their support right then.

  But heaven help him, he was terrified. What did they have planned for his sweet Olivia?

  And why her? They were all very specifically stating that she was the one they wanted. But why?

  At the moment, none of that really mattered. What mattered was helping her get through this and finding her location with all speed. While James very much wanted to be the one who walked into that room and freed her, he would gladly settle for helping her remotely like this as long as she was freed. He realized then that their part in this battle would not require their physical armor and weapons. It would instead rely on their unique connection with each other.

  That didn’t mean that he wouldn’t hunt Ryce down and saw his hands off at the wrists with a blunt instrument for touching her like he had, of course.

  I’ll hold him down for you, Caleb offered.

  They all again focused. Grolkinei was approaching Olivia, his expression curious and pleased.

  “Ah, yes. There are those eyes. Welcome, Olivia.” When she didn’t respond, the Mercesti leader smiled. “I am sure you have heard of me. I am Grolkinei.”

  She remained silent.

  With a look of distinct interest, he took another step closer. “My commanders failed to mention that you are quite beautiful.” His gaze moved to the side. Angius and Ryce stood beside each other, their arms crossed over their chests. “It makes me think that they are each making their own plans for you and your sisters.”

  He started walking a slow circle around her. She stared straight ahead.

  “If so, I can certainly understand why. You are definitely more fit than Ryce led me to believe. It appears that you have been training.”

  James felt a strange sensation at the back of his neck. Then he realized that it was the fall of Olivia’s hair being released from its knot. His jaw clenched painfully.

  “Indeed, I do not know that ‘beautiful’ quite captures it,” Grolkinei continued, reaching up and caressing her hair. “What is this strange coloring?”

  She didn’t respond. Her eyes followed him when he moved back in front of her.

  Nodding, he said, “Very well. I respect your silence for the moment. We shall see whether your mind will respond to my questions where your lovely mouth will not.”

  He looked at Angius. “Send Kanika in.”

  Olivia watched the door. When it opened, she strained to see beyond it. All she saw was a dark hallway.

  Deflated because she had no more clues to send her family to aid them, she returned her attention to the former Orculesti who had tried to kill Amber. She looked very much the same with the exception of her new red eyes and red markings around her eyes. Amber had once told her that Kanika’s second power was the ability to conjure objects with just her mind.

  Her hips swayed as she walked. It was a surprise to Olivia that the males in the room seemed interested in that sway of her hips. Other Estilorian males weren’t generally like that.

  Mercesti are, uh, different, Gabriel said hesitantly.

  She knew he was censoring his thoughts to keep her from being alarmed. It didn’t help, especially after the way Ryce had felt her up. She finally started noting some of the looks being sent her way from the unknown Mercesti males standing around the room. They sent a shiver up her spine.

  Kanika paused a foot from her. Her eyes shifted to Olivia’s hair. “The green hair is new.”

  Grolkinei stood right behind Kanika. “What do you suspect it signifies?”

  “I am uncertain. Perhaps some alteration of her mental status.” Kanika looked thoughtful. Then she said, “I will certainly find out for you.” And she reached up to put her hands on either side of Olivia’s face.

  Remember Knorbis’ techniques, Amber thought.

  I need a song.

  Understanding, Amber returned, Beatles, “Help!”

  Olivia and her sisters did a mental dance routine to the song. It took all of Olivia’s focus to concentrate on the mental movements, releasing no information to the probing mind of the Mercesti.

  As Kanika’s brows knit in frustration and they neared the end of the routine, Skye said, Rhianna, “Hard.”

  They completed that one and were in the middle of Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie” when Kanika shoved Olivia backwards with as much strength as she could muster. It didn’t move her much.

  “I can get nothing,” she snarled, turning and stepping away from Olivia.

  “What?” Grolkinei grasped Kanika’s shoulders and whirled her around to face him. “You said she was the easiest to read.”

  “I did not,” Kanika returned with a great deal of heat. “I said the youngest was the easiest and t
he one avowed to Gabriel was unreadable. You were the one who decided that this—” she waved at Olivia, “—was a better option than fighting the holy light.”

  Olivia felt Skye’s gasp and knew her younger sister had just realized she would have been their target if it wasn’t for her abilities. Olivia was personally happy to be there instead of her sister.

  Stop it, Liv, Skye thought, obviously intensely pained.

  Before she could compose a response, another set of thoughts entered her mind. She realized immediately that she was in the mind of Aurora’s mate.

  Titan, James offered.

  Titan had a distinct mental signature. He was telling her he was close. He scented her and the Mercesti who had been on the beach with her. He was, essentially, hot on her trail.

  As the series of thoughts bounced from Titan to Olivia, then through to Gabriel and on to the elders and everyone searching for her, she was filled with hope. And it occurred to her that there was every possibility this could end here forever. Grolkinei himself was present. His death and the deaths of his commanders would bring the Mercesti down.

  It was a goal worthy of sucking it up for a few more minutes, she decided. She refocused only to realize that Grolkinei was standing in front of her, staring at her intently.

  “Her eyes were just glowing. What does that mean?” he asked.

  None of them knew. Even Ryce wouldn’t have known, as her back had been to him when she had communicated with Aurora after the Becoming ceremony.

  His jaw working, Grolkinei crossed his arms over his chest and continued to study her. “It seems you are full of surprises, Olivia. You come to us having conditioned yourself physically as well as mentally. I cannot say that this displeases me. It actually makes my future plans for you much more exciting.” His gaze moved over to the table of instruments. “The stronger they are, the harder they are to break, after all.”

  Her heart soared into her throat. She knew she wasn’t completely successful at masking her fear when she saw the commanders giving her knowing smirks from their spots around the room. Grolkinei turned and walked over to the table, selecting a sharp, two-pronged tool. It looked something like a meat skewer that could fit into the palm of a hand.