“The Strip, Arts District, or some other downtown.” I ticked off the possibilities on my fingers.
Theresa smiled. “He seems to be in a wedding chapel in the Arts District.”
“That’ll be perfect for you, Catherine. You should call Alex,” I quipped, and she paled, shooting me a not-very-nice look. What can I say, I crack jokes when I’m nervous.
“There are a lot of wedding chapels in the Arts District,” Robin pointed out. “Any chance you could narrow that down?”
“Yes. Other than a small altar for the vows, the room was nondescript, so my best guess is a chapel that is currently closed,” Theresa said.
“Could be one that’s defunct,” Jessica offered.
“Or one that’s undergoing renovations,” Catherine mused.
“It also sounds like one that’s not theme-based,” I said. “Anything else that could help us eliminate?” The thought of calling hundreds of chapels made my stomach hurt.
Theresa shook her head. “No, unfortunately.”
Tension in the room spiked with this statement.
“I have an idea,” Catherine said, blue eyes sparkling. “I forget the full name, but there’s a wedding association group here in town. If a chapel is closed for renovations or has recently shut down entirely, they most likely would know about it. We just need to call and ask them.”
“That’s brilliant, Catherine.” I pulled out my phone to google for association names. “Which one of these is it?” There were several listed in Las Vegas and Clark County.
Catherine frowned. Her eyes scanned the listings. “That’s it,” she said, pointing at my phone. She snatched it from my hand and pressed the hyperlink. “I’ve got this,” she said, walking toward the far corner of the room for quiet and privacy.
“Okay, then.” I faced the others. “What’s our plan once Catherine figures out which chapel it is? We’re not going in there, guns blazing.”
“This is the wild west,” Robin said with a grin.
“Not that wild,” I countered with a chuckle, then sobered. “We don’t know what condition Tony will be in when we arrive, so we need to plan for no assistance from him.” The others nodded. “Theresa, since you sense energy, would you mind coming with us?”
“Of course.”
“Robin, we may need your summoning power,” I warned.
“I’m ready.”
“Marcie, with your ‘emotion skills’—” I arched an eyebrow at her. “—it may be necessary to reason with Rowan.”
Marcie gave me an enigmatic grin and nodded.
“I, unfortunately, am a useless human,” I half-joked, “but my focus will be on getting Tony.”
“No doubt,” Catherine ribbed me as she rejoined the group. “We know you want to get him.”
I rolled my eyes at her. “And?”
“I’ve narrowed it to three possibilities, all within a few blocks of each other, centered near Bonneville.”
“Robin, you’ll drive. Catherine, Marcie, Theresa, and I will go with. The rest of you stay here on standby, in case we need anything,” I directed.
“Sounds good, General Addison,” Robin teased me.
“Neither Tony nor I are dying today. I don’t care what Rowan the time-traveling ghost has planned.” The hairs on my arm rose with the tension in the room. “Let’s go.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The drive to Bonneville Avenue from Industrial Road was under ten minutes. With only three places to check, I hoped we’d locate Tony and Rowan in under an hour. “You know, if this was a movie, it’d be the last place we look,” I joked. “To heighten the tension.”
The others laughed. “Maybe we should start with the one we’d check last, try to subvert that ending,” Theresa suggested with a smile.
“Too twisty for me – we’ll stick with going in order from closest to farthest,” Robin said. “After all, I’m driving.”
“I’ve decided to say yes to Alex,” Catherine blurted out.
Theresa and Marcie appeared confused, but Robin and I whooped in pleasure and expressed our congratulations.
“My boyfriend proposed,” Catherine explained to the councilmembers. They added their congratulations.
“What tipped the decision?” I asked.
“I thought about everything we’ve been through, how nothing is certain, and when you’re in love… you shouldn’t let it go or live in fear.”
An image of Tony’s grinning face flashed in my mind. “Yeah, that makes sense.” I felt Robin’s eyes on me. “Yes?”
“Does this change anything for you?” She smirked.
I twisted in the front seat to look at Theresa and Marcie in the back with Catherine. “Previously, I’ve expressed that I didn’t think humans and supernaturals could have a future,” I explained to them. “I may have been mistaken.” I ran a hand through my hair. “To say I’m feeling ambivalent would be an understatement.”
“How did your date with Tony go?” Robin asked. “I mean, before Rowan kidnapped him,” she amended.
A flush crept across my face. “Really well. I like him. We’re going to go out again.”
“That’s wonderful,” Catherine said. The others murmured their agreement.
“That’s why I can’t die today, and neither can Tony,” I stated.
“We’re at the first chapel,” Robin announced. She pulled over to the side of the road.
Everyone faced the small white building. Even from the car, we could see a sign posted on the pink door. It likely said closed for renovations.
I shook my head. “I doubt this is it. Too small, I think. Didn’t Barbara say the room was large, cavernous even?”
“She did,” Robin agreed. “But premonitions aren’t an exact science,” she reminded me.
“Do you sense her energy?” I asked Theresa.
“I don’t.”
“Are you sure?” Catherine asked.
“She’s not here.”
“On we go to option number two,” Robin declared and eased the car back onto the road. She drove up the street a few blocks. Before she’d even parked, Theresa was nodding her head.
“I sense Rowan,” she said. “If Tony’s with her, he’s here.”
Catherine poked me in the shoulder. “Looks like it’s not going to be the last place we check.”
“Guess we’re not that interesting of a movie,” I quipped.
Everyone laughed, dispelling the apprehension in the car. We stared at the building. It was a two-story house, painted white with red accents. Pretty. Looked like a nice place to get married. I opened my car door, prompting the others to do the same.
The five of us stood in front of the car, surveying the house further.
“Still not cavernous,” I commented.
“Not an exact science,” Robin repeated.
I smiled. “Let’s go get my mate.”
Mate? The word slipped out. I strode forward before anyone could comment. The sound of shoes scuffing on the concrete followed me from the street up to the door.
“They’re definitely in there,” Theresa whispered.
“Time for boldness,” I said with false bravado and tried the door. It was unlocked and swung open to reveal a dark, dusty interior. “Here we go.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The five of us crowded together in the foyer, listening for sounds in the converted home. Silence. Someone cleared their throat.
“Should we split up?” Catherine whispered.
I swiveled my head to take in the wooden stairs leading to who-knew-what upstairs, the two rooms on either side of the foyer, and a dark hallway leading to the back half of the home.
“That would make it faster,” I began, “but, that always spells doom in the movies.”
“Keeping with the movie theme, I see,” Robin teased.
“We’ll stick together,” Catherine said.
Murmured agreement met the statement. I fe
lt eyes on me and took charge. “We’ll check the room on the left first.” I strode in that direction, a quick walk of maybe five feet.
Our group stopped in the doorway. A basic chapel, with rows of folding chairs and a small raised altar, greeted us. Empty. We saw no places to hide, for either a manifested ghost or a shifted were-panther. They weren’t here.
We backed into the foyer. I glanced up at the stairs. Would she have tried to take him up there? She wouldn’t have to physically maneuver him. The ability to materialize and dematerialize made that a moot concern. I wondered whether to check from the back of the house, searching clockwise to end with the room on our right, or move from front to back, which would make the room on the right our next location.
Theresa spoke as I stepped toward the room on our right. “Rowan’s energy is rising. She knows we’re coming,” she whispered.
My anxiety spiked, sending butterflies in motion in my belly and the blood coursing in my veins to thunder. The moment of truth. “Be ready.” Marcie shifted to stand next to me, Robin behind her, with Catherine and Theresa bringing up the rear.
I flung the door open, like ripping off a band-aid. My feet carried me forward without thought and the others spread out beside me. We stood in our row of five, taking in the scene before us. We’d found Rowan and Tony.
Rowan stood at the altar, as though waiting for her bridegroom in her utilitarian jumpsuit. Pain sliced through me when I remembered that in her time, her husband and children were dead. Her red hair was like a fiery halo and her blue eyes flashed. Tony lay on the floor before her, in his panther form. He was magnificent, sleek black, eyes closed. Red glowing strands of energy wrapped around him.
“What are those?” I whispered, though Rowan’s smirk told me she heard me too.
“I don’t know,” Theresa answered. “They’re throwing off significant energy, with the same vibration of the ghost.” Rowan’s smirk slipped slightly, suggesting Theresa was correct in her analysis. Tony became translucent and then solidified again.
“Did you see that?” I squeaked out. “What’s happening to him? Tony,” I called out. He opened his eyes, seeing us for the first time. But not really. I saw no awareness. “Tony?” I whispered. He phased in and out again.
“Those are strands of time energy,” Catherine suddenly said.
“They’re what?” I asked, cutting my eyes to hers.
Wide eyed, she shook her head. “I have no idea. It just came into my head.”
“I think I can control them,” Robin said, under her breath.
Rowan’s smile fell completely. “Enough.”
All eyes returned to her.
“I know you held that broadcast to get at me,” she said. “And I knew you would come.”
“We’re here now. What’s next?” I asked. To my surprise, Rowan appeared near tears.
“None of this is what I wanted. I don’t want anybody else to get hurt. I just want my family back,” she whispered.
“Let Tony go,” Marcie stepped forward and urged her. “Come with us to talk to the archangel. She can reassure you that your future isn’t set in stone.”
Rowan wavered. Marcie took another step forward. “I… no… I,” Rowan stuttered, her eyes locked on Marcie’s. “Stop! He’s mine. I need to delay you longer. The timeline must change.” Rowan’s voice became frantic. She took several halting steps toward Marcie and Theresa, who had stepped to the left away from me, Catherine, and Robin.
“Her energy is depleting,” Theresa said, voice barely above a whisper.
The rest of us were bewildered until it hit me. “Marcie’s convinced her we’re already rescuing Tony,” I said in awe. Gasps met my explanation. Oh, but that meant we needed to actually rescue him now.
With a nudge to Robin’s arm, I nodded in Tony’s direction. He continued to phase in and out. “Now,” I whispered. “While Marcie has Rowan… distracted.” Robin and I raced to Tony’s prone form. His eyes met mine; I swore he recognized me this time. Energy surged through me. I nodded at Robin, who placed her hands above Tony and closed her eyes. Her fingertips began to glow. We watched in fascination as the red energy bands surrounding Tony flowed up into Robin’s hands. When the last wisp entered, Robin directed her fingertips toward the ground and the energy flowed below and dissipated. Panting, Robin turned to us.
“I’ve grounded the energy. We can grab him.”
Tony stood on all four paws, blinking rapidly at us, trying to get his bearings. Robin appeared correct. The crackling energy bands were gone. I stepped toward him, grasped his snout between my hands and kissed his nose. Our eyes met and I chuckled. “You didn’t think you’d get out of our second date that easily, did you?”
Tony’s eyes danced in merriment and he chuffed at me, then licked my cheek. His tongue felt rough against my skin, yet sent a thrill through my body.
“Time to go,” I whispered. Catherine, Robin, and I led Tony past the pews, down the center of the chapel, as if a wedding had concluded. Marcie and Rowan were still locked in… whatever it was Marcie was doing on the other side of the pews. Theresa stood between them and us.
When we reached the door, Rowan’s head swung toward us and our eyes met. “Get him out of here,” I shouted to Catherine. Robin remained by my side, ready to call more energy if needed. Marcie stared at Rowan, likely attempting to reengage her mind manipulation.
“No! You must stop. Why must you refuse to do what is right?” Rowan turned to face me head on, took several steps forward, the edges of her fingertips beginning to crackle. Catherine and Tony were right behind me, at the doorway to the chapel. Steps from safety.
One day I’d learn to manage my smart mouth. Today wasn’t that day. “We’ve won. There’s nothing you can do to stop us.”
Rowan raised her hands and red energy arced from them, aiming straight for Catherine.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Action without thought to consequences rarely ends well. I saw the red energy arc from Rowan toward Catherine and without thinking, I dove in front of the empath. The energy from the ghost slammed into me with the burning pain of a thousand suns.
Okay, maybe that was an exaggeration but not much. I slid to the floor, my body in flames. I patted at myself to douse the flames and realized I wasn’t on fire. It just felt that way.
“Ow, ow, ow,” I said, shocked to discover my words were barely audible. I had thought I was yelling.
A distant voice swam nearer. “Liz! Are you okay?” Catherine’s mouth was next to my ear, and I recognized that we had fallen together.
But I didn’t care too much. Everything was becoming fuzzy. Fuzzy pain.
I wanted to laugh at the oxymoronic thought, but no longer had the energy.
Something rough touched my cheek and my eyes flew open. Hmm. I didn’t know I’d closed them. Images swarmed before me. Tony. Tony licked my cheek. Aww, just like a big kitty. I tried to reach my hand out, but it didn’t respond to my command.
Growling penetrated through the fog. That was Tony too. Was he trying to speak to me? I was so tired. And everything hurt so much.
Maybe a quick nap would do the trick. From somewhere in the recesses of my brain, I remembered what I’d learned from television and movies. When severely hurt, if you fell asleep, you died.
The realization sent a shock wave through my body, dulling the pain long enough for me to snap my eyes open again.
Tony stood before me, but facing the other direction. I heard him growling, a constant low rumble. Rowan stood, slack-jawed, staring in our direction, shaking her head. Was she worried my mate would attack her? Was that his plan? Or was he standing guard?
Whimpering reached my ears. Was that me, or Tony? He turned his head, piercing green eyes grabbing mine. He whined again. I could see the human intelligence in there beside the animal. So amazing. I was glad I lived long enough to see it.
With a sigh so small, I doubted anyone noticed, my brain accepted that I was
dying. The fiery pain had dimmed to almost nothing. But that seemed to be because I couldn’t feel my extremities any longer.
I dropped my head, hoping to catch a glimpse. To see if I even still had extremities. Maybe Rowan had blasted them off, and I was just a stump. That thought ought to terrify me, but didn’t.
Hmm. A huge burned gash ran the length of my torso. Good grief, no wonder I thought I was on fire. I wanted to touch the charred edges of my chest, but my arms still weren’t responding.
This was what dying felt like. My eyes closed.
Slap! What the—
Someone had smacked me. My eyes fluttered open again, awareness returned. Tony still stood in panther-form, looking back at me, then toward Rowan, back at me again. Catherine’s arms came around me, her voice murmured words in my ear that I couldn’t comprehend. Robin, Marcie, and Theresa faced Rowan. Robin had her arms raised, as if about to attack. But, why bother? Rowan had won. She’d killed me. The investigation wouldn’t go forward.
The timeline would change, just as Rowan wanted. I didn’t care anymore. I wanted to sleep. My eyes closed again. Just a little nap. So brief it’d be like it never happened.
Catherine’s arms tightened around me and then there was nothing—
CHAPTER TWENTY
Images brightened in my mind. Hmm, was this the last gasp of my brain? Or was I not dying? This seemed like too much awareness for death. But what did I know? I saw Tony, the witches, Catherine, running forward, backward. It was like a movie on fast-forward, then reverse. I frowned. Or tried too. I wasn’t sure if my mouth was responding anymore either. Pain flared, then receded, vanished entirely. What on earth?
My eyes widened. The world was on fast-forward, then reverse. I glanced down when I felt Catherine’s arms tighten, then loosen, then seem to vanish. Holy heck! Her arms were tightening, loosening, then vanishing. Her words in my ear came again, then stopped, then came again, but different. Since I hadn’t understood her to begin with, I couldn’t be sure, but based on what I was seeing, I’d be willing to bet her words were reversed too.
Paranormal Talent Agency Episodes 4-6 Page 23