“Do you see it now?” he asked, hunkering down to be at eye level with me. His scent fluttered my way, making my head spin.
Taking a deep breath, I ignored the delicious tingles that shot down my spine at how near he stood. “Yeah, I see it.”
I marveled at the barrier again, wondering how my mother, my nan, and I would have reacted a year ago if we’d driven up this road by chance, especially when Cecile and Mike wouldn’t have been able to see it. We hadn’t known about the supernatural community then.
Cecile frowned. “What do you see? I don’t see anything.”
I stepped forward. “What about you, Mike?”
He just shrugged, his hands casually holding the wheel. “Uh, nope, nothing, Dar. Just a road, trees, and grass.”
But to me it was so much more than that. Magic surrounded this part of the world. The closer we got to the barrier, the more I sensed it.
“It has a flavor,” I said, turning to Logan. “Like mint, with a hint of…” I paused then caught a subtle, bitter taste. “And anise.”
Logan smiled, his straight white teeth bright in contrast with his tanned face. “That’s right. Not all supernaturals can taste it. Only those with strong abilities can pick up a sorcerer’s magical taste.” His pleased look remained. “You’re truly something, Miss Gresham.”
I ducked my head, embarrassed by his praise but also holding on to the belief that all hope wasn’t lost for my future. My magic was still strong. Maybe, just maybe, I would be strong enough to beat the dark power that flowed turbulently alongside my healing light.
After all, I was about to enter the Supernatural Forces headquarters, the next day I would see where some of the community resided, and within twenty-four hours, Logan and I would be actively searching for a way to rid me of whatever had awoken inside me. And seeing and tasting that billowy magical barrier that grew brighter the closer we got made a solution seem more possible, even probable.
My grin grew.
“You can stop here,” Logan called to Mike.
Mike applied the brakes, and the bus slowed as it drifted to the road’s shoulder, before coming to a complete halt. Mike pulled his Yankees cap off and threw it on the dash. “This is it?” he asked dubiously.
“This is it.” Logan grabbed the small bag that he’d brought along when he’d flown from California. “Dar?” He held out his hand to me but dropped it at the last second and clenched it into a fist.
I watched his muscled arm fall back to his side, wishing I could have taken his outstretched hand. Soon. Just as soon as we figure out what the hell is wrong with me.
I reached for my backpack which held a few days’ worth of clothes. After I slung it over my shoulders, I opened my purse to make sure my cell phone was in it. “Will my phone work in there?”
“Yeah, all human electronics still work normally, but every now and then, reception is spotty. But that’s only if the sorcerers are strengthening the barrier.”
“Uh, okay. That’s reassuring.” I zippered my purse and turned to Cecile. “I guess we’ll see you soon.”
“Take care, Dar,” Cecile replied.
We’d already decided that I would spend the next few nights inside the headquarters with Logan. Since it was where Logan normally lived, it was his home, but humans weren’t usually allowed in. According to Logan, only the most powerful sorcerer could help a human pass through the portal, and that was only done in extreme circumstances.
I draped my purse over my shoulder and grabbed my jacket from the couch.
Cecile and Mike both stood and watched us step out of the bus. Once we were outside, the flavor of the sorcerer’s magic increased, and the barrier glowed only yards away.
“The entry portal’s right over there.” Logan waved toward a bare patch of grass just off the road.
My eyes widened. The portal’s arched red doorway glowed. It rose about seven feet from the ground and spread three feet wide. I hesitated but then told myself it was silly to be nervous.
I gripped my purse firmly to my side and made sure my backpack’s straps were tight before striding forward, Logan at my side.
“I’d hold your hand through the portal if I could.” He raked a hand through his hair, the wind ruffling his dark-brown locks. “The first time is always a little … jarring.”
“It’s okay. I’m ready.”
Logan shouldered his duffel bag. “Come stand beside me. If we both step through at the same time, we’ll come out at the same time too.”
I brushed closer to his side, wishing more than anything that I could touch him.
He flattened his palm against a glowing area by the portal door. Magic enveloped his hand, glittering around his palm before a pink light emitted from the portal to scan his face.
“Welcome, Logan Smith and guest,” a quiet robotic voice said.
The entire portal began to shimmer. Whereas before it had simply been a glowing red ribbon outlining a door, the inside turned opaque, as if a pearly soup.
Logan grinned. “Ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“On the count of three. One … two … three.”
We simultaneously stepped forward.
Chapter 11
Wind screeched in my ears. Next came the feeling of being stretched to the point of my bones snapping, but just as those sensations exploded—they stopped.
The spinning world around me came to a halt. Blood whooshed through my ears, and my heart pounded. I gasped quietly, gulping in a lungful of air.
“Dar?” Logan asked.
It was only then that I realized I’d closed my eyes. I opened them hesitantly, and his grinning face came into view.
“Are you okay?”
I took a deep breath and felt frantically for my purse and my backpack. They still hung from my shoulders. Weird. The journey through the portal had made everything feel like it was ripping apart, yet my clothes and my bags were fully intact. I threaded my fingers through my hair anyway, embarrassment flooding my cheeks.
“Ah, yeah, I’m fine.” I surveyed the room we stood in. Grayish metallic paint covered the walls, and bright artificial light illuminated the enclosed space. Nobody else was around.
Logan grinned more. “You did great. Most people either have a panic attack or are screaming when they emerge from the portal the first time.”
I grimaced. “Well … I can see why. It was kind of terrifying.” My heart still beat like a wild drum, but as each moment passed, it slowed more.
“Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it.”
A robotic voice suddenly rang from … somewhere. It didn’t sound like it came from any certain area, more that it came from everywhere. “Welcome, Logan Smith and guest. Please proceed to the identification processing room.”
“Processing room?” I raised an eyebrow.
“It’s required of everyone who enters the headquarters. We need to check in, but then I can show you around. As you can see, we’re in the entry bay right now. Now follow me. We gotta go this way.” He nodded over his shoulder and lifted his duffel bag. He strode forward, the familiar swagger of his hips beckoning my attention as his shoulders strained against the weight of his bag. Even in a new place filled with endless curiosities, all I could think about was how incredibly sexy he was.
I followed Logan from the room into a hallway. Similar to the entry bay, it was composed of gray walls and a concrete floor. In a way, the headquarters felt like a bunker or a military base.
“Are we underground?” I searched for a window but didn’t see one, but as we traveled down the tunnel, voices drifted to me from ahead.
“No. There are subterranean levels, but this area is aboveground. The entry bay and the processing area are all enclosed, though. That’s why there are no windows around here. You know, in case someone tried to break in through the portal—that way, they’d be contained and unable to escape by breaking a window, unless they carried personal portal keys. Then walls wouldn’t contain t
hem.”
“Oh, right.” Maybe someday I’ll actually know what he’s talking about.
Our feet tapped quietly on the floor as we proceeded down the hallway. A few steps later, we entered a large bustling room. At least a dozen people appeared busy at work. The circular room held an impressive workstation around its perimeter. Several technicians sat in front of computers and holographic screens.
In the center of the room, a holographic display flashed brilliant colors and showed various areas of the world. The images constantly changed, glimmering from city to city as beacons lit up and identified individuals.
An image appeared in the flashing display, showing a female with short blond hair walking in what appeared to be a European city. Cobblestones lined the path, and her three-inch heels showcased her graceful walk. A watery canal glimmered next to the narrow road, while old buildings no more than two stories high lined the other side.
A glowing screen popped up above her. Emily M. Sanders—witch, 5’5”, 140 lbs. Current location—Amsterdam. Day four of mission—pursuing a rumor of six nested vampires reported in the Amsterdam area.
Logan nodded toward the screen. “That’s how we keep track of SF members. We’re all continually tracked by headquarters in case we run into any trouble.”
“Logan!”
I twirled around at the sound of a familiar voice.
Brodie strode toward us, grinning. “Look who the cat dragged in.” He winked at me and stepped closer, his arm out, as if he were going to shoulder hug me.
I flinched back, acutely aware of the dark power humming inside me. “I didn’t know you’d be here, Brodie, but best not to get too close.”
He cocked his head then shrugged in that nonchalant way of his.
He looked exactly as I remembered him: blond hair, sparkling blue eyes, and lips that always tilted up, hinting that a smart comment or sarcastic quip could erupt from his mouth at any moment.
Brodie put his hands on his hips and turned toward Logan. “The boys and I are back from California.”
A surprised expression filled Logan’s face. “Does that mean you figured out who stole Xanthia’s dragon?”
Brodie shook his head. “Hell no. We brought her back with us. She’s stopped her part-time dragon-training gig to officially jump back onto SF payroll. It’s going to take more than a few weeks and the five of us to figure this one out.”
“If she’s on the SF payroll, does that mean she works for the SF too?” I asked.
“Yeah.” Brodie shoved his hands into his pockets. “Xanthia’s half demon, which means she can travel between the realms. The SF has quite a few half demons on staff for that exact purpose. Normally, Xanthia doesn’t do SF work, though. She lives in Cali when she’s not training dragons, but when we need help with underworld stuff, she’ll jump in—hence, her part-time status.”
Most of what Brodie had said to me made zero sense, but before I could ask him to explain more, a woman approached us.
“Hello, you must be Daria Gresham.” An SF uniform covered her plump build. Cherub cheeks lifted when she smiled, pink hair curled around her heart-shaped face, and her inquisitive hazel eyes met mine. “I was hoping to be on duty when you arrived.”
Logan gestured toward her. “Daria, this is Millie, one of our resident fairies and part of the SF processing team.”
A fairy? I tried not to look too eager to meet another supernatural species. “Nice to meet you, Millie.”
Millie tucked a strand of her pink hair behind her ear, revealing the top of the pointy appendage. Other than that, she looked like a human, although her skin held a subtle glow. I wondered if she was anything like the fairies portrayed in fairytales, but considering her warm and welcoming demeanor, I guessed not.
“I hear that you had some trouble with your father a few weeks ago.” Millie raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, that’s right, but Logan and his friends helped with that.”
“Along with a few of our sorcerers.” Millie winked. “I met your father when Douglas worked on him. Your father wasn’t…” She tapped her chin. “How do I put this … very pleasant?” She laughed, the sound reminding me of a thousand tinkling bells. “But he won’t be bothering you anymore.”
I gripped my purse again, not wanting to dwell on any memories of my father.
“Anyway, I better do my job before I get in trouble.” She pulled out a tablet from her pocket. The sleek device looked similar to the tablet Wes had typed on the other day. “Do you mind holding your wrist out?”
I tensed.
Logan leaned down and said quietly, “It’s just a scan. Don’t worry. She won’t touch you.”
Relaxing, I straightened my arm, and Millie pointed the tablet at my exposed skin. Lasers erupted from the device. Following that, a warm, tingling sensation grew in my wrist. My eyes widened when a glowing symbol appeared on my skin before it disappeared.
“A witch, just as we suspected.” She holstered her tablet again. “All checked in.”
I flipped my arm up and down, searching for whatever she’d done to me.
“You can’t see it,” Brodie said, “but you’ve been tagged. Consider your privacy now obsolete.”
My eyes widened so much I was sure they resembled saucers.
Brodie laughed. “Just kidding. That little tag merely verifies your supernatural species and that you are who you say you are. The witches came up with that one. It detects anybody who’s attempting to mask their appearance or identity. But don’t worry.” He grinned again, his eyes twinkling. “You passed with flying colors. You are indeed Daria Gresham, and you are indeed a witch.”
“But how do you know that?”
“If you weren’t, the symbol would have branded you and not disappeared. Then we could hunt you down.” He nodded toward the center holographic column.
I gulped. “Oh. Right.”
Logan held out his arm next, and Millie did the same to him. When she finished, the hush in the room finally caught my attention. Everybody who had been working on the computers had stopped to watch us.
Millie leaned closer to me, and I instinctively jumped back. The dark power still coiled in my belly, ready to strike. However, she didn’t react to my skittishness and merely whispered, “You better get used to it. You’re a bit of a celebrity in the community, you know.”
“I am?”
Millie just winked.
Logan eyed Brodie. “So why did things never get sorted out in California?”
The teasing look in Brodie’s eyes disappeared. He crossed his arms over his chest, his biceps bulging. Similar to Logan, he was huge.
“I think the problem goes deeper than someone tampering with hell’s gatekeepers.”
I cocked my head. Hell’s gatekeepers?
Logan’s brow furrowed as those around us turned back to their computers. “Are Jake and Alexander here too?”
“Yeah, they’re in the gym, shooting some hoops.”
“Well, gentlemen…” Millie mockingly bowed and took a step back. “I’ll let you get to it, so you can show the lovely Daria around.” Her full lips parted into a smile, revealing rows of pointy teeth. She turned her smile on me. “I hope to see you around. I’d love to get to know you better.”
I tried not to stare at her teeth. “Yeah, I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
“Dar? This way.” Logan nodded toward another hall that exited the circular room. From the looks of it, four different hallways branched out from the processing area. One of them led to our entry bay. “I’ll show you around first since I’m guessing you’re curious, then we can touch base with Wes to see if the scholars have any ideas about your newly acquired skill.”
“Skill?” Brodie cocked his head.
“It’s a long story,” I said hastily. The fewer people that knew about my lethal power, the better. The last thing I wanted to do was make everyone terrified to be around me. So far, I hadn’t had any strange power outbursts, other than that one healing session,
and from the little I’d learned about the dark power inside me, it only acted up when I called upon my light or when I was afraid.
Hopefully, it would stay that way.
“How big is this place?” I asked when we entered a new hallway.
Brodie shrugged. “The building itself sits on two acres and has two levels above ground and two levels below ground. But the surrounding land is around fifty thousand acres. We like to have enough room to stretch our legs.” He waggled his eyebrows.
I snorted quietly. I was pretty sure he was referring to four furry legs, not two human ones. “And you all live here too?”
“Yep, in the barracks.” Brodie stretched his arms wide. “Home sweet home. Maybe I can show you my digs.” He winked, getting a laugh out of me.
“You still love trying to charm my girlfriend, don’t you?” Logan’s tone sounded irritated, but I caught the amused tilt of his lips.
Brodie gave a satisfied grunt. “Trying? Pretty sure I’m not trying. She loves me.” He nudged my shoulder, making me jump, but our contact broke quickly. “Admit it. You think I’m dashingly handsome and way more charming than this oaf.”
“I suppose you’re just as handsome.”
Logan laughed just as Brodie brought a hand to his chest. “Ouch. You seriously think this dude’s more charming than me?”
I smiled. “Just kidding, Brodie. You’re not only handsome but also quite charming.”
He grinned, a new swagger in his step. “Exactly as I thought.”
Logan rolled his eyes, but a twinkle still lit them.
I followed the two of them down the hall. At our next turn, natural light poured into the hall from ahead. When the first window appeared, I eagerly looked out of it.
Rolling hills and thick forest carpeted the landscape. I craned my neck, trying to see some of the houses that had been along the road during the drive in, but couldn’t see any.
“Are there any homes or farms around here?” I propped my arm on the windowsill.
“No. Not in the immediate area.” Logan came closer to my side. A whiff of his tantalizing scent drifted my way.
My head swam. I wished I could step closer and lean against him. As if responding to my unbidden desire, the dark power churned within me. I hastily took a step farther away from Logan and again tried to push it into the chest where I stored my light.
Power in Darkness Page 9