Hiding in the silence and shadows, Ranulf studied Bradan's base of operations. The house had the same abandoned look as the last time Ranulf had seen it. The only difference was that right now it lit up the clearing like the beacon of a lighthouse, warning all who approached of danger.
Did Bradan feel so secure that the labyrinth of false names and hidden payments would have insulated him from discovery? No, that didn't feel right. He'd just wanted to make sure that only the right people found him. Knowing Bradan's ego, he probably had a welcome mat with their names on it laying on the porch.
It was time to end his games.
Sending out tendrils of energy to study the house, Ranulf recoiled at the murky blackness that came rushing back at him. Death had its own flavor that hung in the night air. The brightness of the electric lights did little to dim the darkness of the soul that clung to the house in thick waves.
Ranulf fought against the impulse to go charging in, his weapons drawn and ready to fight to the death with the evil inside. As much as he preferred the role of lone gunman, this time he would be risking far more than his own life. He had Kerry and even Sandor to consider, not to mention the hostage. Judith would most likely be the first to die at Bradan's hands, but not the only one if the three of them didn't attack in concert.
So be it. He faded back into the trees to rejoin his team. Despite his orders, they'd followed his trail toward the house, but at least they'd stayed back far enough to remain hidden.
"How bad is it?" Sandor asked.
"Bad enough. We'll have cover until the last twenty yards. We'll split up and make a slow approach, then run like hell when we have to break cover."
"I'll take the front." Sandor had his gun in one hand, a knife in the other.
Ranulf measured the resolve in Sandor's dark eyes. "Anxious to play hero?"
The Talion sent a burst of disapproval in Ranulf's direction. "No, but I figure you stand a better chance of protecting Kerry."
Ranulf rarely apologized, but he tried this time. "Good thinking. We'll separate when we reach the edge of the trees."
He pulled a smaller version of the gun he carried and handed it to Kerry. "Do you know how to use one of these?"
She nodded. "I took a self-defense class a couple of years ago, but I haven't practiced in a while."
"At least that's something." He checked it over before showing her the safety and how to click it off.
"Sandor, we'll give you time to attract Bradan's attention and then hit the back. Good luck."
He offered his hand to Sandor and was relieved when the Talion accepted the gesture. Kerry immediately hugged Sandor, kissing him on the cheek. The Talion grabbed her up in his arms for a quick hug and an even quicker kiss on the lips. When he set her down sputtering, Sandor grinned at Ranulf in the darkness.
"Watch your backs, you two."
"Watch yourself, Sandor. Don't do anything stupid." Like try to be a hero, which would likely get him killed.
"I won't." Sandor moved out, the night swallowing him up.
As soon as he was gone, Kerry reached up to run her fingers along the side of Ranulf's face, her touch a soothing balm.
He smiled down at her, loving her fierce determination. "Let's go. We don't want Sandor to get all the glory."
She reached for Ranulf's hand. If his touch comforted her, he wouldn't argue. And truth be told, the warmth of her fingers entangled with his felt pretty damned good.
Judith's lungs weren't working without a great deal of effort, and pain had taken over her world. Bradan's face was so twisted with evil that it would have been difficult to recognize him if she'd passed him on the street.
Toward the end of the last bout of torment, he'd kept pausing every so often to listen. When he hadn't heard whatever he'd been listening for, he'd cursed and then started in on her again with more fury and enthusiasm. If there had been a square inch on her body that hadn't been bruised or bleeding, he hadn't found it. Yet.
Death was coming for her, and regrets filled her mind. She should have done better by Ranulf, but she'd tried at the end. She hoped he was smart enough to grab onto the love Kerry Logan had for him.
Sandor would hate that, because he only saw the darkness in Ranulf, not the strength and the honor that went bone deep in her Viking warrior. That was her fault, too. If she'd used Sandor the same way she'd used Ranulf, he would have lost some of that slick polish, but he'd have been stronger for it.
And she should have been up front with Kerry from the beginning. If they'd really talked while they'd had the chance, she could have better prepared Kerry to serve as Grand Dame. There was so much she needed to learn about the Kyth, but at least she'd bring a fresh eye to their problems. With both Ranulf and Sandor to support her, she'd do fine.
Bradan's laughter rang out in the living room overhead. She shuddered, fearing for whoever had caught his attention this time. He'd spent a long time telling her how he'd perfected his art with scalpels and probes by practicing on human victims. He practically vibrated with the energy he'd harvested.
Maybe she could draw his attention back to her. If she succeeded, it would give the innocent human time to escape or give her Talions more of a fighting chance.
Focus, Judith, focus. It took every bit of willpower to shove the pain and the fear to the back of her mind, keeping the last vestiges of her powers at the forefront. She'd never make it up the steps, but Bradan didn't know that. All that was required was the appearance of an escape attempt.
One after another, her restraints snapped. Being able to move again sent a new upsurge of pain ripping through her, but she felt it only at a distance. Death already had her in his grip, her fumbling steps only a short distance ahead of him. She stumbled toward the staircase and deliberately knocked over the metal instrument tray, sending it clattering across the floor.
If Bradan heard it, he didn't react. Desperately, she looked for something else. There were bottles of chemicals in a cabinet with glass doors. The gods only knew what was in them, but if they produced poisonous gases, so much the better. Holding on to the wall for support, she crossed to the cabinet and tried the doors.
Locked. Closing her eyes, she sent one last energy burst to reinforce the strength of her unbroken left hand and slammed it through the glass. She unlatched the lock from the inside and let the doors swing open. One after another, she shattered the bottles, making as much noise as possible.
This time Bradan came charging down the stairs, but only halfway. "You'll pay for that, you stupid bitch, but so will both of your Talions. And when I'm done with them, I'll start in on Kerry. I'm betting I can keep her alive for days, maybe even weeks. So know that your little tantrum is going to cost them."
She didn't have enough breath left to talk, so she let another bottle fly in answer to his threats. They both knew that nothing she did would change his plans.
He started down another step, then abruptly stopped, as if he'd been a puppet and someone had pulled his strings. He struggled briefly, then gave in and backed up the stairs.
"Your friends are here, Judith. I hope you live long enough to greet them properly."
Then he was gone. She wilted to the floor, knowing she'd done all she could. May the gods grant that it was enough.
Judith's little tantrum was most vexing. Bradan charged back downstairs and hauled her body back up to the living room. She was barely breathing, but she'd served her purpose by drawing his enemies out into the open.
He could feel them sneaking around, thinking they were camouflaged by the trees. He paused in the kitchen to reach out and taste the invaders' energy. Sandor was alone, but there was a mixed signature coming from the back of the house. Ranulf, judging by the strength of the power, but he wasn't alone. He'd brought Kerry right to Bradan's doorstep.
Which one would attack first? Sandor or Ranulf? Not that it mattered. Bradan could take on all of them at once. He was that strong, that deserving of the gods' blessing. Who else had sacrificed so many for
the glory of the Kyth? Ranulf, probably, but not within such a short time period.
All, Sandor must have drawn the short straw, getting to play sacrificial lamb while Ranulf got to be the real hero.
Bradan turned toward the living room and used a bit of his energy to unlock the door from across the room. A few seconds later, the doorknob started to turn.
"I'm coming for you, Talion. Surrender now or die!"
Bradan smiled. Sandor was so damn honorable that he actually followed the protocols of ritual combat among their people. How had he managed to live this long, if he'd always warned his enemies he was coming?
Calling his dark energy to full power, Bradan widened his stance and waited.
Chapter Fifteen
Sandor swallowed hard and braced his shoulders. The door lock clicked open, which meant Bradan was expecting him. They had known it was unlikely they'd get this close without alerting him to their presence.
Pulling his gun, he called, "I'm coming for you, Talion. Surrender now or die!"
Laughter was not what he expected as an answer, but then Bradan was crazy. There was no telling what he was capable of at this point. Sandor gave the doorknob a quick turn and shoved it open, bringing up his gun at the same time, his finger twitching on the trigger. The sight waiting for him was simply indescribable in its horror.
Bradan stood over Judith, her face barely recognizable through the bruises and the blood. He spread his hand wide, ready to finish her off if Sandor made the wrong move.
Check and stalemate. Sandor stood his ground and waited for Bradan to make the next move.
The next few minutes would decide who would live and who would die.
Gripping the talisman at his throat, Ranulf sent a silent prayer upward. Please, Thor and Odin, keep the women safe and give your warriors courage in the face of death! The hammer burned hot in his hand, his prayer heard.
"Stay behind me," he warned Kerry, making it clear that his word was law now.
The bright glow from the kitchen window cast her face in stark relief as they scurried past. Her eyes reflected her grim determination to do battle against one of the most dangerous foes he'd faced in his long, long life. No one would look at this petite woman and not see her fierce spirit burning bright. He wanted to kiss the hard slash of her sweet mouth and tell her how proud he was of her courage, but time was running out.
He motioned for her to press herself against the back wall of the house. When she'd done so, he looked inside the window. The kitchen was empty, but in a house this small, Bradan couldn't be far.
"Stand back while I kick the door in. Give me a chance to clear the way before following me."
Kerry moved into position, her eyes burning with energy, her expression determined. "He won't get past me."
Please, gods, don't let it come to that. He kept his gun drawn but didn't expect to use it for the kill. When a Talion killed his own kind, it was hands-on work, up close and very personal. Especially this time.
On the second kick, the lock broke free of the jamb and the door slammed open, banging against the wall. Ranulf was through it with Kerry behind him out of the line of fire, leaving him free to go after their prey.
A short hall led toward the back of the house in one direction and the front in the other. There was no question which way to go, because he could see Bradan as soon as he looked toward the living room.
Sandor was holding the bastard at bay. But with Bradan's fingers splayed on Judith's face, he couldn't do much more than glare at Bradan without further endangering her life.
"Kill… dead anyway." The harsh sound of the Dame's whispered order echoed in the room.
Hearing her sound that way was like walking on broken glass. Ranulf wanted to deny her final request, but he'd served her too long to refuse her now.
He dropped his gun to the floor, hoping the clatter would distract Bradan for a second or two. No such luck. The Talion's grip on Judith tightened briefly. She didn't even whimper as he stripped more of her energy. Then in a surprise move, he flung her body aside and brought his hands up, one pointed toward Sandor, the other right at Ranulf.
A blast of energy burst from his fingertips, heading straight at where Sandor had been standing only a heartbeat before, leaving a smoking hole in the carpet. Ranulf sent a return shot of power at Bradan that should have fried the bastard on the spot.
Instead he deflected the jolt, redirecting it right at Ranulf along with a boost of his own energy. It shimmered along Ranulf's skin, burning but doing no permanent harm. Bradan must have been living and breathing dark energy round the clock for days to put that much power behind a single charge.
He felt Kerry moving up beside him at the same time Bradan spotted her. Ranulf would have shoved her back, but he couldn't afford to break his concentration. Sandor saved the moment by going on the attack while Kerry laid her hand on Ranulf's arm, sending her own powerful energy coursing through him to blend seamlessly with his. Where had she learned that trick?
Bradan blocked both attacks again, this time absorbing their energy instead of deflecting it. His face lit up with unholy joy as he taunted them. "Is that the best you've got? If I'd known it was this easy to take on Judith's precious elite enforcer, I would have done this years ago!"
"Wish you had, Bradan. It would have saved us putting up with you for all this time." Ranulf met him smile for smile.
"Ah, but then I would have missed the chance to meet Miss Logan." He gave her a lingering look that made Ranulf see red and then black.
They had to figure out a weakness soon.
Kerry stepped away from Ranulf, making herself into a target while she tried her best to plaster Bradan against the wall. For the first time, Bradan's shields flickered, forcing him to retreat a couple of steps. Ranulf joined and went on the attack while Sandor did the same.
Slowly, inexorably they went after Bradan, but then he managed to tap in to more of his energy and returned their attack with interest. Each blow he landed shorted out more of their ability to retaliate, until he got in a lucky shot and hit Sandor square in the chest. Kerry screamed as the Talion collapsed in a boneless heap. If Ranulf hadn't grabbed her, she would have gone charging right into the line of fire to get to the fallen Talion's side.
Ranulf dropped back a few steps, dragging Kerry with him, hoping to lull Bradan into thinking they had been seriously weakened at the loss of Sandor's energy. He hadn't fought and won such battles beyond count without learning a few tricks.
Reaching down deep, he turned his rage into a burning cold fire, letting the pressure build, knowing this would be his one shot to burn Bradan right down to the ground. If necessary, he'd go down with him, but this shit was going to stop. Now.
Judith hadn't moved since Bradan had thrown her to the floor, and from this angle Kerry couldn't tell if Sandor was breathing or not.
The air between Ranulf and Bradan coalesced in swirls of energy, arcing and hissing, sometimes bulging toward her lover and sometimes toward Bradan. It was a standoff, one that frightened her more than the earlier blasts of power that had bounced around the room, leaving holes in the wall and smoldering bums in the old shag carpet. At least one had left her feeling a little fried around the edges, but otherwise unharmed.
How could she help Ranulf? She focused on Bradan, studying the monster who had caused so much pain and death.
Her shoulders tingled and stung, the sensation just shy of pain as it radiated down her arms to her fingers. Instinct made her splay her fingers wide, her eyes narrowing as she searched for a vulnerability in Bradan's defenses. There, despite the thickening haze in the room, she could see his lower legs clearly.
She sent the energy spiraling out of her fingertips in a lightning-quick strike at the side of Bradan's knee. He screamed, the outpour of his power faltering and flickering. She sent another burst, alternating with Ranulf's darker blend of power.
When Bradan fell to his knees, Ranulf hollered a battle cry and went charging forward, only
to see Sandor scramble to his feet and dive onto his former friend, his face flushed red with hatred and rage. As the two men grappled, Ranulf held Kerry back.
"Don't touch them, Kerry. I doubt Sandor would even recognize you right now, and Bradan wouldn't give a damn if he killed you."
The battle rolled toward the other side of the room, giving Kerry room to finally get to Judith. With Ranulf's help, they carefully carried the Dame to the safety of the kitchen. Her skin was cold and blue, her breathing horrifyingly shallow and infrequent.
Kerry tried to piece together enough energy to share with the older woman. Ranulf's hand came down heavily on her shoulder, sharing what he could from his own reserves before running back to help Sandor. His warmth washed over her, through her, and into his Dame. Though Judith soaked up the healing energy like a desert thirsting for rain, it clearly wasn't enough to free her from death's grasp.
But her pained expression slowly transformed into peaceful repose, the bruises and swelling fading to reveal the elegant beauty below. Kerry gently brushed the hair back from Judith's face as the injured woman's eyes fluttered open. At first she looked confused, but then she smiled so sweetlv that it brought tears to Kerry's eyes.
"Don't waste any more of your power on me, young lady. You're going to need all you can muster if you're going to take my place." Judith's eyebrows drew together in a worried look. "You will, won't you? The Kyth will need your strength to get them through this."
How could she deny a dying woman's request? "I'll try, Judith. It's all I can promise."
"Take my talisman. It should be yours." Her hand fumbled at the neckline of her sweater to grasp her necklace. "I hope life brings you joy, Kerry Logan."
Kerry helped Judith remove the necklace. It felt warm and heavy, as if the responsibilities and burdens of being Dame had been absorbed by the metal itself. When Judith closed her hand over Kerry's there was a blinding flash, followed by a montage of images flooding into Kerry's mind, one after another, faster than she could make sense of them. Her stomach lurched and rolled, as if she'd been on a roller-coaster ride. Finally they slowed down and settled into her head as if they'd been her own memories, instead of belonging to a woman whose life had spanned a millennium.
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