“Oh, please, I was not.”
“Yes, my sweet, you were.”
Addie glanced around. “Whatever. It's near closing and most of the customers are gone. I guess Darcy and Duane left. Did they leave together? Oh well, I suppose it's none of my business.”
“No, it's not, and we should leave, too.” Cael pushed his chair away from the table as Gerry and Maia walked over to them and sat.
“Cael, you will be joining us for dinner tomorrow night, right?” Maia asked.
Gerry frowned; Cael glanced at him and pulled his chair back in. “Thanks. Yes, Addie did mention it to me. I’d love to.”
“Great. I hope you eat meat—I’m making a pot roast.”
“That sounds great. Pot roast is one of my favorites.”
Addie stood, saying, “Excuse me, I’ll be right back. Um, nature calls.”
Maia stood and followed Addie to the restroom, leaving the two men alone at the table.
***
The distrust Gerry felt toward Cael poured out thicker than molasses and seeped into Cael's senses, overpowering all his other emotions. Why was Gerry so interested in what Addison was doing? He didn’t care for the way Gerry was always looking at her. Addison had tried to reassure Cael that Gerry had nothing more than brotherly affection for her, but there was something about the way the man looked at her. Cael just wasn’t sure what. Ever since he’d met Addison, his perception had been off. He knew Gerry suspected something and Cael had his own suspicions about Gerry.
“Addie is a beautiful woman, but she’s also naïve in the romance department,” Gerry said.
“I’m not sure what you’re implying.” Cael was worried that the man was going to admit he’d been intimate with Addison when she’d already denied it.
“What I mean is, Addie hasn’t had many dealings with men. She’s not the most experienced of women. She’s fragile. Maia says she had a few dates during college, but never a serious relationship with anyone.”
A great sense of relief came over Cael. “Oh. And you think it’s your place to tell me this? I don’t think Addison would appreciate it.”
“Look, I know you don’t like me since I slugged you ...”
“You mean sucker-punched me.”
“Well, okay. I suppose it was a cheap shot, but I assure you that my intentions were only to protect Addie. Look, before dinner tomorrow night you and I need to get one thing straight. I love Addie.”
Cael's neck muscles twitched and his hands fisted. He wanted to pound Gerry right there.
Gerry put a hand on his shoulder. “Hold on now. I love Addie as a younger sister and I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure she doesn’t get hurt. She is Maia’s niece, Maia has always taken care of her, and since I’m with Maia, I look out for both of them. So remove the bloody chip from your shoulder. I just want you to know how vulnerable she is.”
Okay, so his perception was off. Maybe Gerry was just concerned for Addison’s well being. Hell, he would be, too, if he were in the guy’s shoes. Maybe Addison was right and he was jealous. He really needed to get a handle on things.
“I know she’s fragile, why do you think I thought I wasn’t good enough for her? That’s why I tried to pull away, but she’s a bright and strong woman, and I think everyone has underestimated her, including me.”
Gerry raised his eyebrows.
“Well, she may be bright and strong, but she’s still as sweet as they come.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Your uncle has nothing but the highest praise for you and I’ve known him for a long time, so I guess if Addie’s going to fall for a man, it might as well be you. Just watch your step.”
***
The moon hung high in the sky and clouds gathered around it like pillows cushioning a baby. Cael and Addie took their time going home, figuring it wasn't going to make a bit of difference. Eidolon knew where they lived no matter how long the trip took. As Addie drove, Cael kept his gaze focused on the sky and she wondered what Gerry had said to him to make him so quiet. She wished Gerry would mind his own business.
A large column of smoke rising a few blocks away grabbed Cael’s attention as he straightened. “There’s a fire. Turn here.”
She turned the truck down a residential street and pulled over. There were flashing lights from fire trucks in front of a two-story house engulfed in flames. The entire building emanated a flickering orange glow. A cacophony of shouts filled the air while onlookers stood by gaping as flames roared out through the windows. Firefighters held up hoses spewing water in an attempt to extinguish the fire.
Two firefighters stood at the front door holding axes, ready to enter the house when a blast blew them back about five feet, knocking both on their asses as flames burst out in front of them.
Sirens screamed past Addie’s ears as a rescue truck whizzed by.
A woman cried as she tried to break loose from the grip of a firefighter preventing her from racing back into the house, “My son, my son, he’s in there! Please let me go, he’s only four years old, won’t someone please go find him?”
Addie looked at Cael as he unbuckled his seat belt. “No, Cael, you can’t go in there.” She threw her hand out to stop him, but she was too late; he was gone.
She sat in her truck, stunned by what she was seeing. She unbuckled her seat belt to get out of her truck to help when a hand covered her mouth. She felt a knife at her throat as a raspy and muffled voice spoke close to her ear.
“It looks like your hero is a sucker for trying to save people. This time, though, maybe that fire’s just going to burn him alive.”
Addie stiffened, but wanted to see the face of her attacker and turned her head as the knife jabbed harder against her throat.
“Drive, bitch. Turn this fucking truck around and drive—and don’t try any of your little telekinetic or sparkler shenanigans on me or I’ll kill you right here.”
***
Cael materialized in one of the bedrooms upstairs, the crackle of flames hovering all around him as part of the roof collapsed. A beam clipped him in the shoulder—the same shoulder Addison healed the other day. Cursing, he clutched at it in agony.
“Hello! Little boy, where are you? Can you hear me?” He didn’t know the boy’s name but hoped he would respond.
He managed to get to the other bedroom, but couldn’t see anything for the smoke. He checked the bathroom, thinking maybe the boy was hiding in the tub. Where would a scared four-year-old boy hide? He teleported downstairs to the kitchen and called out again. Nothing.
The smoke choked his lungs. He grabbed a towel he found at the sink, ran water over it, and put it up to his face. He walked out of the kitchen and entered what was left of the living room. A table collapsed with a crash as the legs became charred stumps. The sofa roared with flames and glass exploded from the television as Cael heard shouts and the pounding of axes cutting through from outside. Fire surrounded him, but no sign of the boy.
He called out again, his voice hoarse from the smoke. He tuned in his hearing, heard a faint cry come from around the corner and headed in that direction to a closed door. He entered a room he surmised to be a playroom—still unharmed by the fire. There was a large plastic slide, toys scattered all over the floor and three large plastic blocks interlocked together with a blanket draped over them forming a cozy little fort. He bent down thinking the boy was there. He frowned when he found it vacant, but then remembered … children will usually hide under a bed or in a closed space. The whimpering came from behind him—a closet. He swung the door open and saw the boy crouched on the floor inside, tears trickling down his freckled cheeks.
“There you are, come on; your mommy’s waiting for you.”
“Mommy, where’s Mommy?”
“It’s okay, don’t be afraid. Come with me, I’ll take you to your mommy.” He scooped the boy up in his arms and covered him with the blanket from the fort. He looked up and saw the ceiling was about to give way and heard it come crashing down as h
e teleported them to safety. The heavy smoke lingering in the air disguised their instant appearance behind the house. Cael ran with the boy to the front where firefighters helped them to the street.
Cael handed the boy to his mother and she cried, hugging the boy and thanking Cael. A firefighter escorted them to the medics.
“Come this way, you need help.” A firefighter tugged on Cael's arm.
“No, I'm fine.” Cael coughed, shooing him away, but when he tried to stand on his own, his knees buckled. He found himself relying on the help of the fireman as he hobbled over to the medic truck where he sat on the tailgate, breathing in oxygen from a mask one of the paramedics affixed to his face.
The fire chief came up to Cael. He was a burly man with a bushy gray mustache and looked as if he’d seen his fair share of fires. “That was a brave thing you did. Are you okay?”
Cael pulled off the oxygen mask. “Yes, how’s the little boy?”
“He’s probably suffered some minor smoke inhalation, but I think he’ll be okay. He was lucky you got to him when you did. Can’t say it was a smart thing, you going in there, but it was a brave one. Maybe you should think about a career in firefighting.”
“Right, thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.”
Cael looked for Addison’s truck, but it was gone. Where did she go? Sheer panic ran through his veins. He closed his eyes, trying to feel her essence; she wasn’t close. He knew she wouldn’t just take off. Something made her leave. Eidolon.
Chapter 33
With a knife at her throat, Addie didn't dare move a muscle, and without her hands, her powers were useless. Strands of material brushed against her neck as her captor spoke with a muffled sound. Guessing he was wearing some sort of hood over his head, the recollection of her nightmares swamped her mind. Fearing the sharp point of the blade would pierce deeper into her flesh, she did as he ordered. Under the tip of the blade, something dripped down her neck. Her dry mouth made speaking—let alone screaming—impossible. Her plan to sneak out later to protect Cael mocked her as the impact of the situation floated to the surface of her consciousness. She’d be dead soon, but all she could think about was Cael running into the fire.
“That’s a nice fire I started, isn’t it? I knew your boyfriend would try to save that kid. He’s a real boy scout, that one. Drive faster, before I shove this blade further into your throat.”
Addie pressed down harder on the gas as the truck accelerated to fifty miles an hour. The speed limit was only twenty-five on the curvy road. She fought to keep the truck steady so she wouldn’t lose control and end up topside in a ditch, but maybe that wasn’t such a bad idea.
The blade of the knife pierced her skin deeper; the liquid she felt tickling its way between her breasts must be her blood. If she died now, Cael would be safe—assuming he survived the fire. She already knew in her heart he had. He wouldn’t have rushed into a fire unless he knew he could teleport out with the boy. Eidolon would continue to search for the journal, but she was the real key here. He wanted the crystal, the book, her abilities, and then he wanted her dead. But if she managed to kill them both ….
She thought of her powers, but couldn’t figure out how to wield them without using her hands. Every time she tried to move, the knife pressed harder, so she stayed still for fear of antagonizing him further.
“Pull over here, bitch.”
Addie slowed the truck down and pulled over into some gravel. The truck swerved and the front two tires landed in a ditch as the knife jerked, cutting her even more.
“Fucking bitch. Not the smoothest landing, but it’ll do.”
Maybe she could try something now that she no longer had to concentrate on driving.
Her cell phone rang and she prayed it was Cael.
“Keep your hands on the wheel. That’s probably your Mr. Sheridan; I bet he’s frantic right now, if he made it out of the fire alive. Don’t move your hands. Remember, I can take over your mind if I have to.”
Yes, she remembered too well, so she did as he said and kept her hands planted on the wheel. She was frightened, and not sure of his intentions. She wished she could see his face, but he held the knife with the point sticking into her neck, its sharp blade piercing deeper into her skin with the slightest movement.
“Now you listen to me and you won’t get hurt—not this time, anyway. You tell me where the crystal is, and while you’re at it, the fucking book. Shit, the crystal is worthless to me without the book.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. What crystal and book?”
“Don’t play stupid with me. You know damn well what crystal and book. I know your father had them hidden all these years. Thought he could fool me. I’ve had all this time to perfect my powers. They are far greater than his ever were, and greater than yours will ever be. And once I have yours and everyone else’s, I’ll be even stronger.”
“It’ll never work.”
A piercing sting sliced through her skin as the cold blade sank deeper into her neck.
“Shut up. You don’t talk unless I tell you to. I don’t give a rat’s ass what you think. I want the crystal. You little whore, you thought you could stop me with a few little sparks, but all you managed to do was hurt that poor, defenseless little dog. You have no idea what I’m capable of doing. You will tell me what I want to know or I will kill your friends and your family, one by one, until you tell me. I’ll start with your little friend Darcy. I’ll snap her neck, but first I’ll have my way with her, show her what a real man is like. Tell me now or Darcy will be the first to go.”
“I can’t, I don’t know, please, you’re hurting me.”
“You're lying.”
From somewhere deep inside Addie found her courage. “Why don’t you just go ahead and kill me now, get it over with. It won’t make a bit of difference if you do it now or later, you still won’t have what you want. Kill me—I don’t know where the stupid crystal and book are.”
He repositioned his body, reaching around her and she realized she’d only made things worse. He laughed and placed his hand over her breast.
“Nice.” He moaned and pinched her nipple hard, bringing tears to her eyes, then moved his hand down, sticking it inside her pants, grabbing at her crotch.
“You’re very stupid. You really don’t expect me to believe you, do you?” He yanked on the curls of her mound before his fingers slipped inside her and she couldn’t hold back the tears that streamed down her face.
“I could take you here. Maybe I should just fuck you until you tell me. If you don't, you'll condemn all those close to you. As your loved ones die off one at a time, you’ll be begging to give me what I want. Remember my words for now and know you will eventually succumb to me.”
Addie cringed as he tugged at the hair between her legs again, then her temple exploded with pain just before everything went black.
***
Cael ran from the site of the burning house and into a thicket, then teleported to the main highway. He was frantic; Addison’s truck was nowhere in sight. Then it dawned on him. “Ah shit, I forgot.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He found her name among his contacts and pushed send, hearing the phone ring on her end, but then it went to voicemail. “Addison, for the love of God, where are you? Call me.”
He vanished, materializing further up the road, dashing in and out of space every quarter-mile or so until he became lightheaded. He’d never used so much energy before, never teleported so frequently in such a short amount of time. His throat burned and the smoke lingering in his lungs wasn’t helping matters. Wearing down, losing stamina, he bent over, placed his hands on his knees and tried to catch his breath.
“Dear God, where is she? Please give me strength to find her.” Cael continued searching, but still no sign of Addison or her truck.
He sighed and rubbed his eyes. “What good are these powers if I can’t use them when I need them?”
Cael had never cried before—at least not sin
ce he was a child. He’d wept when his dad left, but those tears soon turned to anger and he vowed never to cry again. These were different, though; they were tears from exhaustion and most of all, fear for Addison.
Fighting the fatigue, he vanished once more and reappeared again, finally spotting her truck stopped on the shoulder of the highway; the entire front end was stuck in a ditch.
He ran on weak and shaking legs and found her body slumped over on the seat.
“Addison!”
Cael tugged the door open, almost tearing it off its hinges.
“Oh God, Addison.” Blood trickled from her neck.
He placed his fingers on her neck to feel for a pulse and felt the sticky blood oozing from a wound.
She moaned.
“Thank God, Addison, Addison, wake up, baby. There you are; can you hear me?”
Addison moaned again, and slowly opened her eyes. He blinked his wet eyes and smiled. The emotional display would have embarrassed him in the past, but he didn’t care if she saw the tears. He’d found her, and she was alive. Nothing else mattered.
She groaned, and touched his cheek. “You’ve been crying.”
“I know, baby, I know. I was so worried.” He wiped his face with the back of his hand.
She tried to sit up and brushed her fingers over the bump on her head before lowering them to her neck; it was sticky. When she looked at her hand, she saw the blood, then sank back down on the seat. “Eidolon, it was Eidolon. He—”
“You’re going to be okay. I have you now. Come on, I need to get you out of here.” He scooped her up, cradled her in his arms.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be …” Her voice trailed off as she lost consciousness again.
***
The muffled sounds of people walking by the glass wall of the ER waiting area continually caught Cael's attention. He sat hunched over his knees in one of the yellow plastic chairs that lined the wall, wishing one of those passersby would be the doctor. What was taking so long? Being the only one in the drab little waiting area and annoyed by the sound of the TV hanging from the wall in the corner, he stood, reached up and switched it off, then paced the gray-carpeted floor. He’d used Addison’s cell phone to contact Maia and Gerry. He wasn’t sure how bad her injuries were and they’d be pissed if they found out later. Now they were on their way.
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