Out of the Dark (Forbidden Love)

by Danielle James

  “Ha, well, I could mention it,” Keelie suggested as she stepped into one of the stalls. Brea did the same. After a minute, Brea noticed that the restroom was quiet. Very quiet. Too quiet.

  “Keelie?” she called out. There was no response. “Come on, that’s not funny,” she said, opening the stall door. Brea stepped out only to realize that the restroom was empty. “Huh, I guess she left me,” Brea said aloud as she washed her hands in the sink.

  She was drying her hands when Brea thought she saw a flash of movement in the mirror. When she looked up, a large hand covered her mouth, repressing the scream that built in her throat. “Shhh,” someone said in her ear. Brea looked in the mirror and saw a man behind her. He was tall and built, and definitely stronger than she was. He lifted a rag out of his pocket and replaced his hand over her mouth with it.

  Brea tried not to breathe. But much too soon her body betrayed her and Brea sucked in a breath against the cloth. It was soaked in something that smelled very tart. A sickly sweet smell that Brea recognized all too easily. Ether. Brea fought the fuzz that was quickly settling over her mind, but it proved to be too hard. She struggled with the man’s iron grip on her and made too little progress. The room started spinning and Brea knew she was in trouble. The blackness took over her senses and Brea knew nothing more.

  ******

  Angel was sitting in the library writing in his song journal when his cell phone rang. It was Ricco. Angel flipped the phone open and answered it.

  “Yeah,” he said.

  “Hey Angel. Just checking in. Everything’s good, the girls are in the restroom right now,” Ricco’s voice said.

  “Are they having a good time?” Angel asked.

  “Well, if you count the number of packages I was left to guard as proof of fun, then yes.”

  “You don’t sound like you are having much fun yourself,” Angel laughed.

  “Ha ha. So funny. Oh, here comes Keelie,” Ricco said. “Where’s Brea?” he asked her.

  “Still inside. She’ll be out in a minute,” Angel heard Keelie reply from the background.

  Angel suddenly had a very bad feeling. A stab of fear shot through him, making his heart race and his adrenaline pump. He knew instantly that it was not his own fear he was feeling, but Brea’s. “Go check on her,” he demanded.

  “Chill out, Angel. Brea’s fine. I can’t just go barging into the women’s facilities.”

  Angel sniffed the air. It was clean, but in his mind, he could smell the distinct odor of ether. “You can and you will. Something’s wrong. I think Brea is in trouble. Go now!”

  Ricco and Keelie both ran back into the restroom. A woman squealed when Ricco entered, but he paid her no mind. They opened every stall and checked every corner. “She’s not here,” Keelie said.

  Angel’s heart hit the floor. Where was she? “I’m following her scent now,” Keelie said, having taken control of the phone. All Angel could do was stand there like an idiot and wait. “The trail stops here,” she said. “It’s Brea and a man. I swear Angel, when I left the bathroom, Brea was alone in there. I would have never left if I thought someone else was with her,”

  “Where are you?” Angel said.

  “The mall parking lot. Her scent stops at this space. Whoever is with her must have put her in a car. You don’t think there is any possibility that she went willingly do you?”

  “I am most certain not.” Angel explained his feeling he got along with the scent of ether.

  “Oh, God, what do we do?” Keelie moaned.

  “I have to make a call,” Angel said. “Keep looking.” He disconnected and dialed another number.

  “Corbin,” the man on the other end answered.

  “It’s Angel. Listen, I think I know why your killer has changed his MO. I think he got his real target.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “Brea is gone. Someone took her. Just a few minutes ago.”

  “How can you be sure?” the detective asked.

  “Because we are mated. I felt her fear when it happened. Now I don’t feel her at all. I fear she is unconscious, or worse,” Angel admitted. He told Samuel everything he knew.

  “I’ll put every available man on it,” Samuel promised.

  Angel paced in front of the front door. A million scenarios played out in his mind. Several times, he tried to call to Brea’s mind, but had no luck. Either they did not share that kind of bond, or she was unconscious. Every possible suspect and every possible motive raced through Angel’s head. Who would take her? And why? And who would have the balls to do it, knowing they would face Angel’s wrath?

  Finally, finally the sun set behind the trees, allowing the men out of the house. It wasn’t fully dark outside, but it was close enough. “It’s time,” Angel announced. “Go in pairs, no one goes off alone. Check every building, every street, every alley. Ricco and Keelie are already out there. You find anything, anything at all, call me. I don’t care how insignificant you think it might be. Got it?”

  “Got it,” five vampires said in unison. They were armed to the teeth and ready to fight.

  “I called in a few favors and some of my acquaintances are assisting as well. So is Detective Corbin. He’s put out an APB on Brea and anyone she is with. I got this whole city looking for her. Let’s move,” he said, already headed out the door.

  THIRTY ONE

  Brea woke up on a cold, damp floor. She pushed herself to a sitting position, wishing her head felt as good as it had when she was hung over. The smell of mold and mildew was overpowering. She peeled her eyelids back only to see that she was in a cell of some sort. She was surrounded by grey concrete walls on three sides, the fourth was iron bars. It looked much like what she imagined a jail cell would be like. Except in jail, she would be supplied with a cot and maybe a toilet. Besides herself, the cell was devoid of anything at all.

  Brea tried to stand, but her legs were weak and wobbly, her head was swimming. So she crawled to the iron bars. All she could see was a folding metal chair adjacent to the bars, and a hallway of concrete. There was no one around that she could see. What happened? She tried to recall the events, but all Brea could remember was being at the mall with Keelie and Ricco. Oh! Were they alright? Had whatever happened to Brea happened to her friends as well?

  “Brea! Breanna Hunt, damn it, answer me!” Brea heard the words as if they had been spoken right in front of her. But there was no one there. But she knew that voice. It was Angel. He called to her again. Brea thought she must be going crazy. But then the tattoo on her breast began to warm. She looked down and saw that it was shining, almost glowing. The mating! Maybe she really was hearing Angel’s voice.

  Trying to clear the fog from her mind, Brea called back to him. Angel, she thought with all she had, Angel, I’m here.

  Thank God! Are you hurt, Love?

  I don’t think so, Brea answered in her head. What happened?

  I was hoping you could tell us, Angel replied. You disappeared from the women’s restroom. Someone took you, do you know where you are?

  No, it looks like a jail cell. Feels like a dungeon.

  Don’t worry, we’re coming for you, Love,

  Be careful, Brea thought as sleep claimed her once again.

  “She’s alive,” Angel said into his phone.

  “Good,” Sebastian replied. “Where is she?”

  “She doesn’t know. She doesn’t remember what happened. I was only able to talk to her for a minute.”

  “So you have the mental link with her then?”

  “It would appear so. I keep trying to talk to her, but I think she’s unconscious again. Whoever has her has drugged her. I could feel the fog in her mind. She doesn’t seem terribly frightened or injured. She said it felt like a jail cell in a dungeon. So we need to be checking places with basements or cells. Have someone check the area jails, but I doubt very seriously they will find her.”

  “You do realize whoever took her is probably not vampire,” Sebastian said.
>
  “Yeah, but it doesn’t mean he isn’t working for one. Damn it. He must have been watching for her to leave my house. He waited during the day, when he knew he could get her away from me. I should have made her wait until I could go with her.”

  “Sir, please don’t berate yourself over this. It isn’t your fault.”

  “Isn’t it though? I should have been there to protect her,” Angel snapped.

  “Keelie and Ricco aren’t exactly weak,” Sebastian pointed out. “Whoever it was knew exactly what to wait for. If he had tried while Keelie was with her, she’d have torn him to pieces. He was very careful to stay under her radar. You sent her with people you trust. Let’s just concentrate on getting her back.”

  “You’re right, as usual,” Angel conceded. “Can you get in touch with Detective Corbin, and everyone else? Let them know what I have told you?”

  “You got it Boss,” Sebastian said. They signed off and Angel took off once again.

  Angel walked the streets of LA alone. In part, he wanted to be able to concentrate on Brea in case she tried to contact him again. He also wanted to be alone with his own thoughts. Although Sebastian was adamant that this was not Angel’s fault, he could not convince himself otherwise. He wandered into an old neighborhood that was sure to have basements under the houses.

  He let his nostrils flare as he took in all the scents the neighborhood had to offer. There was only one scent Angel was interested in, though. Brea’s. How was he supposed to find her? He called to her again in his mind. Nothing. Where are you? He called to her.

  Angel was busy in his mind when someone spoke to him. “You won’t find what you are looking for that way,” a man said. Angel turned to look at the man. He was sitting on a bench, looking very relaxed. He was obviously very tall, his arms were crossed over his chest and his long legs stretched out in front of him, crossed at the ankles. He wore a long coat, which Angel thought was odd given that it was summer. His long black hair trailed over his shoulders and piled on the bench on either side of him. His skin was tanned, and he looked to be of Indian decent. It was the man’s eyes that were the most intriguing. They were the strangest orange Angel had ever seen.

  “Excuse me?” Angel said. “Do I know you sir?”

  “No,” the man replied. “But I have been around long enough to know when a man is searching for something. From the look in your eyes, it is a someone, not something.”

  “How very astute of you,” Angel grumbled as he started to walk away.

  “How did you lose her?” the man asked. Angel stopped and turned to face the man. He was now standing in front of the bench. He was tall. Almost a foot taller than Angel.

  “I do not see where this is any of your concern,” Angel said sharply.

  “Forgive me, Sir. I saw the chance to offer my services to the California Clan Leader and decided to jump on it.”

  “How do you know who I am?” Angel asked.

  “I know a lot about a lot of things. When one has been around as long as I have, one picks things up now and again,” the man said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

  “Who are you?” Angel asked suspiciously. Perhaps this man was part of the plan. Maybe he knew where Brea was. If he was lucky, Angel wouldn’t kill him until he talked.

  “Forgive me, I am Phoenix Martin, at your service,” the man said with an exaggerated bow.

  “How do I know that you are trustworthy? How can I be sure that you are not one of my mate’s captors?”

  “I had to save the woman I love once before. It was not easy, and many men fell. I had the benefit of my family to assist me. I have no reason to lie to you. You may take me up on my offer or not. My wife would just as soon have me home than risking life and limb to help a stranger. I only thought that it would be helpful to you to have someone who is damn near impossible to kill on your side.”

  “You are not a vampire,” Angel stated.

  “No,” Phoenix replied. “But my wife is.” He rolled his eyes. “She is a daywalker and is currently screaming at me to get my ass home. But she will understand if you require my assistance.”

  “Who is your wife? You are not from here.”

  “Her name is Kelly, and no we are from Boston. We are merely vacationing here. So what will it be?” Phoenix said, “I got to tell the little misses something.”

  Angel sighed. This man was offering to help, but he still might be lying. Even if he was one of the conspirators, any information he might have could prove to be useful. Resigning to the fact that Angel needed all the help he could get, he briefly told Phoenix about Brea and the situation. Angel kept eye contact with the stranger while he explained the immediate need to find Brea. He listened with a thoughtful look in his strange eyes. The odd color seemed to shift and shimmer as Angel spoke. The man also had a unique smell, Angel noticed. It was very similar to a campfire. When Angel had finished the tale, Phoenix smiled.

  “There is an abandoned jail house about an hour’s drive from here. I could check it out for you. I can travel much faster than by car. I will return to this exact spot in one hour’s time. You continue to search here, and I will be right back.” Angel was curious as to how this man thought to make the trip, search and return in one hour. But his question was soon answered. Phoenix slid his coat from his shoulders and after looking around to be sure no one was near, he stretched.

  A pair of red and orange wings spread out behind him. They shimmered slightly before bursting into flames. Angel could only stand there, wide eyed and mouth hanging open. Phoenix smiled. “I will explain later,” he laughed as he shot into the sky like a bullet from a gun. Angel watched as what looked like a meteor streaked across the night sky. A strange man, indeed.

  Angel finally closed his mouth and took out his cell phone. “Sebastian,” he said into the mouth piece. “I need you to contact the New England Leader. I need to know everything he knows about a man named Phoenix Martin.”

  THIRTY TWO

  “Wake up,” Chase growled, giving Brea a swift kick in the side. Her breath left her lungs in a whoosh. Pain exploded in her ribs and Brea could hardly draw air into her body. “I said wake up!”

  “Ugh,” Brea moaned, but forced herself to sit up and look at her attacker. It was definitely a vampire. He was tall and handsome, barring the snarl he wore across his face. “Who are you?” she asked, but it came out garbled.

  “That is none of your concern!” he snapped. “The only thing you need to be concerned with is calling your mate to you.”

  “Angel?” she asked, the fog on her mind clearing. “You want Angel?”

  “Isn’t that what I said?” he snarled. “Call him!”

  Brea considered it for a moment, then decided it was a bad idea. “I can’t. I don’t know how,” she lied.

  “Don’t give me that shit, I know you can, you’re mated. Perhaps you need me to help you remember how,” he said, grabbing Brea by the shirt and yanking her up on her feet.

  “Chase!” a woman’s sharp voice commanded. “Not yet.”

  “I was only helping her up,” Chase smiled. A woman walked into the cell through the open door. It was someone Brea recognized.

  “Rhiannon,” she breathed.

  “I am so glad you remember me,” Rhiannon smiled as she sashayed closer to Brea.

  “Why?” Brea asked, trembling.

  “You are the key, my dear. I apologize for the inconvenience, but I needed you. I promise, after Angel comes for you, your death will be swift. Or at least, as swift as Chase can make it,” she said sympathetically. Brea knew there was no genuinely sympathetic bone in her body.

  “Why do you want Angel?” Brea asked, trying to buy time. She would need all the information she could get for Angel.

  “It is not Angel I want, child. It is his position.”

  “You’re crazy,” Brea said.

  “Do not insult my Leader,” Chase snapped, giving Brea a good shake. “Call to him!”

  Brea felt something tugging at her min
d. This vampire was trying to get into her head. Brea immediately threw up every wall she could imagine in her mind. If he got in, she would not be able to lie to him. “I can’t,” she cried.

  “I can make you talk,” he snarled. He pulled Brea closer and bared his fangs. Horror consumed Brea when she realized what he meant to do. She had no time to fight him, nor the strength. He sank his teeth into her throat.

  The pain was agonizing. It wasn’t like when Angel bit her. This was horrifying. He was taking from her without permission and without any gentleness what so ever. Pain shot down Brea’s neck like razor blades being dragged through the tissues. Although she fought back, she was no match for the vampire called Chase. Brea screamed.

  Angel was waiting patiently for Phoenix to return when he felt Brea’s terror. He heard her scream in his mind and he nearly doubled over from her pain. Someone was hurting her! He had to find her, but where? Angel sank to his knees, feeling more helpless than he had ever felt before. He pressed the palms of his hands to his temples and tried to think through the pain. He felt a momentary connection with Brea, then felt her slam her protective walls into place. She was deliberately hiding from him, but why? The only answer he had was that she was with someone who was trying to get into her mind. She was trying to protect Angel.

  All Angel could do was concentrate on giving her his own strength. Mates could share both mental and physical strength, and at that moment, Brea needed it more than Angel did. If Brea was shielding her mind from Angel, then there was no way he could let her know that their link was protected, as it was for all true mates. First, he would have to help her any way he could.

  ******

  Brea felt a sudden surge of strength building inside her. Angel, she thought. She could feel him as he were inside her, residing under her skin along with herself. This was the only chance she would get to defend herself, and she did the only thing she could think of. Brea used all that strength to raise her knee as fast and as hard as she could.