Dark Warrior

by Rebecca York

  “We could get another room, lie down, and try to contact Tessa,” Sophia said.

  “Or just drive north into the hills. Toward his house.”

  “Okay.”

  They headed for San Marcos Pass. Soon after that, development grew sparse, probably because the steeply sloped mountains would make building difficult.

  According to the GPS, they were making for a place called Los Olivos that must be out in the middle of nowhere.

  The farther they got into the brown landscape, the edgier he felt.

  “The scenery’s got some desert qualities,” Sophia observed.

  He tried to think about the vegetation, but his senses were tuned to danger he couldn’t yet see.

  To distract himself, he answered, “Some of the same plants that don’t need much water. Even sycamore trees.”

  They were high on a mountain road when Jason rounded a curve. Suddenly he couldn’t breathe, couldn’t see. Couldn’t control the car.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  SOPHIA SCREAMED AS the Ford veered across the blacktop, headed for the shoulder, then toward a steep drop-off.

  “Jason! Jason!”

  He was inert in the driver’s seat, and her only option was to lunge across him and grab the wheel.

  Although it was almost impossible to steer from that position, she pulled them back onto the blacktop seconds before the wheels reached the side of the cliff.

  But they were still going much too fast. As she struggled to control the car, she tried to move Jason’s leg away from the accelerator. The limb felt like lead, pressing down far too hard on the gas.

  Because she knew their lives depended on slowing the car, she kicked desperately at his foot and finally succeeded in dislodging it.

  If she could only move the seat back, she could get into a better position, but the controls were on the wrong side, and she had to keep her eyes on the road.

  She tried to hug the side away from the cliff as they careened downhill, but the car was picking up speed on its own.

  “Jason,” she called again. “Jason!”

  He was slumped against the seat back, and when he didn’t respond, fear leaped inside her. Had all their mental bonding given him a stroke or something? She’d never heard of anything like that with her sisters, but maybe it was different with a man.

  Fighting her panic, she kept trying to control the vehicle. When she saw a road leading off to the side, she yanked at the wheel, changing their direction.

  As they turned a corner, she saw that they were heading straight toward a huge rock, but she managed to maneuver around it.

  The road wound back the way they’d come. When they’d traveled about five hundred yards, she felt Jason’s body jerk.

  “What the hell?”

  “Thank the universe,” she gasped. “Slow us down. I’ll keep steering.”

  He did as she asked, moving his foot onto the brake, decreasing the forward momentum of the car with a series of jerky motions.

  Finally they came to a stop in a little valley shaded by gnarled trees with leaves that looked something like oaks but smaller.

  He pulled off the road and sprawled in the seat with his eyes closed. They were both panting.

  When she’d caught her breath, she turned to him, studying his face. His skin was pale and covered with a sheen of perspiration. “Are you all right?”

  “I think so.” He swiped a sleeve across his face, breathing in and out slowly.

  “Rest for a minute.”

  As he sat with his eyes closed, she found his hand and squeezed. “That was scary.”

  It was reassuring when he squeezed back.

  She tightened her grip on his hand. “What happened?”

  “I don’t know. Something . . . hit me. One minute I was okay and the next I was . . . out of it.”

  “Was it something like when Cynthia and the others attacked us?”

  “Similar, I guess. But not exactly.” He laughed. “Stronger. If that’s possible.”

  “You said Minot didn’t use . . . psychic powers.”

  “Yeah. I never heard of it. Except what my parents were doing together.” He stared off into space, and she thought he was trying to give her a better description of what had happened to him. Finally, he said, “Tessa told us something.”

  “That could explain what happened to you?”

  “Maybe. When she talked about the other Minot who was coming to join him, she said the other guy couldn’t come in unless Garrison lowered some sort of barrier. Maybe something he was generating with electrical equipment ?”

  “You think that was it?” She sucked in a sharp breath as the implications sank in. “You think he knows we’re here?”

  Jason considered the question. “Not necessarily. I think he’s got defenses against Minot around his property, and we came up against them. I think I only glanced against it, so hopefully it didn’t trip any alarms.”

  Sophia finished for him. “But we can’t get onto the property.”

  “Maybe Tessa can help us.”

  “How?”

  “By turning it off.”

  “Assuming that she could figure out where it is—and somehow distract him. Then get away and shut it down.”

  Sophia stared at him. “I guess that’s a lot for her to manage,” she said slowly.

  “All we can do is lay it out for her.”

  “After we figure out where his property starts.” He looked back the way they’d come. “There must be some kind of line. I’m going to try moving in closer again and see if I can figure it out.”

  She gripped his arm. “You can’t do that again.”

  “I have to know the parameters.”

  She kept her hold on him. “If you didn’t trip an alarm this time, you could do it the next. You think it’s a good idea for him to figure out we’ve come to rescue Tessa?”

  He gave her an apologetic look. “No. I guess I’m not thinking too clearly.”

  TESSA hurried back down the hall to the bedroom wing. As she rounded the corner, she almost collided with the other Minot, the one who was working with Rafe. He had stepped out of Rafe’s room and stopped short when he saw her.

  For a long moment, they stood staring at each other.

  She didn’t dare ask what he was doing.

  He was the one who spoke in a low voice. “There’s a canister of gas in his dressing room closet. With a tube going to your room.”

  She dragged in a breath, wondering if she had heard him correctly.

  “What is it?” she managed to say.

  “We can only speculate.”

  “Why are you telling me?” she whispered.

  “So you’ll have all the facts.”

  Before she could ask another question, he walked quickly down the hall and around the corner.

  Forcing herself to move, she stepped into her own room and closed the door.

  A canister of gas. For what?

  With a sick feeling, she crossed to the wall between the two rooms and began to run her hand over the vertical surface. Just under a wall sconce, she found a small hole that was camouflaged by the wallpaper pattern.

  She thought back, trying to remember her reactions when Rafe had come in and awakened her after they’d arrived here.

  She’d wanted him, but she hadn’t felt like herself. Now she had a good idea why.

  Sitting down on the side of the bed, she lowered her face into her hands, knowing she was in worse trouble than she’d imagined. She’d thought she was making her own decisions. Apparently, he’d been worried that she wouldn’t make the correct ones—at least as he saw them.

  Her chest tightened as she thought about how it had been when they’d made love. She’d touched his mind, and she’d been thrilled to do it.

  Now she acknowledged the hesitation on his part. Maybe if he’d embraced the connection, things would be different. Instead, he’d pulled back because that wasn’t what he really wanted. He’d known all along that he’d
have to hide his true intentions from her.

  He’d been kind to her. Considerate even. But the longer she stayed with him, the more she understood that he was just putting on a show of civilized behavior.

  She clenched and unclenched her fists. She had to get out of here, and she couldn’t do it by herself. But could she act like she didn’t suspect a thing until Sophia arrived? If she arrived.

  “WE need to find a place where we can contact Tessa,” Jason said.

  “You’re right.”

  “This time, I’ll drive,” Sophia said.

  As they headed back toward town, neither one of them spoke, and Sophia assumed they were both worrying about what was going to happen next. They’d come here to rescue her sister, and they’d hit an immediate obstacle. What other defenses did Rafe Garrison have?

  As they approached a motel chain north of town, Jason gestured. “Stop here.”

  He got out and paid for a night.

  When they’d stepped into what looked like a three-star motel room with a bed, a chair, and a television set, he turned to Sophia.

  “Let’s see if we can change the rules a little bit.”

  “How?” She was the one who’d been practicing mental communication all her life, but he seemed to have more creative ideas.

  When he held out his arms, she came into them, clasping him tightly and laying her head against his shoulder.

  They swayed together in the center of the room, both overcome with emotions—and longing. But she knew they had to stick to business.

  “Do we have to stand up?” she asked.

  He laughed again. “Comfortable is good.”

  Turning, he pulled down the spread and blanket. They both kicked off their shoes and lay down, reaching for each other again.

  She closed her eyes, absorbing the feel of him and at the same time trying to connect with his mind.

  The process was becoming familiar, and she was able to link with him quickly.

  Try it with less physical connection, he suggested.

  Sophia eased away from him, keeping their hands as the only physical link.

  When the mental connection held, she felt his satisfaction.

  Slowly he drew his hands away, his fingers inches from hers. She felt the connection waver, but it still held.

  Can we still do this while we’re running around out there in the hills?

  I hope so.

  Too bad we don’t have a lot of time to practice.

  He took her hand again. This time, by mutual agreement, they reached toward Tessa—and found her waiting for them.

  Thank the fates.

  Are you all right? Sophia asked urgently.

  I have to get out of here.

  We’re very close. But we can’t get into the estate. Garrison has some kind of barrier that keeps out Minot.

  Some kind of electrical thing?

  Do you know where it is? Jason asked.

  She gasped when she heard his voice.

  You!

  You don’t think Sophia can do this by herself, do you?

  Tessa made a moaning sound. I don’t know what to think. What to do.

  Help us, he said. Can you turn off his device?

  I don’t know.

  Sophia spoke. Please. We need your help to get in.

  I’ll try. I have to go. He’s expecting me at lunch.

  Jason entered the conversation again. I just got caught in the edge of his shield. Did he act like he knows I’m out here?

  I don’t think so.

  Okay. Try to turn it off as soon as it’s dark outside. Then keep him busy.

  How?

  Be creative.

  I . . .

  The communication snapped off, and Sophia rolled away from Jason, staring at him.

  “You know what you’re asking her to do?”

  “Yes.”

  “Suppose she . . . can’t.”

  “Then we’re in trouble.”

  “You are, already.”

  Both of them looked toward the door, where the speaker stood, trapping them in the room.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  IT WAS EUGENIA. In back of her were Ophelia, Adona, and Vanessa.

  Jason and Sophia sprang off the bed. He drew her in back of him, for all the good that would do if the Ionians attacked.

  “You said you wouldn’t follow us,” Sophia said in a shaky voice.

  Eugenia shrugged. “I needed you to find Tessa, and I needed to see how you would proceed. I think it’s clear you can’t get her back by yourself.”

  Jason kept his gaze fixed on her. “We’re going to give it a try.”

  Eugenia’s voice turned scornful. “You can’t even get in there. He’s got some kind of device that stops Minot.”

  “Tessa’s going to turn it off. We asked her to do it as soon as it got dark.”

  “If she can; if she has the will. Maybe she’s switched sides.”

  Sophia raised her chin. “She told us he’s planning to kill all the other Ionians. She wouldn’t have said that if she wasn’t on our side.”

  Eugenia gasped. “Is that true?”

  “She thinks so.”

  “It could be a lie. I don’t know what tricks a Minot is going to play,” Eugenia snapped.

  “Because it’s been drummed into you for years that we’re evil.”

  They glared at each other.

  Jason forced himself to calm. Getting into a fight wasn’t going to help Tessa—or him and Sophia. “Be logical. Making Tessa terrified for her sisters isn’t a smart move on Garrison’s part.”

  Eugenia nodded. “All right. That makes sense. But she may not know she’s under his control.”

  Sophia grimaced, hating to think that was true. She knew that making assumptions about Tessa’s loyalties or her abilities was dangerous, yet at the same time, she knew that they needed her help to get inside the estate.

  “We’ll all go there tonight,” Eugenia said. She looked at Jason. “If you can get in, you can keep him occupied. Let him think you’re the main threat. We’ll find Tessa, then surprise him with the same technique that we used on you. Only we’ll turn up the volume.”

  “Phasers set to kill?” Jason asked.

  “Something like that. If Tessa’s right, he’s too dangerous to walk the earth.”

  Would that turn out to be true of him, too, when the emergency was over? He’d like to discuss that point, but he didn’t have the luxury at the moment.

  “We’ve been digging into his background,” Eugenia said. “We found the Web site of the architect who designed the house. We have the plans. And the location of the house on the property.”

  She held up the minicomputer she’d been carrying in her right hand.

  “All right. That will help,” he said in acknowledgment, hating that they were running the show. Too bad he and Sophia had come here without any firm plans. Maybe he’d been assuming that he and Garrison would fight—hand to hand the way they’d done in the desert.

  “There are two Minot there,” Sophia said.

  Eugenia blinked. “How do you know?”

  “Tessa told us.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “She mentioned him several times,” Sophia answered.

  “Why has he joined with Garrison?” Eugenia asked.

  “He hates the Ionians,” Jason answered.

  “Why?”

  Jason couldn’t stop himself from saying, “I can imagine the order did something nasty to him. Hell, for all I know, his father could have raped his mother. He could have been a boy baby born at the spa, and they left him out in the desert to die.”

  “No! You’re angry and making assumptions. We would never do anything like that.

  “Maybe he wanted to hook up with one of those other women who left the order, and the Ionians killed her.”

  “Impossible.”

  “Would you have thought Cynthia would veto getting Tessa back?”

  “No,” Eugenia said again.
<
br />   “The guy calls himself John. Does that mean anything to you?” Jason asked.

  “Nothing.” She snorted. “Maybe John Doe?”

  “It appears we can’t figure out who he is,” Sophia broke in. “Let’s hope we can get Tessa out of there.”

  “And make sure Garrison can’t kill any Ionians,” Eugenia reminded them.

  “What about the other guy?” Jason asked.

  “We have to assume he’s just as dangerous.” She switched back to the invasion plan. “We can get close because a hill hides the road from direct line of sight.”

  “Garrison’s got to have security cameras,” Jason said.

  “We can park about two hundred yards away and walk to the property line. And wait for the signal that the”—Eugenia flapped her hand—“let’s call it a force field—is down.”

  Jason didn’t ask what would happen if Tessa couldn’t drop Garrison’s shield—or distract him.

  “We’d better get some rest,” Eugenia said. “We have rooms at this motel.” She looked at her watch. “We’ll come back here a couple of hours before dark, have something to eat, then drive out to the compound.”

  “You’ve got it all figured out,” he said dryly.

  “You and I both know something will go wrong,” she answered.

  “Yeah. One thing we won’t know in advance is if the barrier is down. I’m going to have to try going through. And if I pass out, you and Sophia will have to drag me back.”

  AFTER Eugenia and the other Ionians left Sophia and Jason alone, he was too restless to sleep. He’d transferred the house plans to his own computer and spent some time memorizing them. It was a sprawling property, and he hoped they could locate Tessa.

  Finally, he joined Sophia, who’d been lying on the bed with her eyes closed. As soon as he eased down beside her, he knew she wasn’t really sleeping.

  He reached for her and pulled her close.

  “We’re supposed to be resting,” she murmured.

  “If something goes wrong tonight . . .” He stopped and started again.

  She might have been thinking the same thing, because her mouth came down on his for a kiss that turned frantic the moment their lips touched.