Denai Touch: Excalibar Investigations Series

by Tiffany Shand

  “I don’t know where the Grimoire is, I swear,” Cate said coldly. “Hurting her won’t do any good.”

  “She’s telling the truth,” said another voice. Cate recognised it as Bethany Turner’s.

  “I wondered where you disappeared to,” Cate commented.

  “I have to say, I was disappointed you didn’t come after me yourself,” said Bethany.

  Cate felt a strange air of power coming from Bethany, one she’d never felt before. What has changed? Raven must’ve done something, she mused.

  “I’ve been busy. Surprised you’ve got more minions to do your bidding, like when you sent those demons to attack me. A real Denai would do her own dirty work.” Cate smiled. “Oh wait, you can’t.”

  Marcus raised his hand again to burn Charlie. “Put the girl back in her cell,” Raven ordered. “We must force her to find the Grimoire another way.”

  He dragged Charlie out and the door slammed. Cate cursed herself. She could be signing her niece’s death warrant. Think, she told herself. Stay alive.

  Cate put on her Denai face, expressionless and devoid of emotion. “So what’s next?” she asked. “More torture?”

  “You really don’t remember the night you almost destroyed me, do you?” asked Raven.

  “Believe me, I’d remember that if it had happened.”

  “Bethany, go into her mind.”

  Cate laughed. “Her? Go into my mind?” she giggled. “She doesn’t have any real power. It barely took any effort for me to compel her. Hell, she’s hardly a real Denai.”

  Raven actually smiled and Tasha laughed. “She’s right about that,” said the Null. “Why do we need this worthless bitch? Bethany failed us, my love.”

  “Because she has power now and we need it. Do it, Bethany.”

  What so-called power, and where had it come from? Cate braced herself. Bethany’s aura whispered of dark, potent magic.

  “You can’t enter my mind.” Cate raised her chin defiantly, though her heart was pounding.

  Without the aid of her powers, she could no longer shield her mind. She might not know where the book was, but that wouldn’t stop them from wandering through her head. Raven could learn all her secrets, her weaknesses. Anything she wanted to know.

  Bethany’s hand reached out and touched Cate. Nothing happened. She breathed a sigh of relief. Then pain suddenly exploded inside her head, as if someone were trying to claw their way inside. Cate closed her eyes, instincts taking over. She wouldn’t let them violate her like this. Somehow she would get free and she was going to kill every last one of them.

  Bethany yelped as if being shocked by electricity. “Her mind, its being shielded the strongest I’ve ever felt.”

  “Well of course, stupid. I’m the Goddess Marked. I’m protected by my powers. You can torture me or kill Charlie, but you’re never going to get the Grimoire.”

  “Don’t be so sure.” Tasha grasped her throat again and Bethany attempted to enter her mind once more.

  “She is too strong,” Bethany gasped.

  Tasha gripped her harder making it difficult for Cate to breathe, her chest ached and it was a struggle to remain conscious. Despite being rendered powerless, it was through pure willpower that she protected her memories. Sweat broke out over her forehead and Cate could feel the blood beginning to seep from her eyes and nose as Bethany let out a yelp.

  “Told you she was useless,” Tasha muttered and released Cate.

  “Her memory is safeguarded by some other magic. Not her own,” Bethany said. “I can’t break through it.”

  What else could be shielding her mind? And why?

  “Fine, then I’ll make her remember.” Raven reached out and clutched Cate’s arm.

  Cate cried out as a jolt went through her, forcing her eyes shut.

  A burst of red light shot from her hand. No, it wasn’t her hand, it was Raven’s.

  A tall brunette stood, arm outstretched and eyes blazing gold. Cate knew that woman; it was her mother. Ceri staggered back as the light struck her.

  “Your husband can’t protect you now. Your body is too weak,” Raven snarled.

  “Mummy?” Cate saw herself as a child, barely ten years old standing in the doorway.

  “Catie, go! Get out of here!” Ceri shouted as Raven hit her with more fire.

  “No!” Both versions of Cate screamed.

  Cate watched as fire exploded from her younger body, a tornado of silver energy hovered over her as the child collapsed to the floor. Ceri stepped in front of her as Raven struck again. The silver fire shot through Ceri, who channelled it out and shot Raven. Cate heard her scream, feeling the burn and agony as flames tore through her body.

  She gasped as Raven released her. She could still feel the fire, eating its way through flesh and bone. She looked down just to make sure she wasn’t ablaze. There were burn marks on her skin, but they were from Tasha.

  “It was me,” Cate said, more to herself than her captors. “I did it.”

  “Funny, I thought it was your mother all these years,” said Raven. “She tried to kill me. Stupid bitch thought she was powerful enough to destroy me and said she wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”

  “That got her banished from your precious coven,” Tasha laughed. “They thought she nearly killed you when she channelled your powers.”

  Images of memories long forgotten suddenly flooded through her mind. Cate closed her eyes as they flashed by. As much as she wanted to cry, she didn’t. “You’re going to have to do better than that to break me,” she said. “So what’s next? More trips down memory lane? I’m only sorry I didn’t kill you then, but my powers are stronger now. It’s only a matter of time before I fulfil the prophecy.”

  “Yet here I still stand. I’m sure Ceri will turn up sooner or later — she always would do anything to protect you. She has been getting in my way for years.”

  Did that mean her mum was still around? None of this made any sense at all.

  Tasha raised her hand to strike, or no doubt burn her some more.

  “Go ahead, you powerless bitch!”

  Raven laughed. “Oh, how I have missed torturing McCrays. You’re all so damn stubborn. It’s what makes you so enjoyable to break,” she smiled. “But you are a fool if you think your powers are what has kept you safe from me, Catherine – thanks to your mother and her interfering, and that Nuardan of yours. I want the Grimoire in my hands before the night is over.” Raven motioned with her hands.

  Tasha started hooking wires up to Cate’s body; she winced as needles penetrated her skin and the leads were inserted. “Like my invention? It’s a piece of your brother, Stephen’s, technology. I always admired his work.” Tasha said.

  This wasn’t one of Steve’s countless inventions that she recognised. However, she wasn’t an expert on technology. Cate stared at the screen and had a very bad feeling. “You’re going to force me to use my powers, aren’t you?” she asked. “You think that thing is going to show you the Grimoire.”

  Tasha smiled. “It won’t feel pleasant. I wouldn’t resist if I were you.”

  Cate narrowed her eyes. “Prepare to be disappointed. I’ll fight you until my last breath.”

  “Death won’t come quick for you. Once we have the Grimoire we’ll trigger the ascension, and watch as your own magic kills you,” Raven told her.

  CHAPTER 15

  Jason paced up and down Steve’s home office. It had been two hours, twenty-seven minutes, and forty-five seconds since he’d found out Cate was gone. Working with the team, they had scoured the city both magically and with satellites. He had tracked down every informant he could think of, but no one seemed to know anything. Hell, there was a bounty on Cate’s head with half of the underworld looking to cash in. How were they supposed to get that money if they didn’t know where to take the goods?

  “Would you stop that?” Steve snapped.

  Jason’s brow furrowed. “What?”

  “The pacing, it’s not helping.”
<
br />   “It’s something I do when I’m on edge.”

  “You?” Steve scoffed. “You’re always cool and calm. I watched you when you were a captain in the old guard. Nothing ever seemed to bother you. I used to think you were just a killing machine. Cold and empty inside.”

  “You’re not the first one to think that and I will be a killing machine when I have Cate back safely,” he said coldly.

  “I never would have believed it. Ian says you love her and I’ve seen the way you are with her. You’re not the man I thought you were,” said Steve. “I used to envy you. Everyone feared and respected you, even the Grand Mistresses, but you’re my friend and Cate cares about you too.”

  Jason was stunned by Steve’s words. “I should get it fucking tattooed across my forehead,” he muttered and said, “yes, I care about her, but we’re not a couple nor will we ever be.”

  “Because of what you are?”

  “How…?”

  “I’m not stupid, Talbot. I study the technology and abilities of other Magickind. You hide it well and everyone thinks you’re just an exceptionally powerful Elemental, but that’s not what kept you alive all these centuries through the Great Wars.”

  “I – you were alive then too.”

  “Yeah, but I made the weapons. I didn’t fight. It’s alright, your secret is safe but can’t you use your powers to find them?”

  “I keep trying, but I can’t sense her anymore. They won’t kill her though they need her alive.”

  “Charlie?”

  “They’ll use her to get Cate to cooperate.”

  Steve’s hands clenched into fists on his keyboard. “When we find them, you save a few of those Covenant bastards for me.”

  Jason nodded. “There must be something Seline can do. Denais can sense each other,” he said. “Why can’t she cast a spell?”

  “Cate’s signal is being blocked. Gran is doing everything she can.”

  Ian came in, followed by Jade. She carried a large bag and Jason felt the hum of crystals inside.

  “I haven’t had any luck trying to see where Cate is. The GM is calling a coven meeting, but I would rather stay here with you guys,” said Jade.

  “I’ve tried everything I can think of,” said Steve. “I scanned the entire city for them. Either they’re too well shielded, or they’ve been taken somewhere outside the city.”

  “I spoke to Charlie’s friend. She was taken from her house by a male Null,” said Jade. “Talbot, maybe you and I should work together. With your energy, we might be able to see something. Get a clue to where they are.”

  “A blood link to Cate and Charlie would be stronger,” Steve said. “Neither of you have that.”

  Ian frowned. “We know someone who does. She’s probably looking for them already.”

  “Who? Gran?”

  “No, Mum.”

  Steve swore. “Ian, tell me you haven’t been in contact with that woman.”

  “She’s still our Mum, Stevie.”

  “No, she isn’t. She stopped being that the day she abandoned us.”

  “Maybe Ceri could help. She was an Enforcer and a damned good one,” Jason said, which got him a glare from Steve.

  “She’s Cate’s mum and everyone said she was more powerful than Seline. I’d say it’s worth a shot,” said Jade.

  Steve threw his hands up in the air. “You’re all bloody mad!”

  “Come on, Stevie. We’re desperate.”

  “Not that desperate!”

  “They could die if we don’t save them. They might need Cate alive, but Charlie will only be useful for a short time.”

  “Ian is right,” Jason said. “Do you even know how to contact Ceri?”

  Ian nodded and looked up at the ceiling. “Mum!” he yelled.

  “Mother!” Steve shouted along with him. “We need you!”

  There was a bright flash of gold light. Ceri McCray looked a lot like her daughter; beautiful, brunette with blue eyes, except Cate was far more attractive in Jason’s opinion.

  “Stephen, Ian, I do not have time for this. I’m trying to find your sister.”

  “Hello to you too, Mother,” said Steve. “If you can’t find either of them, we’re really screwed.”

  “I managed to reach Charlie, with the help of a friend who is a Denai medium.”

  Steve leapt to his feet. “Where is she?” he demanded. “Is she hurt? Is she alive? What about Cate?”

  “They’re both alive, that much I do know. Charlie doesn’t know where they are and with the Null around she has no chance of escape,” Ceri replied. “My friend only talked with her briefly before the connection was cut off.”

  “Why can’t you sense Cate? She’s your daughter,” said Jason.

  Ceri’s cold gaze turned to him. “If you had been there to protect her, this might not have happened,” she snapped. “Stop being a coward and tell her the truth. It’s high time you stopped running and took a stand. You never would have let a Null stop you before.”

  “Easy for you to say, you abandoned your own family,” Jason retorted.

  “Damned right,” Steve agreed bitterly.

  “People, let’s just put all your issues aside and concentrate on finding Cate and Charlie,” said Jade. “There’s nothing stronger than a blood link.”

  Ceri said, “That’s not true. A soul link can be stronger still. When two souls are bound, they can sense each other wherever they are, no matter how much magic or anti-magic interfered.” Her gaze suddenly turned back to Jason. “Maybe you can be useful after all, Talbot.”

  He frowned, confused. “What are you talking about?”

  “Never mind, you and Jade come with me. Boys, keep scanning the city for any large surges of energy and check within a fifty mile radius.”

  They followed Ceri into her old workroom, where the silver spell circle still sat, engraved into the floor. Ceri said something and the circle blazed to life with light and power.

  “I don’t understand. What do you expect us to do?” asked Jade.

  “Get inside the circle, Talbot, and sit down.”

  “Are you going to tell me why?”

  “Just do it!”

  Jason sat down, cross-legged. Amazing how much she sounds like Seline, issuing orders.

  “Jade, do you have a soul mate crystal?” Ceri asked.

  Jade hesitated. “Yeah, my mum gave me one, but I never used it, since I have no desire to find my soul mate.”

  “Good, give it to Talbot.”

  Jade pulled out a long rectangular piece of crystal that looked like clear quartz. “What good will it do?” she asked. “I know it helps to find your soul mate but – oh! That might just work.”

  Jade handed it to him and he felt only a low hum of power. It hadn’t been charged with energy in a long time. “What am I supposed to do with this?” Jason asked.

  “You’re going to use it to find Cate.”

  “But I’m not her soul mate. We’re just – friends. That’s all we can ever be, you know that.”

  Ceri glared at him. “You continue running away from what you are and from your feelings for my daughter. You love her and she loves you – she’s probably too afraid to admit it,” she said. “So close your eyes and find her.”

  “Just because I love her doesn’t mean…”

  “I think she’s right, Jason. What do we have to lose? We’ve tried everything else.”

  “We’re about to find out if you are soul mates or not. Hurry up!” Ceri demanded.

  He looked down at the crystal. “What do I do?”

  “Find her with your heart, not your mind,” said Jade. “If it works, you should be able to feel her.”

  Gripping the crystal, Jason closed his eyes and reached out with his senses. He scanned, searching for Cate. “Nothing’s happening,” he opened his eyes.

  Jade looked at Ceri. “Maybe the crystal isn’t strong enough.”

  “Search with your heart, not your mind,” Ceri repeated. “Just think about her
and how much you love her.”

  Jason closed his eyes again, trying to block out all his fear and worry. He pictured Cate in his mind, how she looked, how she laughed, and gave in to the feelings he’d so long tried to ignore.

  Jason felt a jolt, as if something inside moved, and was blinded by light. Blinking, he saw Ceri and Jade were gone and he was in a dimly lit room. He immediately smelt blood and heard a moan. Cate was there, bound to a metal chair; blood dripped from her face, which was slumped against her chest. Some sort of barbed needles were pinned inside her, connected to wires and hooked up to a machine. More blood seeped from where the needles were inserted.

  It had worked! That meant… his elation was replaced by anger and fear. “Cate?” Jason went over and tried to pull the wires out, but his hand passed right through them. He was only here in astral form. “Cate? Wake up. Can you hear me?”

  She looked up, staring at him through blood-streaked eyes. “Jason? Oh crap, now I’m hallucinating.”

  “Cate, it’s me. I’m here.” He reached out to touch her hand and met solid flesh. It must be the crystal that allows me to touch her since I’m connected to her, he mused.

  Cate frowned. “How?”

  “It doesn’t matter. Do you know where you are?”

  Cate sniffed. “No, I was unconscious when we arrived here,” she said. “I knew you’d come. Get me free, we have to find Charlie.”

  “I can’t.” His hand passed through the wires again. “I’m not physically here, but I’m going to find a way to get you out.”

  Her brow knotted, some of the blood disappearing into the creases. “Then how are you able to touch me?”

  “I’ll explain later.”

  “I don’t know how much longer I can keep resisting. They did something to Bethany which gave her powers she didn’t have before. She’s telepathic now and can go into my mind,” she said. “They’re using me to find the book.”

  “You have to hold on a bit longer. I’m going to look around to see if I can find Charlie and where we are.” Jason squeezed her hand. “You can get through this.” He gently kissed the top of her forehead. “I’ll be right back.”