by Dale Mayer
Tessa sank deeper into the maze in her mind. On her left was the door to the highway Hortran had showed her. She needed to go down there – sometime – but not right now. She had to stay focused. And get Deanna into her place. Whatever that meant.
It was so weird to consider this concept. A few days ago she’d have laughed her head off. Now she was struggling to navigate the impossible mess in her mind. How was anyone supposed to do that?
This wasn’t normal.
But she had to find a way. She turned so the highway access was at her back and surveyed the vast emptiness in front of her. The all-encompassing darkness. Nothing moved. No light shone to highlight objects or to cast shadows.
What was she to do with that?
With a deep breath, she called out, “Show yourself, Deanna.”
Nothing moved.
“Damn it,” she said. “Stop playing games. This is my body. My mind. You are a guest. Welcome only as long as you behave.”
A ripple of laughter shifted through her consciousness.
Damn.
She frowned. Cody said deal with this and she wanted to, but she was at a loss as to how. She considered the things she’d learned to do so far. Trial by fire, so to speak. Maybe she only learned under duress. When it really counted.
“No, that would be silly. Everyone would prefer to learn while they had time – not when the only option was learn or die.”
Yes, her growth these last weeks had formed a pattern. But in truth, the pattern had been set by circumstances, not by choice. Now she was trying to settle this early before it became a life or death situation.
Too late, came a tiny whisper.
She froze.
Who said that?
“Deanna,” she called out. “Is that you?”
Being inside her mind, it could have been her own inner thinking. No, that didn’t make sense. She’d spoken to Hortran, Deanna, and Cody this way, but no one else. So her options were limited.
“Deanna, what are you doing?”
No answer.
She turned in a slow circle but couldn’t see anyone. Then she stopped. What was she expecting to see? Deanna in person? Deanna in energy form? A ball of seething color? She didn’t see much in her own mind at any time. Why was she giving Deanna a form when she no longer had one?
She closed her eyes and waited. She didn’t know for what. There was a tiny brush. Then a longer stroke. She waited. It came again. Was it Deanna? She peeked through her lashes. A color wiped across her vision. She gasped. What was that?
Energy, of course. But whose? She watched it come back again then dance around her. A different color moved in then out. A blue color. She smiled. That was Cody’s energy. She had no way to know how she knew that, but she did. As she identified one color, several others popped through her mind. Her father. Her mother. David. Seth.
“Seth?” She gasped in joy. Could it be? “Oh my, Seth. Is that you? Are you okay?” She fired off the questions, hoping for an answer. There wasn’t one.
But his energy swarmed around, at a slower speed and alone, as if not quite there. She couldn’t explain it. Cody’s energy swirled around her in peaceful waves. Other energy darted and danced. Slowly she identified a few more. Her friends from school, Wendy and Jewel were there as well. Ian.
In fact, it appeared that every person she’d met recently appeared to be here.
How did that work?
As if the information was already there, the answer floated to the top. When she worked energy, she picked up energy from those she worked with. Sometimes they reached out for her energy hoping she’d save them, and sometimes they’d reach out for her energy looking to attack her.
In other words, she was carrying around bits and pieces of everyone she’d ever had contact with, and that meant a lot of energy given the healing work she’d done lately. There was a bright shiny energy that twisted and curled to the side. It looked different. She studied it for a long moment – then laughed. Jared.
“Hey, Jared.” The energy froze.
She gasped. Leaning forward, she whispered, “Jared, can you hear me?”
The creamy yellow line wiggled. She laughed incredulously. Surely not. But maybe…
She glanced down to see Cody’s energy. She reached out and stroked it. “Cody, can you feel that?”
There was no answer, but the wave of blue undulated as if he did. Like a huge panther waiting to be stroked.
She giggled and did it again. The energy moved under her hand as if the panther reared his head and butted her fingers looking for more.
She sighed happily. She didn’t know what this place in her mind was, but it was special. Her brother was here. She knew that meant he was still alive. For that, she was grateful. Her relationship with him had definitely taken a hit last time. She hoped they could save him. He’d been drugged, was likely still drugged.
A second energy hung around him. She studied the orange rust-colored energy and realized it wasn’t so much dark and murky as it was slow, sluggish, as if not in full health. She studied the other energies around it. Most were spritely. Dancing or moving with spirit. Except that one. It had the same sluggish movements of her brother. Her heart sank and sadness crept through her heart. That was her beautiful caring mother.
She’d turned into a dragon with those damn drugs. Did the sluggish movement now mean that the drugs were still coursing through her mother’s system or did it mean energy, at the time it had come from her mother, had been drugged? Surely that was it.
The alternative was unacceptable. She kept a careful eye on her mother and brother, wishing they’d stick together. Instantly the two energies slammed up against each other.
“Oops,” she whispered. “Did I do that?”
The energies stayed locked together. She couldn’t decide if that was a good thing or not. Could the two communicate? If they could, was that a good thing?
There were too many unknowns.
She looked over at Jared. If he could hear her and Cody could sense her, was she able to communicate with everyone here? Was this like a major communication hub?
And if so, how could she use that?
Was Deanna here? Did Tessa have access to all the energies of those people she’d communicated with? She hoped not. That would be way too much energy.
Besides, she downloaded Deanna’s memories and information. Surely she didn’t download Deanna’s everything?
She groaned. There has to be a way to make this all go away.
Instantly her mind went blank. The colors were gone in a nanosecond.
The enormity of the shift left her shaking. Where had her friends and family gone?
Please return those that I just sent away.
And immediately her world filled with color.
She curled up in a small ball, letting shudders ripple down her spine. And damn if Cody’s energy didn’t wrap around her. Tears came to her eyes. What would she do without him? She hoped to never find out.
Suddenly afraid of her new ability to have thoughts create a world in her mind on command, she knew that she’d have to control her thoughts or could easily lose something special – someone special. She was afraid that even thinking like that was the same thing. She peeked from under her lashes and stared around. It looked the same. So she hadn’t damaged anything.
This time.
Good. Feeling slightly better, she straightened her shoulders. “Look, I don’t mind having all of you around as long as you don’t interfere in my world more than I want you to. So if you do what I allow you to do then fine, you can stay. If not, you’ll have to leave.”
The energy enmasse twisted in agitation. She sighed. “Damn. That’s not what I wanted.” And she realized something else. If the energy was here, it was here because she’d allowed it. They also likely couldn’t leave on their own. She’d have to send them packing herself. But she didn’t want to send them all away. That made no sense.
“Sorry, forget I said that.”
“Deanna, come here.”
A red – a deep, dark blood red – slowly, sinuously swayed in front of her. How appropriate. “Deanna, I need you to stay in your place. I need you to stop interfering or trying to take over. Even if you aren’t trying to do that, it seems like you are. Like your energy, your opinions, your thoughts…they are not my thoughts.”
The same red energy twisted in front of her. It was silent, but there was a mocking appearance to the movements now. How that could be she didn’t know, but there it was.
And damn if that didn’t piss Tessa off more. “This isn’t a game. You are not in control here. By my generosity, by my hand, you are allowed to stay. Behave yourself or I’ll trash you.”
The energy quivered before its form started to bend with angry movements.
“That’s right. This is my body, my psyche.” Tessa stopped. Then, in a hard voice, she continued, “You had yours forever. This is mine. Now stop, or I’ll stop you.”
And Deanna, laughing like a crazy loon, launched herself at Tessa.
*
Cody watched Tessa’s body lying peacefully at his side. The hard floor had to be uncomfortable, but she didn’t appear to notice. He had no idea what was going on, but it was as if he was a part of it, too. He sensed when she was disturbed. Knew when she was in trouble. He’d stretched a hand out and covered hers with it. It had seemed to help. How he didn’t know, but maybe it was enough for her to know he was here. Her hands clenched as he watched. That could not be good. A puzzled Tessa was one thing; a thinking Tessa was a beautiful thing as she got that wild and wonderful mind of hers focused in a specific direction. An angry Tessa – not something anyone wanted to see.
He waited. There’d been no more texts from anyone else. He hoped they’d solve the problem of drugs being fed through the duct system or find the camera and security room to determine what had happened to the others. He glanced at his phone. He re-read the text that he’d gotten earlier from Ian, but it really made no sense. It was long and cumbersome with reference to Rhia and more drugs, to Jewel at the hospital, and to two men attacking them. They’d gotten the first shot in though so all was well. Even Ian and Wendy were in the middle of things. Why would anyone at the Council do that to them? A case of mistaken identity? Or something more sinister?
Apparently Sian hadn’t shown up yet either. But they weren’t worried. Cody might be though. There were any number of reasons for her to be missing, and none of them were good.
Tessa stiffened at his side, her foot jolting out and kicking him. He reached down a steadying hand. Her skin was cold, clammy even. He hated to see that. Tessa had one of the prettiest complexions he’d ever seen.
But right now there was a gray pallor to her skin, and she looked…old. As in seriously old. He shifted to peer closer at her face, and sure enough it appeared to have taken on a hint of Deanna’s features.
The face twisted in anger, then horror, and was yanked away.
Jesus. She really was in the midst of a fight.
“Come on, Tessa. You can do it. Don’t let Deanna do this to you. You’re way more powerful than you know.” Cody reached over and clamped her hand between his. “Damn it, Tessa.” He watched her face, his heart pounding, his hand clutching hers tight. “Fight her off. Beat her at her own game.”
Tessa’s features scrunched up in a ball, then they relaxed. He watched carefully. Was that Tessa in there or Deanna? Another set of features slipped across her face. Jesus. What the hell was going on in there? He sat back on his haunches, his own belief system once again in shock.
“Damn it, Tessa, stop this. Kick those assholes out of there and come back to me.”
Her face twisted again as if in pain.
“Stop it,” he shouted. “Don’t make me come in there and stop this for you.”
An idle threat. He hoped. He had no way of going inside her mind and doing anything.
Except talking to her.
He frowned, noting the slack skin tone and loose jaw. Whatever the hell was happening wasn’t easy on her.
That damned Deanna. She should never have picked Tessa. He thought about Bart and his daughter having gone through what Tessa had and not surviving. That had been brutal for a father to witness. If his daughter hadn’t been prepared, hadn’t been strong enough to handle that downloaded information, then of course she’d have died. He had been afraid of Tessa doing just that.
He didn’t understand how Deanna’s force of will could still be in effect. The damn woman was dead – wasn’t she? It was Hortran who’d been the ghost. If he’d been the one to download all that knowledge and then hung around, maybe it would make sense.
He thought about the bond between those two people. Was it possible that Hortran was helping Deanna survive past her “best by” date? If so, that would mean that Hortran really was a Ghost.
Wait, what the hell was he saying? That was crazy talk. Hortran was only part of the Ghost species. He wasn’t actually dead and still here in ghostly form.
Right? Cody couldn’t help look around the room to make sure he was alone. When the back of his neck broke out in goose bumps, he damn near bolted to his feet and spun around to face a new enemy. Of course the hallway was empty. It had been before, too.
What the hell was going on? He glanced down at Tessa again. She looked… He crouched down and studied her beautiful features – she looked normal now.
*
“What did I just see?” Serus dropped to his knees at Tessa’s side. He’d been watching her face as he arrived, seeing something…not right. “Surely that wasn’t another face on Tessa’s features, was it? Please tell me my eyes were playing tricks.”
He knew it was a stupid question, but as he looked up at Cody and watched that super slow shake saying he hadn’t imagined it, he had to wonder what kind of nightmare was going on inside her body.
That damn bitch.
“Deanna, you get the hell out of my daughter,” he snapped down at Tessa. “Just walk away and leave her alone.”
“Sir, do you think that’s a possibility at this point?” Cody asked.
“I wish, but if she can find a way to survive death and live on inside Tessa’s memory banks, then that greedy bitch would do it in a heartbeat. She really doesn’t care about anyone other than herself.” Serus studied Tessa. “God, I hope she pulls through this.”
“She will.” Cody’s voice was hard, but sure.
Serus looked at him, appreciating the confidence Cody had for Tessa. He’d proven to be a wonderful protector. “Thanks for looking after her so well.”
Cody lifted his gaze. “I had no choice. She snuck into my heart and left me no option.”
“I know how that feels.”
“Is there a cure?” Cody asked curiously. “Not that I’m looking for one…but I’m wondering if this is a life sentence.”
“Yes,” Serus grinned, seeing the lovelorn look in the young man’s eyes, “If you are lucky…”
*
Sian drove the last block to the Council Hall. She was still tired. Maybe she shouldn’t have tried to make it home to spend a little time with Taz. It seemed all they did was talk on the phone these days since that damn blood farm mess came to light. To find out Jared was at her home had personalized the issue for her. Both of the men sitting together in the office made her realize both were survivors of the same system. Both had been hung in blood farms and both had endured long enough to be rescued.
She wished there’d been more opportunity to get to know Jared. The more she got to know the humans, the more she realized the similarities between the species. That didn’t mean she wanted to have more to do with the Human Council though. Lord, they were stubborn. They still sent regular requests for Tessa to come and help them. Some of those requests were demands couched in softer words and others were downright pleas. They were trying to clean up their house but didn’t appear to have many tools to do so. They also weren’t
a harsh enough people to make good on their threats of punishment should people not want to talk. Vampires had no problem applying torture tactics to get what they wanted.
Humans were wusses in that department. But they took action whereas vamps sat around and discussed options for decades. But she still didn’t want Tessa making the decision of who got to live and who got to die. She was a kid to the vampire clans. She wouldn’t want her to lose her innocence until she was over fifty years old – preferably a century.
That Tessa was the only one to see the poison in each person – human or vamp – was disturbing, but it was also difficult in that no one else could help her out. Cody and Goran were happy to sort the people into each group, but only after Tessa gave the command as to which group.
The traffic light stopped her one block away from her destination. Damn. She’d gotten some very garbled texts from Wendy and Ian earlier. She’d set them aside to deal with Taz and Jared but now needed to figure out what the hell was going on at the Council. There shouldn’t be problems there.
Sian pulled up to the next stop and yawned. She wondered if she’d ever feel rested. The baby was adding to her fatigue as well. She dropped a hand to lovingly caress her rounded belly. She was so happy. Of course this bullshit going on around her was a different story altogether. She just wanted it all over with and her family safe at home. If she could, she planned on taking Taz away alone for a bit. Just the two of them. There were a few vampire hideaways she’d like to show him. That he was going to die well before her was concerning, but she had hopes she might find a solution to that down the road. She knew he’d never agree to become a turned vampire and it was against her rules to do such a thing, but there was something she knew about him now that made her wonder about his biology. He wasn’t aging at the same rate as the other humans. When she’d brought it up, he’d just laughed and said she was imagining things and besides, men who were happy were known to age slower.
She’d left it, but the thought of spending centuries alone…
The light changed in front of her. She waited for the car in front of her to move, only it appeared to be stalled. She groaned and looked out the windows to see if she could drive around him. Another vehicle was in the second lane and she had no shoulder.