Love Uncharted

by Berinn Rae

  Vander turned to her with a sickening smile on his face.

  The veins in Felix’s neck stood out as he thrashed.

  Cali’s whole body went numb. Her vision darkened. “No,” she shouted.

  Felix!

  Cali! Felix’s voice sounded clear in her mind. White heat burst from her chest and then everything went dark.

  Chapter 26

  Cali awoke to a sterile-smelling room. Her body was chilled to the bone, and she shot to her feet as memories assailed her.

  “Felix.” His name slid from her lips. She could feel him but he was nowhere in sight. She was stuck inside one of the rooms she’d been scouting. She moved to the door and turned her head to look through the small window. The hallway was empty on the other side. She tried the handle. Locked.

  She swore and kicked the door. She succeeded in nothing more than making her toe ache.

  “Felix?” she called through the door.

  There was no answer. But she could feel him.

  She remembered struggling with Vander’s men. Remembered Felix at the mercy of Vander’s touch. She remembered trying to reach him, protect him. She’d cried out for him.

  No. Your soul cried out for him.

  No way … But Collette …

  Collette was one experience.

  That didn’t make her all-knowing.

  Cali stepped back from the door, afraid whatever she was feeling could be seen from the outside. Did everyone else know what had happened? Had that been why she’d blacked out?

  She shut her eyes and focused inward like all those yoga, hippy types told her to do when she was experiencing a block with her artwork.

  The heat that seemed to be radiating inside her was like a mini sun. The warmth was dimmed, as if it knew it was away from Felix. She wondered if this brilliant, indescribable feeling would increase when he was near.

  She had to find him. She stepped back up to the window and pushed her face as close to the glass as possible to look out. “Hello?” she yelled. The sound of her voice echoed in her room. Could no one hear her out there?

  She strained her ears. The back of her neck tingled. Far off in the distance, she could hear the sound of heavy footsteps followed by light taps of bare feet.

  Someone was escorting a prisoner back to their cell.

  Cali pressed her ear to the cool glass, pushing out farther with her powers. The foot falls stopped and she waited.

  There. A distinct series of four beeps. The access code to unlock the doors.

  Cali prayed the security on the doors wasn’t like that on a computer that would freeze up after so many attempts. She couldn’t waste any more time. She had no idea how long she’d been out. Were Sydney and Joel already on their way?

  She and Felix had gone in a half hour before midnight. They had to check in after an hour. Had that hour passed?

  She started to press the numbers on the keypad in order. She kept her eyes closed and focused on the distinct noise each key made.

  1? No.

  2? Yes.

  3? No.

  The keypad didn’t lock her out, and eventually she had the code. 2847. She punched it in. The little red sensor turned green. Cali threw open the door.

  No one in the hall. She froze and listened for heartbeats. Footsteps. Any sign of life nearby. They were all far off in the distance. Cali worked her way back toward what she hoped was the right direction, willing herself to be silent as the grave.

  She had to get to Felix.

  She chanted the mantra over and over.

  She didn’t realize a heartbeat had snuck up on her until she turned the next corner.

  Hands gripped her shoulders before she could run head first into a firm chest.

  Her fist shot out.

  “Fucking hell,” gasped Jente. He hunched over and clutched his middle. “That’s quite the jab you have there, Cali.”

  She held her ground.

  You can’t trust him, remember?

  She waited while he sucked in the air she’d expelled from his lungs.

  “Where’s Felix?”

  His mismatched eyes glanced up at her. “Jeez, you guys are like broken records, you know that? Is that all you guys care about? Yourselves? ‘Where’s Cali?’ ‘Where’s Felix?’” Jente mimicked. “There are more than two people in the world, you know.”

  There was no mention of Sydney or Joel. Cali took that as a good sign. She still had time. Felix obviously wasn’t that hurt. She would have felt it otherwise. Right?

  “Where’s — ?”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Jente stood to his full height. He was a couple inches taller than her. Probably six foot even. “Felix this and Felix that.”

  “What has Vander done to him?”

  His grey and green eyes went carefully blank. “He’s been scheduled for the arena.”

  • • •

  Felix groaned as the pounding in his head woke him from blissful unconsciousness. He threw his legs over the edge of the bed he’d been placed on and cradled his head in his hands. “Motherfucker.” He rubbed his temples until the pain ebbed.

  Once the nausea settled and the room stopped spinning, he got to his feet. His hand pressed to his chest. “Cali.”

  They’d bonded. Holy shit.

  He grinned, the pull on his lips reopening his cut. He didn’t even feel the sting over the swelling heat radiating from inside his chest. He could feel Cali in a way he never had before.

  He had to get to her.

  He surveyed his surroundings. His room was small but it lacked the sterile, white color scheme of the cells he’d been exploring with Cali. Which meant he was being held in the other containment rooms on the opposite side of the basement nearest the arena.

  The door to his room vanished with a wave of his hand. No room could hold him.

  He halted when he came out into unknown territory. Left or right?

  A low siren started to sound. Men flooded in from the left.

  Right it was then.

  He passed cell after cell, a few of the captives crying out to him when they caught sight of him.

  “Hey, help me!”

  It tore at Felix that he couldn’t stop to help them. “I will,” he shouted over his shoulder at them. “You’ll be free soon.”

  “Or dead.” Vander stepped out from fucking nowhere.

  Felix skidded to a stop. He changed directions before Vander could get within arm’s reach. He understood on a completely different level now what Cali had had to endure when she’d been at Vander’s mercy. When he’d touched Felix and sucked the life right out of him, it was a pain like nothing Felix had ever experienced before in his life.

  He was going to do everything he could to avoid that life-draining skin.

  Guards bore down on him. He calculated his best course of action. They were all tall, well-built men, which meant they’d least expect an attack from below. Increasing his speed, he slid like a baseball player into home plate.

  He banked on sliding between two of his pursuers, but they closed ranks and instead he bowled right into them. Heavy bodies crushed down on his shoulders as hands went to grab for him. The questing fingers couldn’t find purchase with all the flesh he was buried under. A hand skimmed his wrist, and he elbowed back blindly. A grunt. Pressure around his ankle. He kicked. Missed.

  “Hold him,” the voice at his feet yelled.

  The bodies standing overhead cleared, and he caught sight of Vander watching him. Waiting. Gaze hungry. “You’re power is vast, yet you hold back your potential. No prison could hold you, so why do you allow my men to?”

  The last thing he was going to do was try to explain morals to a sick bastard like Vander. It was a waste of both their times.

  “Go on,” Vander urged. “Make them vanish.”

  There was a maddening glaze to his eyes.

  “No fucking way.” Felix struggled but there were too many hands holding him. Every time he so much as tensed, fingers dug into his flesh. He was going t
o be sporting bruises for the next two weeks.

  Vander sighed in disappointment. He crouched down next to him. Felix’s heart tripped, but he kept himself still. He wasn’t going to show fear in the face of this monster. Bastard could suck his own dick for all he cared.

  “I admire your fighting spirit. You’re very talented. I could simply deal with you my way.” He tapped a finger to Felix’s forehead. Felix’s blood froze as he waited for the pain. Nothing happened. Vander removed his finger. “But I think I’d like to extend the invitation to my arena instead. You will fight for me — ”

  “Fuck that,” Felix cut him off. As soon as he was released he’d be out of there. Vander was right, no prison could hold him. The only thing that could were people. Once that was removed from the equation nothing, would get in his way.

  Vander’s jaw bulged. Man didn’t like to be interrupted. Too fucking bad.

  “You will fight for me,” he repeated with deadly venom, “and put on a good show for my audience, or my dear Cali will have to pay for your mistakes.”

  Rage bubbled inside him. “She’s not yours,” he growled. “And if you damage so much as — ”

  “Threaten all you want.” Vander smiled smugly. “You can’t get to her fast enough to stop the pain I’ll unleash upon her.” He leaned closer, his face inches from Felix’s. “You’re the reason she resisted me. You’re the one who brainwashed her.”

  “I didn’t do shit. Cali’s not yours. She’s not a piece of property to be owned. She makes her own choices, and she chose me. We were meant for each other. Kevin lied to you.”

  The comment hit hard. Vander pulled back from him. “Your lies will cost Cali dearly.”

  “I’m not lying,” he gritted. “Kevin lied to you because he was a weak son of a bitch and probably couldn’t take the punishment you would have dealt him if he didn’t deliver what you wanted. Kevin hated me because Collette hated me. You don’t think it’s convenient that Kevin gave you the name of the woman who was destined to be with me? Newsflash, Vander — you were played. Kevin was never working for you. As soon as he set eyes on Collette, he was hers body and soul. It was nothing but a revenge gig. Plain and simple.”

  Of course he wasn’t one hundred percent sure about that, but he wasn’t going to share that bit of information. Kevin had hated him. But Felix also got the strange feeling that deep down Kevin had led Vander astray because of what he might’ve Dreamed if Vander became full-forced.

  The idea was more than a little frightening.

  Vander remained silent as he took in Felix’s words. His face was hard as granite. The perfect mask. His bottomless eyes were devoid of any emotion. “Get him ready for the arena. The next match will be starting soon. Change out the fighters. And keep a close watch on Miss Crazar. In fact, take her from her cell. I think she might like to witness this match.”

  Felix ground his teeth. His muscles bunched. He sprang into action, but Vander had been waiting for it. His hand came down on Felix’s arm. There was a powerful tug, and Felix’s knees buckled, unconsciousness took him.

  • • •

  “What?” Cali dug her hands into the front of Jente’s shirt. “Where’s the arena? Where is he being held?”

  Felix wouldn’t last in a cage match. Not if Vander Diverted enough of his energy.

  Jente very calmly pulled her hands from him. He didn’t drop them right away but held on a fraction longer than necessary. “He’s probably being transferred to the arena as we speak. The next match is in … ” He pulled out his cell. “Soon.” There was a soft bing from his phone, signaling a message. Jente frowned as he read it. He pocketed his phone. “I’ll take you there.”

  Cali went instantly wary. “Why?”

  Something flashed in his eyes too fast for her to read then his face went carefully blank. “Do you want to wander around aimlessly yourself and get caught or be led without disturbances?”

  She didn’t really have a choice.

  “Fine. Take me.”

  There was a brief flare of lust in his expression.

  Cali could have smacked herself in the forehead. Better censor your phrasing, Crazar.

  Jente led her without incident to where the halls opened up wide. The arena was close by, the sound of people and cheering rumbling through the cement halls like distant thunder.

  “In here.” Jente motioned to a pair of opened double doors.

  Inside the arena, the sound was nearly deafening. The layout resembled a baseball stadium. The seats angled downward until they dead-ended into the edge of the cage that sprouted up out of the bottom to reach to the ceiling.

  Cali whirled on Jente. “Why the hell did you bring me up here? I need to be down there.” She pointed to the bottom level.

  Jente blocked her way. “I’m sorry, Cali, but I’ve told you before, orders are orders. Vander wants you here.”

  She tried to get past him but he was strong. He propelled her down the stairs. Attendees watched as he forced her down the aisle. They were all dressed in fancy clothing as if they attended nothing more than an opera. Five rows up from the bottom the seats were half empty.

  “In there,” Jente directed.

  She wanted to hit him. She should have run as soon as she saw him. Instead she’d let herself believe he’d help her again. She’d been an idiot. The message he’d read on his phone had to have been Vander’s orders for her to be taken to the arena. He was going to make her watch.

  Her stomach knotted.

  Felix.

  She took her seat and scanned the packed crowd. She thought she recognized other famous CEOs but she couldn’t be sure. She didn’t have time to watch the news or the money to afford cable.

  Across the way, in an elevated booth, Vander sat like a king on a throne.

  He was staring right at her. There was no tenderness in his gaze. Nothing but raw malice. She tilted her head to spot Jente out of the corner of her eye. He was seated next to her but he was the only one. She might cringe at the idea of having to hurt Jente, but he’d made his choice.

  Through the speakers an announcement of the next fight came.

  The crowd cheered with blood lust. Below, through the bars of the cage, Cali watched as Felix was thrust into the center. A few seconds later another man of equal size and height was pushed out.

  A bell sounded without preamble. Felix’s opponent lunged for him.

  The floor of the ring was roughly twenty feet in circumference and was covered in some kind of gravel. Once or twice Felix slipped when he moved too quickly.

  Cali’s fingers dug into the armrests. Jente’s hand weighed heavy on her shoulder. A constant reminder that she wasn’t to move.

  Where the hell were Sydney and Joel?

  Felix caught a punch along the jaw that sent him staggering into the bars. People roared with appreciation. Cali willed him to bounce back but she could tell from here, could feel it within her, that Felix wasn’t up to full strength.

  Her eyes sought Vander across the way. His black gaze watched her intently. At her look he offered up a smug smile.

  He’d weakened Felix. On purpose.

  “Jente,” she said very carefully. “You can’t let this happen. Vander fixes the matches. Felix doesn’t even stand a chance down there.”

  He didn’t say anything.

  The crowd cheered again. Cali turned to the fight to see a spray of blood. Felix’s blood.

  He couldn’t take much more of this. She had to do something. Anything.

  Jente’s fingers tightened on her shoulder. She didn’t give him any warning. She whirled in her chair, fist flying. There was a satisfying crunch as she connected with his nose. Blood poured. Jente cried out, but it was drowned out in the sounds of the crowd. People were on their feet now, scenting the end of the match.

  Cali pushed through the rows as Jente tried to follow after her.

  “Out of my way.” Cali shoved patrons to get through. People cried foul as she elbowed her way to the front where a crowd
was already gathered to see the outcome of the fight below. Cali wormed her way in.

  Felix blocked a kick to the gut, but he was on the floor. He looked sickly, weak. Cali felt her throat tighten.

  As if he sensed her, Felix’s eyes lifted and locked with hers.

  She pressed her hand futilely against the bars. Felix held her gaze as his opponent wound up for the final blow. Felix dropped his head in defeat.

  Cali railed against the bars. “No!”

  Felix’s hand moved.

  His opponent vanished.

  Chapter 27

  Cali’s heart caught in her throat. The crowd around her shot to their feet in outrage. Chaos exploded. Someone pulled her back from the cluster of people. Jente’s face was filled with rage. “You fucking broke my nose.” He sounded nasally.

  Cali opened her mouth to retort when a bright blonde head of hair caught in the corner of her eye.

  Sydney.

  They’d come.

  Relief and hope sprang from her, and she smiled sweetly at Jente. “I’m sorry,” she apologized without remorse. “Does it hurt?” She slammed the heel of her hand into the damaged bone. Jente fell back with a curse.

  Cali booked it for the stairs. “Sydney,” she tried to call over the building chaos. The noise was too great. No one seemed to even notice Sydney, but the guards at the doors sure as hell noticed Cali.

  She took the steps two at a time and plowed through the doors into a sea of bodies as people fled. Fights had broken out among the audience. Apparently the gamblers weren’t happy with this new turn of events.

  The back of her neck felt iced over. She ran blindly. “Come on, Sydney. Come looking for me.” She pressed through a group of woman and overheard the word “cops.”

  Shit.

  Their time was running out.

  “Wherever the hell you guys are, you better hurry. The cops have been called.” She glanced behind her to see the guards still followed but at a much slower pace. She swerved through hallway after hallway until she was well and truly lost.

  She plowed past the first unlocked door on her right that she found.

  The sound difference was astounding. She had to be in some kind of restricted zone or medical wing. The smell was acidic, the low whine of fluorescent light bulbs the only noise.