“Dane! Dane, can you hear me?” I hissed, shaking him just a bit.
His eyes popped open, then closed slowly. His head went limp again.
“Wake up, we don’t have time for naps.” I scooted closer, put my face down to the level of his. “Please, wake up.”
He made a muffled sound, then one of his eyes opened carefully. His mouth twitched. “Quinn… you came.”
My mouth split into a grin. “Of course. I’d have come sooner but you didn’t exactly tell me where you were going.”
He tried to sit up and winced. “I don’t…”
I shushed him. “Hang on, I’ll get you out of here.”
With my magic pulsing at my fingertips, I placed a hand on the cuffs restraining him and put my locksmithing skills to use once more. They clicked and I released his hands, lowering them down slowly until they laid in his lap.
“That’s better.” Dane tried to smile. “How’d you find me?”
“It’s not important. Can you stand.” I remained crouched in front of him.
He shook his head. “I’m so tired. I don’t think…”
I pursed my lips. “What did he do to you?”
“Not he,” he managed. “Had to use my power to keep healing myself.”
“Have you seen Elena? Is she here?”
“I’m so tired,” he repeated.
I huffed, frustrated by his condition. I was worried about him, sure, but he wasn’t in any shape to help a girl out. Maybe I could do something about that?
I crawled closer until I was practically in his lap. My hand on his face, I kissed him lightly. “It’s okay, take what you need.”
“Not like this.” He tried to turn his face away, but I held it to mine.
“Do what you need to do to save Elena. That’s all this is.” I wish I believed that, but bad ideas are kind of my thing.
He sighed, parted his lips, and let me kiss him again.
I could tell the moment he turned on the incubus charm. Our kiss went from innocent to positively pornographic in under a second. Hell, I practically climbed into the man’s mouth.
We’ll pretend I didn’t straddle his lap or that I didn’t, at one point, grind against not-so-little Dane Jr. I’m not proud, but I’m also not dead.
His arms circled my waist, pulled me tighter to his body. My hands pressed against his sculpted chest. He devoured my mouth, my neck, and the bit of flesh bubbling out from my push-up bra.
By the gods, I’d never wanted to be taken on a cold concrete floor before that moment, but I’d have sold my soul to a three-eyed demon to make it happen.
Without warning, Dane pushed me back so hard I landed on my ass.
“Enough. I’m good.” He looked anywhere but my swollen lips or my heaving chest, damn him.
I’d be lying if I said his words didn’t sting. A fucking lot. I was food and nothing more, apparently. Whatever.
I stood, brushed the grime from my ass and decided to own the friend-zone. “We’re wasting time. Who did this to you? And where are they now?”
Dane pushed up from the wall and stood, stopping a few feet shy of me. “Quinn, I’m sorry.”
“Did they fuck up your ears too?” I crossed my arms over my chest, a move clearly meant to say move on, dammit. “Who did this to you?”
He ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t know, some red-haired bitch.”
“The bartender from the Black Kettle?”
Recognition flashed in Dane’s eyes. “I knew I knew her from somewhere.”
“That doesn’t make sense though. She can’t be behind all this, it’s too complex for a junkie fairy.” I thought out loud.
He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “She’s not. She screwed up while she was working me over for information. “She said, “the misses isn’t going to be happy” at one point when I wouldn’t give her anything.”
I scrunched up my face. “So, we’re thinking Dawn Shiller then?”
He nodded. “It fits.”
“Are they here then?” I crossed my fingers for some good news.
“I don’t think so. When she left, she said she was going to report on our time together, like she had to go somewhere else to do it.”
“Yeah, I saw her drive off north when I got here.” I chanced a glance at Dane while he was busy buttoning his shirt back up.
Fuck, I couldn’t get past that drive-by-devouring. If he’d looked at me then and told me to get naked, I would have done so without hesitation. And I hated myself for that.
“We need to get out of here before she comes back.” I went to the door and cracked it a few inches. “You good?”
He joined me at the door, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Yes, thanks to you. Go on, I’ll be right behind you.”
Don’t I wish, I thought, as I led him back to the safety of my car.
13
Before I put the car into gear, I tapped on my phone and pulled up the email from HackerTee. I found it, opened the folder with Shiller’s newspaper clippings, then handed the phone to Dane.
“She’s got to be keeping Elena at one of the other abandoned buildings. Pull up the clippings and see if you can find and address for each. We’re going to have to go boots on the ground… we don’t have time to refine further. Especially if they realize you’ve escaped.”
Dane took my phone and began the search. It took some time, but using my phone to pinpoint buildings and his own phone to map the addresses, he made steady progress. Six addresses and three hours later, we’d done nothing more than waste gas and get grumpy. If you don’t count getting attacked by a pissed off rat the size of a Labrador.
Then, arriving at the seventh location I was pretty sure we’d found the girl at the end of the rainbow.
Elena was in there, I thought as I pulled the car to a stop a hundred yards from the building and cut the lights. She had to be. If I was the crazy bastard doing bad things to young girls, it would be my choice. Hands down.
Five miles out of town, surrounded by a failing chain link fence, the plant covered at least ten acres all by itself. The grounds at least double that. Abandoned, remote; it was perfect.
I scanned the grounds for movement or lights and thought I saw a faint flicker near the back of the compound, but it had been so fast and didn’t show again, so there’s a chance I just wanted to see something so badly that my eyes were fucking with me. I kept that to myself.
“I have a feeling that things are about to go south. Can you handle that?” I said, turning the car off and shoving the keys above the visor. If only one of us made it back, I wanted the car accessible either way.
He nodded, but didn’t seem so sure. He had to be sure. Otherwise, he’d be a hinderance. I didn’t need that and neither did Elena.
“Look, I know this isn’t your thing. There’s no shame if you want to hang back and let me go in. You’ve had a hell of a day and I don’t want to have to rescue two people.”
His lips pressed into a tight line. “I’m fine. Give me a gun.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “Have you ever fired one before?”
He shook his head, but kept his eyes on the building before us.
“Then I’m not giving you a gun. You’d end up shooting your foot off or something.” I reached into the console and pulled out a six-inch blade. “This will have to do ya.”
Dane attempted to give me the side-eye, but one look from me had him taking the knife and thanking me for it.
We got out of the car and I went to the trunk. “I need to grab a few things, just in case.”
His mouth fell open when I popped the trunk, revealing all of my weapons of badassery. I retrieved one of my back-up guns—a 9mm bodyguard—and secured it in a holster at my ankle. I grabbed a few more blades while I was at it.
“What, no sword?” Dane attempted a smirk, but it came out more as a twisted grimace. Bless his little lover-not-a-fighter heart.
“Not yet, though I’ve got my eye on a sweet little Valyrian steel number
.”
He looked at me blankly. Not a fan, I guess. It was the first thing I could fault him for. I hooked one hand around his arm. “Come on, and be quiet.”
I pulled him to the edge of the fence, where the trees offered cover for what I’d need to do. When we reached the spot, I crouched down and Dane joined me.
“I’m going to cut through the fence here. Look around and remember this location. If shit goes sideways, this will be your only way out.”
Dane sputtered and his face grew solemn. He nodded.
Lacking a pair of bolt cutters, all I had was my little magic fingers. I put them to use, and in record time. Pale blue sparks deflected off the chain link as I powered through it, making a three-foot hole for us to climb through.
“And we’re in.” I turned to Dane. “Crawl through, stay low, and wait for me on the other side.”
He nodded and passed through the opening in the fence, then stayed in a crouch. I followed, stopped, and pointed to the building’s side wall.
“Quickly, to the shadows, and watch the pot holes.” I didn’t wait for a response.
We hurried across the open asphalt, careful to avoid the rifts made my time and weather. I didn’t relax until we reached the relative safety of the building’s shadows. Motioning for Dane to stick close behind me, we crept along the south wall until we came to a chained metal door.
The padlock told me no one was actively using it as a point of ingress, which made me feel better about breaking into the door myself. If Shiller, or whoever, was getting into the building through another entrance it was probably one closer to where they were keeping Elena. Which meant the door in front of me was a safer bet.
I dealt with the padlock and removed the chain slowly, careful not to scrape or clang the door with it. Handing it to Dane to set behind the door, I leaned in to whisper.
“Okay, we’re going in. Watch your step, don’t make any noise and you may want to pull out your blade, just in case.”
“Shit,” he hissed, but did what I told him to.
The man looked positively paper-white. I hoped that bringing him along didn’t come back to bite me in the ass. I tossed up a quick prayer to Hecate and brushed my fingers along my pendant. That was the best I could do.
We moved inside and scanned the area. Nothing moved, not even a rat. I quickly checked the offices, what appeared to be a break room, and what turned out to be the bathrooms. I really wish I hadn’t gone in there. So gross.
I turned to Dane. “We’ve only seen about twenty-percent of this place, there has to be a larger warehouse or production floor.”
We crept through a long hallway and before we’d reached the end, I heard voices. I put a hand out to stop Dane and we listened.
“Please,” said one woman.
“Begging won’t help, dear,” said another.
Elena, Dane mouthed.
I nodded slightly and motioned for him to stay back. Then I crept forward, silently, until I was almost at the mouth of the hallway. Peering into the large warehouse area, I gasped at what I saw.
Dawn Shiller stood in the middle of a wide-open space, arms held up to the ceiling. Her mouth moved quickly, in silent incantation. Bathed in a pale green light, her hair and toga-like dress flowed like grasses in the strong prairie winds. It was quite the sight, but only second to what lay on a bed of pallets just past Shiller.
Elena lay bound by the wrists and ankles atop the wooden structure. Candles, on four-foot iron pillars, circled her prone body. But that wasn’t the worst of it. With Shiller in mid-incantation, Elena’s body arched painfully off the pallets and what I could only guess what her essence, flowed upward from her midsection, like a mystical thread being pulled by an unseen hand.
I’d expected to find the situation precarious, but seeing all of that at once turned my stomach. Dane would lose his shit. “Stay there,” I mouthed to him.
He argued silently and pointed to the doorway. “No. Way” he mouthed.
I didn’t have time to argue with him. Elena didn’t have time either.
I shot Dane my best mean-mug and waved him back, then crept out into the warehouse. Sneaking over to a stack of boxes, I weighed my options. Shoot first, or try and talk Dawn Shiller down?
Fuck her, I thought, and reached for my Sig. I stepped left, resting my upper body on a lower stack of pallets, aimed, and fired.
My aim was true. Too bad I’d not anticipated the impenetrable circle of power surrounding Shiller and her prey. My bullet ricocheted off with a resounding crack.
That got the attention of Dawn Shiller. She turned in my direction, temporarily halting her incantation. With her sights on me, Elena dropped back to the pallets and her head flopped to the side.
Shiller laughed, high-pitched and definitely crazy. “So nice of you to join us. You’re just in time for the big finale! I told you, what is old becomes new.”
I rolled my eyes, kept my gun leveled at the psychotic cunt. “I’m afraid this party is shutting down early. Step away from the girl and I’ll try not to put a bullet in your brain.”
Shiller broke into laughter, clutching her belly for dramatic effect. “Little girl, I admire your confidence, but you’ve got no stake here. Now, if you’re not going be quiet and watch, I’ll have to put you in time out.”
It was my turn to laugh and I might have sounded even crazier than Shiller. “Is that so? I’d like to see you try.”
Right then, I felt Dane place a hand on my right leg, which was still behind the pallets. I kicked him away, motioned for him to track to the right and make his way closer to Elena.
Shiller leveled her gaze at me and turned her back to the trussed-up succubus. “You little bitch. With your smooth skin and thick hair. You think you’re invincible. Let’s see about that.”
She flicked her fingers in my direction and three clear blades, glass I was guessing, headed in my way. I tossed up a quick transfiguration spell just in time. The shards disintegrated into particles of sand as they passed through it. It didn’t hurt me, but the sandblasting wasn’t pleasant.
I returned her volley with one of my own. I couldn’t use anything too powerful, Elena was too near. Sending out my magic in one snaking stream, I wrapped the rope of it around Shiller’s neck.
Her eyes went wild and she clawed at her throat.
“How does it feel to be trussed up?” I said, walking out into the open, in the opposite direction from where I hoped Dane was.
“You. Pig-tailed. Bitch.” She grunted, then came to her senses.
She opened her mouth, wide as a viper, and a beast made of flames poured out. Four legs, strong jaw, blazing canines clacking in the wind. A fire wolf.
I was a little bit impressed. That didn’t mean Shiller wasn’t going down.
The beast bit through my magic cord with ease, and Shiller floated to the ground. She nodded in my direction and the beast had new orders. It turned, crouched low and sized me up.
Shit. Against a fire beast my weapons didn’t have a chance. That left magic. But what kind could stop a monster made of fire? Something cold? Or wet? I didn’t have anything like that up my sleeve.
I scanned for Dane and found him about twenty feet from where Elena lay. I shook my head, trying to warn him about crossing the circle boundary. Shiller would know and he needed to remain hidden. To be my secret weapon.
The beast growled, heat and flames licking my face. Right, focus.
As it rocked back on it’s haunches, gearing up to launch, and idea came to me, and not a moment too soon. I had a plan. Not a good one, but a plan just the same.
The fire wolf shoved off with its back legs, taking two large strides before launching through the air. Above, all I could see was fire and a bad way to die. Embers fell to my skin and I reacted.
I called the elements, specifically water and air, as I focused on an image in my mind just for good measure. Then I let my power out to play.
Time stalled.
The wide-open maw of flames des
cended on me. I clamped my eyes shut and braced for impact, but it never came. I opened my eyes and realized it was snowing. Just over me, nowhere else, and I was already standing in an ankle-deep pile of fluff.
“No, no, no!” Shiller jumped up and down in full bitchy tantrum.
Eek, she looked pissed. Points for me.
“Looks like your dog’s bark was worse than its bite.” I stalked closer, more confident in my abilities.
In the background I noticed Dane inching closer to Elena. I shook my head, which Shiller caught. She turned away and spied Dane creeping towards her sacrificial battery. Before I could react, she blasted him hard. His body flew back and hit the wall with a thud.
“Fuck.” I mumbled, hoping she’d only knocked him out cold.
I couldn’t even entertain the thought that he might be dead.
Shiller laughed, a sound so evil it made my hackles rise, then waved her hand over her head in a sweeping circle. A ring of fire exploded, separating me from Shiller and Elena. The flames were at least ten feet high and white hot at the base.
Magic, or some pre-planned failsafe she’d put in place if ever cornered?
I don’t suppose it mattered which. I’d like to say the same magic I’d used on the fire beast took the ring of fire down easily, but I can’t. Not that I didn’t try. It just didn’t work and I had to move on to plan B—whatever that was.
I looked at Dane’s body, crumpled and unmoving, then back at the ring of fire. It looked a lot like the fire I’d seen while scrying, which worried me more than I cared to think about.
I heard Elena moan, then saw the magic threads being pulled from her body through the dancing of the flames.
“Lady, you have no idea how much I’m going to enjoy this.”
Dawn Shiller smirked, not worried at all. That was a mistake.
A big one.
14
That was what some might call the defining moment of my path. I had a choice to make, no time to make it, and the risk was great. But I didn’t have any other options, no matter how much I wish I did.
I pulled in a deep breath, spread my stance for stability, and called my magic into my right hand. With my left, I unsheathed a dagger and gripped it in front of me, with the blade facing out. Whatever I was going to do, it was going to be my version of shock and awe. With any luck, Dawn Shiller wouldn’t ever know what hit her.
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