That would probably get her tortured slowly before he killed her. The thought of torture brought on another wave of worry over Tristan. Where was he? What was Kizira doing to him?
Evalle had to get out of here and find a way to help him.
A knock at the door broke into her thoughts and Deek's formidable concentration. His black gaze shot to her first, then he looked at the door, and it opened on its own.
Now that he'd noticed her again it didn't matter if she made noise. She sat up, shifting her tired body.
A hot security guy with a smoking body--one of the many who worked for Deek--decked out in a black Iron Casket T-shirt and cargo pants strode in. "We can't budge it."
"Ridiculous." Deek hit the solid-marble desk with his fist. Sounded like Thor striking his hammer.
The security guard held up both hands. "Don't know what to tell you, boss. Must be warded or something. Won't roll, and four of us tried to lift it."
Not roll? They were trying to move her motorcycle?
Good luck with that, boys. They weren't human, but she hadn't picked up any superstrong energy, which meant they were probably just male witches.
Anger smoldered in Deek's vicious gaze for a moment, then his eyes thinned with an unholy smile. He told his man, "Leave us."
When the door closed, Deek stepped over to where Evalle peered up at him from her uncomfortable position. "Listen up, Alterant. I said I'd give you a chance to convince me not to kill you. I did not say you could stay here while you composed a novel. One sentence."
Where would he send her?
She'd heard rumors about Deek's basement--dungeon would be more accurate--and didn't want to find out if those hideous stories were true. The Beladors would eventually come looking for her, and when they did, they'd find her gold GSX-R sitting outside the Iron Casket. Her motorcycle would be easy to spot after daylight in the nightclub's empty parking lot.
But that didn't appear to concern Deek. And why should it, since VIPER was no issue for him?
"Well, Alterant?"
Trying not to offend him, Evalle lifted both shoulders in what she hoped conveyed her desire to discuss the situation, but that she needed more than one sentence to do that.
"You are trying my patience, which is unwise since I have none to begin with. You hold your tongue thinking to prolong your life?"
She smiled and nodded. Now you're getting it, skippy.
"I can assure you a very long life while you wait, one that will be filled with interesting activities."
She didn't care for the sound of that, which must have shown on her face. So much for practicing not exposing her emotions. She'd never make a decent poker player.
Deek grinned. A happy centaur in this situation could not mean good news.
He lifted an eyebrow, smirking. "Your motorcycle is no problem. I can destroy it, even with the warding, but not yet. For now I'll have it covered with a small storage building or a construction Dumpster with the middle cut out. No one will find it ... ever."
That trumped her staying quiet.
"I see that we're finally communicating," he said.
Gloating is unattractive, Deek.
Better to take her best shot now and find out if she had to risk contacting Tzader and Quinn for help getting out of this situation. She drew in a deep breath so Deek couldn't assume she was done if she stopped to breathe. "I would never come into your building uninvited and I didn't this time because I had no idea where I was being teleported since someone else was doing it and I'm sorry I threw up on you but teleporting makes me sick and"--she was running out of air--"if you'll let me go I can promise it will never happen again--"
"Really?"
Evalle sucked in a quick breath. "Well, sure. I'm not stupid, Deek. No one breaks your rules in your house."
"Your time is up."
Just as well. She couldn't think of anything else to say. "The Beladors will come for me if I go missing. And there's a tracker who will find my bike."
Deek said, "I am not concerned about who comes for you. Don't try to convince me that VIPER will question my right to sanction anyone who breaches my domain, regardless of the reason."
True. Especially for an Alterant.
Sen would offer suggestions on how to torture her.
But Deek hadn't done anything to her yet, so she held out hope of negotiating. "Isn't there some way we can work this out, Deek? It was an accident."
He strolled back across his office, then turned, facing her as he leaned a hip against his desk. "Who sent you here?"
Now she'd get Tristan in trouble after he'd clearly given her all his teleporting power to help her escape. "It's complicated."
"When you figure it out, let me know." Deek vanished.
The door opened and two of his security men came in.
Should she use her kinetics and risk getting toasted on the spot?
One guy reached down and unlocked the manacle on her left arm. She yelled, "Deek! Come back."
The other guard locked a metal collar around her neck.
"Oh, come on, Deek. You want to hear what I have to say."
Deek reappeared in front of her. He lifted his chin at the two security guys, who immediately withdrew from the room. When the door closed, Deek told her, "Speak."
"I was with another Alterant and we got ambushed by a Medb hunting party of warlocks. Someone started teleporting me, then a fight broke out, and the next thing I know I'm in here ... uh, talking to you."
"You mean barfing on me."
"That was unintentional."
"So how do you plan to work this out, as you say?"
She had one hand still hooked to a steel anchor in the wall, but lifted her free hand in an open-palm gesture. "I've apologized. What else do you want?"
"You offered to make amends."
"Of course, just tell me what I can do." Hope fluttered in her chest.
"I'll have to think about it and let you know."
That sounded like they'd just made some sort of deal, but she'd missed the part with the details spelled out. "I don't understand."
"I will let you go and you will owe me a favor."
Oh, man. Now she understood why he hadn't killed her. "What kind of favor?"
Things had been rocking along nicely until she said that.
He spread his feet and crossed his arms, staring down at her as if she'd asked a stupid question. "The kind of favor that buys back your life today."
Good point. "Got it. Just wanting to be clear since we don't really have each other's cell number to talk about it later on."
"I will find you when I have something for you to do, Alterant."
The second manacle disappeared along with the metal collar as well as the steel anchor that had held her to the wall. She rubbed her wrists where they'd chafed. Did you thank someone who had threatened to kill you, chained you to a wall, then made you agree to an open-ended favor for the chance to continue breathing?
When the person doing all that was Deek D'Alimonte, then the answer was yes. "Thanks."
Evalle stood up and started for the door, but in two steps she was outside, heading toward her motorcycle.
Had Deek teleported her out here? She didn't have the urge to hurl. Maybe someone as old as Deek--and she had no idea how many centuries old that might be--had luxury-level teleporting. She couldn't wait to dig out the bottle of water she'd stuffed in her tank bag and wash out her mouth.
Downing the balance of her water, she considered her next move.
Finding Tristan was going to take some time since he hadn't answered her telepathic calls. She doubted he was still at that farmhouse and had no idea how to find it again.
With a little over an hour before daylight, she had to touch base with Tzader and explain being late. After calling out to him with no answer, she tried Quinn, who answered.
Where have you been, Evalle?
She hated her hesitation, but a lot had happened over the past few weeks and she still didn'
t know exactly what had occurred between Quinn and Kizira, if anything. She answered, That thing I had to do for Macha took longer than I expected ... and I really can't talk about it. She got me out of VIPER prison and so ...
That sounded lame and not like her, because she shared everything with Tzader and Quinn.
Quinn said, I understand completely. We were worried about you.
I called to Tzader, but he didn't answer.
He's interrogating a troll from another gang battle. Tzader may have had Sen teleport them both to headquarters to lock down the troll, and couldn't communicate.
Sorry I missed our meeting, Quinn. I would have called one way or another, but I wasn't where I could do that.
Where are you now?
Around midtown, headed into Atlanta.
I'd still like to see you.
Had she picked up anxiety in Quinn's telepathic voice or was it just a case of her being overly suspicious about everything right now? Sure. Where do you want to meet?
He surprised her by suggesting a diner she ate at regularly near Five Points, a block away from Woodruff Park. Not Quinn's caliber of cuisine at all, but he knew she kept vampire hours due to her deadly reaction to the sun, and sunrise would come soon. Quinn had chosen somewhere close to her underground apartment to make it easy for her.
A good friend. The best.
She hated the way suspicion played fast with her heart.
By the time she parked her bike near the diner, her stomach had settled and now complained again about the lack of food. During normal business hours, the diner hosted an eclectic group of patrons that ranged from men in suits to casually dressed tourists. But the late nighters who stumbled in when Evalle normally ate here tended to dress on the scruffy side.
That made it easy to spot Quinn's blue-gray sport coat, black sweater and dark gray pants. Not that his clothes stood out in the chrome and Formica diner so much as did the man inside the window dressing. He could wear rags and still appear out of place sitting in a booth that was upholstered in purple plastic.
Sliding onto the seat across from him, she waited for the waitress, who came over to take Evalle's cheeseburger and fries order. Her idea of comfort food.
With no better way to open the conversation, she asked, "Are you okay? Z said you'd gone away to heal."
"Yes, I left rather abruptly, but it was unavoidable." Quinn's fingers tapped against a chipped ceramic mug of coffee. "Sorry I was unable to offer assistance when Sen came for you."
What had him so edgy? If he felt guilty over that, she could ease his worry. "You couldn't have stopped them from putting me in a cell."
He paused in tapping and opened his hand in a maybe/maybe-not motion.
"Seriously, Quinn. Macha was the only person who could get me out of that prison, and she did, so it all worked out." For now. But Evalle wouldn't burden him with her problems when he seemed to be just getting back on his feet. "Z said you were bad after the mind probe. I'm just glad you're okay. We missed you. Where were you?"
Quinn's lips tilted, a smile slow in coming. He'd always been the one to joke with her, always ready to lift her spirits. "I missed you as well. I would be happy to share where I've been, but it's a place hidden high in the mountains in another country that has been kept secret for more than eight hundred years. They've taken me in before when I needed their ... gifts. I know I can trust you, but I gave my word to never share the location."
She wasn't insulted. In fact, now she felt better about not being able to tell him where she'd been earlier. "Hey, no problem. I was just curious where someone with a mind like yours went for a tune-up." Her joke fell flat.
She couldn't put her finger on why things were weird between them when they'd always been comfortable in each other's company. Now would be the time and place to ask Quinn about Kizira, but Evalle couldn't make herself bring it up yet.
No reason to rush.
She picked at a loose thread on her jeans and couldn't figure out where to look. To get the conversation moving, she switched to a subject that should be easier. "Any word on the Svart trolls?"
"Yes. Tzader asked me to catch you up." Quinn paused as the waitress served Evalle, then he hit the high points with his usual precise way of speaking.
She noticed how his attention flitted between the coffee mug and the edge of the plastic menu he picked at with his thumbnail.
The imperturbable Quinn nervous?
No way. She opened her empathic senses just enough to get some read on him. The first feedback surprised her. Why would Quinn be feeling distressed? The next sensation she picked up hurt her heart.
Quinn was sad.
So not like him.
He finished his rundown on the Svarts by saying, "Sen has made it abundantly clear that he expects us to find a way to deal with the trolls without constantly calling him."
"As if we want to call him? What does he expect us to do?"
"Sen offered no remedy, but Tzader has an idea. He thinks if we could acquire a weapon that would kill trolls and other nonhumans in a way that doesn't harm humans or expose our activity to them, we wouldn't have to call on Sen so often. A weapon that could be used at close range."
"There's only one person who might have that."
Quinn lowered his voice even though the closest patron was some poor old homeless guy six booths away who had nodded off. "We know. Isak Nyght."
"The problem with that is keeping Isak out of our way the minute he catches wind of any nonhuman activity."
"Exactly." Quinn stopped fingering his coffee mug and studied her now. "We thought you could ask Isak."
Evalle had finished all she could eat and tossed the paper napkin on top of her plate, then shoved it away. "He'll be suspicious if I ask."
"Not if you tell him you want it for your own protection. Based upon his interest in you, I believe he would loan you a weapon."
Now she got it. "You want me to play the girl card? Are you serious?"
That got a smile out of Quinn. "You make it sound as though you aren't equipped for such a mission."
"Oh, sure. But that's like using a car built from scrap parts to chauffeur the governor around."
"You discount your appeal, Evalle."
"No, I'm a realist. I have no idea how to flirt and you know that."
"I don't think that will be necessary. Isak Nyght took an interest in you the first time he found you with a demon. Do you look any different now than you did then?"
"No." She'd even shared a meal with Isak wearing clothes ripped from battle, bruises on her arms and her hair askew. But that was the best a man could expect when he sent an armed team to snatch her off the street just to have dinner with him.
"Unless ... you're concerned about exposing your identity to Isak. I won't agree to anything that puts you at that type of risk."
She waved that off with a flip of her hand. "Nah. We seem to be past his wanting me to take off my sunglasses. As long as I keep these on, he has no reason to suspect I'm an Alterant."
Quinn was right. Isak had taken an interest in her, one that might come back to bite her someday, but he'd made it clear in the past that she could come to him if she ever needed help with a threat. This should count. "I'll do it, but I'm surprised Tzader's going along with me seeing Isak."
"It took some convincing to persuade our overprotective friend." When she grinned, Quinn continued. "He balked when I suggested you as the best choice to approach Isak, but he finally agreed."
Should she feel proud that Quinn believed in her ability to gain a weapon they desperately needed, or suspicious of a secret ulterior motive because of what Kizira had said? Why can't that witch stay out of my world? I trust Quinn. Period.
Quinn must have taken her silence as concern. "If you'd prefer, I could accompany you."
She'd love to have Quinn or Tzader with her, but Isak had acted territorial around her in the past, so she'd be better off going alone. "Thanks, but I'd have to spend more time explaining you tha
n getting the weapon."
"As you wish." Quinn eyed his watch, some elegant piece of Swiss craftsmanship. He'd lost that moment of cheerfulness and turned quiet again. "I don't want to rush you, but you have only a half hour to reach your apartment."
She had a five-minute drive, but Quinn could be just as overprotective as Tzader in his own way. Standing, she reached for her money, but Quinn tossed down more than enough for the meal and tip, saying, "I've got this one."
She generally balked at his picking up the tab, which would turn into good-natured bantering by the time they reached the sidewalk. But the air between them had cooled in the last minute, once again riddled with a strange discomfort. Am I acting paranoid around Quinn or is he being overly careful around me?
She still hadn't asked Quinn about Kizira.
When they walked outside, the air carried the crisp chill of early autumn. Great for wearing full riding gear. Quinn walked with her to where Evalle had parked her bike at the corner. When she stopped a few short feet away, they both seemed to hesitate to say good-bye.
Her chest would never stop aching if she didn't get this said. "I need to ask you something, Quinn."
"Sure. What about?"
"It's about back when the sentient fog was coming through Atlanta, before you left to go heal."
"Go on." Quinn had turned away from the streetlight with half of his face lost in a dark shadow. His posture stiffened.
Nobody liked to relive hellish memories, and that probe must have been pretty rough to send Quinn into hiding to repair his mind.
Her throat tightened against the words. She hated questioning her friend, but she couldn't take another day inside her head with this. "Did you ... uh, run into Kizira anywhere during that time?"
"No."
His decisive answer gave her a rush of relief for a moment, but her empathic sense picked up something out of sync--that Quinn was uncomfortable. Why?
Maybe she hadn't been specific enough.
Better to get this done all at once, like ripping off a Band-Aid. She scratched her hair, knocking her pony-tail loose in the back. "So there's no way you would have told Kizira that she could find me with Tristan that day?"
"No." He stared off into the darkness for a moment, then must have decided they were finished. "You should go before it gets any closer to daylight. I'll see you later." He turned and walked away.
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