Strength (Mark of Nexus #1)

by Carrie Butler

  “Did they hurt her?” Wallace spoke carefully, restraining the underlying urgency I felt pulse inside me. When she didn’t answer, he gritted his teeth. “Tell me.”

  “I guess you’ll find out when you see her,” she retorted.

  And then the heavens gave way. Rain pelted the earth in a frigid downpour and doused the torches. Great. Just what we needed.

  Gail writhed beneath him, squeezing her eyes shut against the stinging raindrops. “If you join us, I guarantee they’ll let her go.”

  “Screw that,” I said, shivering and looking around. “I’ll go scout out the lake and report back.”

  “No.” Wallace looked up. “I don’t want you out of my sight.”

  “Touching,” Gail sneered. “How about you let me up, and I’ll lead you there?”

  I lifted my boot off the ground. “How about I kick you in the head and pray you only lose consciousness?”

  Wallace leaned to the side, and in one swift motion, hoisted her over his shoulder. “We’ll take her with us.” Without so much as a wince, he rose to his feet and started off in some random direction. “I know it’ll be hard for you to see, so stay close.”

  “I can see fine,” I grumbled, trekking after them. “Do you have any idea where to start looking?”

  “No.” He skirted around a fallen log. “But I have a feeling they want to be found.”

  And as it turned out, he was right.

  Ten minutes later, we came to a bluff overlooking the Ohio version of a beach—a shallow lake edged with caked, probably-imported sand. Several figures stood scattered below, their forms cast in silhouette by the hellish glow of a bonfire. Well, this has all the makings of a crime scene…

  I wiped my bangs back and followed Wallace down a slick, wooden staircase. He’d wasted no time getting here, taking strides I could only match with a jog. It made me nervous.

  Gail was limp over his shoulder, her head bobbing with each step. Thank God she’d exhausted herself with that last stunt. There was no more cult-drivel to be heard, only the soothing whisper of rain on the water as we made our way down the beach.

  From the lower vantage point, I could see why their fire was still going. Rocks jutted out from the cliff side, shielding it from the downpour. If only that were their only protection.

  “Put her down,” a familiar voice demanded, as we neared. “And don’t try anything.”

  Wait a minute. I dared a step closer and peered through the flames. “Maverick?”

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Maverick tensed, his eyes trained on Gail’s motionless form. “Put her down,” he repeated, not moving from his spot.

  What on earth was he doing here, of all places? Didn’t he know who these—

  Then it clicked.

  Gabby had told me Maverick called out another woman’s name during sex. Gail. This Gail. She was the other woman. I started around the fire, but Cole held his arm out.

  “Careful,” he said. “They’ve got—”

  “Clara,” I finished, my gaze locking on the hostage Maverick held pinned against his chest. She looked positively ashen, standing there with tearstained cheeks. Her eyes met mine, and I swallowed uneasily.

  Wallace’s voice cut through the fire’s crackling hiss. “Let her go.” No wonder he was in a hurry. He’d probably felt her distress a mile away.

  Maverick slipped his other arm around her neck, and something sinister glinted in the light. “You first.”

  “CL.” Cole gestured across the fire, referring to the letters on the map. “You were right. It was Clara Lawrence.”

  “But why use her maiden name?” I asked. “Isn’t it Clara Blake now?”

  “That name was never hers to take,” a cold voice responded, as a woman stepped out from the shadows. The golden light flicked across her weathered features, and I sucked in a deep breath. Dark, puckered scars marred the skin around her forehead and closed right eye like a grotesque half-mask. What the...?

  “Faye.” Clara’s voice rang out strong, despite the expression she wore. “You know we never meant to hurt you. It just happened.”

  That was Faye? I gave her a quick once-over. Aside from the scars, there wasn’t anything remarkable about her. Her hair was still a bit dark, shot with streaks of silver and in a low ponytail. She wore a simple, flannel shirt buttoned up over a pair of jeans and work boots. Was I supposed to believe she was the orchestrator behind everything?

  “Spare me your excuses. You knew I was only a few months away from fulfilling my obligations abroad.” Faye’s words were tight, laced with hurt that’d gone heinously bitter. “You were going to be my maid of honor, Clara. Don’t tell me it just happened.”

  “You were dead,” Clara whispered. “Where else could we take comfort, than in each other—the two who knew you best?”

  “You wished I was dead! Freddie meant everything to me. After this happened”—Faye jerked her hand back, gesturing to the scars—“he was the only man who would even look at me. I would’ve given him everything, but you…you…” Her shoulders fell as she lowered her voice in a defeated whisper. “You married him.”

  “Wait,” I interrupted. “Clara, I thought your major gift was empathy. Why didn’t you sense her feelings of betrayal?”

  “I did,” Clara said quietly. “I waved it off as guilt and delusional grief. What was I to think? That the feelings were truly hers and not my own? I’ve carried that weight in my heart all this time. If only I’d known she survived...” Her words broke off, and another tear spilled down her cheek.

  Cole blew out a heavy sigh. “We’ve already been through this.” He nodded toward Gail, still slung over Wallace’s shoulder. “Did you guys get anything out of her, other than the same revolutionary bullshit I’ve been forced to choke down for the past hour? By the way, nice to see you, Rena. I figured you’d show up.”

  Wallace bent to lay Gail on the ground. “Yeah, apparently she had a vision that we were going to mess up their plans for human experimentation. So, we’re being—”

  “Tested,” Cole finished. “I know. After we split up, I swept this stupid park twice to find Grandma. Two minutes and thirty-three seconds. Would you believe that? These goons actually timed me.”

  So, Cole was the third person Gail saw in her dream. The whole setup was starting to make sense. Why destroy what you might be able to use? I chewed on the inside of my cheek. This wasn’t just a test. It was a recruitment screening.

  “Enough.” Maverick’s terse voice cut through the nighttime air as he nudged Clara forward with his knee, prodding her toward us. “I-I’ll…I’ll trade you the old lady.” He spared a glance back at Faye, eyeing her. “I have to.”

  “They won’t harm her.” Faye waved him off. “But do as you please. My sister has already served her purpose here.”

  “Drop the knife and back away,” Wallace instructed, positioning himself between Gail and Maverick. “Then we’ll let you have her.”

  “How do I know you won’t pull something once I hand her over?” Maverick asked.

  I didn’t recognize his new demeanor. Where was that clueless, stoner smile I’d come to expect? Now he just seemed gaunt, sweaty, and paranoid. Yuck.

  “We have no reason to trick you,” Cole interjected. “You really think you—a human—have the upper hand?” He cast a quick glance in my direction. “No offense.”

  I nearly snorted. “None taken.”

  “I’m not human.” Maverick threw the knife down and shoved Clara forward, fire reflecting in his eyes. “Not anymore.”

  Nobody said anything as Cole blurred, catching Clara mid-stumble. His gaze darkened, but he didn’t allow any more emotion to impede his expression. “I thought that might be the case.”

  “What?” I looked between them. “What do you mean?”

  Wallace was suddenly at my side, angling his shoulder in front of me. “It means they’ve already started their experiments.”

  “You can’t be serious.” I crumpled my brow, p
eering around his arm. “What about Gabby? Does she know about any of this?”

  Maverick shook his head and bent down to gather Gail in his arms. “Don’t you get it, Rena? It was a ploy. All of it.”

  “All of it?” I blinked as my mind raced over the past month. “How?”

  “Gail foresaw your involvement in this.” He struggled to find his footing as he straightened, shifting her in his arms. “We just thought if I kept you two apar—”

  “What my intern means to say,” Faye cut in, “is that we had background information on the twins, but you were an unknown factor. He transferred to get a better feel for you, how you tick, where you would most likely come into play.”

  Maverick nodded. “It didn’t take much coaxing for Gabby to open up about your relationship. Unfortunately, my brand of casual interference—getting you trashed, encouraging you to meddle in Wallace’s private life—wasn’t enough to keep you two at odds. I should’ve implemented a second strategy.”

  “But you didn’t,” I said, flexing my fingers. “So, what’s your next move?”

  “Oh no, I’m afraid we’ve left you with the wrong impression.” Faye smoothed a trembling hand over her heart. “Our interference wasn’t meant to antagonize you. We were simply looking out for our mission, for progress. You must understand.”

  Cole snorted and eased Clara behind us, but Faye didn’t stop there.

  “It was my fault for underestimating you. I never expected you three to be such bright, open-minded individuals. Why, you might even consider joining our internship program. To think, two more Dynari and a…”

  She paused and gave me the once-over. “What exactly are you, my dear?”

  I could’ve groaned. Was it that hard to tell? “I’m human, Faye. But thanks for asking.”

  “Human?” Her nose wrinkled. “You’re certain of this?”

  “Yes,” I gritted out. “Is that a problem?”

  “Of course not.” She waved me off with a dramatic flourish. “It’s just that I’m not in need of someone with your particular…skill set, at this time. It is a competitive program, after all. Only those with the most unique capabilities are admitted.”

  I bit down on my lip. “Oh.”

  It wasn’t that I wanted to join. These people were obsessed, ethically-damaged science geeks. But that didn’t stop what Gail said about killing those they didn’t have a use for, from echoing in my mind. Was I a loose thread?

  “We’re done here,” Wallace told Faye, his jaw tight. “I’m not interested in your program, I’m not interested in your mission, and I’m not interested in any other garbage you have to sell to me. Just let us go, and we’ll forget this night ever happened.”

  She tilted her chin. “I’m sorry you feel that way.”

  I wasn’t. “He’s right. We’d better get g—ah!”

  A sharp tug on my coat sleeve sent me reeling to the left as the material ripped apart. “Hey!” I latched onto the back of Wallace’s shirt for balance, trying to right myself. “What the—”

  “Hold still.” Cole carefully slid the purple sleeve down my arm and over my mutilated wrist. I hadn’t even seen him leave Clara’s side.

  Wallace looked tired, glancing over his shoulder at his brother. “What are you doing?”

  “Wool is stiff,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone, tearing the sleeve into shreds. “Her wrist should be immobilized. It looks like shit.” He reached into his pocket, produced two slightly damp twigs, and tied them to my wrist with startling dexterity. A makeshift splint. Just like that. “So, did I miss a catfight or what?”

  “Huh?” Was he going to completely ignore what just happened?

  Cole nodded toward Gail as she started to come to, rubbing at the swollen, discolored part of her face. “You’re still standin’, so I’m guessing it’s safe to call this one yours.”

  I opened my mouth to correct him, but stopped before the words could pass my lips. He didn’t need to know Wallace had been the one to hurt me. “Thanks.”

  “Just promise you’ll call me next time. I would’ve liked to have taken pictures.”

  “Nicholas,” Clara sighed, massaging her temples. “Please be respectful.”

  He grinned like a little boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “I’m respecting the art of female combat.”

  “My God, does he ever shut up?” Gail groaned, pressing her palms to her eye sockets. “There wasn’t a catfight. I lost consciousness after abusing my power to manipulate them during the assessment.”

  I moved my arm and flexed my fingers, testing my circulation. Not bad, actually. My wrist still hurt like crazy, but the sturdiness was reassuring. Maybe I could—

  “Rena,” Clara suddenly breathed, staring at me in awe.

  “What?”

  I followed her gaze to the now-visible band around my arm. No wonder everyone had gone silent. The Mark of Nexus was doing that freaky, glowy thing again, emitting an otherworldly spectrum of colors.

  Faye moved around the fire, her eyes locked on my marking. “I don’t believe it.”

  Cole’s lips twisted into a smirk, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d revealed it on purpose.

  “Impossible,” Gail spat as Maverick set her down on her feet. “The Nexus was forged of legend. There’s never been a recorded case of an actual, modern-day occurrence. It’s an illusion.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, that’s it, because we all know I’m totally capable of that.” She acted like I was trying to trick them. What would I even get out of that? “If it’s not real, why do you guys pass down stories about it?”

  “Why do humans pass down fairytales and bedtime stories?” she countered.

  “Touché.”

  Clara reached out and brushed her fingertips across the strange, angular lines. “It’s beautiful,” she muttered, a ghost of a smile tracing her lips. “Wallace, do you have one too?”

  He didn’t answer.

  “Honey?” She turned to look at him, worry creasing her eyes.

  “Cole,” Wallace bit out, meeting his brother’s eye with an unspoken command. His expression tensed in indescribable emotion as he shifted his weight.

  Cole nodded. “Just go. I got this.”

  What?

  Wallace didn’t look back at me, edging around the others without a word of explanation. He hadn’t made it three steps past the fire when Gail spoke up.

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  He didn’t falter, taking long, near-staggering strides toward the darkness. What the hell? Was he mad? Where was he going?

  I was about to say something when a strange feeling pierced my consciousness. Dark and foreboding, it pulled for attention as it crept closer. The others started talking, but I couldn’t focus on anything they were saying. Their words jumbled together in a dull murmur. Something was wrong.

  Hot tears welled up, fast and urgent behind my left eye. “Wallace…” I barely recognized my own voice as I stumbled after him, brushing past their outstretched arms. Yeah, something was definitely wrong.

  The light from the fire faded, and icy raindrops welcomed me back into the night. They slid down my face as I followed him, lost in a haze of wispy concern. Somewhere, the voices rose in argument and fell into the background.

  There was a heartbeat pounding in my ears. Whether it was his or mine, I didn’t really know. My thoughts were fragmented. He was in pain. Pain. The word echoed around my mind as he let out a tortured groan from within the shadow of the cliff.

  What time is it?

  I ran to him, tearing through the wet, dirty sand. “Wal…” My words ran dry as a chaotic swell of emotions crashed over me, slowing my step. I couldn’t go there. It was like an invisible barrier had separated us, leaving me on the outside.

  He’d already slipped into the world of nightmares, lost to his nightly sentence of torture. How had I lost track of the time? A cluster—now?

  The rain held me in its chilled embrace as I stood there, frozen, w
atching his darkened form collapse onto the ground. Even as he screamed out, gripping at his head, crushing his eye against the cliff side, there was nothing I could do to ease his pain. I’d never felt so useless.

  Now, in his proximity, I could sense the disturbance in our bond. I wasn’t experiencing his pain firsthand, but it was something I was intimately aware of. It was like heat lightning. The flashes were there, but the storm was too far away to seem real.

  My fist—the good one—clenched at my side.

  I couldn’t fight the battle with him, but I’d be damned if he’d feel alone. The only thing I could do was wait. Cole said Wallace lost his strength around these episodes. If that were true, he’d be vulnerable afterward.

  I’d stay and stand guard.

  It was the only thing I could do.

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  I watched as silvery streaks rippled the inky surface of the lake, reflecting hints of moonlight. It felt like more than half an hour had passed, but I had no way of knowing for sure. No one had come after us.

  Wallace lay exhausted against the rocks behind me. Watching his struggle had stolen something from me—something I’d never get back. Ignorance. Naivety. Something. The harshness of reality shouldn’t have had a place there, among the supernatural happenings of the night. It felt so wrong.

  After giving him a moment, I turned and met his shamed gaze. Neither one of us said anything as I trekked through the wet sand and fell to my knees beside him. I closed my eyes and pulled him close, rubbing my hand over his shoulders.

  He didn’t protest. Soon, his breathing deepened, and I felt his body relax against me. To be honest, I didn’t know which one of us was being comforted. It was such a peaceful, removed moment in time. I didn’t know how to take it.

  How many tribulations were ours to bear? Surprisingly, the thought didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would. It didn’t matter anymore. We had each other now. Whatever happened, we’d find a way through it together.

  Being with him wasn’t the sacrifice he’d claimed it to be; it was a blessing that’d come in disguise. It was hard to believe that, at one point, I’d been afraid of him. Now I could only fear what I’d be without him.