by Marie Harte
* * * *
At five ‘til six, his last meeting for the day wrapped up and Marcus went in search of Tessa. Spying her coat and portfolio still sitting on her desk, he shook his head. He’d warned her earlier he’d be late, and told her to call Cadmus to drive her home.
Most of the floor was deserted, with the exception of Jonas Chase’s office. Bastard. Marcus seethed as he cut across the floor. Knocking politely when he wished to pound down the door, he had just decided to give Chase a piece of his mind for keeping Tessa late when the door opened.
A weary looking Chase blinked. “Yes?”
“I’m looking for Tessa.”
“Tessa? She left hours ago. You haven’t by chance seen Davis out there, have you?” Jonas looked beyond him.
Marcus tensed. “What do you mean she left hours ago?”
Jonas paused, apparently seeing something in Marcus’ stance that made him wary. “I let her go around four. She’s been working so hard lately. Are you sure she’s not still here?”
“Her coat is in her office.” Marcus shook his head. “I’ll check upstairs.”
“I’ll go with you,” Jonas offered.
About to deny him, Marcus changed his mind at the last instant. Better to have your enemies close, he thought. Except that for an enemy, Jonas looked surprisingly concerned about Tessa. In fact, he wore a pinched expression, as if he too feared the worst.
They walked quickly up the stairs and found only a few executives working, Tessa nowhere in sight. After checking and rechecking the opposite stairwells, they returned to Tessa’s office and studied the area, searching for some hint she’d recently been there.
Then Jonas cursed. “I hate to think this might have anything to do with it, but Michael Davis is late on some correspondence I needed, and he hasn’t answered his phone since a little after three.”
Marcus fisted his hands. “Davis, as in the little asshole I knocked into the wall yesterday?”
Jonas nodded, his eyes full of concern. “The same. I’m probably way off base, here, right?”
“Probably.”
“Look, I have more work to do. I’ll stick around here for a while, just in case she shows.”
“Here’s my cell number,” Marcus said as he wrote it down and handed Jonas a slip of paper. “I’m going home in case she’s headed there already.” But Cadmus or Tessa would have called him by now. “Call me if you see her before I do.”
Jonas nodded. “Can do.”
“And Chase?” Marcus paused, aware he might have made a mistake about the man. “Thanks.”
The minute Jonas left, Marcus reached for the phone. “Cadmus, Aerolus, pick up,” he muttered, wishing he had a touch of Darius’ telepathy. What he wouldn’t give now to be reading Tessa’s mind, to know she was safe at home and all his worry was for naught.
“Yo?”
“Cadmus,” Marcus growled, “is Tessa there?”
“No, why?”
“Because I’m standing in her office and she’s not here. She’s not anywhere in Tomanna, and I’ve got a really bad feeling.”
“Hold on.” Cadmus bellowed for Aerolus, and suddenly his brother appeared in the office.
“When did you last see her?” Aerolus asked calmly, while every nerve in Marcus’ body pulsed, adrenaline surging through his blood on wings of fear.
“I saw her at noon today, but according to her boss she’s been gone since four.”
“Two hours.” Aerolus pondered that while Cadmus swore over the phone in several different languages.
“Cadmus?” Marcus asked. “What’s wrong?”
“A vision,” he rasped, “just whacked me upside the head. It’s the Djinn, Marcus, he’s got her. And he’s not alone.”
Chapter Thirteen
Tessa wanted to throw up, the presence of evil around her was so strong. But she held onto a nerve of steel, knowing Marcus would sooner die than show ‘Sin Garu a hint of fear. If the River Prince could do it, then by God his affai could be as brave. And the hot-tempered redhead inside her refused to back down.
Besides, looking bored drove Michael Davis crazy. The stupid, egocentric Djinn. Staring at him as he glared at her, she superimposed this face, the pretty one, over the ugly, narcissistic, gnome-like mask she’d traded insults with for the past six months.
“You have no idea how much I itched wearing that short, ugly little costume of a man,” Davis said, his voice no longer nasal, but deep and commanding. He shot her an assessing leer.
Well, not everything about him had changed.
“Were it not for my lord ‘Sin Garu, I’d have fucked you ten ways from tomorrow and made you bleed, and bleed some more.” He chuckled, his words all the more disgusting coming from such a handsome mouth. She should have known better, but Tessa had a hard time putting his gorgeous looks together with such an obscene personality.
And speaking of obscene…she turned to note the notorious ‘Sin Garu staring at her unblinkingly from just a few feet away.
They occupied a cramped living room belonging to Davis, the inhuman Djinn capable of becoming anyone. She’d almost lost her last meal, that pitiful candy bar Jonas had given her earlier, when he changed into the old Davis right before her eyes in the car.
His skin had melted like wax, his bones crunching and breaking as if in the maw of a monster, and he’d reformed slowly and with a large amount of mess, as evidenced by the blood-soaked car seat. Uncaring in the slightest, once changed he’d escorted both her and the sorcerer to his mangy apartment in Freemont. Once inside, he’d changed back, bloodily, making her want to cringe.
“Why not let me taste the prize, my lord?” Davis asked ‘Sin Garu with surprising deference. “I promise to leave few scars, just enough to ensure her worthiness to the great and future king of Tanselm.”
She snorted, unable to resist. “Why don’t you just kiss his ass already and get it over with?”
Death surely stared at her through Michael Davis’ eyes, but his extreme irritation did a small part to soothe that piece of her needing to hurt him in any way possible. She’d disliked Davis from day one, and now she knew why.
‘Sin Garu laughed at Davis’ boiling rage. “Well, Michael, I’ll agree she’s a pleasure to look at, even for an awkward xiantope. Oh, I’m sorry, Tessa, how rude. Xiantope is what we call those of you from the primitive, non-magic worlds.”
He nodded at Davis. “She has a knack for reading people, ferreting their strengths and weaknesses. She had you pegged from the beginning.” The sorcerer smiled, showing too many teeth. “Well, she didn’t know what you were, but she knew enough of you to be wary, didn’t she?”
Davis clenched his jaw tight and took another step towards Tessa.
“She bothers you, doesn’t she?” ‘Sin Garu baited, but Davis only shrugged. “Oh, what the hell. You’ve earned it, and I daresay I’ll enjoy watching the two of you. Such unfettered beauty,” he muttered, his eyes dark with what Tessa could only describe as hunger.
The fear she’d successfully been suppressing bubbled to the surface when she read the sheer pleasure on Davis’ face.
“Strip, melea,” he sneered.
“Melea means whore,” ‘Sin Garu translated.
“Thanks for being so helpful,” she snapped, using every bit of anger in her to overcome the fear making her knees shake. Though she’d been obnoxious to both of them since they’d spirited her out of the lobby doors, neither had lifted a hand to touch or harm her, yet.
“If you wanted me to strip you, melea, all you had to do was ask,” Davis said and drew closer, his intent to hurt her plain on his face.
“Get back, you freak. I’ll do it.” She glared at him and slowly removed her hair pins. Stall, stall. Marcus, where the hell are you?
“Ah, such fire, such magnificent tresses,” ‘Sin Garu said with a sigh. “I like it better down.”
“Yeah.” Davis sneered. “That way when you’re on your knees sucking me off, I can manage your head with those sleek
red reins.”
Apparently, his crudity excited the sorcerer, for a brilliant lust flared in ‘Sin Garu’s eyes, and the bulge between his thighs became prominently visible.
Great, Tessa thought, terrified and trying to hold it back. Rape by two evil creatures was certainly worse than by one. How the hell am I going to get out of this?
She didn’t have long to wait on her answer. The minute Davis lunged at her, the moment his hand touched her flesh, a film of water rushed from her shoulder to cover his hand and every pore of his body. He coughed and gagged, struggling to breathe as he fell to his knees. But the water would not relent. A thin sheet, it looked almost like a wrapping of cellophane in which Davis had become entangled, except that it moved and shimmered like an unearthly spa wrap.
She watched in horror as Davis choked to death on water that appeared from out of nowhere. Instinctively, she knew she had Marcus to thank for the show.
“Very impressive.” ‘Sin Garu nodded, pleased. “I hadn’t expected such dramatic fanfare, a simple protection spell would have sufficed. But Marcus outdid himself.”
Tessa stared at him, still coming to grips with the now-dead Djinn on the floor. Davis lay staring wide-eyed at the ceiling, his mouth bubbling into the thin film that had suffocated him to death.
“You knew something like this would happen?” She turned to ‘Sin Garu.
He shrugged. “Why not? I would have done the same in Marcus’ place. Apparently he’s claimed you.” He stared at her, his eyes seeming to glow for a brief moment. “And you’ve accepted him. Tsk, tsk. I’m disappointed in you, Tessa. I didn’t expect you to be so easy.”
She flushed and he grinned, a dark smile that sent shudders down her spine. He looked hungry, and despite his monstrous fangs and clear intent to hurt and no doubt kill her, his power was incredibly seductive. She shivered. How she could find anyone as horrible as ‘Sin Garu appealing was beyond her comprehension, and the longer she stared, the wider he smiled, as if he understood her dilemma.
“Have no worries, Tessa,” he said gently and stood, stretching out his long limbs. “I won’t hurt you, much.” He approached until he stood a hair’s breadth from her. Reaching out a long, pointed finger, he ran the nail parallel to her cheek, close but not touching.
He seemed pleased when she clenched her jaw and refused to glance away. “I’m really going to enjoy you, Tessa.” He sounded surprised. “But we have much to do before we can succumb to pleasure. First I need to see what you and the Storm Lords are really made of.”
Striving to overcome her fear, she focused her nervous energy on ‘Sin Garu, imagining shoving him hard against the wall and away from the door. She could feel energy pulsing around her, a conscious effort to use the telekinesis that dwelled within Marcus, but to her disappointment nothing happened.
‘Sin Garu, however, looked entirely too pleased. “Excellent. You’ve harnessed outside psychic abilities, just as I had suspected. But I wonder just how much elemental power you’ve absorbed from the Storm Lords.” He reached forward until his palm was a whisper away from touching her cheek, then stopped. “But not here. There’s not enough room.” He shook his head. His expression turned crafty and he pointed at the door. “Run, Tessa. Just to make it interesting, let’s see how fast and far you can go before I find you.”
She wasn’t about to waste the opportunity. Without a backward glance, she threw open the front door and vaulted out into…nothingness.
* * * *
Marcus flashed back to the house with Aerolus, his heart beating so strenuously he prayed he’d live long enough to save Tessa from ‘Sin Garu.
“I really hate teleporting.” He glared at Aerolus, knowing he had no right to snap at his brother, but his anger kept him just this side of sane. “Cadmus,” he roared.
“I’m right here.” Cadmus appeared in the foyer sounding as annoyed and discomfited as Marcus felt. “Quit shouting, you’re only adding to my headache.”
“Cadmus,” Aerolus warned, apparently seeing what Cadmus was too dense to realise.
Striving hard to keep himself in control of his emotions lest he flood and destroy everything in his sight, Marcus stared directly into his brother’s brown eyes. “Where. Is. She?” he asked in measured tones.
Cadmus’ eyes widened. “Damn it, cut it out, you’re seriously spooking me.”
Everything around Marcus looked hazy, and eerily, distortingly blue. It was as if the world in which he stood existed, but was buffered by a wall of murky, pulsing water, a liquid world of life and death. He focused his will and his vision cleared, though he still felt as if he stood in water.
“Take me to her, brother,” he commanded Aerolus, conscious his voice sounded off, muffled.
“Control it, Marcus, until you know when to release it,” Aerolus said quietly. “You’re more powerful now than you’ve ever been, and you’re going to need it. Unfortunately, we can’t summon Arim or Darius. Don’t ask questions, there’s no time. I’ll explain it all later, after we’ve rescued Tessa. Both of you, take my hands.” Marcus and Cadmus grabbed him. “Whatever you do, Cadmus, let Marcus lead today.”
“No problem.” Cadmus stared at Marcus with both pride and awe. “Now that waterboy’s back in control, with any luck, he’ll kill the sorcerer and you and I can go home without any affai. Ow.” He glared at their joined hands, then at Aerolus. “What the hell was that for?”
“Focus on the now, Cadmus. Tessa’s life is in danger.”
Cadmus grimaced. “We all know that, Aerolus. But thanks again for pointing that out. Don’t worry, Marcus,” he said seriously. “One way or the other, your affai will leave in one piece with you.”
Marcus nodded, aware Cadmus meant it—that he would sacrifice himself, if need be, to save Tessa and Marcus. “As long as Tessa is safe, that’s all that matters.” His eyes glinted as he stared at his siblings, the men he loved with an intensity that could never be described by mere words. “Be careful, and if I tell you to step back and let me handle the sorcerer, do it.”
Expecting Cadmus to argue, he was surprised when his brother merely nodded. “Well,” Marcus said with a deep breath, his voice sure even if a small part of him teetered on uncertainty, “let’s go.”
* * * *
Would the pain never stop? Tessa clutched her aching head and glared at ‘Sin Garu, who looked none too pleased with her either.
“If you don’t engage the next one before it reaches that line, I’ll let it and its brethren have you. Really, Tessa, these sentiments of morality are aggravating in the extreme.” He pointed at her and murmured something, and Tessa’s skull felt as it would split in two. “Do as I command, unless you’d rather we retire early?” His expression turned thoughtful as he studied her body from top to bottom, his eyes coming to rest on her breasts.
Stifling an instinctive shudder, she said through clenched teeth, “Fine, I’ll do it. But you’d better pray I never get loose. The minute you turn your back you’re a dead man.”
As soon as the words left her mouth she knew her angry bravado had been a mistake. The sorcerer laughed, the first sincere chuckle she’d heard while in his presence. Then he neared her and leaned close. His breath was both sweet and repulsive, as if it contained whispers of corruption amidst promises of unimaginable desire.
“I’m grateful for the warning, melea,” he said softly and grabbed a hunk of her hair, gripping it in one enormously strong hand. Unlike the Djinn, ‘Sin Garu encountered no repercussions from touching her since arriving in this place, wherever this was. She, however, felt burned with cold where his fingers touched her scalp. “When I’m burrowed deep inside that delectable body, then we’ll see how much you really care.” He yanked her neck to the side and licked her just under her ear, making her whimper at the soul-numbing pain.
“What’s wrong, melea? Don’t you like my touch?” His grip on her hair tightened for a moment before he pushed her away. “Now meet the wraith and draw on its energies unless you want a tru
e taste of my desire.”
Shivering in the gloomy, rock-walled chamber, she nodded just to get him away from her. Seeing her compliance, he stepped back and resumed his seat in a massive red chair that reminded her uneasily of a throne. Sibilant whispers sounded from the dark while flashes of movement surrounded her. Save for the single torch directly over her head, floating there courtesy of ‘Sin Garu, the rest of the large room lay in shadows and darkness.
The sorcerer raised one brow, awaiting her interaction with the approaching monstrosity. Angry with herself for being such a wuss, she nevertheless had no desire to step anywhere near the sorcerer. She’d take her chances with the wraith. While she could stand ‘Sin Garu’s threats and even the migraine-like headaches his experiments and spells produced, touching him had been a like a window into her own version of hell.
The wraith approached, commanding her attention, its bald head unsteady on its papery-thin neck. It looked unnervingly like a skeleton with too many vertebrae. Like the others she’d been forced to encounter, this wraith also had yellow and black mottled skin, large white eyes without pupils or irises, and a mouth of sharp, black, shark-like teeth.
“I’m going to digest you for the next three days,” it hissed softly and began weaving in front of her, a riveting dance of intricate steps that transfixed her as it scuttled closer. Dangerously closer. Before it could do any damage, however, she drew on the memory of Marcus, the talisman she’d been warding thus far in her trip to Twilight Hell. To this point it had worked. The love she felt for him overwhelmed all other feeling, leaving her able to defend and defeat her attackers, with the exception of ‘Sin Garu.
Not wanting to dwell on his obvious threat and praying for Storm Lord intervention before the sorcerer turned his personal attention on her again, she focused on the ravenous wraith before her, opening herself to absorb its energy.