by Zoe Forward
There was a low chuckle of delight. “Ah, such a useful girl. Did a new woman enter the estate escorted by magi?”
“Yes, about an hour ago.”
“Has she done anything unusual?”
“I swear she attacked me without moving a muscle. My head felt as if it was going to explode, but then it all disappeared as suddenly as it happened. It was really weird, but I could have imagined it.”
“How interesting. She is the one that we need. Bring her here as soon as you can. I recommend you use the spray.”
“Of course, sir.”
“Terek.” Ashor cursed. He slammed his fist on the wall above the destroyed fax causing a dramatic spray of plaster dust.
Christian mumbled, “I knew there was something wrong with that woman. Externally attractive, but cold inside. Couldn’t even get a semi around her.” He looked around and caught Ethan’s eye roll. “Honestly, Eth, any woman that doesn’t get things moving, there’s something not right.”
Ethan shook his head. “You really didn’t mature beyond like, sixteen, did you? Next time I’m on the fence about a woman, I’ll ask you if she rates on the dick-meter. The real question is how she passed the security check needed for the housekeeping position and fooled all of us for three months?”
“Rick hired her. But didn’t you do her background screening, Scott?” Eric asked.
“Look, I’m not perfect. Her stuff checked out. They clearly did a good job on her background.”
If they hurt Kira, I’ll kill ’em all, Ashor thought. He’d rip their limbs off and leave them to bleed out slowly. He should have trusted his instincts regarding his unusual reaction to Marla.
Javen mumbled for Ashor’s ears only, “We’ve got to get her back. I swear I’m not losing another akhrian to that asshole. You did have that particular little talk about her new job?”
“Let’s just say she’s not exactly thrilled about the idea.” He turned to Scott and asked loudly, “Can you find Terek’s location?”
“Sure, I always keep tabs on him. You never know when that kind of info might be useful. However, it might be more useful to track Marla.”
“How?” asked Ethan.
“I put a transponder on her car a few weeks ago.” Scott looked extremely pleased with himself.
“Here’s Mr. Langford,” Michael announced from the doorway.
Ashor nodded to dismiss Michael.
Kane scanned the six of them and Scott. His gaze returned to Ashor. Probabilities were calculated and stats cataloged. Only a hardcore soldier threw that kind of eye fuck in a complete stranger’s direction. Ashor respected that.
“Where is Kira?” Kane demanded. His jaw unhinged and he pointed. “Nathaniel Hillard? But you were killed. I saw them shoot you at least twenty times. You were declared dead.”
“I just took a different job.” Nate smiled. “How’d you trace her here?”
“She’s wearing a GPS tracker and it’s still here. So, where is she?”
Ashor replied, “She’s been taken by Hashishins. When your brother brokered that amulet deal she became a person of interest to them.”
“Someone kidnapped her from you? What kind of operation are you running?”
“Ashor Vlahos.” He held out his hand to Kane who met him in the middle with a confident grip. “You’re right. This is unacceptable. But we will get her back.”
“You’ve got to be fucking with me. Hashishins? You playing on Kira’s fears?”
Ashor shook his head. “They’re real. Scott, show Kane the tape of Kira and Marla.”
“Whatever,” Kane mumbled while watching the scene with Kira on the surveillance video, Kane held up his hand. “Back up the recording…there. Stop. Zoom in on what she’s signaling.”
“What? No way,” said Nate.
“Always has to take matters into her own hands,” mumbled Kane.
“What does that little two-fingered sign over the chest mean?” asked Ashor.
“That’s a signal that I taught her. We developed signals in our Ranger unit that we could use in photography or surveillance cameras. I figured it would be useful with Markus dragging her all over the place. He can handle himself, but he’s a magnet for disaster. That particular signal indicates she knows what she’s doing. She’s telling us not to worry.”
“How can she possibly know what she’s doing? I’m sure Terek has some little surprises planned that she couldn’t possibly anticipate,” said Ashor.
“Please tell me you didn’t say Terek.” Kane pinched the bridge of his nose. “As in Terek Nadir?”
“Is there another?”
“She’s had an irrational fear of that guy since he murdered her mother. Actually, they couldn’t pin it on him, but Kira said he did it. I believe her even though the guy had an airtight alibi for the day of the murder. My brother said based on all recent reports Terek died two years ago or something.”
Several voices in the room echoed, “What?”
Ashor recovered first. “He isn’t dead. What do you mean he killed her mother?”
“I never got all the details. She’s really tight-lipped about it. When she was eighteen, she said something went missing on this cult compound near where she and her mother lived. Terek came calling. Somehow her mother ended up dead and Kira hospitalized. Official police report says some escaped prison inmates did it.”
Ashor’s imagination swamped him with images of Terek torturing her. All his fault. Somehow, he’d make this right.
Eric said low for his ears only, “Got it under control? We’ll get her back.”
Ashor ignored Eric. He said to no one in particular, “I’m going to get her.” All reflected their intent to join. He turned to Javen. “You in?”
An eager, deadly glint entered Javen’s eyes as he replied in his crisp British accent, “I’ve got your six.”
Nate said, “Let me go with you. I can work with Kane on recon.”
“No. Kane stays here and you with him. Make sure Kane doesn’t leave.”
Kane sputtered.
Nate replied grumpily, “I’m not a goddamned babysitter.”
That kind of disrespect didn’t fly. “You will stay here.” He glared all the rage he narrowly held in check. One little push and he’d go full crazy on them with his sights set on Nate first.
Nate backed up a few steps. “Yes, sir.”
“I’m going with you,” Kane declared.
Ashor glared his way. Kane sucked in a breath and backed up. “You’re not invited. The last thing I need is a human martyring himself on my watch.”
“I’ve had your back for sixty years and it doesn’t stop now,” Ethan said.
Ashor thought he and Javen could probably take care of this by themselves. “All right, but that means Christian better come. The two of you seem unable to work with anyone else. Eric, you and V got viper duty again tonight.”
****
Kiersted sped on I-95 to an exit ten miles south of Savannah. He exited onto a poorly kept state road that was its usual nightmare. He slammed the brakes until he had the car in tailgate position behind a school bus.
Terek shifted in the passenger seat, agitated by the delay. If he had a choice, he’d never travel the sloth speed of car or air. In daemon form he could will himself to a location and, poof, be there. But for the sake of appearances he remained in the human body he’d hijacked. He reflected on the highlights of the past twenty-four hours. The woman the senator contracted him to kill had proven amazingly resilient before passing into the afterworld. That had actually been enjoyable.
Kiersted cursed. “Why can’t kids that live within a hundred yards of each other consolidate into one stop?” He swerved to glance around the bus. “No oncoming.”
“Don’t pass,” Terek ordered.
“Yeah, I know. Avoid police.” With a sigh, he remained on the bus’s bumper.
Fifteen minutes later, they pulled into what to a passersby looked like an upscale, gated community with perfect landscaping
. The security guard waved them through the massive electronic gates into the compound. The Sanctum. Several three-story brick buildings sat in the middle of what used to be a pecan orchard. The gigantic trees had trunks almost as wide as half a car. Just up the road, the decadent living quarters sprawled.
As they parked near the offices, Theo emerged from the side door of the main building, walking briskly with a cell to his ear. He ended the call the moment he noticed them.
Terek asked, “Where is she? She awake?”
“Marla just got here. The girl is in her car. Still out as far as we know.” He pointed to Marla’s sedan.
Marla exited the driver’s seat and sauntered to the back of the car. She clicked the key fob to pop the trunk. She and Theo stared at the unconscious woman in silence for a few seconds.
Terek glanced at Kira Hardy. He could break the girl in half with one hand. Someone granted such importance to the magi should be more remarkable.
He ordered, “Marla, go inside and send a Dais to relocate her.” Terek’s gaze narrowed when Marla ran her hand over Theo’s forearm before departing. He thought they’d ended their illicit affair. None but Fedavis were allowed consort with the harem. Theo might excel at creative murder, but he’d barely attained Refik, given his remedial skill at spell casting.
After a long, silent minute when no one emerged from the building, Terek glowered at Kiersted who rushed out, “Let me go see what’s taking so long. I also need to call the senator to report success. Oh, and don’t forget, sir, you’ve got a consult in Savannah this afternoon.”
“What kind of consult?”
“The sheriff has a crush on this woman and—”
“We are not a matchmaking agency that does love potions.”
“This one seemed important. We haven’t put in good PR with them in about six months.”
“Send one of the Fedavis.”
“They all suck at schmoozing. Great at scaring the bejesus out of people, though. Sheriff Miller wants to meet you. Newly elected and all that.”
Terek shot an icy glare at Kiersted, enjoying the fear he emitted. He detested minutiae. “Fine, but no more. Do not offer my services in the future. Ever. Send someone else.”
Kiersted nodded, but avoided eye contact before scooting toward the building. What a wuss. At least he didn’t pretend he could excel in the Order. The guy seemed content as his exec assistant.
In less than a minute, two guys emerged. Neither looked old enough to legally drink. One started an irritating, repetitive shoulder shrug. As they got close, the shoulder shrugger tripped. The other kid bumped into him, knocking the first guy to his knees.
Why was anyone surprised that he’d lost patience during Dais training the other day, incinerating one kid into a fried mess?
“Theo, go supervise these two. No funny business. Just put her in a basement room. Then come to my office and we will discuss my plans for her.”
Chapter Twenty
Consciousness hit Kira like a gut punch. Snakes slithered around her and over her. But not just the normal black and triangular-headed monsters. Quadruple-headed serpents spit venom that burned holes in her skin. One struck her with its mutant heads, landing two sets of fangs onto her left calf. She screamed at the stinging pain that burned up her leg. Each time the snake wriggled its muscular length, razor sharp pulsations tore through her leg. Its third and fourth head were striking at random, trying to find purchase. One grazed her elbow. The skin where the two had successfully latched turned quickly from purple to black
It’s not real. Think of something positive.
Ashor. She visualized his massive upper arms, their strength. All the swirling vipers disappeared. But now the evil energy needed a new focus. She commanded it to reveal the identity of her attackers.
A surge of information on Marla piled into her head. Real name: Marelena Bromley. Daughter of the Order of Assassins top-ranking concubine as a result of her mother’s union during the ritualistic intercourse of the Gnostica Testimonia in celebration of the winter solstice. A vision of Marelena’s father, Terek Nadir, performing with her mother on an elevated red-cloaked stone table appeared, both enraptured by the moment. The vision shifted to that of a laughing Terek slitting the throat of Marelena’s mother during a summoning ceremony.
Another shift in time showed Marelena had ascended to her mother’s position as the bas kadin or highest ranking female, participating in this ritualistic sex with Terek. Her eagerness glowed on her face. Yet, she knew nothing of her paternity. Terek’s facial expression during their first ritualistic intercourse indicated he was only too aware of her patrilineal heritage. Thereafter, he appeared bored and uninterested as he completed the ritual.
Then silence.
The poison…gone. Kira’s stomach revolted. She swallowed several times and breathed shallowly.
A quick glance around revealed no furniture. And certainly no loo.
Do not vomit. The nausea soon faded.
All that practice with her father worked. Thanks, Dad.
The images of Marelena had been disgusting, but not surprising.
The one unusual change was Terek’s eye color. Early with Marelena’s mother, their dark blue had been fevered with zealotry. Later they were pale greenish-blue with no religious fervor. The lighter colored eyes had gone pure black…the black of a daemon. A chill slithered down her spine.
Symbolic or real? Perhaps, Ashor could make sense of the inconsistency. Could she transmit non-dream images telepathically? She focused on Ashor.
Marla poisoned me. I don’t know where I am. She’s a Hashishin. Terek is still alive. I found out he’s somehow changed over time and it’s in his eyes. Can you see them?
Kira focused on Terek’s new eye color and then its change to black.
She massaged her ears feeling the small bumps where they had reacted to the non-hypoallergenic earrings Kane had chosen. Now that they were gone, he couldn’t track her. Ashor would come, she reminded herself. She didn’t doubt it. Hopefully, he would speed up his appearance.
The concrete floor was cold and stank of moldy storage, but she didn’t care—too tired.
****
Ashor sharply sucked air.
“What?” Javen asked from the SUV’s passenger seat.
Ashor swerved the car to a stop on the shoulder.
He focused on Kira’s voice and an indistinct image.
“Shit.” Ashor cursed the minute the soulless black daemon eyes registered in his mind. He recognized the pale aqua irises before they gave away their daemonic nature. How was it possible that it could exist in this world without going into a daemon murder rampage? How could he not detect its presence? Not good.
“What’s wrong? Why are we stopped?” asked Ethan.
Ashor massaged his forehead for a moment before he replied. “Kira has somehow found out Terek is possessed by a daemon. I think it’s Djoser.”
Ethan choked on his sports drink. He coughed hard after the mis-swallow before finally choking out, “Someone brought back that psycho again? We sent that thing back to its realm like fifty years ago.”
“Damn, that was funny, Ethan. It came out your nose,” Christian laughed.
Ethan swatted at Christian for the idiocy of the comment, but did break a small smile.
“Does anyone remember the color of his eyes before they go daemon black?” Ashor asked.
“I got a good up-close-and-personal before the asshole sliced the shit out of me.” Javen involuntarily ran a hand around his neck tattoo. “They were a pale greenish blue. Pale and pure evil.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s him. But I can’t detect him within the world, which means he knows how to mask himself.”
“What’s so special about this daemon?” asked Christian.
Javen replied, “Happened before you got recruited. Took us two separate attempts to send Djoser back to his realm. In the process, he killed two of us. The goddess revealed little about him other than he’s an ex-pharaoh.
Second or Third dynasty, I can’t remember. Apparently, he was the grand master of dark magik in his time.”
“Two?” Christian gasped.
Ashor said, “Third dynasty. Big ego. Built the first pyramid for himself. As an ex-pharaoh, he’s got one hell of an entitlement complex. His understanding of the gods and magik is way beyond any of us.”
“I’m not looking forward to seeing that thing again,” Ethan mumbled.
Javen mused, “I wonder what the demented bastard is up to. It’s not his MO to lie low. How many years do you think he’s been here? ”
Ashor shrugged. “He’s after the amulet.”
“What does he think he can do with it? No one but the healer can activate it,” Javen said.
“Don’t know. But I guarantee it won’t be good for us. And very bad for Kira, if he knows what she is. After that shit with Eric, he’s probably clued in. Our priority is to get her back.”
****
The jaw-clenching scrape of the door’s drag against the concrete floor echoed through Kira’s prison room.
Markus.
Bruises and cuts covered his swollen face. Hair projected wildly at odd angles as if he had slept on it when wet. His shirt had a wrinkled, long-worn look.
Markus turned his head both ways as if to ascertain if he’d been noticed. In stage-drama volume, he whispered, “Psst. Kira, you in there?”
“What’s your plan if this wasn’t me and some fruitcake attacked you?” she asked, suppressing laughter at his antics. “How did you find me?”
“I followed the idiots that tried to kill me in New York, thinking it would lead to you. And my hunch was right.” He smiled, no doubt assuming once again he was about to get her out of a tight spot.
Relieved to see him, Kira rushed over and hugged him. He was such an annoyance at times, but she loved him. She let go and punched his arm hard.
“That’s for getting me abducted.” She punched him again, this time in the chest. “That’s for getting me tortured.” She held up her bandaged forearm as proof. Childish, she knew.
“What’d they do?”
“Oh, the standard poison and knife thing.”
“What? They didn’t do that to me. They beat the crap out of me and dumped me in the river when I pretended to pass out.”