The Book of Elements

by Cynthia Woods

  "And that’s not all. I thought it was very odd that the kidnapping suspect apprehended at Caeli’s house was processed so quickly and then immediately transferred. That never happens. Whoever the Chief is working for must have made arrangements for the guy's escape during transit. And, the van that they used was missing from the impound lot. I know it was there. I saw it brought in, but there was no record of it the next day when I went to have a look at it. All this time, Sam has been sabotaging my every move. No wonder everything keeps falling apart."

  "What are you going to do?"

  "I’m going to confront him tomorrow. When Caldwell gets here to look after you, I’ll head back to town. Sam is now the best lead we’ve got. If I can get him to give me the name of the person he’s working for, then we can trace that backward and, hopefully, locate Caeli’s abductor. With a bit of luck, we'll find Caeli." His eagerness to deal with the dirty cop was evident, though Ben settled back onto the couch anyway. Salma yawned, and he smiled.

  "I guess talking to you was good for me after all. Look how much more we know now." Ben grinned in an effort to put Salma at ease. She was asleep shortly thereafter and her head slumped gently onto his shoulder. Ben adjusted his jacket so that it covered her better and rested his arm around her shoulders to comfort her as she slept. He kept casual watch for a few more hours before drifting off to sleep himself, his service revolver in his hand.

  CHAPTER 24

  "Oh great!" Caeli mumbled to herself as she woke.

  "This is really beginning to get annoying."

  She noted her surroundings as her senses began to return. Caeli discovered that she was restrained, wrists and ankles bound so tightly with layers of duct tape that she could barely move her hands or feet. The angle at which her arms were pulled behind her back was causing a tingling sensation in her fingers. Thankfully, the plush material of the sofa on which she was seated allowed Caeli to shift her arms into a less impinging position. The rest of her body ached. She remembered vividly the source of that pain, but at least her head was clear this time. Caeli had narrowly avoided the dart that would have drugged her a second time.

  Caeli looked around the well lit room. She assumed by the appearance of the furniture that she was in someone’s home, the living room to be exact. There were six pointed archways, four of which were actual openings. The other two were solid walls at the front and back of the room. Caeli happened to be facing one of the open arches adorned with a downward pointing triangle engraved on the wood of its peak, reminding her of an elevator button. The oddness of the layout suggested that the room must literally be the center of the house.

  There was no one else in the room with her, at least, not that she could see. Caeli could hear faint noises from a room beyond the arch to her right, but could not tell what produced them. It was not likely that she had been left alone. It was safe to assume that the noises were made by another person, presumably her captor.

  "At least Captain Erickson got a piece of Kent." Caeli said to no one in particular. She looked around for a way that she might be able to break free of her bindings, but didn’t see anything nearby that could help her. She would not get far if she tried to escape while still trussed up. Caeli needed to come up with a plan before Kent returned.

  Even as the thought crossed her mind, a man entered from the other room, limping slightly and favoring his right side. He moved to stand directly in front of Caeli. Kent looked down at her, a mix of emotions playing in sequence across his face. Caeli’s ire rose when she looked up at the man who had called himself Vin's friend.

  "So it's true then. I did not want to believe it when they told me some lame insurance salesman was responsible for my recent misfortunes. Quite frankly, Kent, I never thought you capable of planning such schemes. By the failure of those stupid thugs you hired on your first attempt, I can see that I was right; Very poorly done." The words were meant to provoke a reaction, perhaps get him riled up enough that he might let slip a detail or two about what was supposed to happen next. Caeli was counting on the fact that people tended to speak more truthfully in the heat of the moment than they would if they had time to think through their responses. This was another skill that Vin had taught her, and she hoped it would serve her well now.

  Smack! Caeli tasted blood as a cut opened at the side of her lip, and her cheek began to throb after the hard slap across her face knocked her head to the side. Kent laughed derisively and slapped her again, sending her head lolling in the other direction. Caeli refused to cry out. She would not give him the satisfaction. Instead, she persisted in her attempt to get him fired up, though she was afraid of what she may have to endure to accomplish it.

  "Is that the best you can do?" Caeli asked as she spit blood onto his pant leg.

  "Can’t you do any better than hitting a girl while she’s tied up and unable to defend herself? By the way," she raised her head to look directly at him, "how’s the knee? Do you think that limp will be permanent?" She tried to prepare herself for the blow she knew was coming, but the strength of Kent's backhand still momentarily took her breath away, and his three-pointed ring opened a new gash across her cheek.

  "Now Caeli, don’t be like that. It doesn’t become you," Kent scoffed.

  "I hoped we might talk civilly before we had to get to the unpleasantness. I’m sure you would like to know why all of this is happening, wouldn’t you?" Kent uttered the over-rehearsed words and reached out to caress her bleeding cheek. He tried to wipe the trickle of blood from her lip, but Caeli moved herself out of his reach.

  "How cliché! Another nobody-turned-bad-guy feels the need to wag his tongue and offer justification for his crimes. I’d rather you just hit me again than be bored by your sad sob story." Again, Caeli anticipated that her demeaning words would incite him, and she was not disappointed.

  This time his arm shot out and he clutched her throat, squeezing until Caeli was certain that his fingernails digging into her soft skin would draw blood. The pain brought tears to her eyes as he raised her up off the couch. She did not let him see how much he was hurting her. In a few moments, it was difficult for Caeli to breathe.

  "If you are not going to say anything nice, then I suggest you not say anything further." Kent held her a moment longer before releasing her to fall back onto the couch, gasping to draw air into her lungs.

  Caeli lay there only long enough to catch her breath before working herself into an upright position once again. She looked up to see the anger which flared in his eyes, and she was certain that he had now let down the guard he'd rehearsed. Now she would listen. Now Kent would explain without all the superficial pretense and justifications.

  "Why do you look so smug? Do you think you’ve been given a reprieve? No, oh no. Your troubles are only just getting started, and you have your late husband to thank for that. That’s right. If he had not been so damned noble, it would have been you that died instead of him. It would have pained me to lose you, but since I couldn’t have you while Vin lived anyway, it suited me that nobody else should have you either."

  Caeli could not hide her shock as she processed his claim.

  "Ah, I can see by your reaction that you were not expecting that. Yes. Yes is the answer to your next question. We caused that crash, but it was you we intended to kill. We very much wanted Vin alive. He possessed a rare and special skill, one that we hoped to trigger with your death. Then we could have used him and his need to avenge you to further our own plans. Unfortunately for both of you, Vin stubbornly decided to switch places with you."

  Caeli was surprised by the admission of Kent’s and some unnamed accomplice's involvement in their car accident. She could not quite understand that scenario, but she didn’t need to, not yet. Caeli already knew that Vin saved her that night in the woods, and he would not hesitate to do it again given the same choice. But what skills did Vin have that were so unique? How would her death trigger his ability? Perhaps it related to the little magic show that Kent displayed earlier with the ligh
tning bolts. Caeli suspected that the felled tree blocking the road was his doing as well. Maybe the trauma of her death would cause some sort of mental upset that would initiate a similar ability for Vin. She had heard of such phenomena, but had no idea how to draw any conclusions at this point. She needed Kent to keep talking and provide her with more details.

  She replied in a voice made hoarse by Kent’s painful grip on her throat.

  "See? I was right. I knew you couldn’t do this alone. You had to have help. You are pathetic, Kent!"

  This time he sent a jolt of electricity through her body. The pain was intense, yet mercifully brief.

  "You are lucky that we need you alive. I wasn’t sure if my fondness for you would get in the way of what I need to do, but I find that I am beginning to enjoy seeing the pain I inflict reflected in your eyes. Perhaps I mistook my feelings all along," Kent rattled on, diverging from the main purpose once again. Caeli needed to get him back on track. She did not believe that she could endure much more of this and wanted to bring it to an end as quickly as possible.

  "And what does an impotent, Houdini wanna-be need from me? What is it that you think I am going to tell you?" Caeli held her breath as this time the energy coursing through her lifted her and slammed her into the far wall, where she slid down and crumpled on the floor. As she fell, her bound arms hit the edge of a table, jarring it with enough force to send its contents crashing to the floor. This included a glass bowl, full of scented black beads, which shattered as it landed. Caeli managed to grab one of the glass shards and conceal it within the tape at her wrists just before Kent marched over to physically extract her from the wreckage.

  "Are you deliberately trying to provoke me? Do you think I will simply kill you and spare you the suffering? Well, you need not bother. Your pain will be exquisite, but I won’t let you die. You are too important now. Although, by the time I’m through with you, you will likely beg me to kill you. I think I will enjoy hearing you beg." Kent roughly deposited her once more on the sofa. Caeli tried to stop her head from spinning and assess the extent of her injuries. She quickly determined that there was no serious damage. She could risk one additional offense.

  "I don’t believe you. If you wanted to torture me, you would not be talking to me. And since you didn’t tell me what it is that you want, then you must be afraid that I will cooperate; perhaps with your partner, who will then prevent you from dallying any longer with me."

  His response was only a sardonic smile.

  "Caeli, all we need to know is whether or not Vin has contacted you since his death."

  "What?!" Caeli was genuinely shocked by the question, but not by the possibility. Thankfully, it still produced the reaction she wanted Kent to see.

  "I’m pretty sure it was Vin who kept my men from reaching you a few nights ago. Nonetheless, I need to be certain. No, don’t answer with your lies. I know you will never give up that information willingly. You would never betray your dear husband, even after his death. So, we shall have to force Vin to reveal himself."

  Kent walked out of the room before she could respond, and Caeli kept her head averted in hopes that he would not be able to read the answer in her reaction. How could he know any of that? Kent did not know for certain, but he was aware of the possibility that she had talked to Vin's spirit. He even seemed to believe that it was highly likely.

  If she was not imagining it, then Vin really did reach out to her and somehow saved her from those thugs, too. If that was true, then they could still manipulate him; force Vin to do their bidding by using her as bait. What could they want from a dead man? Caeli had no idea, but the implications were foreboding.

  Kent returned a few minutes later carrying a small tray. It contained a clear glass full of water, a bowl of white granules that looked like salt, and a wet rag. He clutched her chin and forced her to tolerate his wiping away the blood from her face. The cool water on the rag felt like a soothing balm. Next, Kent held the water glass to her lips and forced her to drink. To her surprise, she found the water cool and refreshing and drank nearly half of it before she considered that it might be laced with another drug. Kent seemed to have a fondness for chemical tactics. He also seemed to follow her train of thought.

  "Don’t worry. There is no longer any need to drug you. Numbness or unconsciousness would be counterproductive at this point."

  He pulled out a knife from a small sheath attached to his belt and sat it on the tray. Kent grabbed her left arm and pushed the sleeve of her sweatshirt up as far as it would go, exposing the tender flesh of the arm beneath. He picked up the knife again and began to draw the blade very slowly in a line across the top of her bicep, while she ground her teeth to bear the pain.

  "You don’t have to keep silent on my account. The sooner Vin hears you scream, the sooner he can come to your rescue. Then he will be ours."

  As soon as Kent finished cutting a two inch line across her arm, he took a few pinches of salt and rubbed them into the open wound. Caeli could not stifle the wail of agony that escaped her throat.

  CHAPTER 25

  Vin yanked himself to the scene of the ambush. So quick and with such determination did he travel, that Vin inadvertently carried Tabbris and Urim along with him.

  "I am truly sorry that I could not help her further, and I could not follow them." Urim had shifted the dart so that it would miss Caeli, but he was not able to divert the elemental attack which Kent used against her.

  Urim’s words fell on deaf ears as Vin stalked the entire site, replaying the scene as he was told it had unfolded. He did not notice that Tabbris and Urim left him when another figure arrived. The newcomer stepped close and placed his hand lightly on Vin’s shoulder. Vin knew the now familiar, calming touch.

  "Are you here to stop me, Raph?"

  "No, Eyvindr. You must decide your own actions. I am here to tell you that, this time, we will not be able to help you. Even now, Michael calls us to battle. The time has come for us to make our stand. The enemy is making his final push."

  "I understand. When I find Kent, I will not want your help. This is a personal matter," Vin growled as his barely contained anger boiled beneath the surface.

  "I would remind you that what you plan will deliver you straight into your opponent’s snare. You will become known to him, and you will be vulnerable to malicious manipulations."

  "Not for long. I will free my wife, and I will put an end to the one who threatens her," Vin assured Raphael.

  "Then your mind is made up, and there is naught else that I can do for you. Remember your lessons with Tabbris, they can serve you well."

  With that, Raphael faded away, and Vin stood alone on the wooded lane. He knew every detail of what happened, but he could not track Caeli any further than where she fell and, with Kent, disappeared. Vin could neither talk to her nor sense her any further than that spot. Frustrated and impatient, he walked the scene from end to end several times trying to find a way to locate her. Vin felt certain there must be a way.

  "Hello again, my friend."

  Vin stopped where he stood near the fallen tree and turned to face Javeed. Javeed's presence, though not in person, could be felt nearby on the road.

  "Javeed, what are you doing here?" Vin resumed his search.

  "You will not be able to find her like this. The man who took her used an elemental form of transportation. He knew how to cover his tracks. Listen to me, my friend. I know another way." Vin stopped again. Javeed now had his undivided attention.

  "How? Please, I need to find her," Vin beseeched.

  "My great granddaughter has a gift, an ability that can help you. It is a skill that she innately draws upon during the course of her daily work. She helps people who are sick or injured. Though she is aware of her gift, she does not often call it forth for any other purpose. Because it is seldom exercised, it requires a lot of her stamina to use it in such a way. But, her ability is true. She will be able to locate your wife. I offer you her assistance because I know that she
will be glad to offer it herself."

  "If it is possible, then yes, let's go." Vin was not hesitant to accept the offer, only about the likelihood of this woman refusing to help him. He did not let that deter him. Vin would do whatever was necessary to rescue Caeli.

  "I cannot go with you. I have been charged with another duty which I must attend. However, I can show you."

  "Ok then, who is this relative of yours, and how do I find her?"

  "I will show you her image, and you should be able to track her from this very spot." Javeed ran his hand in front of Vin’s eyes, and he saw a woman’s face. It was a woman he recognized at once, someone he had known for many years.

  "Salma? Salma is your great granddaughter?"

  "Yes. That is why I sought you out. My blood runs strong in her. She discovered her talents of insight, empathy, and other psychic abilities when she was a very young child. It has been a part of her life for as long as she can recall. Salma sensed a touch of her own destiny when she first met you and Caeli, and knew that your journeys would be interlaced. She befriended Caeli, a true friendship. Salma has been waiting for the moment when her purpose would come to light.

  She has already been aiding your wife as well as any one person can. Salma did not hesitate to become involved, and that is what I feared most for her. That is why I wanted my tale to discourage you. It was more than concern for the hurt it might cause you and your wife, though that was genuine. I selfishly wanted to spare Salma this trouble. I even tried to tell her, to warn her against her friendship, but she would not heed my words. I am ashamed to say that I tried to place my desire for Salma's safety ahead of her own choices. It seems, in this, her heart is more generous than my own."

  "Do not apologize for wanting to protect your family. I know I would want to do the same. Thank you for sharing this with me, Javeed. I will see to it that Salma remains safe as long as it is within my power to do so."