by Dora Blume
“Um, Rachel can do fear projection. It’s freaky. She just blasted me with it when I tried to listen in on her thoughts. She let me know what she thought of the intrusion. I think I’ll stop. We have a pretty good idea of how we should split up. Magnus and Caroline are going to be the ones making the decisions, anyway.” He shook his head to clear it. The image Rachel sent him sent shivers down his spine. He drew in a few deep breaths. Jessie cupped his cheek in her hand.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“Yeah, just remind me not to piss her off. She’s got some serious talent. She sent me an image of my worst fear. It looked so real. It felt real. It was only there for a split second, but it was long enough.” Erik shook again. He didn’t want to see that ever again. He’d seen Jessie lying dead, blood soaking the floor. He didn’t want to think about her being hurt, especially after the last fight. He gripped her hand in his. “Promise me; you’ll be careful.” He whispered to Jessie, half-frantic.
“Of course, I’ll be careful.” She narrowed his eyes at him. “Who is she? I’ll gut her if she hurt you.” She said the words with such force, Erik believed that she would. His mouth turned up in a slight smile. He forgot she was just as protective of him. He brushed a strand of hair from her face.
“It’s fine. It was just a warning. Trust me; I won’t do it again. Come on, let’s join the others. I’m ready to get this party started.” He reached for the handle of the door. Jessie pulled his arm toward her, and he turned to look at her. She leaned over and kissed him fiercely. He gasped when her mouth touched his. He met her fierceness with a desire all his own, and when she backed away from his mouth, they were breathless.
Erik and Jessie walked up to Magnus and Caroline, hands clasped. “Is everything set?” Erik asked.
“Yes, here are your coms. We will be communicating with each other through earpieces. Jessie, you will be with team red. We’re going into the offices, first. Our target is Mr. Hall and Nicole. Erik, you’re with Team Blue. You will focus on the West building. You are acting as the guide. You will listen to thoughts and direct the team to the existing demons in the building. You’ll have Rachel, Ely, Peyton, and Mya. Rachel can distract any demons as you go. She’s very effective. She’ll be your number two. You okay with that?” Caroline asked, almost as an afterthought.
“Sounds good. You’ll be with Jessie?” Erik asked.
“Yes, we’ll all be on the same frequency, so you’ll be able to hear what’s happening with our team,” Caroline explained. He knew she was trying to reassure him since they would be separated in the fight.
He nodded, “Okay.”
Caroline turned to Jessie. “You’ll be with me, Sloane, Nick, and Mike. We’re focusing on the offices. You’ll be my second. I will listen for the demons, and you freeze. Our priority will be to get to Mr. Hall and my daughter.”
“Sounds good, what about the other two buildings?” Jessie nodded.
Magnus stepped forward. “I’ll be leading team green. I have copied your ability to freeze, so I’ll be following Bella with my team. Kim will be leading the fourth team into the North building. They will be driving in separate cars. We wanted a few groups to be outside the truck to guard our entry. Carlos is on point to meet us there. I believe we’re all set.” Magnus looked around the group who began to gather around the small group. “Is everyone set? Do you all know your teams and locations?” Magnus called out.
Many heads nodded or called out in agreement. “Alright, ear pieces in and let’s go.” Magnus walked to a Black Escalade. Erik watched in puzzlement.
“I thought he was heading up the green team? Are they taking separate vehicles?” Erik narrowed his eyes.
“I guess, Magnus said there were groups going separately.” She shrugged and walked to the loading dock with the others. Erik followed. He felt uncomfortable getting in the back of the trailer. He appreciated that benches had been lined up along the walls for them to sit for the drive to the school. There was something off-putting about not being in control. He sat next to Jessie and took her hand. He knew they could handle anything as long as they were together. Sloane and Mike sat in the seats across from them and had been oddly quiet during Magnus and Caroline’s explanation.
“Have you texted Chloe, yet?” He asked Sloane.
“No, I figured I’d wait until we were ready to go. I didn’t want to screw up any plans by informing them. I’m still weary of letting her know exactly what’s going on, but at the same time, I know we need her.” Sloane pulled her phone out from her pocket.
“Someday, you need to get over your trust issues.” Erik shook his head.
“What? I doubt I will ever get over my trust issues. By the way, did you see Bryant with Magnus? I thought they were coming together?” Sloane asked. She had begun typing a message into her phone. Mike was reading it next to her and smiling.
“No, come to think of it, I didn’t. Where would he have gone? He knows this is a big deal. We’re talking about kids and demons being able to possess Shikari. You’d think he’d be here.” Erik looked down the rows of people. Bryant was nowhere in sight.
Jessie squeezed Erik’s hand. “I’m sure he has a good reason for not being here.”
“Whatever, he’ll show up after all the fighting is over and declare a miraculous victory. He’ll make some grand gesture like it was all his doing, I’m sure.” Sloane rolled her eyes as she tucked her phone back in her pocket.
“When have you ever known our father to do that?” Erik asked.
“I don’t know, like every battle we’ve faced since I’ve come back.” She waved her hand in the air as she spoke.
Erik shook his head. “So, the one time, then. Besides, that’s not true he was with us in Minneapolis.”
“Ah, no, he was sneaking out the back door when all the fighting began. Then, he was there at the end of it all. I’m sure we’ll see him when everything is over.” She rolled her eyes again.
“There’s no reasoning with you,” Erik said.
“We’re here; game faces people, game faces,” Mike smirked at Erik. Erik watched as he reached for Sloane’s hand. Erik looked down to reach for Jessie’s hand, but she already moved closer to the door. He sighed. He wasn’t ready to go in without her, but he didn’t have much of choice.
✭✭✭
Sloane met Mike’s eyes for a split second. He gripped her hand tighter before turning to the door. They waited patiently for Carlos, who was supposed to meet them to open the door. The truck had backed into the dock two minutes ago. Sloane looked over, Caroline and Jessie were standing by the door, huddled in a quiet conversation. Nick stood a little way behind them, his thumbs through the loops of his jeans. He was poised like he was relaxed, but Sloane could see in the tightness of his features he was ready for anything.
Mike pulled her toward him and bent next to her ear. “You think it’s strange the door hasn’t opened, yet?” he asked.
She bent closer to him. “I don’t know. We have coms so that we can communicate to the world outside. I don’t like this.” She scanned the room and noticed the same unease spreading. Erik stood clenching his hands in fists at his sides. Suddenly, there was a click near the door, and it slid open. A tall, dark-skinned young man stood at the door; his hand raised over his head.
“Sorry, my manager was asking a lot of questions about why I needed to open the door alone. It took me a bit to convince him.” He spoke with a tinge of a Spanish accent. Sloane released her breath slowly. This was it. They filed out of the truck and broke into teams. She noticed her brother split off with two other girls and Ely. She didn’t like being separated from him. She took comfort that he could contact them if he needed to through their coms. She met Mike’s eyes and wondered if he was thinking the same thing. She sighed, probably not.
Caroline made a motion for them to move forward. She drew her dagger out. She chose to bring knives for this fight instead of a gun. They were fighting against their warriors. She didn’t want to kill anyo
ne in this battle. She would only do enough damage to give them time to dispossess them. The thought of killing Shikari members made her cringe. She relished killing demons, not hunters.
Caroline led them through the first floor, past the kitchens, and to a back staircase. They crept up the stairs. Caroline reached a hand out to stay Jessie a moment, then turned and nodded toward her. Sloane strained to hear what was going on beyond the stairwell. Caroline touched her hand to her ear.
“There are six in the first set of offices. There is a workroom around the corner to the right. Three are in there. We need to move swiftly.” She nodded toward Jessie. They both whipped around the corner. Jessie reached her hands up and froze the one man walking down the hall. Nick stood next to him, whispering the incantation. Jessie followed Caroline to the right. She swung the door and held her hands up again. The people in the room froze. She walked in and said the incantation next to the lady standing in front of the copier. She glanced over; Mike had moved next to a man in a gray pinstripe suit.
Caroline and Jessie were waiting next to the open doorway. Caroline’s forehead was furrowed in concentration, and Jessie was watching her. Sloane stole a glance around the room. She was feeling pretty useless. Jessie looked back, and the others had moved behind her and Caroline. Caroline moved to whisper to them.
“I can’t hear anyone in Mr. Hall’s office, so we have to be ready for anything.” She looked into their eyes individually. They followed them out of the room. The offices seemed empty for a school. Sloane figured the teachers were in classes. Caroline stopped in front what must’ve been Mr. Hall’s door. She reached her hand to turn the knob slowly. Jessie was perched on the balls of her feet.
When the door opened, Caroline’s mouth dropped. Her daughter, Nicole was sitting atop the desk, arms crossed, grinning. Jessie raised her arms, but she didn’t freeze. She smirked in Jessie’s direction. Suddenly, Jessie turned and walked out of the room.
“What the hell?” She stopped Jessie before she got too far.
“Mom, it’s so nice of you to bring some friends to play with me. I always wanted more friends.” She smirked toward Mike and Sloane. Mike sat on the floor and began acting like he was playing with cars. Even adding, “vroom.” Sloane stared down at him horrified. He had just been reduced to a child. She looked up at the girl. She didn’t care if she was Caroline’s daughter. She was going to kill her.
She cocked her head to the side and stared at Sloane. “Huh, it doesn’t seem to work on you. Too bad, I thought you’d like to play with your little boyfriend there. Maybe, I’ll have him play in other ways.”
Sloane glared at the girl. Mike stood next to her and started dancing. When he lifted his shirt and began undressing, Sloane’s eyes widened. “Oh, hell no.” She pushed him out of the room and closed the door behind her, leaving Jessie and Mike in the hallway.
Caroline regained her composure. “Nicole, stop this.” She attempted to be commanding, but her voice cracked at the end.
Nick took a step toward her. “Nicky, baby, this isn’t you. You need to fight the demon. I know you’re stronger than this.” He said in a soothing voice.
Her eyes shifted to him. “Oh, am I daddy? Am I? I don’t think so.” She threw her head back and let out a villainous cackle. She narrowed her eyes, and he dropped to his knees.
“Nicole, stop!” he cried out. He tumbled to the floor, clutching at his chest.
“Nicole, I am your mother stop this nonsense, right now!” She took a step forward.
Nicole laughed. “Caroline, you think I’m going to listen to you? Nicole is gone. I have to tell you; she feels freer with me than she has in her whole life. That’s why she’s not fighting me. She doesn’t want to be a boring student anymore. She wants to have fun. You both have stopped her from living her life. I set her free to be able to do whatever she wanted. You’ve kept her sheltered, caged. I set her free. There’s nothing you can do about it.” Nicole grinned as Nick gasped in breaths on the floor.
Sloane had crept around to the side of the room while Nicole had been focused on the other two. So, far she hadn’t noticed. Sloane gave Caroline a knowing look, hoping she would keep her busy.
Caroline’s eyes narrowed. “You are not my daughter. You don’t know my baby. She’d fight. She’d never let a demon win against her. She’s too strong for that. You’re weak. The only reason she hasn’t dispelled you is because of the amulet you wear around your neck.”
Sloane had reached to stand behind the desk. She leaned forward, extending her hand. Trying to carefully grab the necklace before Nicole could realize she was there.
“Weak?” Nicole cackled. “I’m in your daughter, right now. I’m far from weak.”
Sloane decided to just go for it. She reached her hand out to her neck. She gripped the necklace as well as her collar and yanked on them both. Her collar ripped, and the chain broke into pieces. Nicole whirled on her. Sloane ducked her first blow and landed one of her own to Nicole’s gut. Her arms instinctively clutched her stomach. Sloane grabbed a paperweight from the desk and hit her in the side of the head with it. Her eyes went wide before she slumped to the side of the desk.
Sloane looked up, “Sorry Caroline, it had to be done.” She shrugged. Sloane pulled the amulet the rest of the way off of her and slid it into her pocket. She strode to the hall to check on Mike and Jessie. They stood blinking on the other side of the doorway. Mike’s clothes were next to him on the floor. He bent to retrieve them, holding the pile in front of him.
“What the hell just happened?” he asked, still blinking confusedly.
“Nicole thought it would be funny if you stripped for her.” Sloane slid her gaze hungrily down his body. “I mean, I didn’t mind except for all the other people around.” She grinned wide at him. He rolled his eyes.
Sloane looked to Jessie, who looked stunned. Her eyes were wide, and she kept darting glances around the hallway. “That bitch could’ve gotten us killed,” she said.
“I think that’s what she was going for.” Sloane looked back over her shoulder. Caroline was standing over her daughter. Sloane watched as she brushed a piece of hair back from over her eyes. She took a few steps and knelt next to Nick on the floor. He lay motionless. Sloane walked back in.
“Are there any other demons in the building?” she asked Caroline.
“I don’t hear any, but that doesn’t mean they’re not here.” She looked from Nick to her daughter. “Where the hell is Mr. Hall. I’d like to get my hands on him.”
Sloane looked down to Nick. “Is he going to be okay?”
“I don’t know what she did, exactly. He’s breathing, but his pulse is faint. We need to get him to a hospital.” She looked to Mike. “Do you think you can get him back down the stairs?” she asked.
“Yeah, I think I can carry him. What about Nicole?” he nodded toward Nicole who was still slumped on the desk.
“I’ll take her,” Caroline said.
“I’m going to check on the others.” She reached her hand up to the Com in her ear. “Erik, you guys okay? We’ve got Nicole, but no Mr. Hall.” She waited and listened. They didn’t hear any response. “I thought we would be in communication with them?” She asked looking to Caroline.
“We’re supposed to be. Let’s get back down there to see what’s going on.” She lifted Nicole in her arms, and Mike took Nick. Jessie walked out front, and Sloane took up the rear. None of them wanted to be surprised by another demon. They’d dispossessed everyone they could find in the building, but Sloane wasn’t sure how many of those damn amulets were out there.
Chapter 23
Erik had listened to thoughts as he led the group through the West building. The first floor was filled with classrooms. Erik frowned as they moved down the hall. It was the middle of the afternoon; classes should be going on. Many of the rooms they passed were shut and locked. They’d already walked by four rooms that were closed up.
Rachel walked up beside him. “Many of the students have gone
home for break.” She peered up at him.
He looked at her questioningly. “Reading thoughts isn’t your gift. How did you know what I was thinking?” he asked.
She shrugged. “It was written all over your face. I’d love to play poker with you sometime. Your face is very transparent in your expressions. I could get a couple hundred off you easy.” She raised a brow at him. He wasn’t sure what it was about Rachel, but he liked her. Even though, when he’d first seen her, she’d sent him the worst image he could ever imagine.
“Sorry about earlier. I don’t like my mind being intruded on.” She kept following him. The first floor had been devoid of people so far.
“Yeah, I usually don’t listen in on other Shikari members unless I have to. I don’t like to invade others privacy. I only use my ability to hunt demons.” He stopped as they approached the end of the hall. One room on the right had a light on. The hairs on the back of Erik’s neck stood up. He knew there were demons nearby. He focused on listening for them. He held a hand out to stop Rachel from moving forward. He couldn’t hear any thoughts which had him concerned. He knew there were demons, but he had no idea how many were in there.
He moved against the wall and bent to speak low to Rachel. “There are demons in the next room. I can’t read their thoughts. They must be wearing amulets. With those on, our powers will be useless against them.”
Ely took a step forward. “Not my power. I can astral project from here and distract them. You guys can then go through the door. Let’s try not to hurt our own too badly though, aye?”
The others nodded. “Speaking of abilities, what can you guys do?” Erik looked from Peyton to Mya.
Mya bit the side of her lip. “Nothing much, just this.” The knife Erik had drawn flew out of his hand and into Mya’s.