Green shadow, p.10
Green Shadow, page 10
My mouth opened in a silent gasp. I closed my eyes, battling to fight the darkness of my youth. Unfortunately, the violent part of my psyche was just as keen for the carnage. Despair tugged at the Lifer persona I’d tried so hard to embrace. There would be new blood on my hands tonight, and deserving or not, it was a stain that wouldn’t easily wash out.
Wiping his blade on the fallen body, Ben walked over to Baldie. Sword raised, he was about to finish him off. Lunging forward, I grabbed Ben’s wrist before he could bring the blade down. Our eyes met, and I glared. Ben looked at me, eyebrow cocked. I tightened my grip and was answered with a stinging pain in my neck as the collar activated.
Ben chuckled. “I am a key holder now. The collar will punish you to protect me.” He smirked as my grip loosened. “Fight it all you want,” he crooned. “Deep inside, you’re just like me.” He ripped his hand from mine and plunged his sword into the unconscious man.
My teeth clenched in anger, and my skin felt like insects biting my flesh. The worst part was, Ben was right. There was a small dark piece of me that was just like him.
Ben’s eyes narrowed, and his tone hardened. “You will protect me, or that collar will kill you. I only need to say a single word, and the collar’s magic will end you.”
Good to know.
“Chin up, Cookie. We’ll have loads of fun.”
I curled up on the cold stone floor of my cell, muscles screaming. The fight in the gang’s den had been challenging but not impossible. I’d suffered a few new injuries, but what had reduced me to this quivering mass on the floor was disobeying Ben.
The asshole was just going to leave the children to rot. Ten children, cramped in a cell in the basement. The poor things would have died of dehydration before anyone found them. I couldn’t let that happen.
When we’d found them, I’d locked my feet, refusing to go on. Ben had tried to drag me out, and I’d punched the bastard, which led to the collar zapping me hard enough to send me crashing to the ground. Shrugging, Ben left me panting and writhing while he went to fetch the reason we were there.
Fighting through the pain, I used that time to slip the oldest child, who was no more than eight, a key I’d lifted from a guard. But, unfortunately, the tiny object had landed short of my goal, and the boy needed to stretch far, the chain on his ankle digging tight, to reach it through the cell bars.
Snatching up the precious object, he slipped back to his seat. With gritted teeth, I instructed him to get the others out as soon as we left. Nodding, I noticed his eyes looked far older than his age should have allowed.
“Where are you from?” The boy whispered. “Cause it sure as hell isn’t from Noxus. Nobody helps nobody here.”
I couldn’t respond, the pain overwhelming, and the boy’s eyes turned sad. Then, moving closer to the girl beside him, he leaned down to whisper in her ear. When she glanced my way, the girl’s eyes had a familiar opaqueness to them. Whatever she was seeing, I hoped it would lead them to find a better fate.
Showing his intelligence, the boy started shouting when Ben’s footsteps echoed down the stairs. His pleading cries got louder, and it wasn’t long before the other children joined the chorus. They howled and begged Ben to free them. The turd taunted them, buying their act hook, line, and sinker.
Theodore, or Teddy, was a pretentious little snot. Between ridiculing me for being a slave, and blaming his kidnapping on the incompetence of his father’s men, I got the feeling his moral compass didn’t quite point north.
I sympathized with the brat for all of ten minutes. The kid could be lashing out from fear. But my charitable thoughts dissipated when he exclaimed loudly,
‘I’m glad you left those other urchins to rot. The world is better off without that magical riffraff’.
As soon as we reached the lab, Ben took me to one of the testing rooms. He’d shaken his head and lamented my lack of respect. Then proceeded to use the full force of the collar to subdue me while striking me with a wooden pole, causing maximum harm without breaking Dr. Smith’s rule about permanent damage.
When Dr. Smith entered and raised an eyebrow, Ben concocted a story explaining the necessity of his actions. Dr. Smith tilted her head and blinked. Then said, “Use only the collar in the future. The effects wear off quickly and won’t delay my experiments.”
Dr. Smith, in a nutshell: Don’t break my toy to the point I can’t play with it.
Now I looked as awful on the outside as I felt on the inside. But he’d left my head alone. Thank the Old God for small mercies. It left me my wits, and I’d need every brain cell I had for whatever they decided to do next.
My cell door creaked open, startling me. I hadn’t heard anyone approach. Scrambling to my feet despite the pain, I leaned heavily against the wall for support. I wouldn’t take it lying down if Ben returned for round two.
Chapter 11
Mackenzie
It wasn’t Ben, however, whose head poked through. Instead, I was faced with the crystal-clear eyes of the young girl from behind the mirror. Thug Two gave her a shove, and she stumbled inside. I reached out to steady her, wincing as the movement stretched tightening muscles. Not seeing another option and secretly grateful for the offer, I pushed my paranoia aside and said, “Let’s do this.”
“Have fun, you two,” was thrown over the man’s shoulder as he locked the door again.
The girl’s bravery lasted about thirty seconds before tears began to trail from her crystalline eyes. The air shimmered around her crossed arms, revealing a black and white blob held snugly in her embrace. Her tears became heaving sobs that wracked the child’s small frame—her tight yellow curls bouncing with their force. My heart ached, and I couldn’t keep up the pretense of cold indifference.
Sure, she might be a spy sent to butter me up, and if she was, it was the most brilliant move Dr. Smith had made yet. Because seeing her in distress was something I was powerless to ignore.
The blob hissed as I reached out to her. What I had mistaken for a stuffed toy was a flesh and blood cat. A hideous cat.
Male, the beast was primarily black with a white stomach and white patches over its eyes. Its face looked like someone had hit the poor thing with a shovel, all smooshed. Ears tattered and legs on the short side, this boy wasn’t winning any points for his looks.
However, intelligence shone in his green eyes, one unexpected in a simple pet. I’d seen that cunning in another animal, Speedy, my boss’s giant snapping turtle. This cat was no stray. No, he was her familiar.
Ignoring the beast, as the voice in my head told me to keep my distance, I pulled the girl into my arms, squeezing her tight. Her sobs increased. Instinctively, I closed my arms. How long had she gone without being able to express her fear? Bottling her emotions until they boiled over the instant she felt even remotely safe?
The thing in her arms tried to bite me. Stupid little angry troll creature.
A featherlight touch whispered across the barrier protecting my mind—a knock if you will—requesting entrance. Warily, I created a hole in my shield. Sucker, I might be for children. But stupid, I am not. The tiny opening would snap shut with but a fraction of a thought.
A soft, hesitant voice filled with innocence, sounded in my mind. She said you would come, and you would save me, us. More sobs filled her mental voice, echoing the ones in her body. I was starting to lose hope.
Can you hear me? I formed the words clearly in my mind. That seemed to startle her, and her head came off my chest.
Of course, I can! Childish indignation colored her mental tone. I repressed a smile at her spunk.
The kid was obviously a strong telepath. No wonder the government snapped her up.
Who told you I was coming?
Did she overhear Dr. Smith and the others talking about my arrival? Keeping that thought private, I smoothed her hair in an unconscious gesture of comfort.
Ysbryd. I didn’t recognize the name, but it sounded Welsh. Mythos shifters and Mages considered Wales the birthplace of magic and adopted Welsh as the official language used when manipulating power.
She said that her sister, Ddear, speaks to you.
I’d heard that name before, spoken by an ancient oak who’d sheltered me on a hunt.
She sent images, smells, and tactile references along with her word. Oddly similar to when Curtis shared information gleaned from his gift, but without the pain that usually accompanied the transfer. The image of a woman with a bright green dress, chestnut locks, and skin the color of fresh earth, coalesced in my mind. Giving me a clearer picture of what or who Ddear was.
Ddear was one of the seven spirits. Mythical beings passed down through the generations from ancient times. When magic returned, the descendant’s of those families shared the information in hopes that it would help the world adjust.
A memory rose. It was from before Alec and Tyr joined me. Few memories from before the boys remained. Most were lost when I went numb to the world, when the conditioning Dr. Smith and the others used to break my will succeeded.
The memory echoed with a comforting female voice. One who’d taught me a bit about my magic and helped to ease the loneliness. She’d told me to call her Gia or mother earth. Ddaear must be her proper name.
Does Ysbryd speak to you often? I asked. Thankful for a private way to communicate.
The child’s eyes turned sad, and my anger rose. Gia had stayed for a time, but then, like everyone else from my life until that point, she’d abandoned me.
Not as much anymore, not since she taught me tricks to keep the bad man out.
The bad man must be Ben, unless Dr. Smith had gotten her hands on another strong mind mage.
She sent me Orsinus and told me I had to be strong on my own for a while. The child in my arms perked up. She said you would come for me and take me far away from this place.
Orsinus must be the cat. Well, the damned thing sure had the looks and temperament of a killer whale. The name was fitting.
Uncertainty radiated off the child as if she wasn’t sure whether she wanted to snuggle deeper into my arms or cringe away. I knew that fear. Trust for people in this place was hard to come by. I cupped her cheek and made her meet my eyes.
I will free you. I looked at the cat. Both of you, if it’s the last thing I do.
The cat bit me in response. Ingrate.
The child’s smile chased away the shadows in the room, and her excitement brushed against me with almost a physical caress. I have a gift for you. Eagerness poured off her in waves. I wasn’t sure I wanted a gift from her just yet. Call me paranoid.
What’s your name, kid? I asked, stalling.
They call me Psyche. She frowned at the name, and I did too. It wasn’t a proper name; it was a designation, like Terra.
Do you have another name? One from before this place?
Sadness crept into the girl’s eyes. There was no before this place. Mommy died when I was born.
She may not remember her mother, possibly too young when taken, but someone out there must love her. Tears formed in my eyes, and my heart ached even more at the thought of any child being born in this festering hell hole.
Deciding not to comment, I squeezed her tighter. Her mental voice was so low when she next spoke that I nearly missed it.
Evelyn. But Daddy called me Evie. I didn’t ask who her father was or if he still lived. But I made a mental note to find out and reunite the two if possible.
Hello, Evie. My name is Mackenzie. What do you say? I’ll call you by your name if you use mine. It can be our little secret.
Evie beamed and wiggled in my arms. Can I give you the gift now? Impatience colored her mental tone. Ysbryd says you’ll need it soon.
My brow furrowed in confusion. Seeing it, Evie rushed to explain. I’m the elemental of Spirit like you are the elemental of Earth. Any branch of mental magic is mine to control. She spoke like someone many times her age. It must be Ysbryd’s influence.
I wasn’t surprised. The spirits had a soft spot for children. Maybe it was because young minds were better able to absorb the enormous potential for power without destroying the host. It was the same when the Resurgence hit. Whole generations were lost to the sudden influx of energy. Men and women over a certain age couldn’t adapt to the change.
What is coming? I stuttered as my gut clenched.
Little nose scrunched, she said. I don’t know. Ysbyrd wouldn’t tell me. She said it was for adults and I shouldn’t worry. Eyes bright with unshed tears, she continued. But I know that you will need a place to hide very soon. She tapped her tiny finger on my forehead. Here. A hand cupped my cheek, mimicking the action I’d done for her earlier. I will make you that place, one you can retreat to at will.
Fear curled in my belly, even as I smiled. Keeping my thoughts hidden from her, I patted the child on the head. There was only one thing I could think of that would necessitate a mental escape. It was something I feared above all else.
Not seeing another option and secretly grateful for the offer, I pushed my paranoia aside and said, “Let’s do this.”
Chapter 12
Lucan
“Watch out!” I yelled in time for Quinn to dodge the fireball aimed at his back.
Nodding his thanks, he turned his attention back to his opponent as I charged the mage who’d taken the pot shot. Slamming into him with force, I wrapped my hands around his waist. The momentum took us both to the ground. But before I could pin him, he twisted out of my grasp. Fist flying towards my head as he rolled, I leaned back. I wanted to end this quickly. I had better things to do than chase around idiots who abused their power.
Yesterday, Quinn and I spoke to yet another victim’s widow. The seventh one we’d interviewed regarding our potential killer. Six months, twelve shifters and no one noticed the odd circumstances surrounding their deaths. The Triad dismissed it as natural causes, but when the daughter of the Felis Alpha, Jax Rhyersee, died. He dug deeper. Not taking the coroner’s report at face value. What he discovered was a series of murders that looked like accidents. The common factor, all had mated outside their tribe. A slim connection, but enough to have a guild investigate.
Another three shifters had died since we took the case two months ago. Not getting anything from their personal effects, Curtis, sensing our mounting frustration, assigned us this filler hunt to let off some steam.
“Son-of-a bitch,” I cursed as the fire mage’s knuckles clipped my jaw. The physical contact hurt, but the flames wreathing his hands did nothing but cause a warm sensation to caress my skin. Score one for a dragon’s natural immunity to fire.
The mage and I rolled on the ground, each trying to gain the upper hand. Fireproof, I may be, but my clothes were only resistant, and soon they were smoking as the mage’s fire sought out the flammable material.
Patting at a section of my shirt to put out the sparks, I heard a cat yowl in the distance. My lips twitched. When we arrived on the scene, there were three mages. One of the slimy toads took one look at our group and bolted. If all the screams and shouts were any indication, Saber had decided to play with his prey before bringing him in.
Quinn bellowed from somewhere behind me. No words, just the primal sound of a predator on the hunt. It was nice to see him enjoying himself. The newly adopted twins, Grace, and Keenan, kept him and Alec so busy that the giant gryphon hadn’t had much time for fun.
Done wrestling with my target, I slapped a pair of magic suppressing cuffs on his wrists. He stilled, suddenly cut off from the source of his power.
Revulsion ran through me, but at least this time, I didn’t hesitate to use them. The first time I’d used the devices, I’d almost lost my mark when a flashback to the collar snapping around Mackenzie’s neck froze me in place.
Only Curtis’s assurance that they were temporary and necessary when dealing with criminal mages kept me from melting the damn things with dragon fire.
“Kyle Candlespark, you are charged with arson and murder,” I said while tugging the chain around my neck. Kyle’s target buildings may have been abandoned, but they hadn’t always been empty.
“The Archmage has issued a warrant for your arrest and hired Catch and Release to bring you in.” I finished pulling the leaf pendant out from under my shirt. “My name is Lucan Green, badge number 2514.” I gave the man a toothy smile and let my eyes shift to those of the dragon living just below the surface. “You should know that the warrant is dead or alive.” I got right down in his face. “Don’t let this leaf fool you. I may be a Lifer, but Quinn here is a Jack. He has no pesky morals about the dead part.”
Quinn tossed Kyle’s partner down next to him, unconscious, and Kyle’s eyes widened in fear. Then, he started blubbering about how it was an accident. It wasn’t his fault—blah, blah, blah.
“Pesky morals?” Quinn quipped as we loaded our captives into the back of the cart. Cars and other large modes of transportation died when the Resurgence hit. And now, even fifty years later, motorcycles were just coming back on the market. Quinn and I both owned one, and it was one of the few things Jasper was unable to take from me. Sleek they might be, but ultimately inefficient transporting our marks.
I shrugged. “What? It sounded better in my head, okay.”
Nine weeks working for the guild had gone a long way to re-educating me. Catch and Release ran just like any other professional enterprise. Curtis was meticulous regarding our image and ensuring his hunters worked to the letter of guild law. His strong adherence to the rules he set, had gone a long way in helping me see guilds in a different light.
I could finally admit mercenaries didn’t kill my father. Greed had. The greed of the man who wanted dad’s spot as Head and the guild who accepted the hunt for money.
