Green shadow, p.9
Green Shadow, page 9
“Note that the subject reached for her magic at seven minutes thirty-seven seconds.” Dr. Smith’s voice drifted in from one side.
Ignoring her, I tried to clear the spots from my eyes. That moment of weakness cost me, and I recoiled as fire burned along my arm, Bait’s knife parting the skin. Ironically enough, the sight of my blood gave him pause, the cloudiness covering his eyes retreated a fraction, and his movements became jerky. The hand clutching the knife spasmed, his fingers loosening a touch before gripping the knife again in a white-knuckled grip. It lasted only moments before the opaqueness solidified again, and Bait succumbed to Ben’s claws.
Using the break wisely, I tore a strip off my shirt and bound the cut on my arm. I knew that blood loss would only increase the un-coordination that fatigue was already causing. I’d barely fixed the knot in place when Bait came at me again.
I tried every trick I knew to disarm him without causing permanent harm. Nothing worked. It didn’t help that he fought with the ferocity of a wild animal backed into a corner. Finally, I was able to snag his wrist, forcing the joint in a painful direction and compelling him to drop the blade.
Panting, my body covered in minor nicks and cuts, I prayed that losing his weapon would slow my opponent down. It didn’t, and he switched to kicks, strikes, and feints. He was damn good at them, and soon we became a blur of bodies.
Bait hadn’t quit his battle of wills with Ben while we fought. And for a second time, he regained some measure of control. It wasn’t enough to dislodge Ben from his head, but it was enough that I could land a solid hit to his temple. Bait hit the floor like a sack of rocks, and I backed away.
Keeping my shoulders straight, I took in deep, calming breaths. I needed to get my heart rate under control quickly to hide my exhaustion. Weakness, I’d learned at an early age, got me nothing but more pain.
Dr. Smith furiously scribbled notes. When she finished her writing, she looked up, confusion causing a wrinkle to form between her eyes.
“Finish it,” she said as if it was the most natural thing in the world to murder someone.
I crossed my arms. Not looking as the man at my feet started to rouse. My spine stiffened. Never!
She looked exasperated, as if I was a failed experiment and she didn’t know where she had gone wrong. “I said finish it, Terra.” She tapped her pencil on her clipboard. “This will go much easier on both of us if you embrace the role you were trained for.”
Suck it bitch. I didn’t move. My survival was not worth even a tiny piece of my soul.
“So be it,” Dr. Smith said and motioned Thug One forward. The man at my feet stared at me, eyes clear.
“Terra, it can’t be. She disappeared years ago.” Bait didn’t stutter or shake; even though I could see his fear, he met my eyes boldly. I bowed slightly to him.
“Fear is more potent after everyone believes they are safe,” Dr. Smith said in her clinical tone.
Bait scrutinized me again, pausing at the blank look on my face and the collar around my neck. Understanding entered his eyes. “Terra’s not a monster, never has been.” He looked to the scientist. “You are.”
Dr. Smith sniffed haughtily, wholly disagreeing with his judgment. “This is your last chance, Terra. Kill him or incur punishment.”
Bait watched as I took a deliberate step back. I met the man’s eyes, keeping his attention as Thug One came up behind him. Bait died, never seeing it coming. It was the only thing I could do to ease his passing.
“Terra, Terra, Terra,” Dr. Smith addressed me like a misbehaving dog, her pencil tapping a rhythm on her board. Then again, they were trying to train me using the same methods. Positive punishment and negative reinforcement were the roots of any operant conditioning program. “Why do you continue to make this process more difficult than it must be? You force us to take actions far above what we need to motivate the others.” Despite being chastised, her tone suggested she was pleased with the challenge I presented.
“It’s good I anticipated your stubborn nature and prepared a more appropriate motivation for you.” She glanced down at notes on her board. “It is noted in your file that you bond easily to others, especially the young and vulnerable.” She looked up and pushed her glasses higher on her nose.
Walking over to an opaque glass inset into the wall, she pressed a button next to the window. The fogginess vanished, and the pane became transparent. The soft light of a mage crystal illuminated the room.
I choked back a gasp. Behind the wall, sitting in a chair, dressed in tiny combat fatigues of gray and black, was a terrified little girl. No more than six or seven with golden curls tumbling from her head and down her back. Peach skin surrounded wide eyes devoid of color. No, they were not colorless; they shimmered like a prism, clear and crystalline in nature. Moreover, they held a slight tilt, hinting that part of her parentage was of Asian descent. Silent tears coursed down her cherub face.
My heart broke at the sight of her, and heat pulsed from the warm spot in my chest as I lunged forward, my heart winning over my mind. I should have waited. Planned like I’d done the first time. But I couldn’t. My only thought was to get to her, to cradle the child, and promise her safety.
Ben laughed, and pain engulfed me. He’d activated the collar, and used my magic against me. Channeling it into a punishing agony. I couldn’t go unconscious, couldn’t die. I could only scream and writhe.
And scream, I did.
Chapter 10
Mackenzie
An eternity later, my suffering ended as suddenly as it began. Flopping onto my back, I inhaled ragged breaths and glared up into the smug face of the person I hated most. Congratulations, Ben. You just landed the top spot on my kill list. I got my breathing under control as the asshole continued chuckling.
Dr. Smith walked up to stand beside him. She looked down at me with cold condescension. Her tone, when she spoke, was that of a lord to a peasant. “You see Terra,”
My name is Mackenzie.
“I have learned through examining your files that you value your life much less than your moral code.” She made a motion with her hand. “Thus, your blatant attempts to subvert us regardless of the pain we inflict on you.”
Wow, she totally gets me.
“The lives of others, well, they hold a more important place, more value.”
I closed my eyes and sagged against the floor. A spark of fear lanced my heart at my visceral reaction to the child. I didn’t know her, and while I’d like to think I valued every child’s life, she shouldn’t have affected me with such a violent reaction.
The blood rushed from my face. What if Ben had managed to penetrate my shield? Get into my mind. Manipulate me.
Scouring my mental landscape, I searched for signs of tampering, any seed of thoughts not my own. Nothing. I was as protected as ever. Whatever my unnatural reaction was, it was apparently all mine.
“Take her back to her room.” Dr. Smith said dismissively.
Eyes still closed, I let them drag me away.
Dumped unceremoniously on my cell’s cold, damp concrete floor, I took stock of my injuries. Despite the amount of pain I was in, my wounds were mostly superficial. My lack of strength and stamina was more due to lack of sleep and the changes in my diet than anything physical I’d done today.
Though with the temperature and the grime, infection was still a serious concern.
Wiping blood from my arms and legs, I examined how my situation had changed. The mild shows of rebellion would have to stop. I couldn’t risk Dr. Smith making good on her threats. There wasn’t enough to gain.
I can’t give them everything at once. I mused. It will give them too much power over me if I do. No, I had to make it seem like every small concession I gave was a big victory. A shudder ran through me at the thought of that poor little girl taking even one hit.
The ghosts of the past came out to haunt me. Like this girl, I couldn’t spare my siblings from punishments, and it had hurt ten times worse than anything done to me.
The one firm decision I had to make was how far I was willing to go for her. How much of my soul was I ready to trade? The answer to that question wasn’t an easy one. But I would have to think about it.
The next day the keys rattled in the lock, and the door swung open. Expecting to see Thug One standing there, ready for our daily ritual, I was surprised when a blast of magic hit me hard and fast, trying to bypass my shields and break my mind. My shields repelled it, but that didn’t stop the hot needles that scored across its surface, they were an extension of my soul, and whatever touched them left a mark.
Ben sauntered in, his brown eyes twinkling with malicious delight.
“Wakey, wakey, muffin. We’re going on a field trip.”
Muffin was new. If he was trying to get under my skin, he would have to put more effort into it.
Rising, I decided to pick my battles. Ben’s smile widened at my ready compliance, and the oily feeling of his magic changed from hot needles to slime.
A shudder built within me, threatening to escape. I held it back, barely.
His smile dimmed to a frown when I just stood there. “Still not talking, huh. Well, that will change soon. You’re too mouthy to stay silent long.”
I snorted in my head. I can do this all day.
Tingles started to build from the collar around my neck, a warning. They faded quickly, but the message was loud and clear. The sadistic little prick was no scientist and had no problem punishing me for the fun of it. I crossed my arms and decided I’d given him enough concessions. Ben needed to learn I wasn’t someone he could bully.
Ben smirked but didn’t ignite the collar. “Come on. We can play later. I have a mission and chose you as my muscle.” I followed Ben out of the room and down the hall. When we got to the garage, a carriage waited for us. Footsteps sounded behind me, and I whirled in place.
Thug Two approached, a smirk tugging at his lips and a dark sack in his hand. Figures they wouldn’t let me see where I was being held.
Thug Two handed me the bag, his eyes daring me to resist. Panic caused my heart to beat and sweat to pool on my brow. I didn’t want to be in the dark. Vulnerable.
Outwardly, I shrugged and walked over to our transport. Jumping in, I placed the bag over my head, and my nose wrinkled. The thing smelled like dirty feet.
The carriage rocked as Ben got in, and a tap on the roof had our ride lurching forward.
Time was a relative thing. Sitting here counting every second, minute, and hour until we reached our destination would drive me nuts. So instead, I used the time to prepare myself for what Ben might force me to do and fantasized about ways I could screw up his plans.
Eventually, what felt like hours later, the carriage stopped, and Ben tugged the cloth off my head. “We’re here, Pumpkin.”
Here, turned out to be the rundown section of some large city.
“Our target’s not far.” He walked away, not once looking back to see if I’d followed. Arrogant prick.
The house we approached, had all the markings of a seedy den of ill repute. I expected to see orgies, drugs, and a butt ton more illegal stuff within its walls.
“You’ll like this mission.” The flecks of white in his brown eyes sparkled as he used his magic. Trying to put some oomph behind his words. It failed, and a hint of a frown graced his face. “This gang is the Los Magica. They have chapters in all major cities.”
Not in GreenRiver. The guilds of my city didn’t stand for gangs on their turf.
“They specialize in human trafficking.” Frown disappearing, his voice contained unfettered glee. How he’d ever acted normal enough to snare Brooke boggled my mind.
Anger, hot and bright, rose within me. Missions like this one, tested my resolve more than others.
The Government baited its traps with missions that skated the lines between black and white. See. We help humanity and protect the weak. Our cause is noble. Blah, blah, blah. Shaking my head, I fought backsliding into the mentality that shaped my teenage years. I’d drunk that kool-aid once. Never again.
Because the people who held my leash never stuck to just helping humanity. Eventually, they would send me after political targets instead of monsters. Before escaping the first time, my breaking point was when they ordered me to mutilate a human politician and his six-year-old daughter. The man’s only crime was advocating for integration and equal rights. The brutal double murder had made national headlines, a rare feat in an age where most towns and cities were segregated when it came to news.
“Not just trafficking.” Ben rubbed his hands together. “They also sell children, magical and normal. Of course, shifters and mages will always pay to acquire a child guaranteed to have the power or beast of their choice. But human kids have it the worst. Most get sold to older vampires. The ones who resist the new world order and enjoy sating their hunger on tender flesh.”
Bile rose in my throat. Our world wasn’t perfect, but I had blissfully ignored how evil parts of society really were. Now Ben was happily throwing that ignorance in my face. Raising a brow, I let nothing of my internal turmoil show. So, what are we doing here?
Ben got the gist of my question. “We are here because the leader of this particular chapter has taken the child of a wealthy human family. They want the boy back, and this chapter wiped out for it’s arrogance.”
A dark part of my soul had no issue with the plan. People who sold other people, especially children, didn’t deserve to live. My hand itched towards where my tonfas usually rested. But Ben had decided I didn’t need weapons to deal with this group.
I wasn’t that naive teen anymore, and If I was going to even contemplate going against the rules, I’d set for myself. I wanted proof.
Ignoring my temporary partner, I slunk around the side of the house. My collar hummed, and a hole opened, allowing me access to my power. Ben rewarded me for my compliance, like a master rewarding his hound with a treat. I’d take it for now.
Stretching out my web – interconnecting strands of magic that detected any living thing within its range – I checked my surroundings. But, unfortunately, it couldn’t bypass inanimate structures like a wall.
Still, it was helpful, like having eyes in the back of my head. If Ben tried anything sneaky, I would have ample notice. Because as soon as he moved within range, a white light pinged in my magic landscape. I tracked him as he shadowed me, always ready for a double cross.
Peeking in windows and listening at doors, I’d almost given up learning anything of use when I came across two members of the gang smoking beside the back entrance.
“What’s the boss going to do with this last lot of whiny brats?” The bald man covered in tattoos asked. The inky images snaked from under the collar of his shirt and coated every bit of exposed skin. Giant rings stretched the lobes of his ears, making the flesh appear triple its standard size. He took a long drag of the cigarette, then passed it over to his buddy.
“Heath has a vamp lined up to take them. One of our repeats. They’ll all be gone by tomorrow morning, except the rich puke. The boss has other plans for him.” Well, that was more than proof enough for me. I wasn’t ready to break my no-kill vow, but by admitting to selling children, they’d earned whatever pain awaited them.
My childhood training slipped over me like a well-worn cloak. What was once a comforting mantle was now oily with the stain of innocent lives. I shuddered, hating how it still fit so well.
Tapping Ben on the shoulder, I waited for him to look at me. When I had his attention, I held up two fingers. Then, pointing to him, I made a circular motion with the same finger. We’d attack from both sides. Take the men by surprise.
Ben gave me a crazy look. “You know this would be a lot easier if you spoke.”
I gave him the finger. It wasn’t my fault he didn’t brush up on his non-verbal field signs. Sighing, he left. Giving him five minutes to get into position, I readied myself to attack.
Calling on a small piece of my earth magic, I made the grass lush and soft beneath my feet. It dampened the sound, making my approach nearly silent. Sticking to the shadows, Baldie never saw me coming.
His friend did, and he opened his mouth, seconds away from blowing our cover. Then his eyes glazed over with a milky film, and he watched silently as I disabled his friend. Ben had shattered his mind.
Strolling around the corner, Ben blew on his knuckles before rubbing them on his shirt.
Motioning with my hand, I gave him a ‘get on with it’ look.
“You really need to learn to have more fun, Princess.” I glared at him.
Letting out a loud sigh, he turned to his thrall. “Where are you keeping Theodore King?” Ben must have hit him with a huge spike, or the guy was a sniveling coward with a weak will because he didn’t offer any resistance.
The response came out in a monotone voice. “Boss is holding him in a room on the second floor. He always has a guard on his door.”
“How many adults are in the building right now? And what is your normal routine?” That was a well-worded question. Children weren’t a threat.
“Fifteen, but in twenty minutes, that number will halve. Heath usually dismisses us for the night at ten.” Good to wait then —less chance of a child getting caught in the crossfire.
“No, I think we’ll hit them now. Our client wants a clear message sent. What type of weapons do you all carry?” Ben drawled.
“I have a couple of knives in my boots. Most of the guys are the same. Heath has a gun, but it’s for show.”
Guns were not standard. They were hard to forge, and most pre-Resurgence pieces had plastic or other synthetic materials. Without those key pieces, they were nothing more than decorative paperweights.
Stripping the man and his friend of their weapons didn’t bother me. They were too dangerous to leave armed. Tying them up or knocking them unconscious would mean that we didn’t have to worry about them attacking us from behind later.
“Excellent. I appreciate your cooperation. I have no further need of you.” Ben said while thrusting his sword through the mans chest. The gang member’s body slid to the ground leaving a trail of blood on the blade. Ben’s eyes gleamed with delight, and his hand twitched, eager to wade in and slaughter them all.
