Breaking Phoenix (Blackjacks Book 1), page 25
He nods. 'My reputation precedes me I see. Guess I should be flattered.' He looks around at his fighters. 'Or maybe not. There's five of us. I'm a little insulted you thought you could take us on alone.'
'The others are coming.'
He laughs loudly. 'Yeah. Of course they are. Well, how about you and I have a little fun while we're waiting for your friends? A bit of a warmup. C'mon, little lady. I'm waiting for you to show me what you've got.'
Nix has fought her fair share of Primes, but Maddox is a whole different league. The little information Ethan could find on the male is enough to tell her he's going to be lethal. You don't stay off the radar as long as he has unless he could take care of himself and anyone stupid enough to get close to him.
Maddox charges at her, so she feigns a stumble and catches Maddox in the gut with a powerful punch. Maddox falls back and doubles over, gasping for breath. Nix doesn't give him a chance to recover and kicks him in the face. Maddox lands on his ass, spitting blood on the cracked concrete carpark.
'Bitch. You're going to pay for that.' Maddox slams against her before she can move out of the way. For someone as large as he is, he can move surprisingly fast. She lands on her back, the air leaving her body as his immense weight presses down on her. His thick hand closes around her neck.
Nix tears at his wrist, trying to ease the pressure but the bastard is unbelievably strong. Her vision swims as he increases his grip. Maddox smiles at her and something clicks in Nix. This asshole has to go down. Just before she loses consciousness, she slams her fist into the side of Maddox's head. He curses but doesn't let go so she repeats the move over and over until he finally releases her.
Nix shoves him to his back, planning on beating him to a pulp, but stops when one of Maddox's men stalks over to her, the prone body of Thea on his arms. 'Back off or I'll tear the head off your human friend.’
Nix looks at Maddox, the anger building at the victorious smirk on the bastard's face. She sits back on her legs and nods once. Maddox struggles to his feet and wipes blood from his face. 'Not too bad.' He turns to the other vampire holding Thea. 'Bring her with us. Might help this one remember who's in charge.'
The vampire holding Thea spreads his wings then disappears into the night sky. Nix tries to get to her feet, but Maddox shoves her onto her front, pinning her to the concrete. She watches helplessly as another vampire joins Maddox and roughly jams a syringe in the side of her neck.
Maddox leans over and breathes foul breath on her face. 'Sweet dreams.'
55
Court accelerates along the road, the powerful engine in the Land Rover covering ground quickly. Davyn is sitting behind him with Shep in the passenger seat. Willow and Bastian are following in the other Land Rover. Court wasn't happy about having Dav in the car with him but he wasn't about to let the guy take off in his own car.
The whole situation with Davyn and Thea is making his fucking head hurt. He's heard so many things about Davyn and none of them are making him any less adamant he shouldn't go anywhere near Thea. It doesn't matter if he's being an overprotective father or brother or whatever. The thought of Thea and Davyn together... of him feeding from her...
The drive to Bristol takes place in silence. Shep keeps his eyes locked on the tracker Nix wears on the back of her necklace. It's still showing her at the old apartment. She's either still there and hasn't been able to contact them or her tracker is still there and she's not.
'Court?'
He turns on his comms. 'Yeah Fallon. Have you found them?'
'They left her phone and necklace on the floor in your apartment. No sign of anyone here.'
'Fuck. Right. Stay put. We'll be there in a few minutes.'
He pulls the car into the parking area behind the building and shuts off the engine. Fallon lands in front of the car startling him for a second. He gets out and walks over to her. 'You okay?'
She nods. 'Didn't get here fast enough.'
'None of us did. Shep, can you sense anything?'
Shep is already out of the car, his eyes closed as he does whatever he does to track people. He growls and opens his eyes. He turns his glowing blue eyes to Court. 'That green winged fucker took Nix.'
'And Thea?'
Shep frowns again then nods. 'Her too. One of his men took her then he left with Nix.'
Court nods and gestures to the rest of the team. 'Split up. Check the area. Davyn, hang back for a minute.' Whether or not he's happy about being put on the bench he does as he's told and waits as Shep and Court check what's left of Court's car. The windscreen has an impressive hole in the driver's side and the side window. The driver's door is on the ground and splattered with blood.
Shep smiles. 'Way to go, Thea. It's not her blood.'
'Are you sure?'
'I'm positive, Court. It's from a male vampire. I'm getting five unknown males as well as Thea and Nix.'
'That's something at least. Do I keep weapons in here?'
'Under your seat. A gun and a knife.'
Court reaches under the seat but can't find them. 'Thea must have used them. Or whoever took her used them.'
Shep closes his eyes for a few seconds. 'I can't pick up any human blood. Nix was injured though. She put up a fight before they took her. No way she would have gone quietly.'
'Unless she let them take her so she could keep an eye on Thea.'
Shep nods. 'That works too.'
'Okay. Anyone have any fucking ideas on where they might have gone?'
'We have a way of tracking Thea,' Bastian says. He nods towards Davyn. 'He fed from her. There's a chance he can track her. We'll have to narrow the search area down first.'
Court stares over at Davyn. 'Hold on - he can do that?'
'We all can. You too.'
'But I've fed and never felt anything like that.'
'It's not something that is just there,' Bastian explains. 'You have to go looking for it. It's a skill you'll pick up with practice. You should be able to track your donor for a short while. As long as their blood is in your system, there is a link of sorts. There's a chance he can still pick her up.'
'I fed from Nix.'
As one they turn to face him. Shep clears his throat. 'You did? Okay, well. What Bas just said about Thea and Dav applies to you and Nix too.'
Fallon shakes her head and sits back against Court's car. 'No chance either of you can track them unless we're sure they're close. We're going to need to be within a few miles for you to pick them up.'
Shep crosses his arms and nods over to the stoic vampire. 'He'd have a better chance than Court. He's older and stronger. No offense.'
'I couldn't care less what you say. I just want to find them.'
Shep nods over his shoulder at Davyn. 'You going to hit him if I ask him to pick up Thea's scent?'
'I'll kiss the fucker if he can find her.'
Shep snorts loudly. 'Think he'd prefer you hit him. With the two of you trying to get a lock on them we may have a shot at this.'
Davyn frowns across at Court, his green eyes glowing as they glare at each other. 'Fuck. You stay here, Shep. I need to ask him myself.' Court walks back over to Davyn and the destroyed car. 'I fed from Nix and you... you fed from Thea. If we narrow down the search area can you help me track them? I haven't got a clue what to do. I'll need you to help.'
Davyn silently looks at him for a few seconds as he runs his hand over the short stubble on his jaw. 'Fuck.'
Court frowns at Davyn. 'A simple yes or no would be just fine.'
'No.'
'Right. Perfect. Thanks. I get you're pissed off with me and believe me, I feel the same, but I need your help to find my daughter. To find Nix. Please, Davyn.'
'I mean I don't need you to narrow down the area. I don't need you to help either. I should be able to track her. Shite apology by the way.' Without an explanation he pulls off his jacket, dropping it to the wall beside him, followed by his t-shirt. Davyn takes a deep breath then nods once to himself. 'Get back and don't ask any fucking questions. This is about finding Thea.' He braces against the bonnet of the car and Court takes a step back as the first wing slides out of Davyn. The black and red limb grows as it realigns, the bones locking in place to form an imposing and seriously impressive wing.
Before Court gets a chance to react, Davyn's head hits against the bonnet as he roars in agony. His second wing tears out of his back with none of the grace of its companion. It attempts to reshape itself, but something is seriously wrong. Instead of stretching to the side, the wing turns back on itself. The bones are twisted at the wrong angle leaving the skin ripped and tattered.
Keeping his weight on the bonnet, Davyn takes a few shaky breaths. His large body is trembling from the effort of the release and, when Court steps closer to get a proper look at his back, he knows why. Nix had told him the skin covering the wing ridges which run down each side of their spine isn't regular skin. There are no pain receptors there and the skin heals quickly.
His second wing took a very different path out of his body. Thanks to the damage the wing tears out through regular muscle and skin. The resulting wound is substantial and bleeding heavily. The pain must be unbelievable.
As one, the Blackjacks full attention is locked on their teammate. Court doesn't need to see their faces to know they're as shocked as he is. Leaving the whole damaged wing thing aside, Davyn is Prime. Someone they worked with for years, fought with, bled with. How had he kept it hidden from them all?
Shep gets the obvious statement out before anyone else does. 'You're a Prime? Why the fuck didn't you tell us?'
Davyn pushes upright and wipes a hand over his face. 'I said no questions.' He arches his back, spreading the impressive black and red wing to its full width. The damaged wing makes a valiant effort but gives up without really getting anywhere.
'Yeah, sorry mate. You can't spring those fuckers out of your back and say no questions. That's not an option.'
'My wings are my fucking business. Don't push me, mate.'
Court puts himself between Shep and Davyn. 'Okay, we don't need to add fighting amongst ourselves to all the other shit we have to deal with right now. There'll be time for that after we get Nix and Thea back.' Court turns back to Davyn. He looks terrible. His skin is pale and even though he's trying to hide it, he's in pain.
'You good to do this?'
'My wings will act like an amplifier. It should help strengthen my blood bond with Thea, but I'll need Fletch to bring the bus closer so I can follow it. I can't... I can't fly and I'm not able to pull them in and out. I need time to heal between. They need to stay out until I find them.'
Court swallows and nods. After seeing what he has to endure to release them, he's not surprised he needs time to heal. Even now, his arm is braced against the bonnet, helping to keep him upright. 'Of course. Willow, can you contact Fletch and bring him closer? The rest of you, spread out. The last thing we need is the Order coming back to see if we've shown up yet.' He looks over at Davyn, still leaning heavily on the car. 'Is there anything I can do to help?'
Davyn shakes his head. 'Not yet. I'll narrow down the search area. I don't know how long my connection with Thea will last. I didn't... there isn't a lot of her blood left in my system. You might have a better chance of finding them once we get closer.'
'No problem. What now?'
Davyn takes another shaky breath and gestures to the roof of the apartment. 'Height will help me find her.'
Without having to be asked, Fallon holds out her hand, offering to bring him up to the roof. Court leads the others over to the fire-escape. When they get to the roof, Davyn is standing on the wall surrounding the roof, his healthy wing extended to its full width. Fallon is in front of him, one hand on his chest, presumably to prevent him from falling over the edge.
The large wing shifts as he adjusts his balance with help from Fallon. Whatever his reasons for hiding them, Court can't help but be seriously impressed with Davyn's wings. The blood red skin between the black fingers may be torn in places and more than a little battle scarred, but they tell a story about Dav he didn't know. He didn't always hide his wings, so what the hell happened to change that?
Court leaves Davyn to do his thing and joins the others. 'What are the odds he'll pick up something?'
'The odds are definitely in his favour,' Willow replies. 'With one wing it might take him a little longer, but he will find her.'
'So,' Bastian asks, 'when he gets a trail what's the plan?'
It takes Court a few seconds to realise the question was directed at him. 'What?'
'You're second in command. What's the plan?'
'You're trusting me with this? I haven't come up with a plan... ever.'
'Bullshit,' Shep replies. 'Coming up with plans is what you do. You've got five highly pissed off vampires ready to kick some serious ass. You just got to point us in the right direction and set us free. When you took down those True Order soldiers in the alley, did you see how the fight was going to play out?'
'How the fuck do you know that?'
'It's what you do. Something to do with your eyes maybe. You never explained it to us. You've always been able to see how a fight will play out, like planning a game of chess. We're not saying things always go to plan, but you can see it in your head.'
'I guess we need to find out where they are first.'
'That way,' Davyn says as he points over the city. 'She's at the edge of my range, but I can feel her.'
They look down as the bus pulls up in the car park below them. 'Perfect timing. We'll leave the cars here. Load up.'
Court looks over in the direction Davyn pointed as everyone makes their way from the roof to the bus. A strange calm settles over him. Shep is right. This is what he does. Instead of panicking, he's unemotional about the entire situation. Deep down he's worried about Thea and Nix but worrying about them won't get them out. These guys stole his memory from him, but it seems his instinct and training just need to be set free again. And he's looking forward to doing just that.
56
Nix groans and, after far too much effort, manages to open her eyes. She blinks a few times, but nothing happens. Just all-consuming blackness. Her night vision is impressive, so something is seriously wrong. It takes her a few seconds to realise the problem isn't actually with her vision. It's with whatever is covering her eyes. She attempts to take it off but hits another problem. Her wrists are locked above her head and supporting her full weight if the pain in her shoulders is anything to go by.
'Morning.'
Her head whips up at the sound of the voice. It's the male from the apartment. 'Where is she?'
Nix hears locks being disengaged and Maddox grips her by the chin, digging his fingers into her jaw. 'Safe and sound. Need some leverage to make sure you do what you're told. So you need to behave or I'll be paying her a visit.'
Nix's canines extend. 'Now you're dragging humans into whatever is going on here. You really are idiots.'
Maddox laughs and squeezes her chin painfully. 'Ouch. You just hurt my feelings.' She hisses as Maddox squeezes her arm. 'Feel those needles? We're draining you, lab rat.' He presses against another tube in the side of Nix's neck. 'And that... well, that's a special little something that turns your brain to a sieve.' She tries to turn away when she feels Maddox's breath on her ear. 'In a bit you won't care what I do to that human. You won't remember who she is.'
Nix slams her head to the side and connects with Maddox. He shouts and curses. 'You're going to pay for that.'
She screams as the electrical current hits both wrists and travels down her body.
'Knock it off, Maddox.' Nix barely registers the different voice through the ringing in her ears. She rests her head against her arm as she tries to catch her breath. Every nerve ending is on fire, every breath stretching skin that is suddenly hypersensitive.
'Maddox, I'll call you if I need anything. You can go.' The newcomer stays quiet for a moment as Maddox leaves. 'I apologise for my friend. He can get a little carried away.'
'He's certainly got a way about him. I would say it's a pleasure to meet you Rhain, but I'm not feeling the love right now.' Nix finally convinces her legs to do their job, releasing a little pressure from her wrists. 'From your accent I presume you are Rhain.'
The long pause tells her more than he probably meant it to. He wasn't expecting her to know his name. Small victory, but she'll take it.
'You're not honestly expecting me to tell you anything, are you?'
'Why do you need my blood?'
'I don't need it. I'm just taking it.'
'Why?'
'This isn't one of those moments in the movies when the bad guy, as you no doubt think I am, tells the captured good guy his plans.'
'Maddox said you're taking my memory. Why?'
'You probably won't believe me, but that is for your benefit as much as ours.'
'Is that so? I'm not so sure the people you've taken memories from would agree.'
'You stop fighting when you can't remember what you're fighting for. Take your colleague for example. In that messed up head of his, the first thing he remembers is when he escaped, am I correct?'
She doesn't bother answering. Something tells her Rhain knows the answer.
'That's because while he was here nothing that happened stayed in his memory. It's like we turned that part of his brain to... what did Maddox say, oh yes, a sieve. Nothing stuck. Nothing to point a finger to us, or so we thought. The tube in your neck is administering that same drug to you and will continue to do so until we're finished with you. That is what's going to make you forget all this just like your friend did.'
'His eyes. Was that you too?'
'His enhanced gift? It was an unforeseen side effect of what we did.' She hears the footsteps fade. 'The drug will take an hour or so to work through your system. When it kicks in you won't remember any of this.'
Nix pulls against the restraints but she's not going anywhere. She tries to release her wings but there’s something heavy on her back, pressing firmly against her skin. They must have put a restraint on her to keep her wings inside.
