Trapped in the dark, Nix tries to calm down, but it's not a fight she's going to win. She shouts and pulls against her restraints again, not caring if she dislocates both shoulders. She rubs her face against her arm, but the blindfold isn't going anywhere. All she does is tear the underside of her arm on the blindfold's hinge which adds to her level of seriously pissed off.

  Every time she moves her head, she can feel the needle in her neck. That's the part that's scaring her the most. That needle is going to take everything she knows and loves from her. Take Court and the Blackjacks from her. After just finding him again, the thought of forgetting everything about them, everything about her life with Court and the team is worse than anything else that Rhain can do to her.

  Nix's eyes drift closed as a sudden tiredness takes over. No matter how hard she tries, her eyes refuse to stay open. Not that it makes a difference either way. Her legs give under her weight, but after too much effort, she locks her knees and forces them to hold her up. It's a futile battle and one she won't win for long. Her body isn't thrilled about the amount of blood it's losing.

  Desperate to hang on to consciousness and her memories as long as possible, she tries to remember details of Court's face. She needs to remember him. They can't take him from her. She's still clinging to an image of Court when she finally loses her fight, along with consciousness.

  57

  Fletch pulls the bus over at the side of road and, after making sure there's no one around, Davyn gets out and sorts through the scents for Thea. This is the third stop since they left Bristol. Whoever took Thea followed this path. After five minutes he opens his eyes and gets back in the bus, manoeuvring his wings to get through the door. 'We're close. She's easier to track.'

  Court checks the map on the table in front of the team. They're heading towards the Forest of Dean. Makes sense. If the Order have a secret lab of some sort like the one they found in the forest, it'll have to be hidden. That would be the perfect place. 'How close?'

  Davyn doesn't bother opening his eyes as he replies. 'Few miles maybe.' He's exhausted. Tracking Thea after the trauma of releasing his wings is taking it out of him, which is not good news. Fallon had cleaned the wound on his back, but there isn't a lot else she can do for him. Once Davyn finds Thea, he'll have to go through the painful ordeal in reverse to pull them back in his body. If he's this wiped out after doing it once, Court dreads to think what he'll be like after he does it again.

  If they're to have a chance of surviving an encounter with the Order he needs all the team to pull their weight. Fallon clearly is having the same thoughts. She crouches beside the seat Davyn is stretched out on and thrusts her arm up to his face. 'Drink.'

  Davyn opens his eyes and stares over at her. 'What?'

  'I know you're not a fan of feeding from us, but I don't see that you have a choice right now. We need you to fight. Drink or I'll force feed you.' Fallon smirks. 'If you think you'd win give it a shot. Could be a bit embarrassing for you.' Davyn doesn't make a move to drink so she kneels on the floor. 'You took a bullet meant for me a few days ago. Let me do this for you so we're even. Otherwise I'll have to save your ass at some stage and fuck knows what that'll do for your macho pride.'

  Court hides his smirk as Davyn relents and takes what Fallon is offering. A part of him would have liked to see what she would have done had he refused. When he's had his fill, he pushes away from her and swallows deeply a few times, almost like he's convincing himself not to throw up. Fallon doesn't notice his reaction or couldn't care less and re-joins Court at the map.

  She points to an area a few miles from them. 'Hey guys. Anyone else think an old mine sounds like the perfect place for a secret lab?'

  Shep grins. 'Absolutely.' He checks the details on the laptop perched on his knee. 'Interesting. It's been out of commission for nearly a decade. Ownership transferred from the company who originally worked it to a private corporation. Hang on. Yep, it's one of the companies linked to Rhain... well, indirectly.'

  'Shep, you need to be sure.'

  'I'm sure, Court. He owns it.'

  'Fletch! Stop!'

  Court doubts Fletch would have needed the intercom to hear Davyn's command. The bus screeches to a stop and Davyn climbs out, not caring if there's anyone around to see him. He walks to the edge of the road and looks down the valley in front of him. His wing stretches to its full span and he closes his eyes. Less than a minute later he looks over his shoulder, his green eyes glowing and something resembling a smile on his face. 'Got her.'

  Thea presses against the corner as the lights go out in her room and the door opens. A tall man steps inside and the door closes behind him. 'Are you okay? I hope Maddox and his men didn't hurt you?'

  'Who are you. Why did you turn the light off?'

  He takes a deep breath and leans on the far wall. 'I've just had all the 'who are you and what do you want' questions. I'm not going to tell you anything about myself so how about we both move on and stop wasting time?'

  'You're a vampire, right.'

  'Yes.'

  'Where's Nix?'

  'She's down the hall. Don't worry, she's very much alive.'

  'What are you going to do to her?'

  'There's no need to go into any of that, Thea. This is going to sound like empty words, but I truly am sorry you've gotten tangled up in this mess. I really didn't want to involve you, but I didn't have a choice.'

  'How do you know my name?'

  'We've been looking for Court for quite some time. He was careful not to have his name or details on anything that could lead us to him. Unfortunately, you rented the apartment in your name that we tracked him to. He was staying with you, Thea. From the details we can find, he probably has been staying with you since you rented it last year. Strangely, it was around the same time we lost him. So, Thea. I don't suppose you want to tell me how you know Court?'

  'The best thing you can do is let us go before they come for us.'

  The bastard actually has the nerve to laugh at her. 'Well, well, well. You're feisty aren't you? I presume by 'they' you mean the Blackjacks.'

  'You really think they'll let you get away with taking her like this?'

  'I really couldn't care less. I'm more interested in you, Thea. You see, I think you mean something to Court. I think if I were to use you to lure him back to me, he'd come running. What do you think?'

  'I think you can go fuck yourself.'

  Thea grunts as he suddenly wraps his hand around her throat. His silver eyes glow in the dark as he squeezes. As she looks into his eyes Thea realises this might be the wrong person to taunt. There's nothing in his eyes but a cold, calm assurance. He'd kill her and walk away without giving her a second thought.

  'Keep pushing me and I will kill you and throw your body in the bottom of her cell. You need to understand that you mean nothing to me. You're human. Not worth my time. The only reason I haven't ripped your head off your shoulders is because I think I might have a use for you. Am I wrong?'

  She shakes her head.

  'Thought not. So, for the last time, Thea. How do you know Court?' He applies a little more pressure and his eyes glow brighter. 'My patience is running out.'

  'He's my brother.' There's no way she's telling this bastard the truth, but she had to tell him something or he'd kill her.

  He throws her back against the wall and leaves the room, locking the door behind him. She listens to his footsteps fade away before the lights turn on again.

  Thea stares at the door and wraps her arms around her legs as a chill settles over her. Whoever that vampire was, he terrifies her. If he uses her to get to Court, she knows it will work. Even though their relationship is strained right now, Court would come for her. There isn't the slightest doubt in her mind.

  She may never see Court again. Never see her father again. Never get a chance to apologise. To have him as her father. She's been an idiot the last few days. Court was right - she was acting like a spoilt brat. She buries her head in her knees and tells herself not to cry. Tears won't help her and they certainly won't help Nix. Only the Blackjacks can do that. She just hopes they find them before it's too late.

  58

  Court tries not to pace as Bastian gets up close and personal with any available surface he can get his hands on. He glances over her shoulder as Fallon and Davyn join him. Davyn has a bit more colour to his face and, with his wings back in his body, appears ready to fight. He nods at Court before joining Shep and Bastian.

  'He good?'

  Fallon shrugs. 'Beats me. He took more blood and kept it down which is a plus.'

  'You noticed that?'

  Fallon nods. 'He's always fed in private. Don't know what his issue is with feeding. Not going there with him. Think the fact he's Prime is the topic of the day. Back's a fucking mess, but he's strong. Pissed off too so I don't reckon the bad guys are in for a fun time. You manage to find Nix?'

  'I think so. Shep gave me a quick lesson on how to track her. I'm sure she's here somewhere, but as to where exactly, I have no idea. Then again, I haven't got a clue if I'm actually sensing her or if it's all in my mind. Guess we'll find out soon enough.'

  'How's Bas getting on?'

  Court shakes his head. 'Security's tight.'

  'Got something.'

  They hurry over to Bastian as he walks down an overgrown track leading away from the facility. He holds up his fist and points ahead. Court quietly makes his way to the front of the group. The trees thin in front of them to open out into a large clearing which leads to the edge of the mine. Dead centre of the open space he can make out the outline of a metal grate buried in the grass. 'What is it?'

  Bas is already crouched with his hand on the ground. 'Old escape shaft. It's alarmed, but nothing I can't handle with a little time. There's two of them. The other is about half a mile that way.' He points across the clearing to the trees at the far side. 'This one drops about ten feet then weaves back to the main compound. It's clear right now, but as soon as I take out the alarm, they'll know we're here.'

  'What are we facing?'

  Bastian closes his eyes and frowns slightly. 'Hard to tell. Two dozen.'

  'Nothing we can't handle.' Shep says as he rolls his shoulders. He's itching to get down there. Court can't blame him. He feels the same.

  'How close do you have to be to disarm the security?' He smiles sheepishly and Court knows the answer.

  'Right on top of it.'

  'Yeah, thought you'd say that. Okay. We ready?' One by one, the fighters nod. Court's eyes linger a little longer on Davyn. He's still pale but his unnerving glare is back in force. He's more than ready to say hello to the bastards.

  Bastian opens his eyes and looks over at him. Court nods once and Bas races across the clearing with the others. It takes him less than a minute to deal with the locks and another thirty seconds to deal with the alarm. Bas and Shep haul the heavy grate open and Court peers over the edge to the darkness below. Unlike the other facility, the air is cool and fresh.

  Court drops down, landing on the concrete floor and waits while the others join him in the tunnel. Davyn lands, wincing as he slowly pushes himself upright.

  'Davyn, can you pick up on Thea?'

  His head tilts to the side and frowns. 'Yeah, she's that way.'

  Court concentrates on doing what Shep told him to and smiles as he feels Nix nearby. He points in the same direction. 'Nix is that way too. That's something at least. Let's go.'

  A few minutes down the corridor they come to a three-way intersection. Davyn frowns and shakes his head. 'I've lost Thea.'

  'That just means her blood is out of his system,' Fallon says, noticing the look on Court's face. 'Can you get Nix?'

  'Left tunnel.' They take a few steps forward stop when Davyn shouts at them.

  'Wait!'

  They turn to look at Davyn. 'What it is?'

  'I don't know. I thought I heard something.' His eyes lock with Court's and glow brightly. 'Fuck!'

  Court opens his mouth to ask what's wrong, but instead gets shoved backwards by Davyn as an explosion ruptures the silence.

  59

  Rhain glances up as Maddox knocks on his door. 'We got trouble.' He tosses a tablet at Rhain and he looks down at the screen. The perimeter sensors have been dismantled.

  'They found us?' he asks, already running through an exit plan in his head.

  'Looks that way.'

  'That's impossible. There's no way...' his voice trails off as he realises there may have been a way. He pushes to his feet and hurries to the girl's room. He unlocks the door and, ignoring her shouts of protest, shoves her down onto the bed. He tears her collar away from her neck and growls when he sees the faint mark of two impressive fangs. 'Who fed from you?'

  She tries to extricate herself from under him, but he's not finished with her. 'Fuck you!' she shouts after her struggles get her nowhere.

  'Maddox, use Phoenix to convince her to talk.'

  Maddox smiles as he walks across the room and turns on the screen. She tries to get away from him when she sees Nix on the screen. She's hanging from her wrists, unmoving with her head down. She doesn't look like she's conscious. Maddox removes a remote from his pocket and grins widely as he pushes the button. Thea stares in horror as Nix's body jolts and she screams.

  'Stop!'

  Rhain turns her head so she's looking up at him. 'Who did you feed?'

  She shakes her head and Nix's screams intensify.

  'We can keep this up all day. How long can she last for, do you think? It's been what, less than a minute? Do you really think she'd survive being electrocuted for thirty minutes? How about three hours?'

  'It was one of the Blackjacks!'

  'I got that bit. I'll need a name, Thea.'

  'Why?'

  'I need to know who's coming for you.'

  She hesitates and Nix screams. 'Davyn! It was Davyn.'

  Rhain gestures to Maddox and Nix's screams die away. She looks up at the screen, but Maddox switches off the feed. Rhain gets up and straightens his shirt. 'Thank you, Thea.' He leaves the room, locking the door behind him.

  'You know this Davyn guy?'

  Rhain glances up at Maddox before he pulls his phone out of his pocket. 'I believe so. His name is familiar for some reason. Not that it matters. The Blackjacks are here. I very much doubt this Davyn would have come alone. We need to get out of here.'

  'What about the blood banks? We leaving them too?'

  'Up their levels of the enhancer. Give them ten times the dose then set them free. Kill the ones in the main lab. They've given me what I need.'

  'And Phoenix?'

  As much as Rhain would love to take her out of the equation, he decides against it. He could do without starting an all-out war with the Blackjacks. Killing Phoenix would cause him more problems than it would solve. 'Leave her alive. Bring Thea with us though. She's the key to getting Court back.'

  Rhain hurries back to his office to gather his belongings. Time to relocate the project for a second time. At least he'll have the girl with him. One step closer to getting his donor back.

  Court coughs and groans as he pushes to his knees. His ears are ringing, and he can taste blood in his mouth. 'Anyone hear me?' There's nothing but static in his comms. 'Hello!'

  'Yeah.'

  He breathes a sigh of relief when he hears Shep. 'Where are you?'

  'On the other side of this fucking wall. I've got Willow with me. We're both okay. I can hear Bas and Fallon in the other tunnel.'

  'Davyn?'

  The silence stretches on for a minute before he hears a gruff 'yeah' from Dav.

  'Are you okay?'

  'Yeah. Heard the timer. Sorry about the shove.'

  Court gets to his feet and brushes himself off. 'Never apologise for that.' The rescue isn't quite working out how he planned, but at least they're all alive - separated, but alive. 'Shep, can you get Bas to find out where the hell we are?'

  'Nix is further along your corridor, Court. Dav can get Thea. The rest of us can loop around and get to the main lab down a side tunnel. It'll take a bit longer though. You might be on your own for a bit.'

  He checks his gun and finds it still in its holster. 'No problem. Keep comms open. Hopefully the corridor will clear once we get nearer the main facility. ‘Stay safe.'

  He wipes the blood from his mouth, takes his gun out and walks away from the team.

  60

  Court slows as he nears the main room at the end of the corridor. She's in there. He can feel her. He peers around the corner and finds himself looking at exactly the same set-up as the lab they found in the forest. Twelve cells are against the back wall. All of them open except for the one at the end. The one housing Nix.

  He pauses as someone comes out of the other passageway and walks over to Nix. Court leaves his hiding place and quietly approaches the man. Before he realises he has company, Court snaps his neck, then lowers the man's body to the ground. Court steps over the man, his heart hammering in his chest as he nears her cell.

  She's hanging by her wrists and her head is down. The air is heavy with the scent of her blood.

  He's too late.

  Fearing the worst, Court slowly approaches the cell, dread building with each step. One of the screens in front of the cell is displaying stats of some kind. It takes him a few seconds to realise it's Nix's vitals. He examines the data closely and smiles. She's got a heartbeat. It's weak but it's there.

  'Guys. I got Nix.'

  Static again.

  'Fuck! Where the hell is Bas when you need him?'

  He gives up on the computer screens and goes around the back of the metal cage. Like the ones they found in the old mine, this one is wired to a power source. With no other visible solution, he unhooks the thick cable from the back of the cell and climbs out from behind it. He freezes when he sees another lab technician staring at him. The man reaches for his radio, but Court is faster. He grabs the man around the neck and pulls him close. 'Open the cell.' The technician stares at him, getting locked in Court's gaze. Court can feel him relax in his grip as he continues to look up at Court.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30