Breaking the Nexus (Mythrian Realm) (11 page)

“Should I come back later?” Ian asked from the doorway, holding a box of evidence.

“No need,” Connor replied, bending down to take her mouth one last time. Wasn’t like his partner didn’t already know they were involved. “Let’s get started.”

*******

Sha sat on the hardwood floor of the living room, surrounded by a veritable mountain of evidence encased in clear bags. They didn’t collect anywhere near this amount in Mythria, but she supposed it helped that they could use magic to assist in finding criminals. She lifted a brow at the men. “I’m hoping I’m allowed to open some of these bags because otherwise we’re wasting our time.”

“The captain cleared it in light of recent events. He said the department needs all the help it can get at this point and we’ll deal with any chain of custody questions when they come,” Ian answered.

“Good. I’ll start with the latest scene since it’ll be freshest.”

“Can I ask you something?” Ian said after a moment of hesitation.

“Uh huh.” Eyes closed in concentration, she eased open the bag containing the white shroud that had covered the woman’s body and braced herself for the shock as she made physical contact with the cloth.

“Why the blue streaks?”

“Signifies my class. One of them at least,” she said absently. Emotions from both victim and killer battered her. Terror, excitement, agony, a feeling of superiority. She let them wash over her, focusing instead on the underlying thread belonging solely to the perpetrator.

“What does that mean?” Connor asked.

At any other time, she would have snapped at the men to leave her in peace, yet for once their voices seemed to be helping her maintain focus. This guy was smart and powerful; she was sure he was trying to obscure the magical signature left behind, but lucky for her, she was better. She had to be careful though, it’d be easy to fall into a trap and open the door for the suspect to enter her own mind.

“Blue is for the water element; I’m an Aquarum Sorceri. It’s customary to display the colors of your classes to help identify you, and it’s my favorite color. Helps give me an edge in battle too, because I also belong to the Infernum class. People attack thinking I have limited offensive magic, only to wind up with a nasty surprise.”

“Very smart,” Connor murmured and his praise warmed her.

The trail was winding and complicated, filled with subtle pitfalls designed to make her slip up. Her energy was beginning to wane and she was nowhere near reaching the source. Almost as if he’d read her thoughts, she felt Connor rise and position himself behind her, his hand at the nape of her neck. How he’d known to do that was a mystery, but she was grateful. Almost immediately, he bolstered her flagging energy.

Clever girl, you don’t really think you’re a match for me do you?

Shock rippled through her system and she came close to dropping the connection. The low voice in her mind mocked her with similar praise to what Connor had uttered, and it pissed her off.

Who are you?
Sha responded.

You can call me ‘Nightmare.’

Nightmare? Really? It sounded like something a child would come up with. A searing blast of pain exploded in her brain and she clenched her teeth to hold back the scream that had risen.

“Sha?” Connor’s voice sounded harsh, concerned.

“Fine. I’m fine. Little busy at the moment.”

Gentle fingers massaged her head, releasing some of the tension and the agony lessened to a dull throb. Gods that helped. If she hadn’t already started falling for him, that right there would have triggered it. Wait, what was she thinking? She couldn’t be falling for him already…could she?

You will respect me, you little bitch. That was a taste of what I can do to you.

I’m terrified.
She hoped she’d adequately conveyed the sarcasm with that last phrase. It was so hard to know how things sounded with telepathy, though she refused to show fear to the mystery man. He’d only feed off it and use it against her. Granted, she could push him to strike out again with her sarcasm, but hey life was a gamble, right?

You have fire, I’ll give you that. You’re nothing compared to me. You can’t stop what’s coming. Why try?
The voice was taunting her now.

Is this the part where you offer to let me join you to save my life?
Wasn’t that what always happened in books?

Menacing laughter rang through her head, the sound like nails scraping glass.
Why would I want you to join me? You have nothing to offer except fleeting amusement while I watch you suffer and die.

My, aren’t we a cocky bastard.
Sha kept working the threads in her mind, trying to isolate the signature that belonged to the sinister voice. She couldn’t bring herself to call him ‘Nightmare’ like he wanted; maybe she’d call him ‘Pitiful’ instead. Another burst of agony filled her mind. Mother Night that hurt. She doubled over before she could halt the movement.

“Sha, what the hell is going on? Talk to me,” Connor demanded, his arms around her, supporting her against his chest and giving her an anchor point.

“I think—” Pausing to take a breath to steady herself, she shook her head, as if that would actually shake free the voice. “I think I’m talking to the killer.”

Connor let loose a string of emphatic curses. “Please tell me you’re joking and that you’re
not
having a conversation with the mad man who murdered at least four people, one of whom was made to look like you.”

A wan smile creased her lips. “Sorry, I can’t.”

“Break off. Now.” Despite the firm directive issued in a steady tone, Sha could sense his fear and worry for her.
 

“It’s our best chance to identify him. Give me a little more time.”

“I don’t like this. Screw catching this guy if you give him the means with which to take you out.”

“He won’t, trust me. He’s playing with me now, said to call him ‘Nightmare.’ A few more minutes, it’s all I need. I’m breaking through the complex maze intended to keep me out.”

He wanted to argue, she could tell from his body language, but she had to give him credit. All he did was position her so her back rested against his chest, the contact helping her further ground herself. “Hurry it up, temptress. We’ve got other work to do.”

You care for him, that pathetic, weak human male? I’ll kill him first and relish in your despair while you watch him scream and writhe as he begs me to end his life.

Fury ignited within her.
Burn in hell, you son of a bitch.

Tsk, tsk. So impulsive. I’d hoped your Aquarum traits would temper the impulsivity of your Infernum. You disappoint me.

How did the bastard know her classes? Come to think of it, how had he known about Connor? He shouldn’t be able to sense anything but her direct thoughts, not with her shields in place. Apprehension knotted her belly and she struggled to maintain her composure.
Am I supposed to care?

I know all about you Sha Phoenix. I’d hoped you would prove a worthy adversary, but I was wrong. You are pitiable. Submit to me now and I’ll make your death swift. You cannot defeat me, cannot stop the coming tide.

She broke through the last of the defenses he’d erected and she got the impression of a name. “Corvelli,” she murmured aloud, hoping one of the men would think to write it down. A bellow of rage echoed in her mind.

Not so pitiable now, am I?
Triumph surged through her at the small victory of besting his mental fortifications.

You will regret that. Before I’m finished with you, you will pray for death.

Raw, blinding agony exploded once more, intensifying with every beat of her heart until finally it was too much and she fell into oblivion.

Fury engulfed him as her scream of excruciating, unadulterated torment echoed throughout his house. God, she’d sounded like she was being tortured in the pits of hell. She’d passed out after a few seconds, and he hadn’t been sure whether he should be worried or grateful she was beyond pain.

The risk she’d taken in holding the conversation chilled him to the bone. Little fool, he thought as he looked at her pale, strained face coated in a sheen of sweat. Her reckless disregard for her own welfare terrified him even as her courage awed him. He couldn’t define his feelings for her, only knew that seeing her endure such agony while he’d been helpless had ripped him to shreds, leaving him hollow inside.

“Connor?” Ian’s voice sounded nearly as shaky as he felt.

“Find out what that name means.” He shifted her, laying her out on the floor so he could check her vitals.
 

“Is she alright?” His partner knelt on the other side of Sha, eyes filled with concern.

“She’ll be fine.” There was no other possible outcome, he wouldn’t
allow
any other outcome. Her pulse was rapid, yet strong and steady. That had to be a good sign, right?

“I’m going to grab my laptop from the trunk, I’ll be right back.”

Connor grunted, his only acknowledgement that he’d heard Ian’s words. Every fiber of his being was focused on Sha. “Come on, temptress, wake up. It’s time to stop scaring me.” What if that son of a bitch had done some kind of permanent damage to her? What if she couldn’t wake up?

No, he was being ridiculous.
She’d be fine
. Cradling her in his arms, he rose heading toward the bedroom. Ian would figure out where he’d gone and he wanted to get her somewhere more comfortable than a hardwood floor.
 

Once inside, he set her gently on the bed, pulling the covers over her. Her skin felt clammy, sticky with sweat, and it certainly wouldn’t be a pleasant way to wake up. Glad to have something tangible he could do, Connor soaked a washcloth in cool water and dabbed it over her face and neck, wiping away the physical remnants of that hellish encounter.
 

It would take a hell of a lot more than a damp rag to wipe it from his memories; he didn’t think anything would erase the image of seeing her face contorted, her back bowed, the brutal cry being ripped from her throat. As he continued to run the cloth over her, he vowed to hunt down the bastard and make him pay for every ounce of pain he’d inflicted on his woman.
 

A low moan drew his mind out of the red haze of revenge. “Sha?” Connor asked, dropping the washcloth on the floor and cupping his hands around her face.

“Yeah?”

“You okay, sweetheart?” Dumbass question, of course she wasn’t okay. She was probably still suffering the aftereffects of whatever happened.

“I’m alive, not sure if I want to be, but I’m alive. Mother Night that sadistic bastard is going to die and I’m going to find a way to inflict a hundred times worse torture than what he did. Don’t know how, but I’ll find a way.”

In spite of the worry, he managed to crack a smile. “Only you would battle wits with a madman and one of your first thoughts upon waking would be how you’re going to kill him.”

“Hey, you signed up to be with me, didn’t you?”

He slid his fingers into her hair, massaging her temples with careful pressure. She moaned again, though this time he thought it was more in relief than pain. “Yes, I did, and you’re stuck with me now. When you’re feeling better, we’re going to have a little chat about your propensity for getting yourself into trouble.”

“Lecture me all you want, just don’t stop what you’re doing. You helped more than you realize, did you know that?”

“How was that?”

“Gave me energy and a focus so I could ground myself and he couldn’t trap me.”

His fingers paused. “There was a chance he could trap you? As in you wouldn’t be able to get out?” In deference to her pounding head, he kept his tone level, although rage seethed within him. “When were you going to tell me that?”

Lashes fluttered open and sapphire eyes swimming with pain and a tinge of annoyance met his. “First of all, I just did. Second of all, cut me some slack, we just met. Not used to someone caring about me like that.”

“Get used to it. Next time warn me so I can actually do something.”

“He took me by surprise and even if I’d warned you, there wouldn’t have been much you
could
do. You can’t fight what you can’t see, Connor.”

“You’re going to give me a heart attack one day, aren’t you?”

“My mother and father used to say that to me all the time.”

“It’s no wonder. Rest, Ian’s looking into the meaning of the name and I’ll go down to help him soon.”

“No argument here. My head’s killing me and it’s making me nauseous.”

“Call me if you need anything. And Sha, I want you to promise me something.”

“I will if I can.”

“Promise you’ll at least
try
to think before you act, for my sake.”

Her lips twitched. “No guarantees, but I’ll try.”

“Thank you. Now sleep.” Smoothing her hair back from her face, he watched as it relaxed. When he was sure she’d gone under, he pressed a gentle kiss to her brow and stood up, finally unleashing the wrath he’d banked until he’d known she was going to be fine.

Oh, yes…someone was going to pay.

*******

“How’s she doing?” Ian asked from his seat at the table as Connor came down the stairs.

“Hurting but asleep now. Have you found anything?” Connor went to the sink and splashed cool water on his face, bracing his hands on the counter as he worked through the anger.

“Not a whole lot so far. I think the name could belong to a Jack Corvelli who lives here in Denver. There’s not much on him that I’ve been able to find. A few convictions for misdemeanors and a couple busts for drug possession, but nothing that pops for committing the sort of brutal homicides we’ve seen.”

“This guy Sha was talking to, he’s smart. She might’ve gotten intel from him, though I doubt we’re lucky enough to have gotten his name outright. My guess is this Corvelli is linked to him but not our perpetrator. See if you can find an address on him.”

“Maybe. Guy’s last known address is about twenty five minutes from here.”

“Perfect, I want to pay him a visit.”

“Connor, I know you’re livid, but don’t do something stupid. You can’t help if you get yourself thrown in jail on assault charges.”