Burden Of Blood (21 page)

“They are hatching a plan while we stand here, doing nothing.”

“I’m sure that’s what they will be thinking but,” He pulled her close, running the backside of his fingers along the length of her jaw, “we are going to get you ready to fight, like the true super warrior you are.” He placed a tender kiss on her lips then added, “I’m going to call Sage.  We will need her help too.”

“Sage?” she sputtered “That crazy woman hates you and I’m not too sure that she doesn’t hate me too.”

He chuckled, “I don’t care for her much either but she was right about me not being able to teach you everything you need to know.  I can help with your warrior half and she can teach you to control your fae blood.” He let out a deep sigh as he pulled back looking her in the eyes.  “I can’t let you keep wandering around blind.  This may be the only way to save Kat.”

Nicole stared into his deep hazel eyes, watching his forehead crease with lines as he waited for her to answer.  She would do anything to save Kat and she still owed someone for what happened to her dad, be it Ronald, Detective Spade or Loch…someone was going to pay.  “Call her.”

*****

Nicole stood in almost the exact spot where she started her morning yesterday only this time there was Sage, the Gothic fae in the group and James had decided to pull up a lawn chair to enjoy the show.  “No pressure,” she mumbled to herself as she tried to focus on setting fire to her hands for about the hundredth attempt this hour.  So far, she had only managed to make her palms glow.  Focusing was proving to be difficult for her today.  She had gotten very little sleep last night as the hurt look in Kat’s eyes kept playing over and over again in her head.  That coupled with the guilt of putting her friend in danger only added to her insomnia.

And today her mind kept drifting back to her best friend, wondering if she was okay, wishing she had some way to find her and regretting that she hadn’t told her everything when she had the chance.

“You are going about this all wrong,” said Sage who had been quiet since her arrival out of nowhere moments after they walked into the pasture.  Nicole wanted to question that trick but decided she had enough on her plate as it was, so she added it to her “Need to Know Later” list.  “She needs to figure out how to control her mind first, then everything else will be simple.” She was leaning up against a fence post picking at her black fingernail polish as if she were bored out of her mind by the training session.  She was still dressed in all black, but today the leather was replaced by a long flowing dress with a black and silver corset around her waist, boosting her ample breast.  A large silver cross lay on her pale white chest but she was still wearing the bright red lipstick that Nicole had came to think of as Sage’s trademark.

“Well we didn’t call you here to stand around and look like death warmed over,” Luke snapped at her.  It was obvious that the two hated each other beyond words even though he had swallowed his pride and asked her to help.  But already the tension between the two was thick.  “Show her what she needs to know,” he hissed.

A sly grin stretched across Sage’s lips as she pushed off from the post.  She sashayed up to Luke, blowing a kiss in his face as she passed then she glanced at Rhys, who still wasn’t acting like his normal cocky self, and gave him a flirty wink.  “About time they realized where your true greatness comes from.” She pushed her hair back behind her ear, revealing the pointed tip and adding an exclamation point to her comment.

Nicole rolled her eyes at Sage’s show and was sure she heard James chuckling softly from his chair.  “The stupid warriors are making this too complicated.  You’re a smart girl, after all, you are half fae, so we’ll make this fast.  I’ve got places to be and people to do.” Sage winked at Nicole as she grabbed her by the shoulders, turning her until her back was to the warriors.  “Close your eyes and picture a door in your mind.”

“What?” Nicole twisted her face, “Meditation is your big idea to help me?”

“No.  Now do what I said before I change my mind about helping you,” Sage placed a hand on her hip as she waited.

Nicole let out an exasperated breath as she closed her eyes.  “Fine.”

“Picture a door that is closed, and behind that door is all the power your blood holds, fae and warrior, both waiting for you to let it out.”

Nicole could see a door in her mind.  An aged wooden door carved with beautiful intertwined knots and a large gold handle.  Around the door, she could see the glow of light shining through the small cracks.  “I see it,” she whispered.

“Good, now reach out and open the door.”

Nicole felt Sage place one hand on her left shoulder and the other one directly over her heart.  Her body tensed from the closeness of the strange woman but she ignored it, refocusing on the door in her vision.  She took a deep breath to steady herself then mentally reached for the door, pulling it open.

First, the light was blinding, a kaleidoscope of reds and blues covered her vision but the pain that followed forced her body to crumple to the ground.  A jolt of electricity overtook her, starting in her chest then following the path of each vein and traveling every inch of her.  Then there was blackness.

“Ye bloody killed her, ye winch!” Rhys’ voice was rough and strained as it echoed in Nicole’s ears.  She could feel someone holding her and stroking her hair in slow soothing movements.

“She’s fine, see?  She’s breathing again,” Sage said, her tone was casual as though near death experiences were nothing new to her.

Nicole tried to speak but only a small moan escaped her lips.  Aftershocks jerked her body as she tried to move but the biggest problem was the constant mumbling.  Her dad was cursing, “That bitch tried to kill my baby!” and Luke kept repeating, “Please let her be all right, please let her be all right.” She tried again to move, this time focusing on just her arm but nothing happened.  Her body had short-circuited, refusing to obey her mind’s commands.  She decided to start small by trying to open her eyes.  After a few moments of concentration she managed to force a small opening between her lids.  Her blurred vision revealed the silhouette of someone cradling her and soon the scent of musk filled her nose which she recognized as Luke’s.  She tried to say his name but, once again, only a small moan was audible.

“Stop fussing over her Luke, she’s waking up.  I can hear her mind running in circles.” Sage snorted a small laugh then added.  “You’ll be bowing to my greatness soon enough, you just wait.”

The air around Nicole whooshed in her ears as Luke lifted her up and started carrying her toward the house.  She tried again to open her eyes, but managed only a quick flutter before they closed shut again.  She could hear Rhys saying, “Me princess shouldn’t put up with that scanger fae, maybe she will have a row wif her when she comes to.  Would serve the scrubber right, it would.” She waited for the explosion from Sage after Rhys’ blunt words but none were said.  They entered the house and Luke laid her down on the couch.

“Why isn’t she waking up?” James asked, his voice quavering as if tears were just seconds away.

“She is.” Sage snapped.

Nicole listened as a string of profanities poured from her dad.  She had never heard him talk like this before.  Sure, he would sometimes say the small ones but never had he used “fuck” and “bitch” within seconds of each other.  “Dad, stop cussing out Sage.  You’re freaking me out,” she whispered.

A shrill laugh came from Sage causing Nicole’s ears to ring.  “I told you!” she giggled again, “You may kiss my feet now… better yet, how about ye kiss me arse ye warrior buffoons,” she bellowed in a horrid Irish accent.

“What is she talking about?” Nicole whispered as she forced her eyes to crack open again.

“You heard inside my head Nicole.  I wasn’t cursing Sage out loud… but you heard me.”

“Not just you Pops,” added Sage with a smirk, “she is hearing all of you.” The smile was evident in her voice.  Nicole could picture her bright red lips stretched into an arrogant smile.  “Her mind is firing off in so many directions that I can’t keep up.”

Nicole managed to turn her head toward the group who were gaping at her like she was some kind of cool science experiment.  “What did you do to me?” she groaned.  A slow feed of energy began charging into her catatonic body causing her limbs to tingle.

“I stopped your heart.”

“You killed me!” Nicole pushed herself up onto her elbows despite the protests coming from her arms and head.  She tried to glare at Sage but her vision blurred in and out of focus from the sudden movement.

“Yes,” laughed Sage, “Brilliant strategy if I do say so myself.  I watched inside of your mind until you touched the power then, bam,” she popped her hands together in front of her. “I zapped you with enough energy to stop your heart from beating, then it was all up to you.  Either you’d embrace the power or die.” She leaned against the wall, giving Nicole a quick wink as she beamed a bright smile.

“How did you know it was going to work?” asked Luke, his brows almost vanishing into his hair line.

“I didn’t,” Sage shrugged, “but it did and now she will be able to really train.  The power will flow without her having to force anything.”

“What about this?” Nicole pointed a shaking finger to her temple.  “I’m hearing everything all at once.  Everyone else is so loud that I’m fighting to hear my own thoughts.”

“Easy, I’ll help you,” said Sage.

“Not if it involves killing me again.” Nicole rubbed her temples as she sat up on the couch.  She was starting to feel more herself again but different at the same time.  Like she had just run a marathon but her muscles were stronger and faster from the sheer experience of the race and only minutes after she crossed the finish line.

“You shouldn’t have taken a chance with her life.  That was very foolish and arrogant of you Sage,” snapped Luke, his eyes were ringed in red and his hands fisted at his sides.

“Easy, down boy,” teased Sage as she turned her attention back to Nicole.  “Just simple training, I’ll show you how to block out everyone and how to shield your mind from other readers, like myself.  Then you can get back to learning the other, less important, half of yourself.”

Nicole could hear the fight building in Rhys’ and Luke’s heads as the insult sunk in.  She stuck a hand up in front of the two men before they could speak their minds, “Not worth it so just stop.” She pushed up from the couch turning to face the Gothic fae, “Let’s do this. We are running out of time to save Kat.”

*****

To Nicole’s surprise, Sage was a great teacher, and in no time Nicole could block other people’s thoughts fairly well.  But then again, when your coach is suggesting pornographic thoughts of having sex with you, you’ll do whatever it takes to close your mind off.  A shutter crept down her spine as the image of Sage’s tongue gliding up her neck flashed into her mind.  “Stop that,” she groaned rolling her eyes at her grinning instructor.

“You let down your guard.  You have to learn to hold it in place until you want to hear me,” she blew Nicole a playful kiss.  “Unless you’ve decided you like what you hear.” She purred.  “No?” she poked out her bottom lip, “well maybe later.”

After another hour of practice, Nicole had a good handle on blocking the Gothic seductress out of her head as well as keeping Sage from reading her mind, most of the time.

Luke opened the door, stepping out onto the back patio where the two women sat.  Before he could speak, Sage rolled her eyes, “Yes it’s your turn with the princess now.” She huffed while leaning back into her lounge chair.