Burden Of Blood (23 page)

“Nicole, open your eyes!”

She felt a hand firmly grasping her own.  She mentally shook herself as she forced her eyes to open.  Rhys and Sage were crouched down, shielding their faces from the tornado spinning around her.  Luke was standing at her side, in the eye of the twister, with wide, pleading eyes.  “Oh God, Luke,” she buried her face into his chest and cried for her friend.

Chapter 13

Time crept by as Nicole waited for sunset.  She couldn’t get Kat’s bruised face out of her mind.  Those swollen eyes and torn clothes were so far away from anything she could have imagined being done to her friend.  The way Kat cringed at Spade’s touch made her wonder if things had gone much farther than she had seen moments ago.  Her pores oozed hatred for Spade as she relived him slapping her friend over and over again in her mind.  She looked down at her hands thinking about how helpless she was to stop him from putting that poison into Kat’s arm.  “These hands will not miss again,” she muttered to herself as she paced, a ball of blue fire spinning in her palm.

“Time to go,” said Luke.  He ran his fingers along her cheek but she turned her face away, moving out of his reach.

“Don’t, please,” she looked out across the darkening sky, unable to meet his eyes.  “I’ve lost who I am by letting myself give in to my desires.  It’s my fault Kat is bloody, bruised and drugged out of her mind somewhere in a dark, cold cellar, with a sadistic trader for company.”

“Nicole, you can’t blame yourself for this,” he moved to her side.  “This is not your fault.” He said each word slow then slammed his hand down on the porch railing.  “You can’t turn your back on life.”

She stood there, eyes shining with unshed tears but with her chin lifted high as she stared forward.  “I must do this alone.  Thank you for your help,” she paused to steady her shaking voice, “your job is done.  You’ve fulfilled your oath to Queen Titania so you can leave now.  I have nothing to offer you.”

“Nicole you don’t…”

“Yes I do, and my mind is made up.” She turned to walk away but he stopped her by the arm.

He brushed her hair back from her forehead as he stared into her ghostly eyes.  “I will not walk away.” He moved so his lips were only inches away from hers, “I can’t live without you.”

Nicole stared for what felt like an eternity into his hazel eyes, feeling the pull in her soul and the breaking of her heart.  “We all have to make sacrifices.” She moved around him and walked to the black Chevelle.  Without another glance, she closed the door and drove away.

Her tears trailed down her face as she drove.  She sobbed in silence as she told herself this was the right thing to do.  “I knew this was how my life had to be.  All this dream did was get people hurt.” She wiped her tears away on her sleeve then set her face in stone.  “I don’t have time to be soft.  I have to save Kat and put an end to Loch.” She pulled the car over to the shoulder of the road and walked around, opening the trunk.  Her police gear was packed neatly in her duffel bag.  She began unpacking and dressing.  She strapped her bulletproof vest on, then slid her arms into her holster that held her gun, covering it all with a blue windbreaker.  She hoped to make it inside without being searched, maybe thenwith her added powersshe would stand a chance of getting Kat out safe.

A few miles later, she was making her final turn to the airfield.  She turned down the deserted stretch of road at ten minutes before eight.  As she made the first curve, she slammed the brakes down, stopping a few feet from the side of a sleek, black Tahoe.  Ronald leaned casually against the side of the vehicle, the barrel of his shotgun shining in her headlights.  Her blood started to boil at the sight of the man who had stabbed her dad.  She had to push her power down to keep from setting him on fire as anger raged in her mind.

He motioned for her to get out as he walked around to the passenger side of the Chevelle.  He leaned over, looking into the seat then moved around to Nicole.  “Good girl, you’re not as stupid as you hick girls sound,” he glared at her, not a hint of humor in his voice.  “How’s your daddy?” he smirked.

“Where’s Kat?” Nicole demanded, restraining herself from reacting to his taunting remark.  She scanned the area for any other active minds but there was nothing.

“You’ll see her soon enough.” He motioned to his car, “Get in.”

Nicole did not hesitate, she knew that Kat wasn’t here and the only way to get to her was to go with Ronald.  She moved to the car, careful to keep him in her sight as she opened the door and slid inside.  He stood for a moment staring at her, then he turned to walk to the driver’s side.  Nicole let a small sigh escape when she felt sure that he wasn’t going to search her.  Not that it would do much good to shoot him now, but at least she would have her gun when they got to where they were going.

Nicole watched out of the window as the Tahoe moved down the dark road.  Her own reflection looked back at her.  “Why so quiet, sweetie?  You’re not back there trying to hatch a plan are you?” He glanced at her in the review mirror.  “Just a little word of advice, save everyone you love and go quietly.  Loch will not stop until he has you.” He shrugged his shoulders.  “No point in resisting.”

The sky was now dark with a large, full moon hanging in the sky.  The lights of the air strip lit up the horizon as they drew closer to the gate.  “Why can’t he just leave me alone?” She spat out between clenched jaws, realizing her time to gather information was closing.

“Ah, now princess, don’t act dumb.  It’s not very becoming of you.” He studied her face as he slowed the car to a stop in front of the gate.  Whatever he saw did not stop him from continuing.  “Whoever has you controls the entire fae kingdom.  Not too hard to figure out.” He opened his door, then stopped, “Don’t try anything.  If we don’t show up on time, your pretty little friend, well,” he paused staring at her with dark cold eyes, “she will
wish
she was dead.” He moved with lightning speed to the front of the car, sliding the gate which was covered with razor wire open.

Up until that second, Nicole had let herself forget Ronald was a warrior.  He had managed to evade Luke at the airport with super human speed but looking at him, she didn’t notice there was anything special.  She found herself wondering if he had any other powers, outside of being a cold-blooded murderer.  She tried to probe his mind but a wall of energy slammed her back into her seat.

Ronald turned to face her with a malice-filled smile stretching his steely face.  He shook his head tapping his temple with his index finger, “So you have learned a few tricks since that day in the woods.  I thought you might have been able to feel me then but I couldn’t get a clear read on you.  I honestly thought they had me gunning for the wrong country bumpkin but look at you, all grown up.” He slid back under the wheel and put the car in drive.  “Loch will be pleased.”

He pulled the car to a stop in front of the airport hangar where a sleek plane was sitting on the runway.  There standing next to a tan Lincoln was Spade.  He was resting casually against his car only now he had changed into a dark blue suit but still wore the cocky look in his eyes that she remembered from the cellar when he sadistically beat Kat.  She could feel her power struggling to get out, seeking revenge for her friend, looking to put an end to the traitor that she hated, but she contained it.  She needed to find Kat first, after that, there would be time to take care of him.

She opened her door and stepped out.  Before she could step away from the door, Ronald had her pinned against the car.  “Time for you to drop this, honey.” He reached inside of her jacket and pulled out the concealed gun, waving it in her face.

Spade strolled over to her clicking his tongue, “Now you didn’t think I was
that
dumb did you?” He chuckled dryly, pulling her around by her hair so their faces were cheek to cheek.  “Umm,” he groaned deeply as he took her scent into his nose, “I do hope you decide to be a bad girl today, I’ve waited so long for the chance to teach you a lesson.”

She gritted her teeth from the pain coursing through her head, “Where is Kat you slimy piece of shit?” She scanned the area for any sign of Kat’s mind but there was still nothing.

“She’s taking a little nap,” he winked, pulling her hair tighter causing her to wince in pain.  “If you go without a fight, your sweet little friend will wake up a free woman,” he moved his hand up to her face as he ran his tongue along her earlobe.  “But if you fight me, she will die and so will you.”

“Tell me Spade, what’s in this for you?” she spat out, pulling her face away from his mouth.  “Why would they bring a slime ball like you into this when you’re just a weak, cruel, little man?”

“I don’t ask questions and they pay well.” He shrugged as he released his grip on her taking a step back.  “I’ll be relaxing on a beach, sipping a beer and watching the sunset as soon as I get your pretty little ass on that plane.”

“You think it will be that easy?” she smirked. “The department knows you were involved with Ronald.  They have your cell phone and bank records, so that means they won’t stop looking for you.” She watched his face turn hard and his shoulders stiffen.

“I guess I’ll just have to go a little farther then.  Now come on, time to move.” He gave her a hard shove, causing her to stumble and slide to the ground.

Nicole stared at the pavement, her mind racing to figure out a way to make them show Kat.  She searched again with her mind getting blocked from Ronald’s head.  Spade’s mind was a mass of hatred as he tried to work out another plan of escape, but more mumbling poured into her mind.  She held her breath as she tried to make out the words but whoever the person was, he had to be just on the edge of her range, causing interference like the static from a radio station.  She scrunched her brows together, trying to expand her power further but Spade jerked her up by her arm before she could focus on the voice again.  “I’m not going anywhere until you show me Kat.” She dug her heels into the ground and jerked her arm away from him.

He glared at her, his mouth was drawn into a tight line and his eyes were narrow slits.  He shoved one finger toward her face.

“Give her what she wants,” Ronald stood staring off into the woods surrounding the small airport.  “We are running out of time.”

Spade shot her a daggered look then turned, walking to the trunk of his car.  He popped it open with the button on his keys and reached inside pulling Kat’s limp body out.  He leaned her against the bumper, forcing her upright.  He held her wobbling face with one hand then slapped her across the cheek.  Kat whined from the pain as she tried to control her drugged body, fighting to move away from Spade.  “See?  She’s still alive.” He turned back to Nicole, letting Kat slide hard onto the ground.  “Now move!”

Nicole stood there staring into the face of her best friend.  She didn’t look like herself at all, the swelling and bruising was above anything she had ever seen as a police officer and there was no trace of the self-confident woman she knew as her best friend.  Spade had broken her.  She might live through today but she would be scared for the rest of her life.

Nicole walked toward the idling airplane because there was no other choice.  If Loch got her, would he leave everyone she loved alone?  They could all go back to their safe, normal lives and she would live out her fate, however short it was.  She suddenly stopped where she was as thoughts rang out loud and clear in her head.  “Don’t get on that plane.” Sage’s voice was as clear as if she were standing next to her.

Nicole spun on her heels taking in Spade’s confused expression as he watched Ronald crouch down, backing toward the plane.  She took the opportunity to send a gust of wind toward Spade while he was distracted, hurling him backwards.  She felt a rush of wind pass her, filling her nose with the scent of Luke’s woodsy aftershave.  She watched as he dove into Ronald.  Both of his hands were blazing with blue flames as he sailed through the air reaching for Ronald’s neck but missing.  The rogue warrior dodged the attack with a speed even Nicole’s superhuman eyes had trouble tracking.  Luke rolled to his feet but Ronald was already on him, kicking him in the side of his head.  Luke quickly recovered from the blow as he spun around slinging balls of blue flame into Ronald’s chest, but only one met its mark, causing him to stagger backwards.