Lauren (Keegan's Chronicles Spin Off) (24 page)

One of the guards, kicked back with his feet up on the desk, nodded his head in their direction. “Fitzgerald. What are you doing here so late?”

Galen tossed his arm around Lauren’s shoulder and pulled her close. “I was out on a date and realized I left my wallet in my desk.”

The burly guard shook his head and laughed. “Well, that’s not the way to impress a beautiful girl.”

“Don’t remind me.” Galen shook his head and squeezed Lauren’s shoulder.

Lauren smiled. “He’s worth it.”

With a wave to the guards, Galen held her close and pulled her away from the desk. Her heart skipped a beat being so close to Galen. He smelled delicious, and Lauren wanted to bury her face in his shoulder. What was wrong with her? She shouldn’t have thoughts like that when the fate of humankind hung in the balance.

She smiled up at him as he led her past the elevators and into the central corridor. “That was smooth.”

“I don’t like to use mind control if I can help it. It leaves the person feeling off for a while afterwards.”

“I remember,” Lauren said wryly. “Do you know where the refrigerators are? There are four. I sensed one was in the front of the building. I can ask them, but it would be quicker if you knew.”

Galen thought about it for a moment. “I know of three. There’s a break room, a kitchen, and one in the gym.”

“There’s a gym here?”

“Of course. You don’t think they actually do any work around here, do you? The break room is in here.” Galen came to a stop and pushed the metal door open.

They entered a dark room. Galen reached around the corner to flip the switch for the fluorescent lights, illuminating four round tables with chairs, a snack machine, soda machine, and a long table in the back of the room. Swiftly, they made their way to the small fridge next to the table. Lauren reached down and pulled the door open. A slice of chocolate cake, a clear plastic container of pasta, and a few bottled drinks.

“One down, three to go,” Lauren murmured.

“I doubt it’s in the kitchen. Too many hands there,” Galen said thoughtfully.

“Let’s just check real quick. No use in leaving stones unturned.”

Galen nodded, and they made their way out of the room and down the hall. He led her up a small side staircase and into a large, open room that resembled a school auditorium. She wondered what they did in there, but didn’t bother to ask. She really didn’t want to know anything more about her ex.

They walked across the large room and out the door on the other side, their footsteps echoing. It was creepy being in the building at night with all the lights low and nobody around.

In the kitchen, behind the second door on the left, Lauren wasn’t surprised to see top of the line equipment, all shiny stainless steel.
Only the best for the psychos.

But they struck out in the kitchen, too. The fully stocked fridge held food and drinks, but nothing that looked like a deadly virus—unless she counted a moldy piece of cheese in the back of the crisper drawer.

Lauren was starting to get frustrated. The virus might not even be in the building; they could be searching for nothing.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket. A text from Keegan:
Anything?

Lauren tapped out a reply:
Still looking. Might be awhile.

They had no luck in the gym, either.

Lauren placed her hand on the wall and sought out the last refrigerator. The familiar hum of electricity spread through her fingertips, and she asked for directions. The answer came immediately: it was downstairs in the basement. Excitement welled up in her chest. It
had
to be the place.

Biting her lip, she looked up at Galen. The light hit his face, making the large scar above his eyebrow paler than usual. She wanted to ask him how he got it, but now wasn’t the time or place.

“The basement,” she told him gleefully.

Galen’s brow crinkled. “I didn’t even know there was a basement in this building.”

“I’m sure a lot goes on here that you don’t know about.”

He nodded, subdued, then gave her a reassuring smile. “Let’s go.”

Lauren guided them in the direction that the wires showed her, coming to an innocuous brown door set into the wall a few paces down from the west stairwell. She pulled open the door and paused, surprised to see a broom closet.

“Maybe the directions were wrong,” she said, closing her eyes. She searched again, seeking out another current within the wall. According to the electrical beings, they were in the right spot.

“Wait.” Going into the closet, Galen pushed aside boxes and brooms. Underneath the normal closet detritus he found a trap door.

“Good call,” Lauren said.

“You ready for this? Who knows what we’ll find down there.”

She motioned him on. He grasped the iron ring that served as a handle and pulled. The door creaked open.

Fear replaced the sense of excitement Lauren had felt throughout their search. She was terrified to go down into the darkness. Galen must have sensed her fear, because he reached out and took her hand.

“You can stay up here if you want,” he told her gently.

She shook her head. “I don’t want to be alone.”

“You’re safe with me, Lauren.”

She took a deep breath and squeezed his hand. “In and out.”

Galen dropped down the first rung of the ladder beneath the door. He went down a few rungs to allow her room, and then waited on her to follow.

The metal ladder felt cold in her hands as they descended. It swayed slightly beneath their combined weight; her stomach did flip flops. The air grew cooler, mustier.

When she reached the last step, Galen held out his arms and she dropped down into them. His arms around her and the warmth of his body against hers left her feeling flustered and confused. Her heart sped up.
Focus, for crying out loud.

He let go of her and, together, they glanced around.

Lauren couldn’t see much. The flashlight’s beam caused creepy shadows to dance on the wall, making everything seem unreal. She squinted into the darkness above her head and mentally willed the lights to turn on. A bright overhead lamp snapped on. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust.

The huge basement, mostly empty, held cardboard boxes marked with faded dates and discarded office furniture piled against one wall. Galen headed towards the back wall. There was a door to another room, which to Lauren seemed like a logical place to start.

Fear consumed her body the closer they got. Her body felt colder, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She wondered if Galen felt the same or if she was just making it up.

“I don’t know about this,” Lauren said softly, her voice foreign in the room.

Galen glanced over at her, his eyes concerned. “Are you feeling okay? You look green.”

She shook her head roughly, her eyes glued to the rust-colored door straight ahead. “I have a bad feeling.”

“We have to find the virus, Lauren. If we don’t…”

Lauren took a shaky breath. “Yeah. I know.”

“Come on.” He offered his hand and she took it. The sensation of his skin on hers—rough, yet silky at the same time—brought heat to her face.

When they reached the door, Galen opened it without a hint of hesitation.

Lauren doubled back with a gasp, tripping over an exposed crack in the basement concrete. She went sprawling hard on her bottom, catching herself awkwardly with her hands.

It was Calvron’s dimension all over again. The green-skinned, broad-headed creature lay with its skinny body in the shape of a cross inside a circle of blood. Only this time, the fresh blood glistened thick and red on the concrete. Lauren could smell the sharp, metallic scent on the air, along with the remnants of a pungent incense. Black pillar candles glowed around the body, wax forming puddles beneath them.

“What the…” Galen’s voice trailed off as he took a step into the room.

“Galen, no!” Lauren screamed, the demand coming out high-pitched and fearful. “It’s black magick!”

A long, slow scrape sounded from inside the room. From her prone position on the floor, Lauren saw a black shadow flit across the small area she could see around Galen’s body. Terror struck her numb, but it spurred Galen into motion.

He jumped away, slamming the door to the room. Lauren woke from her fear as he rushed across the basement, yanking her to her feet.

“Run!” he yelled.

Chapter 29

L
auren practically slammed into the exit door in her effort to escape the scene she’d just witnessed. Her breath came ragged from running up the stairs and down the long hallways, trying to get as far away from the dark magick as possible. The crisp air hit her face and she sucked in a deep, soothing breath. She’d never felt so relieved in her life.

It was unreal—they’d found the same type of creature with the same type of black magick ritual in the basement of Tristen’s office building.

“Did you know anything about that creature?” Lauren yelled, shoving Galen in the chest.

He stumbled backwards a step, then took her gently by the arm and propelled her down the alley towards his truck. “I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. Calm down.”

“I’ve seen it before,” Lauren gasped out, still trying to catch her breath. She looked back over her shoulder, terrified someone or something was following them.

Galen jerked to a stop, whipping her around to face him. “What do you mean?”

Lauren filled him in on the alternative world Calvron had found and how she told Tristen about it, but not the location. “He was way too interested in it, Galen. This can’t be a coincidence. Oh my gods, Galen, what if the dark faeries are involved in some kind of sick, twisted conspiracy on an alien race? Just like they’re trying to get rid of humans!”

“Shh, Lauren…” For the second time that night, he wrapped her in a strong embrace and gently rocked her. “Slow down. Breathe.”

“Tristen knew something about it,” she said, calmed by his proximity. “But how could he have found it?”

“I don’t have any answers for you,” Galen told her, his voice rumbling beneath her cheek. “And I think we have a more pressing concern right now.”

Lauren pulled away, her eyes questioning.

“We didn’t get the virus.”

“Shit!” Lauren started walking again, his arms wrapped around her. “I’m not going back in there.”

“No, we’re not. We’re just going to have to stop them before they release the virus.”

“Are you supposed to take part in it?” Lauren asked.

“Yeah. So at least we have that advantage. We’re going to have to set up a plan, and I’ll probably need the help of your friends.”

Back at Lauren’s apartment, Keegan and Anna met them at the door.

“You didn’t get it?” Keegan’s voice came out higher than normal.

Galen shook his head. “Dead end.”

“You guys aren’t going to believe what just happened,” Lauren cut in as she dropped her purse on the hall table. “Another dead alien and black magick circle.”

Anna’s eyes went wide as saucers. “Are you serious? The black magick is here? We need to put a stop to this.”

Lauren shook her head. “I’m not going back there. No way.”

“I agree with Lauren. I don’t think we should mess with this,” Keegan spoke up.

“How can you say that?” Anna said angrily, looking between Keegan and Lauren. “Dark magick almost killed me not too long ago. There is no way I’m letting this go.”

Galen cleared his throat. “I agree, Anna, but right now we have to worry about the virus. Once we take care of it, I’ll help you in tracking down the person responsible for the sacrifice of that being. The ritual has already been performed. I don’t see how we can gain anything by going back there. Also, you’re supposed to be leaving tomorrow.”

Anna crossed her arms and glared at Galen. “There is no way in hell I’m leaving. Don’t even try to convince me.”

Lauren touched her shoulder. “Anna, you could die if the virus is let loose.”

“I could die in a car accident, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stay out of cars. I’m not leaving. You might need me if somehow this virus is connected to the black magick.”

Lauren hadn’t thought of that possibility. Could that really be the case? Tristen had been interested in what she’d seen, but were the two were related? Having Anna and her witch power around could come in handy—she was right about that. And Lauren didn’t think they’d have much luck convincing stubborn Anna to leave. In her shoes, Lauren wouldn’t leave either.

Lauren relented. “Thanks, you’re right. We might need you.”

Keegan didn’t say anything, but her face scrunched with worry. Lauren wondered what she was thinking.

Galen turned to Lauren. “Why don’t you call your friends? Between all of us, we’ll hammer out a plan for Friday.”

Lauren threw her arms around him, surprising everyone—including herself. “Thank you for helping us. I was so scared in there.”

In his lilting accent that sent chills down her spine, Galen murmured, “You did great.”

Lauren pulled away and laughed nervously. “If by great you mean ‘screaming at the top of my lungs and running as fast as I can’ then, yes. I was terrified.” She caught his gaze shyly. “I’m glad you were there.”