Sentinel Lost (Mind Sweeper Series Book 5) (18 page)

“What does your human form look like?” I cringed. “I apologize if that was rude. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”

“It was not rude to ask, but I do not know the answer to your question. I cannot bring out my human side. Most of the patrol are unable to do so. We have never been to earth, so there is no need for our human side in any case.”

“You give up a lot to protect us.”

“It is what I do.”

“Maybe we could help each other?”

Her eyebrow lifted haughtily. “And how exactly could you help me?”

She was cocky, but then so was I most of the time. “You are not allowed to go to earth. We could be your eyes and ears there.”

Naya got up to pull the kettle off the flames with long metal tongs. She wrapped a thick cloth around the handle and poured boiling water into a mug, then dropped some leaves into the steaming liquid. “How long have you been hunting the demons who cross over?”

“A week,” I answered.

She smirked while she stirred the tea. “A whole week? I have been on this patrol my entire life. I was born to protect the border.”

“Then I would think you would want to help stop this,” I said.

“In less than a week you have been trapped here by a demon. I am not sure you would survive the fortnight if you continue on your quest.”

I laughed. “You aren’t afraid to speak your mind, are you?”

“I have a feeling the same can be said of you.”

* * *

I opened the door to check on Dalton. He was worse. Sweat streamed down his face and neck, and he had kicked the blankets off and was moving restlessly in his sleep. I put my hand on his forehead and he was very hot.

He opened his eyes at my touch and tried to sit up. “No, McKinley,” he mumbled.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t want you to get sick.”

I tsked him. “You silly man. You’ve already exposed me to your cooties. If I’m going to get sick, it will happen whether I help you now or not.”

His eyes widened. “Cooties?”

“Yep. I need you to drink some of this tea. It should make you feel better.” I braced his shoulders up a couple of inches, and he took several sips before his face scrunched up.

“Tastes awful.”

“Take another sip for me.”

Naya brought me a basin of water, and I dipped a cloth in, wrung it out, and ran it across his forehead and down his cheeks. I laid the cold cloth up against his black eye.

“How does that feel?” I asked.

“Better. Thanks.” He stared at me with those ridiculous turquoise eyes of his. “You don’t strike me as someone who forgets much. I’m going to owe you big time when we get back to earth, aren’t I?”

I ran the cloth over his face again. “I won’t make you squirm too much.”

He closed his eyes and took a shaky breath, and I blinked to stop a tear from escaping. I sponged his face and arms for a few more minutes until I could tell by his even breathing that he had fallen back to sleep.

Damn it.
I couldn’t forget anything. Seeing him this weak was too much like last year and the torture he endured. He was not going to die in some crazy-ass demon dimension. He needed to get back to earth so he could get his life together again.

We both did.

Chapter 22

I stared at the flames dancing in the hearth until my eyes burned. Or at least that’s what I told myself when I wiped the tears from my cheeks.

Naya blocked my view of the flames as she stirred the pot cooking in the hearth. “Tell me your story, Kyle.”

“What do you mean?”

“I sense powers in you, and you keep them a secret from Dalton. Yet he is aware of the supernatural.”

I blew out a harsh breath. “I’m human, but for some reason I have the ability to manipulate memories. I use my powers to stop humans from finding out about supernaturals living on earth.”

“And how does Dalton fit into your world?” Naya asked.

I looked back at the fire and bit my lip.

“When you leave here, we will never see each other again, Kyle. Your secret is safe with me.” She ladled some stew on a plate and handed it to me. “You love him.”

“Yes. I did, or I do… Oh, hell, my life is too damn complicated. Even the explanation is too damn complicated. I met Dalton last year on a case. He was tortured to the point of insanity, and the only way I could save him was to erase his memory of the case and of me. And he went away and started a new life. But the Fates brought him back into my life on this new case, and now I have to pretend like I don’t know him.”

“And that you don’t love him.”

“Yes,” I said, my heart pinching inside my chest.

“It sounds like one of my Russian novels.”

I smirked and then studied the stew on my plate.

“Don’t worry, you can eat it. It’s just vegetable stew.”

“You’re using contractions. Before you were speaking differently. Now you’re using contractions.”

She tilted her head slightly as if puzzling my words.

“Before you said ‘do not’ and now you say ‘don’t.’”

“Ah. Yes. I adjusted my speech after I listened to you and Dalton. I learn languages through my books. Speaking it can be very different from reading it.”

“Wow. How many languages can you speak?”

Naya shrugged. “Maybe a dozen or so.”

“Amazing. I would love for you to meet Jean Luc. He speaks seven, but refuses to use contractions in any of them. He sounds like he’s from the Middle Ages half the time.”

“I wish I could meet him as well. Now eat while the food is hot.”

I took a bite. The stew was rich, the vegetables reminding me of carrots and potatoes. “It’s good.”

“Tell me of your case on earth.”

I leaned closer. “You mean we can work together?”

Naya sat across from me with her own plate. “I haven’t agreed yet. Tell me what’s happening.”

As we ate our dinner, I told her about the demon in the art museum and what we’d learned so far.

Naya picked up our plates and set them next to the washbasin. “And the demon had multiple powers?”

“Yes. The clans on earth don’t have multiple powers. And the blood sample didn’t match any of the demons found on earth.”

“What did his demon form look like?”

“He never turned into his demon. Stayed human. But his eyes glowed white.”

Naya frowned. “White?”

“Yeah, it confused us, too. Does it mean anything to you?”

“No.” Naya busied herself with the dishes. After a few moments she spoke again. “I’ll help you with the case. But it will be difficult since I can’t come to earth.”

“Difficult, but not impossible.”

She walked to a shelf and picked up a bowl that she brought to the table along with a small metal hammer. Naya extracted a piece of red crystal the shape of a quarter from the bowl.

I leaned closer to look at it. “What is it?”

“It will allow me to communicate with you.” She placed the crystal on the table and rapped it once with the hammer. The crystal broke into two, jagged, half-moon pieces, like the forever friend charms kids wear.

“Why did you break it?” I asked.

“Because you need to carry half and I’ll keep the other half. It will connect us so we can communicate telepathically.”

“And you think it’ll work on earth?”

“Yes. I believe so. I’ve never tried to communicate as far as earth before, which is why I’m giving you the crystal to provide a conduit.”

“So you’re telepathic.”

“Yes. I’m surprised you didn’t ask me what my power was before now.”

I shrugged. “On earth it can be a touchy subject, and I didn’t want to alienate you.”

Naya chuckled. “Why do I get the feeling you don’t normally worry about alienating others?”

“You’re right. But I’m trying to be a new and improved Kyle McKinley. Think before I open my mouth. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been working very well with Dalton.”

“Because your feelings are involved. You’ll figure out what to do with him.”

I stood. “I better go check on him.”

“And I’m going to leave for a few minutes to check on some things as well.”

When I entered the bedroom, Dalton was sleeping, and the sound of his even breathing settled my nerves. I touched his forehead lightly. Still hot, but no worse than before. When I ran the washcloth over his face, he didn’t stir, so I sat in the chair and watched him sleep. After a couple of minutes, my eyes drooped, and I crossed my arms on the bed and lay my head on top of them.

A tingle ran along my neck. Someone was watching me. I opened my eyes slowly and found Dalton staring at me, his eyes almost iridescent in his pale face.

“That doesn’t look very comfortable.”

I sat up and cringed. “It’s not.”

“How long have I been asleep?” he asked.

“A couple of hours…I think.” I stared out the window into the dark sky and then at the burning lamp next to the bed. “I’m not sure how long I was asleep.”

“Naya brought the lamp in here a couple of minutes ago and made me drink some more of her nasty tea. You were sleeping so soundly she didn’t want to disturb you.”

I kneaded my stiff neck and shoulders. “How are you feeling?”

“Weak. Leave it to me to get the damn flu when we’re stuck in a demon dimension.”

“Bad timing for sure.”

His eyes sharpened on me. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I answered, looking away from him.

“Has anyone ever told you you’re a bad liar?”

“Yeah. You. Two days ago.” Except I couldn’t be that bad a liar, or he’d already know the whole truth, so help me God.

“What’s going on, McKinley?”

“Naya thinks you’re sick because this dimension is toxic to you.”

He frowned. “It’s poisoning me?”

“Kind of. Humans aren’t exactly made to live here.”

“What about you? Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m okay so far. And Naya said once we get back to earth, you’ll be fine.”

“Have we heard anything from the team yet?”

“No, but I’m sure they’ll be coming for us any minute now. Misha, Jean Luc, and Talia won’t rest until they find us.”

“You have a good team.”

I jerked back in shock and then tugged on my ear like it was waterlogged. “I think I heard you compliment us. It must be the fever talking.”

He smirked. “Maybe.”

Naya came into the room in time to interrupt my heart palpitations triggered by Dalton’s almost smile. Almost.

“I thought I heard talking. Your friends are coming for you. The patrol has sensed an energy disturbance for several hours now. Usually it means someone is attempting to pass through the portal. You will need to be ready to move quickly once the portal opens. I’ve set a chair outside for Dalton.

“I should be fine.” Dalton sat up and swung his legs to the side and swayed forward.

I grabbed him before he face-planted. “Whoa. Maybe a chair is a good idea.”

Naya and I each took a side and draped Dalton’s arms over our shoulders.

“You ready?” I asked.

“Yep.”

We walked slowly through the cottage and out the door. The night air was warmer, almost a thick blanket, compared to what it had been during the day. A glow lit the sky in purples and pinks and blues, reminding me of the aura borealis.

We sat Dalton down slowly, and he took a couple of deep breaths once he was sitting.

“Is that your normal sky?” I asked.

“No. Those colors mean the portal is forming. Normally, we don’t know where it will show up, which is the biggest stumbling block in our battle against the traffickers. This time, we have a pretty good idea it will be here.”

“Knowing my friends, I think you’re right.”

Naya gestured for me to follow her. I leaned down for a minute and checked Dalton carefully. He didn’t look like he was going to pitch out of the chair, but I wanted to make sure. “You okay to sit for a minute while I say goodbye to Naya?”

“Yep, I won’t flop onto the ground.”

I walked over to join Naya a few feet away.

Naya spoke softly. “When he gets back to earth, it’s going to be a shock to his body. He may get worse before he gets better.”

“Okay. Is there anything we can do for him?”

“Fluids to flush his system. Also, strip and bathe him right way, so anything remaining from the realm and in-between is cleared out completely.”

“Thank you for helping us. You could have simply killed us back in the forest.”

“And miss all this fun?”

I chuckled. “The next time your leader comes to earth, I’m going to make sure he brings you some reading material that is more recent than the 1800’s. I’ve got some interesting stories in mind.”

Naya smiled and grasped my hand, pressing the crystal in my palm. The air started to sizzle with energy, and warm tendrils danced across my skin.